My mind is zooming with all the horrible stuff that is about to happen so I am going to tweet through it. Keep in mind there are two phases to this pandemic.
Phase One is right now. We have exponentially growing infections in much of the US, so each day literally becomes more unsafe in the next weeks, if nothing changes in our behavior. Here’s what I am doing for hygiene for the house:
Going out as little as possible (planning to stick to work and home). 6 feet distance from people. Assume everything you touch may have virus on it. Do not assume anyone else has proper hygiene.
Do not put your hands in your mouth or nose or eyes unless you have just sanitized or washed them properly. And do not put anything in your mouth that you don’t know is safe. Cooked hot food is probably safe...what about the fork? The lettuce? The top of the soda bottle or can...
We now know it can live on surfaces for hours to a few days. It lasts longest on shiny hard surfaces. This is why you should just assume a public grocery store touch screen or an office door has virus on it in an affected area.
I am taking these further steps for the next several weeks to months: laundering all cash, sanitizing phone, credit card case, always wearing a jacket to go out and taking it off when I come in, removing shoes right when I come in and washing hands. Letting packages sit for a day
Letting purchases sit for a few days as well. No one knows how many people recently handled that last can of soup you picked up.
Eventually the wave will peak and pass, but this virus is going to be with us for the next several years if not for a long time depending on the vaccine. We are going to have to change our ways for the foreseeable future.
That is Phase Two. Presumably we will have a test and at least know where it is, so sparks can be contained in the future. But hygiene has to be stepped up in general. We can’t send our kids to school sick. We should not be working sick.
I will be less concerned about packages and money and pens and lettuce and forks when the wave has passed. We should probably move as a society to brass or copper doorknobs and antimicrobial tech for touchscreens.
Ultimately this all boils down to don’t get coughed or sneezed on if possible and wash your hands before you touch your face. But I’ve seen sometimes folks don’t make that leap to other things they put in their mouths, like cans and glasses.
Finally, this is what *I* am doing. I can’t stop seeing older medically frail patients, and they are the ones most likely to not have tech for telehealth. I need to take as many measures as I can to prevent myself from getting sick. This is why my regime may seem extreme to you.
Y’all stay safe out there.
Just wanted to add I do the extra stuff to keep home safe so I can relax a little bit at home and not constantly think about touching things.
We decided 100% telehealth to keep patients from going out. So I’m going to the office but will be the only one there besides the receptionist and I have a lot of sanitizer. So the doors and knobs will be safe.
