COVID-19: What everyday activities put you at risk?

The things you once took for granted are now becoming more and more important. That is the impact that the pandemic has had on you and millions of others worldwide. Of course, from a health perspective, it’s scary to think of a virus that has taken so many lives. However, it’s not only the risk of catching the illness that puts your well-being at risk. There’s the contagious nature of COVID-19 where everyday activities put you at risk, and the mental effects of lockdown are heavy.

The things you used to do without a second thought are now ones that require planning to be as safe as possible (for you and others). Other actions are best avoided altogether because of the threat of COVID-19, such as shaking hands.

Talking COVID-19: 4 everyday activities that put you at risk:

Shopping for groceries

Grocery shopping is a fundamental part of most peoples’ lives. It doesn’t matter whether you’re from North America, Europe, Africa, or Asia; you have to eat and drink to survive. Unfortunately, supermarkets are high-risk since they house so many people at any given point.

During a single day, hundreds of shoppers may go through the doors, touching surfaces, coughing, and sneezing in public. As a result, it’s a place where you’re more likely to contract the virus.

For your sake, and everyone else’s, it’s vital to wear a mask to limit the spread. Also, carry sanitizer to kill the germs before they spread, especially as the store might have run out of their sanitizer that’s at the entranceway of the store by the time you get there.

COVID-19 and everyday activities like shaking hands

When you see a friend or family member, you would normally go to hug them when first meeting up. For colleagues or job interviews, handshakes would have been the customary way to greet one another.

However, these common forms of greeting one another are riddled with danger as they are a way for COVID-19 to move from one person to another. If the process is repeated 10 times, the number of new infections could be in the hundreds of thousands.

It is, therefore, important to try and resist the urge to shake hands or hug. It’s tough because you haven’t seen people in a while and these actions are ones you’ve done for as long as you can remember.

So, the desire is strong. However, for now, bumping elbows is a healthy compromise when seeing those who are not in your household.

Having a “relaxing” drink

Although using alcohol as a stress-reliever is never healthy, some people do find that it helps to reduce tension now and again. Plus, there is a social element of meeting friends at a bar or restaurant, especially after a tough workday, and blowing off steam together there.

Since the easement of restrictions, it’s possible to go to a bar and enjoy a drink now in many cities. Or, if you prefer to stay at home, you may want to drink indoors more often.

As any drug and alcohol addiction treatment center will attest to, leaning on substances during hard times only leads to compulsions that you never suffered from previously. You don’t have to cut out alcohol entirely, yet you should gauge your consumption and nip escalating problems in the bud.

Not only that but some drinks have a lot of sugar. Having excess amounts of sugar can lead to cavities and other oral health issues, so taking care of your teeth during the pandemic is important.

Exercising in groups

Whether it’s the social or competitive element, playing team sports or working out in a group is an enjoyable way to exercise for many people. Plus, you’re toning up and improving your endurance.

But, gyms and organized events can be places to spread COVID-19; they’re everyday activities that can increase your risk. While it’s not as fun, staying home and exercising is a safer option right now as you can control your environment.

A final tip for your fitness routine is to change up your sessions to avoid boredom and boost your motivation levels.