COVID-19: Tracy's Guide for Families

Q: I’m about to leave on a business trip. Is it safe to live in a hotel and what should I pay attention to? 💁 Tracy: Hotels are definitely not as safe as living at home. However, if you don’t have any other choice, please do your best to protect yourself. Before your travel, Gauge how you are feeling. If you have a fever, dry cough, fatigue, or other flu/cold-like symptoms, self-quarantine at home for at least 14 days Call hotel ahead of time, ask for a room that has not been lived by other guests by about 3 days or longer if possible Prepare disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, bring a small bottle of alcohol and bleach, any other disinfectant, gloves. In addition, remember to bring your own masks, goggles, faceshields, PPEs, towel, pillow cover, toothbrush, and any other toiletries you may need.  Please consider these recommendations for long-distance travel from this guide. When you get to the hotel, please consider these steps: Change your cloth immediately after ...

Q: I still need to use public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Is this risky and how can I stay safe? 💁 Tracy: In crowded places with less air circulation, your risk of exposure to COVID-19 increases. If you absolutely must use public transportation, here are some tips to minimize your risk of getting infected: ➤Minimize time spent in contact with other people. If you absolutely must use public transportation, try to minimize the time you spend in contact with other people by planning your travel outside of normal rush hours. Try to avoid rush hours when you travel.  Plan your travel well. If you have multiple destinations along the same path, do not go back and forth. Instead, try to schedule events to minimize travel time. Choose vehicles or cart that are less crowded.  When paying for transportation, try to use credit cards and self-checkout to minimize interaction with other people. ➤ Minimize exposure during travel. On bu...

Q: If I have to use the public toilet, what should I pay attention to? 💁 Tracy: Avoid using public toilets when possible. If you have to, choose toilets with better sanitary conditions, and try your best to avoid any unsanitary toilets. Toilet seat: Try to choose a seat that has no urine or water marks. Before sitting on the toilet seat, put a toilet seat cover on the seat. If there is no cover paper, you can use toilet paper or other paper instead. Try not to directly touch the public parts or areas of the public toilet, such as door handles, faucet handles, or flushing buttons. If you touch them, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Use your elbows, not your hands, to push the door. If you need to touch those areas/parts again, wrap your hands first with clean paper towels, and then discard the towels. If any part of your body has touched the doors or handles (hands, arms or elbows), wash it thoroughly afterwards. Avoid using hand dryer to ...

Q: What do I need to pay attention to if I have to eat out? 💁 Tracy:  If you have to eat out, please pay attention to the following: Choose a restaurant with good sanitary conditions. Try your best to avoid buffet or cafeterias. Especially, avoid getting food that has been exposed to air or uncovered for a long time. Don’t go to restaurants at peak times. Avoid crowded restaurants. If possible, choose restaurants that provide online ordering, which means you can order at table but there’s no need to communicate with the waiters/waitresses. Try your best to get your meals to-go. Disinfect the bag and food container. Before eating, heat up food again,  please refer to food disinfection recommendations. Don’t order meat, eggs, or dairy that is not fully cooked. This includes partially cooked steak, eggs, etc. Wash your hands and disinfect your utensils before eating or drinking. Try your best not to eat in group settings. Minim...

Q: If I have to go to the supermarket for shopping, what should I pay attention to? 💁 Tracy:  Going to supermarket： Before you go out, plan what you want to buy, choose a familiar store, think about the route you want to take in the market, and minimize the amount of time in the supermarket. Before you go, contact your neighbors, relatives and friends to see if they need something urgent. Communicating with each other will reduce the number of times you go to the market. Bring a certain amount of disinfectant or sanitary paper towels. If possible, wear special gloves or disposable gloves to reduce the chance of touching anything with your hands. When using a shopping cart or basket, clean the handle with disinfectant beforehand if you do not wear special gloves or disposable gloves. Try to choose a time with fewer people in the market. Check how crowded it is at the door before deciding whether to shop. Check the shopping times specifically set up ...

Q: When do I need to sanitize the bathroom? 💁 Tracy: COVID-19 is mainly spread by droplets or contact. If no one is infected at home, or has interacted with anyone infected,  there is no need for special disinfection in the bathroom. General cleaning is sufficient. If someone is sick at home or in close contact with infected ones,  please refer to “ What can I do if I’m sick? ” and “ What should I do if someone is sick in my family ”，and isolate themselves at home. Q: How to disinfect bathroom 💁 Tracy:   Step 1: Place a bowl tablet with “bleach” in the toilet water tank, and replace it with a new one periodically. Step 2: Do not mix items from other family members with patient's items. Sepatate them in different rooms. Ideally, use separate bathrooms and shower rooms if possible.   Step 3: Wash hands thoroughly before disinfection. Step 4: If you need to wash patient excretion, such as urine, feces, sputum,  etc, please ...

Q: During the pandemic, if I have to leave home ,  what preparation should I make?  💁 Tracy:  Prepare different sets of outfits appropriate for the season; they should be changed, washed, and disinfected frequently; do not mix your other clothes with these outfits.  Prepare different sets of shoes which should be changed, washed, and disinfected frequently; shoes should be left outside of the house. Prepare several pairs of gloves; wear clean gloves each time you go out, especially going to stores; dirty gloves should be washed and disinfected frequently. Wear a mask when you go out; when you get home, put it in a sealed bag after use; depending on the circumstances, you can either dispose the used masks or disinfect them for later use.  💁 Tracy suggests the follow steps when you get home: Step 1: put shoes and shopping bag(s) outside the entrance of the house Step 2:  hang coats in a well-ventilated place, such as outside under th...