COVID-19 cases are increasing everywhere and have affected many areas. The COVID-19 outbreak can attack and last for longer in your community. In this article, we will discuss the ways to get your home ready – to plan and prepare for community transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak.
As on 28th May 2020, the total number of cases in the United States were recorded as 1,698,523.1
The Covid-19 cases are still rising. Develop a plan of action for your home before the COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community. Create a household plan to protect your health and those who care for you in case of an event of Covid-19 outbreak in your community.2
Let us discuss the important ways to get your home ready to fight Covid-19– to plan and prepare for community transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Get Your Home Ready to Fight Covid-19 – Plan and Prepare for Community Transmission of the COVID-19 Outbreak
With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, there is a need to plan before the outbreaks occur in your community. Get your home ready with the necessary preparations and precautions. Depending on the severity of the outbreak in your area, public health officials may recommend community actions to help people stay healthy, reduce exposure to COVID-19, and control the spread of the disease.
The following are some of the important steps you need to take to plan and prepare for the community transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Prepare a Household Plan of Action – Discuss with family members and develop a plan about the requirements of each member of the plan of action that needs to be taken in case of an event.
Plan to Care For The High-Risk Groups – From the available information so far, older adults and persons with underlying chronic medical conditions may be at greater risk of more severe complications.2 If there are high-risk people in the family, consult your healthcare provider for more information on COVID-19 symptoms. Monitor their health and keep a watch for any symptoms of COVID-19. Discuss with the local health department for any help and follow the advice given to stay healthy and prevent the spread of infection.
Be Aware Of The Neighborhood – Get to know what is there around you, stay updated, maintain online groups, and plan for any emergencies. Have a list of local health organizations to contact when needed. Also, be aware of the local food suppliers, groceries, medicines, mental health, and medical help providers that you can get in touch with, as needed. Create an emergency contact list of family, friends, healthcare workers, and local health departments, keep it handy and share it in your circle.
Prepare Your Home – Choose a room that would be used to separate a sick household member from the others. Keep the belongings of each family member at one place to be available if the need arises. Make sure all the valuable documents and related things are easily accessible and the near family members are aware of it.
Ways to Practice Good Personal Health Habits and Plan for Home-Based Actions
Practice personal health habits – Make sure everyone at home is aware of the personal hygiene practices to be followed as a part of the preventive actions to control the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Some of the important ways to practice good personal health habits include the following,
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick and avoid exposure to high-risk areas.
- Avoid touching, eyes, nose, and mouth
- If you are sick, stay at home and avoid contact with other people, except for getting medical care, that too with necessary precautions.
- Wear a mask or cover your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing.
Ensure that all high touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals. Door knobs, tabletops, platforms, light switches, and cabinet handles must be regularly disinfected. Dirty surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water before disinfecting them.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, after visiting the bathroom and before eating.
Watch for Symptoms
Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, cough, and shortness of breath. For any trouble in breathing, persistent pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake and bluish lips or face, immediately contact the healthcare provider or local health department.
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