Since I last took the chance to chat with you all about the new strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and what it may mean for all of us, things have changed a bit. The virus has since continued to spread globally and recorded cases are increasing. Last night, the CDC announced that it both expected the disease to continue spreading and that it expected it to cause disruptions to everyday life.
Even though I am not here to give you my personal opinion on the necessity of these measures and their potential to cause panic, this is a big deal. This thing is affecting the stock market and disrupting travel all over the world. What I am here to do is to try my best to let you know what all of this craziness may mean for you in your community and how you can prepare and hopefully spare yourself needless headache, especially since most of us have no clue what pandemic preparedness even means.
OK, cool. So what does that even mean?
First, please don’t panic. No one is saying that they’re expecting massive numbers of people to get sick and die. What they ARE saying is that, yes, the disease is spreading and that we can probably expect state and local governments to take preventive measures to minimize the number of people who will get sick.
What this means is that we can possibly expect some school closures, event cancellations, and employers to encourage workers to work remotely if possible. It wouldn’t be surprising if there were periods of voluntary quarantine for those who are at higher risk (meaning certain people may elect to stay home for a week or two and avoid public places). There may even be cases of the virus near you in your community.
What this does NOT mean is total anarchy. We’ll still have power, water, and (thank God) internet. Grocery stores, most retail, gas stations, roads, and most other services will still be open. Healthcare facilities will most definitely be open. Remember that, even during the Spanish flu epidemic in the early 1900’s—one of the deadliest epidemics in modern history—life still went on as usual in most places. Most closures and cancellations will likely be preventive in nature, not responsive, meaning they will be designed to prevent spread of Coronavirus rather than because there are a lot of cases where you are.
Regardless, disruption to life is just that—a disruption. What in the world should you do to prepare?
First, though details may still be few and far between, find out what potential changes can be expected in your community and what resources may be available. These are things like school and government service closures, interruptions to public transit, changes in trash collection and waste removal, etc. These details will probably be in flux for now as local and state authorities scramble to flesh out their response policies and procedures, so check in frequently so you aren’t caught off guard.
Next, if you’re able to work from home, talk to your boss and see if you can do that. If you aren’t set up to work effectively and efficiently at home, do what you need to do to make that happen (create a home office space, update VPN software, identify tasks that can and cannot be done easily out of the office). If your job can’t easily be done remotely, touch base with your organization and see if they anticipate any closures or temporary reductions in workforce, as well as whether or not you’d be paid for any time off or forced to take sick or vacation days.
Next, figure out what you’d need in the event of quarantine. For planning purposes, think about what kinds of supplies and food you and your family need for about 2 weeks at home and stock up. Don’t go full Doomsday Prepper, here…stock up on all the things you’d normally need anyway so that nothing ends up going to waste. Think toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, toiletries, laundry detergent, etc. Stock up on some non-perishable and canned food as well to make sure you have enough.
When it comes to food, the same is true–grab things you know that you’d probably end up using anyway to avoid wasting anything you don’t end up needing. For example, at our house we always have a nice big pantry full of canned beans, veggies, meat like chicken and tuna, rice, crackers, peanut butter, cereal, coconut milk, condiments, protein powder, etc. This weekend, we will probably make a Costco run and buy extra of all these things. Keep in mind that water will stay on, but a case or two of bottled water (and, in our case, grapefruit-flavored La Croix) is never a bad idea. Also. very important here—if I’m going to be stuck in the house with my husband and toddler for 2 weeks without physical contact with the outside world, I’m going to need wine. Plenty of wine.
Next, do stock up on basic medical supplies in case, god forbid, someone in your home does get sick. Coronavirus is, well, a virus…at this point there is no “cure” or vaccine, just like colds and flu, the treatment is purely supportive. At this point, every single case is sent to an isolated medical ward or quarantine location, but if the virus really does become widespread, it’s very possible that most people will be able to remain at home under self-imposed quarantine.
Remember that the majority of COVID-19 cases are essentially a mild to moderately-severe respiratory illness, just like the flu or viral bronchitis. Make sure you have medications like ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and body aches. Cough syrup or other cough suppressants (anything containing guaifenesin, for example) are very helpful for coughing, while decongestants (I recommend nasal sprays like Flonase or anything containing pseudoephedrine) are also helpful. Pedialyte or Gatorade can be great to keep you hydrated if you’re nauseous or lose your appetite.
Another thing—face masks. At the moment, there’s probably no need to be wearing a face mask around unless you’re sick yourself or you’re around folks who are known to be sick with a respiratory illness. However, I’ve heard a couple sort of convincing arguments that it’s not a terrible idea to stock up on masks in case they DO become necessary, so here we are. Surgical masks are NOT sufficient to prevent pollutants or respiratory droplets from being inhaled, but they are probably better than nothing. If you’re really looking for a no-shit, foolproof mask that will protect you from respiratory illness and probably do you double duty in the event of a fire or chemical attack, disposable N95 or P100 masks are your friend.
Finally—for the love of all that is Holy—start taking steps NOW to prevent spread of infection by washing your hands and disinfecting high risk areas of your home. Keep hand sanitizer with you for times when there isn’t soap and water available. Wipe down surfaces and pay special attention to anything your kids touch or put in their mouths. Take your shoes off when you walk in the door. Wash your sheets and towels often. Wipe down your phone, laptop, steering wheel, and doorknobs daily. These are probably all things we should be doing anyway (no judgement here), but right now it’s very possible that they could make a huge difference.
For additional resources and information as this viral fiasco unfolds, the following sites and organizations will have the most accurate and up to date information:
- CDC Coronavirus Situation Page
- Pandemic Preparedness Resources
- CDC Coronavirus Resources Page
- WHO Coronavirus Page
- WHO Coronavirus Travel Advice
- WHO Coronavirus Advice for the Public
- Don’t forget to regularly check up on your local government, county, and state health department websites!
Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
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