This pandemic has brought significant disruption to our normal day-to-day life. With the rising number of people getting infected, we’re reminded of this new reality daily. Even while we’re all sheltering-in-place, you need to make sure your family is protected against infection. You do this by relying on valid information, establishing a new family discipline on personal hygiene, practicing social distancing and caring for one another.
Keep Things Clean and Disinfected
Let’s start by using a disinfectant. You may use household disinfectants if they are available, but you might have to make one yourself. If so, you can mix 4 teaspoons of bleach for a quart of water. Another effective disinfectant is 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. When applying your disinfectant solution, leave it on any applied surface for at least a minute. That should be long enough to completely kill viruses.
Wipe down and disinfect every commonly touched area in your home. This includes doorknobs, light switches, phones, keyboards and toys children play with. Anything routinely touched is worth disinfecting every day. When it comes to something mailed or brought into the home, take time to wipe them that down with disinfectant as well. Viruses can survive for a day on cardboard and three days on plastic.
Quarantine Your Family
Respecting a safe social distance is the only way we can keep this infection from spreading. It’s worth emphasizing how important it is that we all stay home, away from everyone outside our own family circle. You should only leave your home for essential activities. Be clear with your family what these essential activities are. They include going to the grocery, pharmacy or gas station. You can go for a walk around the block as long as you stay away from other people, and you still have your front porch or backyard. Just remember to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from everyone. COVID-19 might be transmitted from a casual conversation in close proximity.
Take Care of Each Other
Other than daily disinfecting, social distancing and sheltering in place, there’s one other thing you can do to protect your family. Simply caring for each other is vital. Being aware of everyone’s physical health and emotional condition adds another layer of protection. This awareness will help you respond promptly and appropriately if someone actually shows some signs of a cold or the flu.
Take the time to think through how you’re going to apply these precautions in your own home. It’s worth the effort to safeguard your family. Coronavirus may be a scary thing to deal with right now, but doing these things will help to ease your mind a little bit and protect your family.
Here’s another great article: 3 Staycation Ideas That Your Whole Family Will Enjoy