COVID-19: Tracy's Guide for Families

Q: How do I explain COVID-19 and the need for isolation to my children? 💁 Tracy: This depends on the age and level of understanding of your children, but there are some general guidelines below: Remain calm as you explain the situation. Children react to the feelings of their caregivers. Begin with past experiences. Most children have been sick with a cold or other illness. Explain that COVID-19 is an illness also, but that it is more severe so we must be more careful to keep everyone safe. This is why schools have closed and activities have been canceled. Remind children of hygiene rules and that following the rules gives them the power to prevent illness. Explain the positive steps you and your family are taking to keep everyone safe. Include things such as wearing masks when you must leave the house.   Acknowledge your child’s feelings and answer their questions. If a child seems uninterested, they may need time to process what you’ve told them. Do...

Q: Is it safe to go for a walk or run in a park? 💁 Tracy: Yes and no. There are guidelines you must follow to stay safe. Also, stay home if you or your family members have any symptoms of illness. Please refer to “ What can I do if I am sick? ” or “ What should I do if someone is sick in my family? ” for help in these circumstances. Here is what to consider when going out for a walk or run. The following are a few tips: Choose an area that isn’t crowded. If the area is crowded, come back when it is less crowded or choose another location for your exercise. This will allow you to maintain social distancing. When someone talks, coughs or sneezes , droplets travel through the air. Remaining at a safe distance from others, at least six feet, keeps you out of the path of those droplets. It is okay to walk or run with the people in your household as long as they are not infected or potentially infected. Maintain social distancing protocols at all times. Follow all governm...

Q: Do I need to wear a mask? 💁 Tracy: COVID-19 can be transmitted through droplets when people talk, sneeze, cough, etc. Therefore, wearing a mask can reduce the risk of transmission. People who have been infected should wear masks. Those who have close contact with patients and potentially infected people need to wear masks. CDC is considering and changing its guidelines at the time being whether healthy people should wear masks. Even wearing non-medical masks such as cotton masks can also play a protective role. But wearing a mask can definitely reduce the risk of transmission for asymptomatic and infected people even when viruses are in incubation stage. People who have been infected must wear masks when they come in contact with other people. Whether other people need to wear masks depends on the situation, especially when medical masks are in shortage, and the needs of healthcare workers and first-responders need to be prioritized. Please consider wearing masks when you a...

Question: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to avoid crowds. But what if I want to buy something or eat outside? 💁 Tracy:  If you can rely on a good internet, you can shop or dine without going out.  Here are some examples of online shopping (we are not endorsing or recommending these merchandises, but just using them as examples for the explanation. Detailed charges and services vary during the pandemics. Please check each vendor for specific charges and delivery details). Please refer to our article “3: Disinfecting Takeout and Deliveries” https://tracysguide.blogspot.com/2020/04/3-disinfecting-takeout-and-deliveries.html on how to disinfect these items when they arrive at your home. Choose businesses with good reputations. Some popular online grocery shopping merchants are: Amazon Fresh, Costco, Whole Food, etc. Pay attention to whether there is a membership fee or a Prime fee. Shipping cost may be increased if you do not have a premium account. Self-pickup se...

Q: What is fecal-oral transmission? 💁 Tracy: Fecal-oral transmission results from the digestive tract containing large amounts of pathogens (such as virus). After excretion of fecal matter, due to feces directly contaminating food, or feces contaminating hands and indirectly contaminating food, pathogens enter the body through the digestive system, resulting in infection. Q: Why is it important to pay attention to fecal-oral transmission? 💁 Tracy: COVID-19 nucleic acids have been detected in the fecal matter of patients, so if there are confirmed/suspected cases or people who are in close contact with patients (including healthcare workers and volunteers) at your home, you should pay attention to preventing fecal-oral transmission routes. Q: How do you prevent fecal-oral transmission? 💁 Tracy: A: Bathrooms Those in close contact with patients as well as those isolating at home, please use the bathroom separately from other members of the household (refer to bathroom ...

Q: How should I disinfect food or grocery? 💁 Tracy: Food in supermarkets may get infected with droplets or via touching by people carrying the virus. But don’t panic, you can enjoy the food as long as the food is disinfected. Please pay attention to and follow the recommendations below: Wash your hands thoroughly before and after preparing food. Please do not use the same knives and chopping boards for cooked and raw food, especially for raw meat and fish. Knives and cutting boards need to be washed after each use and disinfected with bleach frequently. Cook and/or heat food thoroughly. Do not eat raw meat, eggs, and milk, for example, sashimi, half-cooked steak, etc. If you are not sure about milk, boil the milk before consuming it. Wear gloves if needed to handle food packaging and containers coming back from supermarkets, including paper bags, plastic bags, plastic food wrappers, and fast-food boxes. Disinfect food containers before opening them. Heat take-o...

Q: How can I clean and disinfect kitchen? 💁 Tracy:  Cleaning You must choose a kitchenware cleaner to clean dishes, cups or cutting boards. Glass cleaners, metal cleaners, and most bathroom cleaners are not suitable for cleaning the kitchen. If you use dish detergent, dilute it with a small amount of water for better results. Some scrubbing agents also have a disinfecting function. After applying degreasing or scrubbing agents, wait for 5-10 minutes before cleaning. Disinfection Physical Disinfection: High temperature: Steaming and boiling water disinfection is simple and effective. You can put kitchenware in boiling water for 1 minute. Alternatively, you can use a disinfection cabinet and follow the manual instruction. 254nm UVC household ultraviolet lamp: The required irradiation time is determined by the power of the lamp and other parameters. Please follow the user’s manual to select appropriate radiation time. Please note: Do not enter the room during ...