Florida knows how to prepare for a hurricane, but readying for the new, highly contagious coronavirus is different.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s not a matter of if — but when — the virus will spread through communities in the United States, and federal officials want Americans to expect disruptions in their daily lives. The virus has now reached 40 countries and territories, including the United States.
While there is no reason to panic, there are actions you can take to protect yourself and your family. There are no confirmed cases in Florida and most cases of the virus are not life-threatening. But COVID-19 has been more deadly than seasonal flu, and there is no cure or vaccine available.
This is the time to take precautions:
Get supplies
Remember those empty shelves at Publix when Hurricane Dorian loomed?
Similar to hurricane preparedness, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to stock up. You want to have household supplies, prescription medication, and food to last at least 30 days should people be asked, or required, to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus. Don’t forget to get food for your pet as well.
If you get COVID-19, hospitals will admit you only if symptoms are severe enough to require inpatient treatment. With that in mind, you will want to get over-the-counter medication to bring down a fever and cough medicine should you need to be isolated at home. Don’t forget other basic medical supplies, like a thermometer. To stop spread within your own home, stock up on rubbing alcohol and cleaning products to disinfect surfaces. Don’t forget paper products; in South Korea, a shortage of toilet paper and tissue occurred.
If you want to wear a face mask for coronavirus protection, make sure you get an N95 mask that can help block droplets; those masks are available online or at Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Learn the symptoms
In studying people in Wuhan with COVID-19, health officials say the virus starts with a fever, often followed with fatigue and a dry cough. Next comes difficulty breathing, particularly if you are older. In severe cases, fluid builds up in the lungs and can make it easier for pneumonia to take hold. Some people also get abdominal pain and loss of appetite.
Muscle aches, a headache and runny nose are more likely the seasonal flu.
Medical experts still have not concluded how COVID-19 spreads. It likely is transmitted from one infected person to another through sneezes, coughs and contaminated surfaces. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, officials ask you to contact your local health department, which will refer you to a local medical facility. Your symptoms, travel history and close contacts will be checked before a decision is made to test you for coronavirus.
Ward off germs
“The best way individuals can protect themselves is handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water,” Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said last week. “These are precautions we should all be following anyway because we are in the midst of influenza season.”
Rivkees recommends using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol. If someone is coughing, move away, and if you cough, cover your mouth. Also, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
Rivkees reminds Floridians “There are no cases of coronavirus in Florida and you can only get the virus from someone who has it.”
Check your health insurance
Should you get sick with the flu or another illness during a local outbreak, you may want to steer clear of a hospital emergency room. Now is the time to find out whether your insurance provider or Medicare plan offers telehealth options.
According to research compiled by UnitedHealthcare, about nine out of 10 employers offer telemedicine to their employees, while 76% of hospitals connect patients with care providers using video or other technology.
“Telemedicine is ideal for treating non-emergency medical issues,” said Dr. Mayrene Hernandez, UnitedHealthcare senior chief medical officer in Florida.
Travel plans
If you have plans to travel abroad, it is a good idea look closely at where you are going to make sure you are not traveling to a coronavirus hot zone. If you are making new travel plans, get travel insurance. Travel agents suggest “cancel for any reason” plans. If you have insurance for a planned trip, you will want to read the fine print. Most often, travel insurance does not cover fear.
Experts aren’t sure yet how long the virus can survive on objects, but to be cautious, if you are traveling on a plane, wipe down your immediate area and keep a distance from anyone who is coughing.
Know your workplace policies
An outbreak of COVID-19 could force the closing of schools and day-cares and require people to work from home when possible. “Local communities will make decisions when to implement these measures,” Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases said at a recent news briefing. “But we need to think about them now.”
The CDC is offering guidance for businesses on its website and recommends employers create a business infectious disease outbreak response plan. The agency wants employers to encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.
In you have family members in long-term care facilities, now is the time to ask about their infectious disease outbreak response plans and order an additional 30-day supply of prescription medications.
Cindy Krischer Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4661, Twitter and Instagram @cindykgoodman
