There is a lot of buzz going around about the newest coronavirus right now. It has been spreading through China since late last years and now there are many cases around the globe. With a disease such as this, there is a lot of panic going around, especially since little is known about the disease. This panic can cause people to shop and spend a fortune while trying to combat the disease before it is even a concern. These ten tips will help you save money while taking the preventive measures you need to maintain your health, as well as your loved ones. So, don’t panic and read over this checklist so you will feel better prepared.
1. Maintain Calm
One of the biggest issues people face is the panic surrounding the illness. Not knowing much about it makes it hard to feel comfortable with fighting it off if you end up catching it. However, there is a lot of hype surrounding the illness, so it is important to stop, breathe, and filter the information that you’re hearing. There is a lot of false information out there, so it is important to fact check everything before you react. You also don’t need to go out and spend a fortune on emergency food, water, medicine and cleaning products. If you need something for the house that you would normally need then shop for it, but don’t follow everyone else’s lead in cleaning the shelves out of fear.
2. Know the Symptoms
Another key factor in dealing with coronavirus is to know the symptoms. Coronavirus actually encompasses a wide assortment of ailments, including the common cold. So, if you do get the current strain of the virus then you might not know if you have anything at all. Rather, you might just feel a little sick. That is because the symptoms largely include a running nose, coughing, and shortness of breath. Some people do report feeling nauseous or having diarrhea a few days prior to the cold symptoms arriving too. The problem is that this strain of the virus has the capability to cause more dangerous symptoms. Some people might develop fever, pneumonia, or even a respiratory infection. This is what makes it so dangerous for people with underlining health problems. The coronavirus can even evolve to cause kidney failure. Knowing the symptoms can help you make an educated decision about your health and might prevent you from spending too much on unnecessary medications and more.
3. Wash Your Hands
It has been said time and time again, the best way to combat things like coronavirus is to wash your hands. You should wash your hands after sneezing, coughing, touching things in public places, going to the bathroom, and so on. You should also wash your hands prior to cooking and so on. Many people don’t know the proper way to wash hands though. In order to kill the germs, it is imperative to wash with warm water and soap for a good twenty seconds. If you need help measuring time, just sing the happy birthday song to yourself as you wash. If you can’t wash your hands, especially after touching things that might have been contaminated, then hand sanitizer can work temporarily. However, you should always wash your hands over this method whenever possible.
4. Limit Travel
One of the biggest factors of the coronavirus spreading has been traveling. So, if you can, you might avoid traveling on public forms of transit as much as you possibly can. Instead of flying to your destination, make it a road trip if traveling is necessary. The best thing you can do is to avoid confined spaces with lots of people, such as airplanes. However, this doesn’t mean you should just road trip your way to vacation and spend days at a theme park. Places that draw in large amounts of people are not wise places to visit if you’re worried about catching it. Plus, if there is an outbreak, you might find that these destinations may close down anyway. This could cost you to lose out on money so make travel purchases wisely and avoid travel when you can.
5. Use Tissues
Since sneezing is a major part of coronavirus and how it spreads, you might want to have a lot of tissues on hand. It is important that you use a tissue when coughing and sneezing and then throw it away. Reusing tissues and leaving them somewhere is one of the worst things you can do as it helps to spread coronavirus to whatever your hands and tissues touch. A lot of people try to keep things frugal by using a handkerchief, but this isn’t a wise idea either. These hold the germs until you wash them, which makes it must easier for spread. If you’re in a pinch then sneeze or cough into your elbow. This is especially important in public areas as it will help cover more of your cough or sneeze and will allow you to still use your hands. You will also need to sanitize and wash the items you sneeze into. This, of course, is important for coronavirus and other diseases.
6. Use Sick Days
In order to avoid spreading coronavirus to the community, you should stay at home if you come down with it. One of the key ways to beat the strain is to stop it from spreading, so make sure you let your boss know what is going on and keep yourself at home. In most cases, your boss will be grateful that you aren’t at work to pass it on. Remember, you never know who around you might have a weakened immune system, so it is important to keep to yourself until you are healthy and not contagious. Of course, staying home will help you to get better faster too. This can help you get back to work, so you don’t miss out on too many hours if you don’t have sick leave.
7. Disinfect Your Home
Hygiene is an important factor when it comes to keeping coronavirus at bay. You’re going to want to be a bit more diligent about this if there is an outbreak in your area. First of all, you should concentrate on areas where there are going to be lots of germs. For instance, the bathroom might want to be your first stop. With sneezing and coughing going on, you’re bound to have people in and out, throwing away tissues and washing their hands. Thus, it is important to sanitize the sink, door handles, and toilet often. You should also keep the bathroom stocked in soap. The kitchen is another area that should be on your cleaning list. Make sure you have plenty of soap there too and the garbage removed frequently. You will also need to sanitize pantries to ensure no germs enter your food. You will need to wash the linens and clothes often too. Before you apply new bedding, Lysol the mattress and pillows as well as the area around the bed. This should help keep all of the germs at bay, which will make for a healthier household.
8. Avoid Other’s Space
If you’re worried about getting coronavirus, one of the best things you can do is stay out of other’s space. Try to keep your distance from other shoppers that appear to be sick or from coworkers that might have symptoms. One of the most important things to remember is to keep six feet away from others if you possibly can. This will allow the germs from their sneezes or coughs to stay away from you. If you do feel you’ve been around someone that might have the illness, then it is imperative that you keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. Wash your hands as soon as you can and if you really feel the need to you can wash your face, too.
9. Facial Masks
A lot of people are already running to the store to purchase face masks and more. There is absolutely no need to do this. In fact, officials have asked people to not do this. The germs from coronavirus are actually small enough to penetrate the masks. Instead of purchasing these items, you should leave them on the shelf as people who are actually sick need them. Medical officials also need them. If you feel the need for a mask, then get a reusable one. These are generally thicker and can be sanitized on a daily basis, which means less waste. On top of that, the masks can be saved and used to fight other ailments or even just allergies.
10. Talk to Your Doctor
One of the most important things that you can do if you think you have coronavirus is talk to your doctor. If you’ve been exposed to someone with the illness and have developed symptoms, then call up your physician and let them know what is going on. Don’t go straight into the doctor’s office, hospital, or urgent care facility though. These health facilities might have a policy restricting people from coming to the facility in order to stop the spread. It is important to know what you need to do before you just runoff. Some doctors would prefer to see you in your home to help stop the spread. You should also put on a mask if you believe you have it to help stop the spread. Your doctor will also have plenty of pointers to give you, so you can get back on the mend fast, especially if you don’t have a compromised immune system.
Chances of getting the current strain of coronavirus are still low in the United States. However, the hype is really amping up which is causing people to panic and purchase things they don’t need. These ten ideas will help you save money and your health, so you can feel less afraid of this unpredictable illness.
