Keeping Your Home Safe From COVID-19

There are a continuing growing number of cases of COVID-19 in our nation and every state is making policies to distance ourselves from each other in public spaces.

But how can people make sure that everyone in their home is taking the best possible action to protect themselves from the virus and delay further spreading?

How to keep the home safe from COVID-19

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a clean household is one way to help keep COVID-19 at bay. Americans should follow the advice below:

Clean hands at the door and at regular intervals
Create habits and reminders, such as: avoid touching one’s face, and cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and handrails regularly
Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting the air conditioning

For those with underlying health conditions, COVID-19 can be more severe, so protecting the vulnerable at home is imperative for their safety. These conditions could include, but are not limited to, heart, lung, kidney disease, diabetes and those that have suppressed immune systems. The elderly are also more at risk.

Advice from the CDC is as follows:

Have healthy people in the household conduct themselves as if they were a significant risk to the person with underlying conditions. For example, wash hands frequently before interacting with the person, such as when feeding or caring directly for the person
If possible, provide a protected space for vulnerable household members
Ensure all utensils and surfaces are cleaned regularly

For households with sick family members, taking extra precautions can help delay or prevent the spread of the virus.

If there is a sick person in the home, do the following:

Give sick members their own room if possible, and keep the door closed
Have only one family member care for them
Consider providing additional protections or more intensive care for household members over 65 years old or with underlying conditions