Greetings from the day before Friday the 13th! You would think superstitions surrounding the date and this week’s full moon would be the main topic of conversation, but noooooo. The words of the day are coronavirus, COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, pandemic. “Social distancing” surely will be added to the dictionary this year.
The situation is changing rapidly here in the US as shutdowns, restrictions, new government orders, and positive test results are announced. It’s only natural to be at least a little on edge in the midst of such chaos.
I tend to be fairly fearless. I also tend to be regarded as intelligent and in possession of common sense. With two engineering degrees, expertise in nutrition, and a background in manufacturing of nutritional products for vulnerable populations, here’s my take on the pandemic and our response.
I am not a doctor, public health professional, or government official, so don’t construe any of this as official medical advice, claims, or policy.
From what I’ve seen, our government is acting appropriately. Acting early on the whole social distancing thing – as we’re trying to do in this country – is lifesaving and reduces the overall number of infections and deaths. The data and math support that. Perhaps you’ve seen a graph like this one shared by a doctor friend that helps explain the reasoning. It’s okay to moan and groan and vent about changing plans. It’s okay to make and laugh at funny memes (we need all the laughs we can get right now). It’s okay to raise an eyebrow and take pause over these temporary restrictions on personal liberty. Ultimately, though, please be a good human and get with the program. We have learned from the experience of China, Italy, and other countries ahead of us (chronologically) in the spread of this virus. A friend in Italy (we’ve known each other since we were three-years-old in nursery school) has been updating regularly on the situation there. Their healthcare system is being overwhelmed. People are permitted to leave their homes only in limited circumstances (grocery, pharmacy, doctor’s appointment, for example), and law enforcement is checking anyone out and about to make sure rules are being followed.
Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it makes one think of the Holocaust and endless other martial law situations throughout history.
But given the atrocious hygiene practices of the average individual, we gotta do what we gotta do.
I am frequently amazed at people’s lack of knowledge – or at least lack of practicing – of proper handwashing techniques. But if you don’t know you don’t know. So here are some basics:
- After washing your hands in the restroom, do not touch anything. Don’t do it! Na ga da!
- Do not touch the faucet handle to turn it off – you just touched it with your potty hands to turn it on.
- Do not touch the paper towel dispenser – people who don’t know any better (or who are following proper procedure and readying a towel prior to handwashing) have touched it with their potty hands or faucet-handle-contaminated potty hands.
- Do not touch the door handle when exiting the restroom. People who don’t know any better have touched it with their potty hands or post-handwashing-let’s-touch-everything-we-can-contaminated potty hands.
- Have a paper towel ready before washing your hands. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and to grab the door handle on the way out. Thoughtful venues have a trash can at the exit door where you can dispose of the paper towel. Find the nearest trash can outside the restroom otherwise. In paper towel-less situations, use an elbow to turn off the faucet and the hem of your shirt to protect your hand from the door handle. It’s awkward, but it’ll do.
Here’s a handy video demonstration. A common suggestion is to hum a song to yourself (or silently in your head) to ensure you’re washing long enough. The alphabet song or Happy Birthday twice through are often cited, but many alternatives have popped up recently. I’m partial to this tune.
Beyond proper handwashing, not touching your face (which is so, so difficult), and staying home if you’re symptomatic, overall healthy habits are especially important at this time. I’m talking sleep, diet, and exercise.
Avoiding the gym because of the virus? Not a bad idea – make a judgment call based on all your specific factors. Go for a walk, run, or bike ride outside instead. If, like me, you have spring allergies already in overdrive and have to hide indoors, walking a shopping mall may be an acceptable alternative. Hopefully a mall with automatic doors so you don’t have to touch door handles. Or work out at home. There are tons of videos on the interwebs, both free and paid, as well as my free handy 30-day challenge. Also take this opportunity if you’re confined at home to burn calories catching up on laundry and cleaning.
While it’s tempting to sit on the couch surfing the webs and binging Netflix while eating bonbons, be smart about when to turn off the electronics and get some sleep. Be smart about food choices. I won’t bore anyone with details here – I could write a whole book on healthy eating advice. I’m always happy to consult with anyone interested in making diet changes. (Full disclosure: I do rep a nutrition company, but I try to customize advice to fit each person’s situation, likes, and dislikes – whether that ultimately includes our products or not. Check out “how I stay healthy” on my Links page.)
Overall, remember to inhale … exhale … and relax. Increased stress weakens the immune system.
God is in control.
It’s all gonna be okay.
Keep looking up.
