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How to Prepare for the Coronavirus How to Protect Yourself and Prepare for the Coronavirus
(1 day later)
The coronavirus continues to spread worldwide, with hundreds sickened and dozens dead in the United States. The coronavirus continues to spread worldwide, with over 127,000 confirmed cases and almost 5,000 dead. In the United States, there have been at least 1,297 cases and more than 35 deaths, according to a New York Times database.
Health experts have been warning that the virus’s spread in the country is inevitable. That means it’s time to prepare your home and family in case your community is affected. “We know there will be thousands of more cases,” Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday morning on NBC’s “Today” show. His words came just hours after President Trump announced, during a national television address, temporary restrictions on most travel to the United States from parts of Europe.
Most important: Do not panic. While the outbreak is a serious public health concern, the majority of those who contract the coronavirus do not become seriously ill, and only a small percentage require intensive care. Coronavirus is here, and it’s spreading quickly. Elderly people, those with underlying health conditions and those without a social safety net are the most vulnerable to the infection and its societal disruption.
By following some basic steps, you can help reduce your risk and do your part to protect others. Though life as we know it is sharply off kilter, there are measures you can take.
It’s worth repeating, over and over again: wash your hands. Wet your hands with clean running water and then lather them with soap; don’t miss the backs of your hands, between your fingers or under your nails. Make sure to scrub for at least 20 seconds (or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), and dry them with a clean towel or let them air dry. Most important: Do not panic. With a clear head and some simple tips, you can help reduce your risk, prepare your family and do your part to protect others.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which should be rubbed in for about 20 seconds, can also work, but the gel must contain at least 60 percent alcohol. If Chancellor Angela Merkel’s warning is accurate, two in three Germans may become infected. That might well be a prophecy for the rest of the world, as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise quickly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (tough one, we know). However, the majority of those who contract the coronavirus do not become seriously ill. If you get coronavirus, it’s likely you’ll just feel as if you have the flu. But keeping a stiff upper lip will not only be foolhardy, but could also endanger those around you.
Meanwhile, if someone else is showing flu- or cold-like symptoms, try to stay six feet away. If that’s not possible, even a little distancing is helpful, according to experts, as the virus seems to spread through droplets in the air from a cough or sneeze. So if you have a fever and a dry cough, followed by fatigue and shortness of breath, stay home. Don’t go to work; don’t take your children to school; don’t go to the store; don’t ride public transportation.
Sneezing or coughing yourself? Direct it into your elbow so as to avoid leaving germs on your hands, which can then quickly spread to other surfaces. Other ways to be smart include using the “Ebola handshake,” where you greet others with elbow bumps, and pushing elevator buttons with a knuckle instead of a fingertip. If you can work from home, do. If your employer does not traditionally offer sick leave, remind them of the threat or send them the guidance plan for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Coronavirus starts deep in the lungs, and the most common signs are fever and dry cough, followed by fatigue and shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, please make every effort to remain at home. Don’t go to the office; don’t drive the kids to school; don’t go to the store; don’t ride public transportation. If children exhibit any illness, they too should remain home from school. If you develop a high fever, shortness of breath or another, more serious symptom, call your doctor. (Testing for coronavirus is still inconsistent — there are not enough kits, and it’s dangerous to go into a doctor’s office and risk infecting others.) Then, check the C.D.C. website and your local health department for advice about how and where to be tested.
Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. That splash-under-water flick won’t cut it anymore.
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Contact your employer and inform them of your illness and figure out how to best manage your job from home. A refresher: Wet your hands and scrub with soap, taking care to get between your fingers and under your nails. Wash for at least 20 seconds (or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), and dry. The C.D.C. also recommends you avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (tough one, we know).
If you begin to have a high fever, shortness of breath or any other more serious symptom, the best thing to do is to call your doctor to let them know and inquire about next steps. (Testing for coronavirus is inconsistent right now — there are not enough testing kits, and it’s dangerous for people with coronavirus to go into a doctor’s office and risk infecting others. So please follow your doctor’s instructions.) Check the C.D.C. website and your local health department for advice about how and where to be tested. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which should be rubbed in for about 20 seconds, can also work, but the gel must contain at least 60 percent alcohol. (No, Tito’s Handmade Vodka doesn’t work.)
Face masks have become almost synonymous with the coronavirus outbreak overseas, but they don’t do much to protect you — most surgical masks are too loose to prevent inhalation of the virus. Also, clean “high-touch” surfaces, like phones, tablets and handles. Apple recommends using 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, wiping gently. “Don’t use bleach,” the company said.
The C.D.C. and infectious disease specialists do not recommend face masks if you’re healthy. To disinfect any surface, the C.D.C. recommends wearing disposable globes and washing hands thoroughly immediately after removing the gloves. Most household disinfectants registered by the Environmental Protection Agency will work.
But if you’re a health care worker or are caring for sick people at home or in a health care facility, you should wear one. Try to stand away from other people, especially if they seem sick. Wave, bow or give an elbow bump, rather than shake hands. Maybe skip the kiss on the first date.
If you’re infected, masks can help prevent the spread of a virus. The most effective are the so-called N95 masks, which block 95 percent of very small particles. There’s a lot of information flying around, and knowing what is going on will go a long way toward protecting your family.
On Saturday, the surgeon general urged the public to stop stockpiling masks, warning that it won’t help against the spread of the coronavirus but will take away important resources from health care professionals. First, double-check. Mr. Trump misstated the travel limits in his speech Wednesday night, and the Department of Homeland Security and White House later clarified two important points.
Experts suggest stocking at least a 30-day supply of any needed prescriptions, and you should consider doing the same for household items like food staples, laundry detergent, and diapers, if you have small children. A ban on travelers from Europe would not apply to American citizens or legal permanent residents. It also would not impact goods exported to the United States.
Remember, alcohol is a good disinfectant for coronaviruses so make sure to keep surfaces in your home clean. Throw out those tissues in a wastebasket after you blow your nose. [Stay Informed: The New York Times is providing free coverage of the crisis.]
The C.D.C. also recommends cleaning “high touch” surfaces, like phones and tablets. The C.D.C. has up-to-date information, and your local health department is a great resource for questions.
READ: How to disinfect your space on an airplane.Beyond physical items, prepare your home for a potential outbreak in the United States by staying up-to-date with reliable news resources, such as the website of your local health department. Right now, there’s no reason for parents to worry, the experts say; coronavirus cases in children have been very rare.
Make sure every member of the family is up-to-date on any and all emergency plans. The flu vaccine is a must, as vaccinating children is the best protection for older people against bacterial pneumonia. And take the same precautions you would during a normal flu season: Encourage frequent hand-washing, move away from people who appear sick and get the flu shot.
Be sure to be in communication with your child’s school on what types of plans are established for any sort of schedule change, including early dismissals or online instruction. And if you have elderly parents or relatives, or family members with any special health concerns, make sure you have a plan for caring for them if they get sick. As with airplanes, it’s always best to make sure your metaphorical oxygen mask is on before helping others. When talking to your children about an outbreak, make sure that you first assess their knowledge of the virus and that you process your own anxiety. It’s important that you don’t dismiss their fears and speak to them at an age-appropriate level.
There’s also some reassurance that could be had by creating a family emergency checklist, which could answer basic questions about evacuations, resources and supplies — especially if you have any preconditions or illnesses. The C.D.C. provides a checklist here. Be sure to be in communication with your child’s school, including about early dismissals or possible online instruction. Be prepared for schools to close; many districts and universities around the world have already taken that step. In New York City, however, officials say that will be a “last resort."
Protect your child by taking the same precautions you would during cold and flu season: encourage frequent hand washing, move away from people who are coughing or sneezing and get the flu shot. Communicating with your workplace about child-care concerns that you have is suggested as well.
Experts recommend getting the flu vaccine, noting that vaccinating children is the best protection for older people against bacterial pneumonia. If your children are stuck at home, get some games going, turn on a movie and try to make it feel a little like a vacation, at least for the first few days.
Right now, there’s no reason for parents to worry, the experts say, and the good news is that coronavirus cases in children have been very rare. [For more information about children and the outbreak, read 9 Questions Parents May Have About Coronavirus.]
When talking to your children about an outbreak, make sure you first assess their knowledge of the virus and that you process your own anxiety. It’s important that you don’t dismiss their fears and speak to them at an age-appropriate level. Face masks have become a symbol of coronavirus, but stockpiling them might do more harm than good.
So keep calm, and if there’s an outbreak in your community, practice what’s known as “social distancing,” which means more TV bingeing at home and fewer trips to the park. First, they don’t do much to protect you. Most surgical masks are too loose to prevent inhalation of the virus.
Despite financial markets on a roller coaster, The Times financial columnist Ron Lieber says there’s little reason to be alarmed long-term. After all, “stocks are how your savings fight inflation, the market is not an absolute proxy for your personal finances, and you’re playing a long game.” (Masks can help prevent the spread of a virus if you are infected. The most effective are the so-called N95 masks, which block 95 percent of very small particles.)
“Stocks have delivered decent gains over long periods of time to people who persist, and successful investors do not buy when prices are high and sell when they are low,” he said. Second, health care workers and those caring for sick people are on the front lines. Last month, the surgeon general urged the public to stop stockpiling masks, warning that it might limit the amount of resources available to doctors, nurses and emergency professionals.
“Nothing that is happening today changes that.” Stock up on a 30-day supply of groceries, household supplies and prescriptions, just in case.
Experts say that people currently should feel “very comfortable” traveling to destinations in the United States like California and Florida, “but that could quickly change.” That doesn’t mean you’ll need to eat only beans and ramen. Here are tips to stock a pantry with shelf-stable and tasty foods. (Don’t forget the chocolate.)
For travel outside the country, check travel warnings from the C.D.C., which is recommending that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. If you take prescription medications, or are low on any over-the-counter essentials, go to the pharmacy sooner rather than later.
On Sunday, the State Department warned Americans against travel on cruise ships; older adults or those with compromised immune systems should consider postponing nonessential travel altogether, said Dr. Fauci. Many businesses, including Facebook and Amazon, have postponed most employee travel altogether. And, in no particular order, make sure you’re set with soap, toiletries, laundry detergent, toilet paper and diapers, if you have small children.
The Times also publishes an interactive map to show where the authorities are warning against travel. Despite financial markets on a roller coaster, The Times financial columnist Ron Lieber suggests sitting tight. Long term, things will stabilize. After all, “stocks are how your savings fight inflation, the market is not an absolute proxy for your personal finances, and you’re playing a long game.”
“Cancel for any reason” travel insurance could protect you, but it will cost you. Be sure to read all the fine print to understand the terms. Still, the turbulence is real: Stocks plunged on Thursday, and trading in the United States was halted just minutes after the open. A 7 percent drop in the S&P 500 triggered a so-called circuit breaker, a 15-minute-long halt that is intended to prevent markets from crashing.
Expect that your travel might be disrupted, or that popular sites or attractions may be closed or offer restricted hours. “Stop for a second, and take a deep breath,” Mr. Lieber wrote Monday. “Then ask a question: Have your long-term goals changed today? If not, there is probably no reason for your investments to change either.”
Still, if you are sick, don’t travel. Pregnant women and others with compromised immune systems should also think twice about nonessential travel. Generally, the situation is unpredictable. It might be prudent to just stay home. If you do go, expect that your travel will probably be disrupted, or that popular sites or attractions may be closed or offer restricted hours.
On Wednesday night, President Trump announced a ban on travel to the United States from most of Europe, later clarified to exempt American citizens, legal permanent residents and other groups. On Thursday morning, Mr. Pence said that Americans returning from those areas in Europe would be “funneled through 13 airports.”
This is all to say — things are changing quickly, and official guidance can be either unclear or incomplete.
The Times published an interactive map to show where the authorities are warning against travel.
Other countries, like India, are closing borders, and in the Philippine capital of Manila, domestic travel has been halted.
The State Department has warned Americans against travel on cruise ships. Many businesses have postponed most employee travel altogether.
Luckily, most airlines are offering affected passengers options, by waiving change flight fees or offering free cancellations. And many cruise lines are also rerouting cruises and now offering refunds.
READ: How to disinfect your space on an airplane.