Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re well aware of the havoc coronavirus (COVID-19) has created around the world. Recently, the CDC alerted Americans that the spread of the coronavirus in the United States is inevitable. Once that news broke, the US stock market began tanking, which is typically an indicator of growing fear as the coronavirus outbreak worsens. The DOW has crashed by nearly 1000 points multiple times after the CDC’s statement on COVID-19. The volatility in the stock market means that companies are bracing themselves for pure devastation that will follow once coronavirus begins spreading. That means you should be preparing for the worst to keep you and your family safe as well. Because our community’s safety is our priority above all else, we want to cover everything you need to know and do about coronavirus before it’s impending spread in America.
What is Coronavirus?
Despite the media using the term coronavirus for this particular strain of virus, coronavirus is actually a family of viruses. These viruses can be mild or lethal. We’ve dealt with coronavirus outbreaks before. In fact, SARS was also a form of coronavirus. That said, SARS infected about 8,000 people in total and killed about 800 people. This current coronavirus, COVID-19, has thus far infected nearly 100,000 people and killed over 3,000 people. This data shows us that coronavirus is transmitted easily.
Coronavirus is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and people. Not all coronaviruses have evolved to be transmitted to humans just yet.
Coronavirus Symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Respiratory Symptoms
- Shortness of Breath
- Difficulty Breathing
If you are experiencing a combination of two or more of these symptoms, it’s in your and your family’s best interest to look into if you could have been exposed to coronavirus. If there are known cases in your area, go to your nearest hospital immediately. The most severe cases can result in pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure or death.
What Can I Do to Fight Coronavirus?
- Regular hand washing. Hand washing goes a long way when it comes to staying virus-free. Wash your hands every 1-2 hours if you are in a public environment such as work or at the mall. Another great practice is to wash your hands once you come home from spending time out and about as you do not want to spread “outside germs” around your living space. If you shake someone’s hand, be sure to rinse your hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds because you never know if they are carrying the coronavirus or other viruses on their skin.
- Get plenty of sleep. When you don’t sleep enough, your immune system does not operate as efficiently. Resting and letting your body repair itself will go a long way toward your body’s ability to fight off viruses.
- A general rule of thumb is to avoid touching your eyes, nose or face. We know this is easier said than done, but it is an effective way to avoid transferring coronavirus, cold or flu droplets from surfaces you may touch with your hands to your face. If you need to rub your eyes, consider doing so with a towelette or after washing your hands. Also, avoid biting your nails for obvious reasons.
- Stay far away from those that are coughing and sneezing. A cough typically spans up to 3 feet, which means if you must be in close proximity of someone that is sick, it is best to keep a 3 or 4 foot distance from them if possible. Sneezes travel more than twice the distance at 6 to 8 feet. Unless you want to sit in another room, the best advice is to remind those that are ill to sneeze into their inner arm, opposite of their elbow. If you see a friend or family member sneeze into their hands, be sure to tell them to wash their hands because if they touch any objects such as the TV remote or a door knob, you may pick up the virus from these objects.
- Avoid unnecessary human contact such as kissing or shaking hands. Despite popular belief that coronavirus is a widespread community infection, it is more likely to be transmitted within the household. If you or someone in your family feels under the weather, keep a distance from them and disinfect common surfaces regularly.
- Avoid large crowds if you can. Expos, trade shows, music festivals, etc. are being cancelled by officials for a reason. You might want to reconsider if it’s really worth it to go to that Lady Gaga concert. Your and your family’s health is at stake, so make smart choices.
- Humidifiers can keep your nasal membranes from getting dry. Dry sinuses and nasal passages are a breeding ground for pathogens.
- Don’t fall for cheap travel deals. The travel industry is suffering due to the coronavirus outbreak, forcing the industry to lower prices significantly. If you can avoid travel, do so. It’s not a good idea to be in a plane that recycles its air over and over again at this time.
- Layer up! If you go outside without a coat in 40 degree weather, your immune system will weaken from your body’s reaction to the cold, which means any exposure you may have to these viruses can infect you more easily.
- Stop or cut down smoking immediately. Smoking inhibits many of your bodies defenses at protecting you from coronavirus, the cold or the flu.
- While the washer does nothing to deactivate contagious viruses, running clothing in the dryer for 28+ minutes on high heat kills viruses.
How long does the coronavirus live on various surfaces?
When it comes to how long the coronavirus can live outside the body, there are a few factors to consider — is the surface hard, porous or is this surface your own skin? Thus far, we only know how long the virus survives on hard surfaces, which is up to 9 days.
Create an Emergency Kit at Home
Because it’s possible that coronavirus becomes a pandemic, we recommend creating an emergency kit for your home immediately. This should include a 2 month supply of soap, water, first aid kits, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels and other regularly used home supplies/goods. More importantly, stock up on canned foods, dried fruits, powdered milk and plenty of cereal. Essentially, you should stock up on any and all products that you and your family may need for several weeks in the event that there’s a stop on supplies coming in and out or if there is a lockdown of any sort. We know this sounds extreme; however, it’s always better to be prepared.
We hope this guide helps you stay coronavirus-free until a vaccine is created or the virus is eradicated. Do you have research-backed advice on preventing the spread of coronavirus? Message us on Facebook so we can update this information for everyone!
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