5 Tips to Help You and your Community during the Coronavirus Outbreak.

In a time where COVID-19 becomes a global crisis it’s important to start to prepare, and to look after yourself and those around you. Governments across the world have already started with their response plans, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do our part to do everything we can to help. We’ve compiled a short list of basic things we can do to assist in this epidemic.

1) Wash your hands

This might seem like such a basic first point, but it’s arguably one of, if not the, most important step in preventing the spread of Coronavirus. Washing our hands with an alcohol-based hand gel or soap and warm water will help to kill viruses and bacteria that are on our hands, preventing the spread of disease to other surfaces and other people. Taking 20 seconds to wash our hands (or if you’re in the UK, singing Happy Birthday) is the recommended time to take to properly and thoroughly cleanse our hands.

2) Distance yourself

Not everyone is going to sing Happy Birthday as they wash their hands, and sometimes, they aren’t even going to wash their hands at all. If you are out in public and spot someone displaying symptoms, it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. Limit yourself to at least 3 metres of distance between you and them, to avoid contracting any viruses, not just Coronavirus. Common symptoms such as sneezing and coughing are things to look out for, but just to play it on the safe side it’s probably best not to shake anyone’s hand for the foreseeable future.

3) Ration your weekly or monthly shop

Amidst the crisis of a virus outbreak some places are suffering another pandemic: panic buying. Store shelves are emptying out of things like bread, rice, pasta, toilet roll and hand soap. Consider though, that anything you can’t get, elderly or vulnerable people can’t either. If you spot the last loaf on the store shelves, consider another alternative like tortilla wraps or something entirely different instead, and leave that loaf for someone who could depend on it much more than you do.

4) Avoid crowded areas

Some governments have began limiting social gatherings in their respective countries. Avoiding high traffic areas reduces the chances of catching any viruses and infections. Visiting your local supermarket is one thing, but going on a night out to the bar, or visiting the Starbucks down the road increases the likelihood of catching something. It’s not just that though. The case might be that you already have Coronavirus, and if you’re in public areas surrounded by other people, you’ll be spreading it to those people as well. Best to just stay home for this one.

5) Prepare for Quarantine

As time goes on, more and more cases pop up of confirmed Coronavirus, and the inevitability of catching becomes more and more likely. If that happens, don’t panic. Instead, prepare. If you believe you have Coronavirus, recommendations are to self-isolate yourself for 14 days. You should prepare before hand for this. This means ensuring you have non-perishable food to last the two weeks. Things like soup are a good idea (not all of them off the shelves though), and freezing a loaf in the freezer is a smart move. As well as food and water, make sure you have enough medication if you need it and that any bills you need to pay up soon are paid. It’s a good idea to send someone else on these errands, especially if you think you’re infected. Lastly, you’ll be isolated for 14 days, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’ve got yourself a few good books or a Netflix subscription.

These are simple tips to get through this crisis, but every little part we play in helping ourselves will help others too, including those who are more vulnerable and at risk during this time.