Above / Nearly every day healthcare professionals advance new data and knowledge of what’s been learned from scientists about keeping homes safe during the fight against the spread of coronavirus. With so many uncertainties, PN avoids posting extreme and alarming news releases that seem overreaching. According to the Center of Disease Control, and not surprisingly, there is no need to sanitize or disinfect mail. Be safe. Practice 6′ social distance. Wash hands often, but don’t wash away common sense.
Also, be mindful of new Illinois Stay-at-Home Order beginning May 1, 2020, with dos and don’ts of wearing face masks. Thank you.
It’s hard to keep up with the waves of information coming in every day as scientists discover new things about the novel coronavirus.
What does the virus contaminate? What about mail? Should people wipe down groceries?
These tips follow the most recent expert advice to make home a coronavirus safe zone:
- Clean, then disinfect. Cleaning hard surfaces such as countertops, handles, faucets and light switches removes surface dirt that could harbor the virus. Cleaning can be done with soap and water or a spray cleaner. Then use a disinfectant on the clean surface.
The Environmental Protection Agency has a list on its website of disinfectants that meet their criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read the directions for each disinfectant to learn how long to leave the surface wet before wiping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces every day, including phones, tablets, remote controls, tables and chairs.
- Wash hands after getting the mail. There is no need to sanitize or disinfect mail, according to the CDC. While the coronavirus can survive for a short time on some surfaces, it is unlikely to be spread from domestic or international mail, products or packaging. The enter recommends people wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer, after getting their mail or bringing in a delivery.
- Wash hands before and after unloading groceries. As with mail and packages, there is currently no evidence that grocery packaging is associated with transmission of coronavirus. Handwashing upon return home from the store, then again after groceries are unloaded and put away your groceries, is a good idea. If you are still concerned about virus transmission, the Food and Drug Administration recommends handwashing after handling food packaging, after removing food from the packaging, before you prepare food for eating and before you eat.
- Washing your clothes like you normally do is likely enough to sanitize them. The CDC recommends laundering fabric at the warmest water temperature appropriate for the fabric, then drying completely.
Homemade Disinfectant / 4 teaspoons bleach plus 1 quart water
Because of the focus on cleaning, many disinfectants are out of stock. If disinfecting products aren’t available, the CDC provides instructions for a homemade disinfectant that will also kill coronavirus.
Combine 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it to disinfect after cleaning hard surfaces. Make sure to allow proper ventilation while mixing and using, and never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
May 1, 2020… Also note…
Dos and don’ts of wearing face masks in public places
Illinois remains under a stay-at-home order until at least the end of May. This means people should stay home unless you need to leave for essential business.
Beginning May 1, Illinoisans are also required to wear a face mask or cloth face covering in public — another step to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, while visiting the doctor, and traveling on public transportation.
The virus can spread via respiratory droplets between people interacting in close proximity, such as coughing, sneezing or talking. Wearing a face covering in public can help protect others if you are infected with the virus and don’t know it, since you can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.
Experts emphasize that medical-grade masks (N95 respirators or surgical masks), which are in short supply, be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical responders who are exposed to the virus on a daily basis.
Although cloth masks don’t provide the same level of protection as medical-grade masks, they still act as physical barriers against viral droplets.
Masks or cloth face coverings can be purchased online or made at home from household items or common materials.
Face mask DOs
- DO wear the mask or cloth face covering when out in public.
- DO ensure the mask has multiple layers of tightly woven fabric and that it’s possible to breathe through it.
- DO make sure the mask fits snugly against the face and covers the nose and mouth with no gaps (even a tiny gap could let in particles).
- DO wash hands before putting on a mask, every time it’s touched and immediately after removing it.
- DO know the proper way to put on and remove the mask.
- To put it on, grasp the mask and pinch it at the ear loops or grasp the upper ties. For ear-loop style masks, secure ear loops behind the ears. For tie back style masks, secure upper ties first behind your head, then secure lower ties behind your head. Always put the same side of a reused mask against the face.
- Remove the mask slowly and carefully without touching the outside of it or the eyes, nose or mouth. Remove ear loop masks by holding the ear loops. Remove tie back masks by untying lower ties first and upper ties last; ensure the ties don’t fall into the clean interior side of mask. If the mask will be reused, place it in a bag until it can be laundered.
- DO continue to practice good social distancing by staying at home, avoiding contact with others, and staying at least 6 feet away from others when out in public.
- DO consider wearing a mask at home if an older adult or someone who is immunocompromised lives in the same house.
- DO wash the cloth mask after each use with regular detergent and warm/hot water, then dry it thoroughly in the dryer.
Face Mask DON’Ts
- DON’T put a mask on a young child under age 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.
- DON’T use medical-grade masks, which should be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical responders per guidance from the CDC.
- DON’T push your mask down on your chin to eat or drink. Remove it completely, perform hand hygiene, and then put it back on snugly when finished.
- DON’T wear a mask over just the mouth. Make sure the mask covers nose and mouth.
- DON’T wear a mask that hasn’t been cleaned thoroughly, or that is soiled, torn, saturated, damaged or has any distortions in shape or form.
- DON’T let the mask provide a false sense of security. People can still get infected by touching their eyes (which aren’t covered by a face mask).
- DON’T neglect to continue taking other preventive measures, including staying 6 feet away from others and washing hands often.
- DON’T go out when feeling sick or with a fever, coughing or sneezing.
For updates on COVID-19, check EEHealth.org/coronavirus.
Submitted by Janet Hosey for Edward-Elmhurst Health
