By Dr EK Wills
So it seems the health department have evolving recommendations and everyone has different advice to help flatten the curve and make it manageable for the health service. But what does this mean for everyone every day?
No one has come out with a simple list of what we need to do to stay safe and generally do our bit for the community.
Based on what I have seen so far and what appears to be working across the board, I have generated a simple checklist to make it easy to follow.
Masks
Masks help to stop us touching our faces and transmitting possible infection.
They also help to protect others from you, so if everyone wears one when out, then we are protected from everyone else.
The powers that be are asking us to not take masks from front line workers, which is a valid request. But since studies show that any mask helps, (see this long but very informative video), we can still wear masks by making our own.
There are many templates available online or if you don't feel very creative then look for others that are now making and selling them to make ends meet.
However, care needs to be taken in how you use masks. The danger is you contaminate your own mask every time you touch it so DON'T PULL IT DOWN TO TALK AND THEN REPLACE IT.
Use your mask once then sterilize it before using again.
This can be done by
a. washing with soap/detergent
b. placing it in the oven at 70 degrees C for 30-60mins or
c. put it in the sun because UV light works too
Gloves
You would think that using gloves protects you from picking up contaminants but you still transfer them to your face or other things you touch.
The best defence is regular washing.
Hand Sanitiser
Many people are worried they are unable to purchase hand sanitizer.
Without getting into the specifics, studies show that soap and water is just as effective, if not more so.
While you cant use soap and water when out and about regularly, if you use a mask and keep it on, it will stop you touching your face and then you can wash your hands when you have the opportunity such as immediately when you get home.
Socialising
Everyone seems to be telling us different parameters of what we should and shouldn’t be doing. This is confusing and appears to make people angry enough to ignore the requests.
Simply put, STAY PUT.
Social distancing works so if we can limit contact to non-regulars then we are already doing our bit.
1. Try to not visit family you haven’t seen for a while. Please don't have home gatherings to make up for not going out. Use online options instead.
2. Try to shop once a week if possible, only go out to attend work or exercise (and not on well trodden paths with 50 other people). WE NEED TO STAY 1.5M APART WHEN OUTSIDE TOO.
Support
It is important to support each other. Expect we will have meltdowns and moments of tears. Most importantly please respect what others are doing and do what we need to do ourselves. I will do a post about mental health to follow.
Keep safe and, while this is now clichéd, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
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