What to do when you leave your house

As some states begin to lift their stay-at-home orders and businesses begin to reopen, it’s important to remember there is still a risk of contracting COVID-19.  So what do you do when you venture out of the house, and how do you stay safe?  We’ve got a list of things you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Clean boxes and bags coming into your home.

From Amazon to your local grocer to UberEats, nearly every business that is able is offering home delivery.  Ordering in is a great way to limit having to go out. There has been conflicting information over the last 30 days about whether or not coronavirus can live on packages…and there is still no clear answers.  If you’re like me, and you see your UPS delivery person daily, it’s not a bad idea to wipe down boxes coming into your home.  I keep a bottle of disinfecting spray by the front door, and I wipe down boxes before I bring them in.

Avoid using your hands.

When you do venture out of the house, you’ll likely need to open doors, press a button in an elevator, etc.  When you do, try using your elbow, or pull your sleeve over your hand so you don’t make direct contact with the surface.  If you do touch something in public, keep your hands away from your face and make sure you wash your hand frequently.

Be mindful of where you put your phone.

I’ll admit that my phone may as well be my third arm.  If it’s not in my hand, it’s close by.  Pre-coronavirus, I never thought twice about setting it down on a counter to pull out my wallet or grab bags. But these days, that is not the smartest thing to do.  Keep your phone in your pocket or your purse. Don’t set it down on surfaces when you’re not at home.  Make sure you clean your phone often…keep electronic disinfecting wipes handy and wipe down your phone several times a day.

Wear a mask.

Anytime you go out, you should wear a mask.  Leave the N95 mask’s for healthcare professionals, but grab a disposable one or a mask you’ve made and wear it when you go to the store, bank, post office or any other public location.  As with many things related to COVID-19, there have been conflicting opinions about how much a mask will protect you from contracting the virus, but it is now generally recommended to wear a mask anytime you go out in public.  Masks can be hard to come by, so if you can’t find one, grab a bandana or something else you can tie around your nose and mouth.

Wash your hand, wash your hands, wash your hands.

Seriously, wash your hands.  Don’t just run them under warm water, use soap and count to 20, then rinse, repeat (often).

Maintain social distance.

I’m a hugger.  I hug everyone I know, so this keeping six feet away throws me for a loop.  It makes me feel like I’m being aloof or rude to friends.  But welcome to our new normal.  The good news is, everyone is feeling the same way.  It’s not always easy, especially if you’re at Target or a grocery store, to stay six feet away from someone.  Many stores are limiting the number of people they allow in at once—I for one, hope Costco keeps their limited entrance guidelines in place forever (topic for another blog).  If you are in a store, wait for an aisle to clear before you enter so you can keep your distance from other shoppers.