adapted from the New York Times:
- Social distancing means minimizing contact with people and maintaining a distance of at least six feet between you and others. Avoid public transportation, limit nonessential travel, work from home and skip gatherings. This strategy saved thousands of lives both during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and in Mexico City during the 2009 flu pandemic.
- There is no question that older people and those with underlying health conditions are most vulnerable to the virus, but NO ONE is immune. And there is a greater public health imperative. Even people who show only mild symptoms may pass the virus to many, many others — particularly in the early course of the infection, before they even realize they are sick.
- It’s O.K. to go outdoors. The point is not to remain indoors, but to avoid being in close contact with others. When you do leave your home, wipe down any surfaces you come into contact with, avoid touching your face and frequently wash your hands.
- If you have to go to the supermarket, buy as much as you can at a time to minimize the number of trips, and pick a time when the store is least likely to be crowded. Be aware that any surface inside the store may be contaminated, especially the handle of the cart. OR: find out if your supermarket with ‘shop’ for you, and then you can just drive up and pick up your groceries.
- Family visits: If everyone in the family is young and healthy, then some careful interaction in small groups is probably OK. Eldery relatives and others at risk should stay away, at least for now.
- How long will we need to practice social distancing? That is a big unknown, experts said. A lot will depend on how well the social distancing measures in place work and how much we can slow the pandemic down. But prepare to hunker down for at least a month, and possibly much longer.
