Here’s What You Can Do to Protect High-Risk Family Members During the COVID-19 Outbreak

COVID-19 doesn’t treat everyone the same. For most—about 80 percent of people, according to some research—coronavirus shows up as mild symptoms, like fever, cough, and shortness of breath. For others, specifically those in high-risk groups like older adults or those with chronic illnesses like diabetes and lung disease, the virus can strike harder and be more likely to lead to severe illness.

Because COVID-19 disproportionately affects the high-risk community, the role of caregivers is especially important and complicated right now. While it's important for everyone, especially caregivers, to continue following the precautionary measures recommended by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—like frequently washing your hands for 20 seconds at a time and keeping common surfaces clean—one of the most important measures for high-risk individuals and those caring for them is practicing as much social distancing as possible. "Public space is where the risk [of exposure and infection] is going to be the highest," Ronan Factora, MD, an internal medicine and geriatrics specialist at Cleveland Clinic, tells Health.

In addition to those preventive measures, those who are currently caring for high-risk individuals should be aware of additional steps to further protect themselves and those in their care during the coronavirus outbreak. Here, three extra steps all caregivers should take while looking after someone with a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

1. Make a contingency plan
If you’re a caregiver it's important to track who (if anyone) knows about your responsibilities. “A lot of times that one [high-risk] family member relies on that caregiver to do everything,” says Dr. Factora. Many times, a single caregiver may be in charge of picking up and dispensing their medications, taking them to doctor’s appointments, and doing their grocery shopping.

If you provide that level of care to a high-risk individual, it’s important to consider what would happen if you yourself became sick with COVID-19 and weren't allowed to come into contact with the person your'e caring for. You might want to consider giving someone else a list of your loved one’s medicine routine, for example, in case you aren’t able to oversee it yourself before this pandemic is over. “That contingency plan may involve having other family members take [on] that responsibility,” says Dr. Factora, in an effort to protect and care for that high-risk individual.

2. Resist the urge to visit loved ones in nursing homes and other settings

It might be your first instinct to check on your loved one in-person, but you really need to think twice about giving into that temptation right now, explains Dr. Factora— especially if your loved one lives in an assisted living facility. Remember, you may be able to spread COVID-19 without showing symptoms of the virus. If you visit a nursing home while carrying the virus, you could potentially infect dozens of elderly people who are most at-risk for dying from the virus.

As difficult as it might be to stay separated from a loved one in a nursing home, it's important to remember that staff members are caring for them. “Their meals are prepared; they have assistance," says Dr. Factora. "Avoid exposure if it’s unnecessary."

If the person you care for lives outside of a nursing home, be especially cautious when you visit them. If you’re in charge of getting their groceries, consider leaving those groceries by their front door instead of going into their home, which increases your risk of infecting them, especially if you’ve recently been in a public space. Another precaution to take is avoiding letting children visit the elderly. “Family members want to be with each other, but this is a time to exercise more caution from that standpoint,” says Dr. Factora. Consider ways you can keep in touch with your loved ones virtually, like through phone calls or FaceTime sessions.

3. Don’t forget about other health conditions
In the frenzy that has become the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be easy to overlook other health conditions, or the possibility of other health emergencies. While it’s important to monitor your loved ones if they start exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, such as a high temperature, don’t forget to monitor symptoms of other health conditions they have or are prone to.

"Make sure that persons health is in good shape," says Dr. Factora. That means keeping an eye on any chronic illnesses they may have, and staying in close virtual contact via phone or video chat to make sure they're not feeling any symptoms that may signal the need of emergency medical assistance.

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Fighting COVID-19: Experts Answer 5 questions We All Have About Wearing Masks

Amidst conflicting guidance on the usage of masks, there is ample news of hoarding, piracy, scarcity of protective equipment, including masks. There are also countless DIY videos of making masks from t-shirts and paper towels.
Here are the five questions we must be asking:

1. Why use a mask?

The primary way of transmission of the novel coronavirus is by droplets ejected from an infected person when they sneeze, cough or even speak. Wearing a mask prevents them from spreading the infection to everyone around them.

2. Who should be wearing a mask?

For weeks, authorities, including the World Health Organization, have told the public not to wear a mask unless they were sick or caring for someone with COVID-19. Yet, if you are entering the Mantralaya in Maharashtra, wearing a mask is mandatory.

Recent guidance from the CDC recommends wearing cloth coverings on the face in public settings, where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). The main reason for this is to slow the spread of the virus, especially from those who are asymptomatic but can transmit the virus to others.

3. Which mask to wear?

While home-made cloth masks are being recommended for public protection, regular supplies of medical-grade masks, including surgical and N95 masks, are critical for healthcare workers who are exposed to high concentrations of the virus at the frontline.

“N95 masks should only be worn by trained medical professionals and not the general public,” says Dr Abdul Ghafur, Adjunct Professor and Consultant in infectious diseases at the Apollo Cancer Institute in Chennai.

He explains that there are two important reasons for this. “One, N95 masks are only for aerosol-generating medical procedures. So even healthcare workers don’t routinely wear N95 masks. Two, most of the public doesn’t know how to wear an N95 mask properly, as special training and expertise are needed for wearing an N95 mask. So, if we don’t wear an N95 mask properly, it may even be harmful.”

4. Are home-stitched masks protective enough?

“Cloth masks are useful for asymptomatic (people) and (those who) are not working in healthcare facilities,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences in Delhi.


Research has shown that a couple of layers of cotton, like a T-shirt, or layered paper towel, work great. Here’s a detailed description of how to make a mask at home.
5. Is wearing a mask enough?

While wearing a mask protects the wearer and the community, doing so incorrectly or touching the outsides of the mask and then one’s nose or mouth makes it useless. More so, cleaning and disposing the masks inappropriately defeats the whole purpose. So, next time you wear a mask, do remember:
Here are some do’s and don’ts for homemade masks:

• Ensure the mask fits the face snugly, is secured with ties or ear loops, allows for breathing without restriction and includes multiple layers of fabric or paper.
• Wear the mask at the right time i.e. when buying grocery, medicines etc.
• Do not touch the front of the mask and, if you do, wash your hands as soon as possible.
• Remove the mask from the back of your head when taking it off and wash it after each use with hot water.
• Do not place cloth face coverings on children under two-years-old, anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.                                                                            
  This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
  

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Using a homemade mask for coronavirus? Avoid making these mistakes

The right way to wear a mask

Fearing the ongoing crisis, the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Ministry of India have urged people to wear a mask whenever they step out. Guidelines have also suggested many to make their own masks at home.

While homemade masks may not be the best form of defence, they can help cut down the risk of infection. Masks are especially helpful when you step out or travel in public places and more so if used by someone who exhibits symptoms associated with the coronavirus.

Wearing a mask is definitely a good measure to protect yourself, however, it's vital to ensure that you wear it the right way.

Here are some of the top mistakes you should avoid
Using a mask which only covers your mouth or using an ill-fitted mask

Whether you are using a surgical grade mask or a cloth mask made at home, ensure that the fabric covers both the nose and the mouth area.

A mask which simply just covers the mouth area can allow germs and contagious viruses to enter in the nasal passageway and spread infection. An ill-fitted mask also doesn't work efficiently in ceasing the transmission of the virus. Hence, it's crucial you ensure the mask fits properly and covers your face.
 
Taking off the mask too soon
Another mistake people make is wearing it or removing it at improper times. Before stepping out of your home, ensure that your hands are clean and sanitized so that you don't spread any germs onto the mask and then wear it, before exiting the house. The same way, remember to not take it off soon. Come back to a safe place (i.e., the home), sanitize hands and take off the mask using the string on the sides of it. You can also use hot water to wash or disinfect your homemade mask every time you take it off.

Touching the mask portion
While one should always remove the mask using the strings on the sides or the back of a mask, the same way, it's important to not touch the exterior of a mask. The front of the mask or the outside portion (especially homemade masks) can be an easy space for contamination and can transmit germs onto other surfaces.

Removing the mask to talk
Talking through the mask may seem difficult, but that doesn't mean you remove the mask to talk to the ones around you. Remember, coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets. Virus can spread if you are talking to a person who is sick (and remember the person can also be asymptomatic but can still transmit germs), thereby negating the benefits of wearing a mask in the first place.

Remember, wearing a face mask can lower the spread of infection and it works best if you combine this habit with other safety measures like hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Guide to social distancing: The Dos and Don’ts of a lockdown

Are you practicing social distancing?

Social distancing is the need of the hour.

With coronavirus infection cases in India crossing 500, authorities are imposing stringent curbs and lockdowns. It has become now more important than ever to take these precautions seriously and follow strict social distancing.

Social distancing means isolating yourself from the crowd to lessen the infection spread. Since coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets, this can help avoid unnecessary transmission, and in turn, help cut down the number of cases.

To be more precise, distancing yourself also requires one to avoid public gatherings, parties, places frequented by the public (more than 10 people) and maintaining almost a distance of six feet, wherever you can.

How to stay safe from coronavirus

While social distancing would require you to stay put at your home, you cannot fully avoid running errands or picking up groceries for your survival at home. That ultimately means, you are going to be in touch with public utilities and go to places where there might be other people coming too and chances of touching something germy or infectious naturally goes up.

When the home is the safest place you can be, what can you do to avoid bringing germs and viruses in? If you are just as confused, here is an explainer on how to practice social distancing in the right manner:
Question yourself: Is that trip ABSOLUTELY neccessary?

Authorities suggest people postpone important work and step out only if it is neccessary. Yes, sitting at home can get a little boring but this is not the safest time for you to step out of home for leisure. Neither does it mean you go to another friend's home because it will be "safe".

Before stepping out, ask yourself if you could delay or manage it any other way, or at a later date. It is not the best time for outings and staying at home is your best form of protection.

For groceries, ensure that you go out to pick the essentials which are enough to fulfill your basic needs. Try and maintain distance from other shoppers, or go visit a store during the non-peak hours.

If you absolutely must step out for a walk, practice safety precautions and maintain considerable distance. At-home workouts are another option you can give a try.

Take safety in your own hands.

Wherever, whenever you go back, do remember that your safety rests in your own hands. If you do not practice good hygiene or care, chances run high that not only will you catch the infection, but also infect all other people you interact with.

Ensure that you keep a sanitizer or disinfecting wipes on you at all times. If you are coughing or sneezing, it's best to stay in. If you must go out, wear a mask. Avoid touching surfaces like doorknobs, handles or the floor when you go to the market. Stand in a queue and maintain a good distance to avoid picking up germs along the way.

The most vital thing to remember is to NOT break the quarantine time. 14 days self-quarantine is a must now. One day you break it, you invite germs and reset the quarantine counter. It is for your own good to stay in.

Sanitizing and disinfecting once you come back is a MUST
From your shoes to the phone or the bag you carry, germs can reside anywhere and find their way in. Hence, disinfection and sanitizing are important when you come back home. Remove your shoes, clean your spectacles or bag. You can also take a shower if you want.

Washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is a must-do job, without fail. Avoid sharing towels. Clean and disinfect your phone or any such thing you could have taken outside and brought in.

If you are having food from outside, or takeaway, ensure that you transfer the food onto other clean, safe utensils and then eat. As a safety measure, clean your hands after touching any packaged commodity too.

If you have a pet at home and need to take him or her for a walk, make sure you clean and disinfect his paws too. Allow ventilation and fresh air to come in the rooms. Change bed sheets and clean common utility items frequently.

If you are living with someone who is at risk, allocate a separate room for them. DO NOT share utilities at any cost. While you can't disinfect everything, you can always minimize the risk factors.

Try not to PANIC

Yes, it can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing to stay at home and listen to all the updates, fearing for your health. Not being able to step outside, as you normally do, during these curfew hours can also make you restless.

Remember, you aren't alone. There is an entire population experiencing the same set of feelings as you. Take a breath and do not give in to panic. This is also a good time to practice meditation and positive affirmations which can calm you and centre your mind.

As long as you are aware, follow set guidelines and take care of your health, you are doing good. No need to worry.

Avoid visiting elderlies

The lockdown is most likely the time many of us would worry about the elderlies and those with compromised health living apart from us. While it seems thoughtful to go visit them, it will be best if you limit your interactions with them during this vulnerable time. Even if they are staying in a safe environment, you can transmit sickness onto them.

As a measure, avoid visiting people until it is necessary, or they are in dire need of food, supply, medicines or help. The same rule applies for kids play dates and other friends and relatives too.

Do stay in touch with your circle during this isolated time, but do not take extreme steps.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement