Epidemic prep: COVID-19

It’s Monday and we are off to the races with COVID-19/Novel coronavirus. Good news, everyone! We are totally able to make a few small plans, cope with some minor inconvenience and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

As I told the kid in a delirious ranting metaphor on the way to school this morning: “We are careful with matches and candles, we keep fire extinguishers in the house to be proactive about fire, so we don’t have to call the fire department. If everyone tries to keep their house from catching on fire, when one is unlucky enough to need help there are firemen and engines that come to the rescue. But if no one was careful with fire, if no one had an extinguisher? If 5 houses were burning at the same time? How many houses would be saved by the fire department? WASH YOUR HANDS!” You get the point. He will need therapy.

So, what’s happening now?

First, I’m going to refer you to the CDC. But, generally speaking, the CDC has done relatively little testing up ‘til now, and going forward testing for the specific COVID-19 virus will increase significantly. Which means it’s likely that the numbers of people affected by the virus with increase significantly. This is expected, and will be more of an exposure of current prevalence (meaning the disease has been here, we’re just seeing it more clearly) in the US rather than reveal an overnight explosion in transmission. So be chill if that happens.

What do I do?

Try to stay well.

Follow Rolling Stones tour hygiene. Legend has it that in order to prevent contagious illness from cancelling a gig, The Stones implore: do not touch your face. The microbes on your digits can’t get in you until you rub your eye, scratch your nose, or bite your nail. So don’t! This is a 75 year old man post-valve surgery who keeps his hands away from his face.

Just to be sure—You got your flu shot, right? Less illness overall means more resources to care for those sick with COVID-19 or any other life threatening illness at this time. Heart attacks have notoriously bad timing. So flu shot, take you blood pressure pills, don’t jump off a roof, take care of you.

Wash your hands. Before eating, after using the bathroom, if you want a moment to yourself, after touching doorknobs and table surfaces in public places. Sing the birthday song twice, use friction, warm water, foam it up, and as my poor child repeats to me, eyes rolling, whenever we sit down to dinner: “fronts and back and nails and between fingers.”

Teach your kids to sneeze into their elbows, teach strangers to sneeze into their elbows, and always, always sneeze into your elbow.

Wash your hands again if you sneeze or someone sneezes on or around you or if you see someone sneeze on TV and it reminds you that you haven’t washed your hands for a while. Disinfect your phone just as often as you wash my dear dirty toilet texters.

Mask or no mask? Unless you are in close contact with sick people (health care worker, teachers, first responders) you don’t need a mask. If you insist on wearing one, remember that it is a less effective prophylactic than say a condom, and more complicated to put on and take off correctly. If you are caring for a sick person, this video explains mask donning and doffing, and why people hate mandatory educational videos. If not, please leave them for those who are.

Be ready to care for yourself or family at home.

Reports from China show that 80% of cases of COVID-19 are mild. This is great! Now is the time to buy the stuff you need to take care of yourself and family. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen, cough drops, flu medicine, nasal spray, thermometer, Epsom salt, humidifier, lemon, honey (bourbon), new TV, whatever gets you through. No hoarding.

There is a chance that outbreaks will disrupt business, commerce, and education. Just like hurricanes and nor’easters, a virus is a natural phenomenon and while we measure and predict, there are many variables in play. So have your easy non-perishables, easy meals, entertainment, figure out a plan to work from home if possible, day care solutions if schools shut down.

Don’t you even think about going to work sick or sending your kid to school with a fever. I will put a gypsy curse on you. I know this is near impossible in these United States of No Sick Leave. Curse only applies if you do have sick leave and/or savings.

Know when to get professional help.

It can be hard to tell when you or your kiddo needs a doctor. If you it’s not an emergency (quick and dirty: chest pain, shortness of breath, altered mental status IS ALWAYS emergency, call 911) your first call should be to the nurse advice line provided by your health insurance (the number should be on your card) or at your primary care provider. Getting advice from home means skipping that waiting room (healthy choice for you) and lowering the burden of patients on the health care system (saving resources for those who need them).

Read up on symptoms and advice for care ahead of time, using only trusted resources. Your area health department, the CDC, WHO, are solid bets. You’ll feel safer and better prepared.