Social distancing is all over the news. It’s supposed to help us to reduce the spread of the coronavirus that leads to COVID-19, and it’s supposed to help us stay healthy and protect those around us. If you’re like me, you probably have a lot of questions about social distancing. I figured that this would be a good place to share a little bit more about what social distancing is, what it’s supposed to do, and how to keep your family safe if you work in an essential service (like I do) and cannot socially distance yourself completely. Hopefully, this helps.
Social distancing reduces the likelihood that we will be in close contact with others. Unfortunately, a lot of people can carry the virus without having symptoms. They are safe themselves, but they have the possibility of spreading it unknowingly.
Going Out
Before I go out of the house, I make sure that I have showered and put hand sanitizer on. If I have a cough or any other symptoms, I do not leave the house. Even if there’s no chance that I have the virus, I don’t want to incite fear in others. This is the time of year where my allergies act up, and the coughing and shortness of breath that comes with this is not something that I want to alarm others with. Luckily, things haven’t been too bad this season so I’ve been able to get out and help others quite a bit, but I do err on the side of caution when necessary.
I wear a mask when I’m with others. One of the agencies that I work with had a volunteer donate a number of masks, so I have a decent supply of them. I know that this is not the case for everyone, so I’m very lucky in this respect.
When I’m out, I make sure not to get too close to anyone. The general rule of thumb is six feet at all times, although this isn’t always possible. I avoid physical contact at all times. I also wear disposable nitrile gloves to avoid contact with shared surfaces. It can be difficult to provide care to others like this, but it’s something that we’re all adapting to. Whenever possible, I use video chat software like Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype to avoid having as many meetings.
Coming Home
To reduce the risk of spreading the virus if social distancing is not an option, there are some easy things you can do to protect your family and workmates. I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my car and apply some when I get in the car and leave it. When I come home, I empty out my pockets, wipe everything down with a Lysol wipe, and strip down by the door, leaving my shoes and clothes in a basket outside until I can get them into the washer. I shower, sanitize, wash my clothes and wipe the basket down, and then greet my family. It’s a pain, but it’s worth it if it’s going to increase the odds of keeping everyone safe.
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