4 simple ways communities can fight COVID-19

Pulling together as communities, let’s fight COVID-19. But, how?

Coming together in spirit

The pandemic has hit us all, pretty hard. We have lost loved ones, we’ve not hugged our family members, and friends have become all but a neatly organized bunch of pixels. No matter what we do, though, we cannot lose hope. Humanity has been through terrible things in the past, and we’ve always risen back from the ashes.

If we all act together, do our best to mitigate risks, and help each other out with basic daily activities, we can make it through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, stronger than ever. But, it all begins with good knowledge about the virus, great healthcare practices, and general tips for keeping safe. One by one, we can overcome this ordeal.

For communities to fight COVID-19: First, know how it spreads

It’s a virus, part of the flu family. Therefore, it can stay on surfaces for many hours. The flu virus can stay on surfaces, can live on hard surfaces like subway train support bars for a staggering 3 days. It can stay alive on fabrics for around 8 to 12 hours. The novel Coronavirus can stay on hard surfaces for just as long, but it can stay on human skin for just as many days, unlike the flu.

COVID-19 is also spreading through aerosolization. This means it spreads through the air. It can travel for tens of miles if not more and enter into the home through an open window. So even if you’re not in a crowded space, you might become infected just by opening your window on a windy day. Therefore, wherever you go outside, wear a mask.

When it comes to how to fight COVID-19, you also need to know that it can pass through other activities, such as hugging, intimate behavior in the bedroom, even from blowing a kiss from your hand. So, make sure you are following the proper precautions.

Do THIS if you go shopping

If you can shop online, then please do. The fewer people cramming into one store, the better for all of us. However, most retail stores will have stewards which will shepherd customers into the store when they have safe numbers to do so.

1. Take a face mask of some kind. Some authorities are saying, something is better than nothing. So even a ripped t-shirt, placed over the face will suffice. You can also wear a scarf if you have one. A surgical mask will only last for a few years, while a dedicated designed mask, which is washable, will last for a couple of months.
2. Take some kind of gloves with you. Even if you only have mittens, that will be fine. You can even wear kitchen cleaning rubber gloves if that’s the only hand protection you have at home. Plastic surgical gloves are good because they give you plenty of dexterous movement and they are comfortable. If you don’t have any of the mentioned, then just wear winter leather or synthetic gloves.
3. Go to the bathroom before going shopping. Don’t use public toilets if you can help it at all.
4. Don’t scratch your face with your hands. When you’re picking up food and other products, you should be aware that other people have probably touched those things too.

Also, make sure that you wipe down your products with sanitizer wipes before you put them into your kitchen cupboards and fridge. Do the same for any older people you might be shopping for as part of the strategy to fight COVID-19.

Being a community

So many people around the world have become symbols of inspiration and Cynthia Telles is no exception. This incredible woman has worked hard to make communities safe from COVID-19 and she has some tips you should listen to. She says, “A community approach is now the only way we will see real progress towards eradicating this virus.”

This means that everyone has to realize that we need to wear masks and gloves not just for ourselves, but for each other. Some people that are in the vulnerable groups, will have diabetes, obesity, and breathing concerns which make them more prone to being more in danger of having serious health complications if they get the virus.

Communities have to work together to not overwhelm health systems and make sure that only the neediest are getting serious emergency care. The world only had a limited number of ventilators and hospital beds. So the young must care for the old. Dr. Cynthia Telles, PhD. said, “With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, communities and health systems must work harder than ever to ensure they are working together to improve public health.”

Helping the elderly in isolation

Our grandmas, granddads, and older friends need our help. The younger generations are not out of the woods, but they are in less danger from the novel coronavirus. Hence, we are able to can and should, help our elderly neighbors.

We can do their shopping for them and place it on their doorstep. Speak with them through the window of their house. Ask them if they need any help with groceries. If they do, ask them to write down a list of things. Post the list and the money through the letterbox. If they trust you, ask them to give you their credit card, but only if they don’t have cash. Go do their grocery shopping for them.

Then wipe every product from the grocery store down, and make sure you are happy that everything is safe – even the shopping bags themselves. Place the food on their doorstep and be ready to do this again, in a week or so.

Also, help your elderly family members to learn how to use Zoom and other conference call software. Be patient as they learn about the different software features. If they don’t have a camera or microphone, buy one of each for them and set them on the journey to keep in contact with you and other family members. Don’t worry, Zoom has an online tutorial and video call tutorial to help you get used to their software.

Final words on empowering communities to fight COVID-19

We must all band together and remember that humanity has always pulled through by working as one. Let’s stay safe, know how this virus behaves and spreads, make sure we’re wearing protective equipment when we go outside and help our most vulnerable members of society.

We’ve got this!!

Find out what to expect in a post-COVID-19 world in this recent post.