How to Prepare for the Coronavirus in Six Steps

Who is most susceptible: the elderly and people with preexisting conditions (mortality rate for those under 40 is only 0.2% while it is 8% for those 70-79)

How it spreads: by aerosolized droplets (e.g. the droplets you release when you cough or sneeze. These droplets can travel over 6 feet if you don’t cover your mouth and nose effectively

Most common symptoms:

How it proceeds:

NO HANDSHAKING, fist bumps, or elbow bumps (exception: people you’re quarantined with, it’s fine to bump with those all the time). Tip: it’s possible to avoid contamination of the knuckles and push elevator buttons with a key.

Work from home

No longer going to big group events (concerts, conferences, etc.)

No more air travel or public transit

No going downtown, offices, etc.

No meeting people in restaurants, bars, cafes etc.

“Places with <20 people only” are not safe

Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches, elevator buttons, etc. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

Open doors with your closed fist or hip – do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain the infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

Try not to touch your face. (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you – it is lung-specific.

Wash your hands with soap for AT LEAST 20 seconds (see this video for best practices) and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.

Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home’s entrances AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can’t immediately wash your hands.

Every time you get back home:

Water (2 liters/person/day)

1 month of non-perishable food (nut butters, canned food, frozen food, etc.)

Coffee/tea

Pet food

Prescription medication (a few months’ supply)

Asthma inhalers

First Aid kit

Painkillers

Cough relief

Wound dressing

Vitamin A and D supplements

Masks

Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves (for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas)

Hand sanitizers – must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective

Bleach, alcohol, and other household cleaners that will kill viruses on shared surfaces

Everything in this guide was drawn from the following sources, which contain a lot more useful information: