One thing is certain during this coronavirus pandemic: Everyone is looking forward to an end of social distancing and the reopening of the economy. Though local hospitals are not currently overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, to begin safely reopening the economy and staying open, America will need to continue to practice social distancing.
Though much is still uncertain about the coronavirus, both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are still taking COVID-19 very seriously. In fact, the CDC still recommends social distancing as states reopen across the country. This is because COVID-19 spreads mainly through close contact with others for a prolonged period of time. We’ve listed a few reasons to continue social distancing as Alabama, like other states, begins to slowly reopen.
- Coronavirus is still spreading in some communities (and states).
- Reopening states does not mean the virus is gone completely.
- People can unknowingly carry COVID-19 and continue to spread the virus even if they don’t have symptoms.
- We still do not have enough information about the coronavirus to effectively create new vaccines or treatments.
- New information about how COVID-19 behaves and spreads is still surfacing.
Tips for Practicing Social Distancing As We Reopen
Each state and community may be slightly different, but following these tips in your community will continue to flatten the curve and keep you and your family safe.
Don’t Forget To Wear Your Mask
If you’re planning on going out since your favorite store has reopened, you still need to wear a face mask. A face mask helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are carrying the disease but are not showing symptoms. In other words, wearing your mask protects others from the disease. In addition, many businesses now have regulations that prevent patrons without masks from entering their business. If you’re in need of this new accessory, the CDC has tips and instructions for creating your own cloth mask. Remember to save medical masks for the frontliners (like emergency responders and healthcare workers) who need them most.
Expect Restaurant Dine-In Options to Be Different
Restaurants are considering reopening their dine-in options. Though this exciting news for you and your favorite burger joint, don’t expect the same experience that you’re used to. Some locations are prohibited by capacity levels, meaning they may have limited seating arrangements. Some restaurants may be implementing paper menus and many will require employees to wear masks. In addition to wearing your cloth face mask, be sure to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other patrons and comply with the restaurant’s new regulations.
Continue to Order Grocery Pick-Up or Delivery When Available
Though reopening means visiting your favorite places, it is still encouraged to continue having groceries and pharmaceuticals delivered. These places are still essential places of business and will still see a lot of traffic. To help stop the spread, continue getting groceries delivered, or schedule a pick-up. If your store doesn’t offer these services, consider shopping at non-peak hours to help keep foot-traffic low in-store.
Wash Your Hands Often
Washing your hands is still the most effective way to prevent COVID-19. Continue to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public space, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. When soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Though gloves may be useful in certain cases, they can be just as dirty as skin if not changed frequently or put on properly. Check out the CDC’s proper handwashing technique page for more information.
Want More COVID Tips?
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