Responding to COVID-19

Step 2: Let’s dig a little deeper on the how to prevent COVID-19…

There are 3 main ways to avoid getting COVID-19...

Avoiding close contact with sick people:

• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. (Source CDC, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html)

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Put distance between yourself and other people, if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

• Remind young people in your home that just because a person doesn't seem sick, does not mean they aren't carrying the virus and could become sick in a few days. 

  • People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
  • Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Hand washing and disinfecting:

Because it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, we need to be washing our hands regularly and cleaning surfaces. While this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, every precaution to reduce transmission is worth it.

Let's wash our hands... 

We wash our hands many times throughout the day, but we need to follow special procedures to clean our hands more thoroughly during this time. 

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Watch this short video on the proper hand washing technique (1:25).

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

To keep hand-washing fun, print out a Wash your Lyrics Poster. Ask a young person their favorite song or work as a family to select a song for the week or the next few days and everyone can sing out loud while they wash their hands. 

For young children, try Sesame Street’s H is for Handwashing. 

Also, everyone should wipe down their phones, laptops, tablets, remotes, and commonly touched items. The CDC suggests that you clean and disinfect regularly. 

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily (at least). This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

Let's disinfect...

Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work to kill COVID-19. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface. Cleaning supplies have been in short supply, but regular household items like bleach or alcohol can work. 

Options include:

• Diluting your household bleach.
  To make a bleach solution, mix:

  • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
    - OR -

  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

• Alcohol solutions.
  Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol.

• Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants, including products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens 

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

Complete guidance on disinfecting is available here. 

Avoid mixing these chemicals.

Getting chores done...

Let's be honest, getting chores done around the house is a challenge for any parent and so any way you can make this fun for you and your kids is worth the effort. 

• Play music - play something up tempo, if possible 
• Make cleaning a game - each chore is worth points, whoever gets the most points wins! 
• Clean against the clock- who can disinfect the door knobs the fastest?
• Put on a movie or show - the little distraction will keep your mind off of the task at hand 

Reducing contact with others

Because COVID-19 can incubate for up to two weeks before showing symptoms, the CDC and White House have suggested several things to slow the spread of COVID-19:

• No gatherings larger than 10
• No dining out (some states have closed dining rooms), take out, drive-thru, or delivery is fine 
• Avoid non-emergency travel, shopping trips, and social visits. 
• Do not visit facilities like nursing homes, prisons, or other large group long-term care facilities (send emails, letters, if permitted, and whatever else is allowed to know you care about the people in these spaces)

Practice Social Distancing

According to Johns Hopkins, "Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19."

In addition to the six feet away concept, examples of social distancing that allow you to avoid larger crowds or crowded spaces are:

• Working from home instead of at the office
• Closing schools or switching to online classes
• Visiting loved ones by electronic devices instead of in person
• Cancelling or postponing conferences and large meetings

Quarantining & Isolation

The CDC says: 

Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.

• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

People who have been exposed to the new coronavirus and who are at risk for coming down with COVID-19 might practice self-quarantine. Self-quarantine involves:

• Using standard hygiene and washing hands frequently
• Not sharing things like towels and utensils
• Staying at home
• Not having visitors
• Staying at least 6 feet away from other people in your household