Ok, let’s all take a deep breath now …preferably a fair distance from anyone who’s coughing 😉
Some basic recommendations to keep yourself safe AND sane:

1. Distancing. The idea that staying home means never breathing oxygen outside 4 walls and a ceiling is neither sensible nor tenable. Walks are both acceptable and necessary to maintain our health and well being! BUT… this means only with whomever lives in your household and NOBODY ELSE, NO EXCEPTIONS! (Cousins and neighbors count).
Keep a distance from others at all times. And no parks, playgrounds or anywhere others will inevitably join you.

2. Masks. You don’t need one in your home unless you are sick personally and want to protect others or you are providing care for an elderly or immune compromised person.

You also don’t NEED one to go out to the store for groceries or at work IF you can maintain strict distancing and hand hygiene. However, this is challenging if you can’t completely avoid separation from others eg. At the cash register. For this reason I would recommend wearing a mask for these situations. A surgical mask is not needed for this. Save these for health care workers please.
You can make your own from cotton, antimicrobial pillow cases, vacuum bags, and pretty much anything that can cover your face and withstand humidity. I personally recommend cotton or pillowcase material since this is easy to wash and reuse.

3. Food. Coronavirus doesn’t thrive in food or packaging. You won’t die from your takeout pizza or drive thru coffee, I promise you!
It does not aerosolize from these surfaces or materials. When you retrieve your food or groceries, do so with clean HANDS and avoid touching your face. Doing this is more than adequate for protection.
Want to put the takeout box and grocery bags in a dedicated garbage? Fine, but not necessary by any means. And save your wipes for places hands go all the time: table tops, counters, light switches, PHONES, tablets, remotes, game controllers, door knobs, faucets and taps. This is the viral hood!

4. Mental Health. Everyone is anxious, uneasy, worried. Some are depressed, overwhelmed, even panicked. It’s ok to admit this. It’s important. Try not to judge but instead to help and support whomever you can. Talk to each other! Listen to someone. Donate something to a homeless shelter or a community mental health organization. Giving will give you back so much more than you could imagine.

5. Breathe. As daunting as this is, it will end at some point when our containment strategies pay dividends, the virus runs out of susceptible people to infect and enough exposed and recovered people become immune. Take this time to reframe life habits and a perspective towards minimizing waste, maximizing time for those you love and need you, and learning that humility and patience are our greatest teachers and guides.

I wish you all health, safety, and sanity. These are dark times, but there is light in our eyes and hope in our hearts. Never forget.

#cleanhands #openhearts #openminds #caremongering #breatheHOPE

#RedDeerStrong – Uncertainty and Stress can lead to deadlock. Brown Resolutions may be just what you need right now.