COVID-19: Tracy's Guide for Families

Q: What are the guidelines for children wearing masks? 💁 Tracy: Children ages 2 and above may wear cloth masks covering the nose and mouth. (According to current CDC guidelines, medical masks and N-95 respirators should be reserved for medical personnel and other emergency personnel.) Children’s face masks need to be selected to fit their faces. Please pay attention to any signs of discomfort, like breathing difficulty, when masks are being worn by children. Masks may not suitable for babies and very young children, as wearing masks may increase their risk of getting choked or interfering with their breathing. If children are reluctant to wear masks because of discomfort in breathing, try to adjust the masks to make sure they fit them properly. Tracy's Toolbox for Children:  Face Masks Dedicated for Children Reference: [1]  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html#children [2]  https:...

Q: Should children play outside? 💁 Tracy： Social distancing is also recommended for children when they play outside with others. Pick a game or sport for children so it will be safer for them than team sports. They should not touch other people's pets or objects when playing outdoors. If someone is sick at home, try to maintain hygiene practices and social distancing even with children, and separate all personal items to minimize infection. Precautions on hand washing and disinfection of objects: Children's toys, books, tableware, and other personal items must be disinfected regularly. Wash with soap and running water would the safest option. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand gel containing at least 60% alcohol. Q: Do I still need to keep up with other vaccinations for my children? 💁 Tracy: Be sure to talk to your pediatricians to see how you can work out the best schedule for your child's vaccination needs. It...

Q: Should I still have routine obstetric examinations during the pandemic? 💁 Tracy: During the pandemic, expecting mothers may reduce the frequency of obstetric examinations under the guidance of their obstetricians. This is especially true if fetal movement is normal and you have no other underlying health conditions or abnormal pregnancy conditions during pandemic. Please talk to your doctors about how to best schedule your examinations and concerns of COVID-19 exposure. If you have pregnancy complications, please consult with your doctors how to address such conditions and your examinations. Make sure you wear masks correctly when you go to doctors' offices and hospitals, and follow protective measures according to your doctors' suggestions. If you have other abnormal signs or discomfort, please call your doctors right away. Your doctors may be able to make special arrangment for you to enter their offices and hospitals to minimize your exposure to othe...

Q: What steps should I take to decrease my risk of infection if I’m in a high-risk category? 💁 Tracy: If you are age 65 or above or are in a high-risk category, stay home and pay attention to signs of illness. Refer to our article “What should I do if I’m at a greater risk for infection or if members of my household have this risk?” to learn about symptoms. Have all members of your household stay home as well. The following steps may be helpful for you to stay home and stay safe: Use delivery services for groceries, medications, and other items you may need. Pay with a credit card when you order, so you do not have to come in physical contact with the delivery person. Leave an envelope containing any gratuity outside for them. Keep some canned and frozen goods at home, and extra medications on hand in case delivery orders are delayed. This ensures you have enough supplies and dietary needs at home. Have a friend or family member shop for you and leave the items...

Q: What extra steps should I take if I live alone or I’m struggling to cope with isolation? 💁 Tracy: Try some of these suggestions and tips to see if they may be helpful if you have to stay alone: Have a regular schedule of contact with other people so that if someone doesn’t hear from you, they will know to check on you. You don’t have to speak to the same person each day, but schedule a routine time so that you are in contact with someone daily and make sure each person is aware of your schedule and knows who to call if you don’t respond. Find one person who can take care of you if you are sick. This person is ideally someone in your family and should have a key to your home and live close enough to let emergency personnel come in if needed.  Weather permitting, spend some time outside each day or open windows so you have fresh air and can enjoy nature every day. Sunlight is important for a good mood. Keep yourself occupied by pursuing a hobby, listening to f...

Q: What factors may increase the chance of COVID-19 infection, and what should I do if I’m at a higher risk or if members of my household have this risk? 💁 Tracy: If you are age 65 or over or are in a high-risk category, stay home and pay attention to signs of illness. Conditions that put you at a higher risk for a more severe COVID-19 case include elder age, heart and lung diseases, such as asthma, high blood pressure and heart failure. Other chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and immunity disorders will play a role too. Here are the symptoms to watch for: Fever Dry cough Shortness of breath Body aches Fatigue Some people have also reported changes in the sense of smell or taste, and other neurological symptoms Consult your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms and check the article of “What to do if I am sick?” for further information. If you have the following symptoms, call your doctor or emergency hotline immediately: Dif...

Q: Can I travel long distances during the pandemic? 💁 Tracy:  Try to avoid all unnecessary travel. If you have to travel abroad, you must understand the immigration and other health regulations of the destination country.  For domestic travel, please follow the CDC guidelines, and minimize all long-distance travel unless essential.  When you absolutely have to travel to areas with a large number of infected cases, you should keep track of real-time pandemic information and have appropriate protection. Try to avoid public transportation, such as buses, trains and planes. Driving yourself or taking a taxi is recommended. Q: What should I watch out for when travelling long distances? 💁 Tracy:  Do not travel if you have COVID-19 like symptoms. Please do self quarantine at home. Take public transportation only after you have no symptoms for 14 days or test negative consecutively. If you have to travel long distances by public transportation, please consider 3 pha...