Staying at home and limiting going out is what is recommended at this time when the COVID-19 epidemic is breaking out again. Although staying at home is necessary, there will be times when you need to go out. So how to keep yourself from contracting the virus when going out?
Whether your locality has implemented a distance or not, at the present time, you should limit going out to protect yourself and your family. According to research, infected people can still transmit the virus even if they do not have symptoms. It is estimated that 1 in 5 people infected with the virus do not have any symptoms. Therefore, if you are in high-risk cities, staying at home is still the safest prevention measure. If you are in low-risk areas, you can still go out, but you need to take the following preventive measures.
Go to another province
The first thing to determine is whether the location you are going to is a high-risk area. Whether you are going from a place with a low risk of infection to a place with a high risk of infection or vice versa, you need to be careful because you still run the risk of infecting yourself and those around you:
In case you have to go to other provinces during the epidemic season, you should be even more careful when using public transport or accommodation
Safe: Rent an apartment
Before renting, you need to find out when the apartment was last rented out and when it was last cleaned. If the apartment is occupied for 3 days prior to your arrival, make sure all spaces are cleaned.
Risk: Renting a hotel
Find out what preventive measures the hotel is taking: temperature measurement for guests, staff must wear masks, clean rooms regularly… Also, remember to bring hand sanitizer to use when needed.
High risk: Traveling by plane
Before booking a flight, ask the airline how far apart passengers will be sitting (preferably 2m). In addition, when choosing a seat, you should choose to sit by the window, with no one next to or behind.
Visiting parents or grandparents
If you intend to visit a parent, grandparent or vulnerable person, you should consider the following alternatives:
Visiting relatives through online applications can reduce the risk of virus infection
Safety: Visit with online connection apps
Call, email or communicate through applications like Zalo, Viber so that we can see and hear each other without meeting face-to-face. This will reduce the risk of virus infection for the time being.
Risk: Visiting home
This choice will greatly depend on your health situation. If you are subject to infection, it is best not to visit if you do not want to infect your loved ones.
When you want to visit your parents and grandparents, you need to think about the fact that these are the subjects who are susceptible to infection and serious complications from COVID-19. It is necessary to carefully consider whether to visit or not to chat only through an online application to ensure the safety of loved ones.
Go to the doctor
Safety: Routine check-up
Before the epidemic situation, medical facilities are often cleaned to clean bacteria and implement epidemic prevention measures under the guidance of the Ministry of Health such as medical declaration, hand washing with hand sanitizer, temperature measurement. and wear a mask.
If you have an underlying medical condition and have to go to the hospital for a monthly check-up, you can also go, but you need to take precautions for yourself.
Safe: Dental examination
Most dentists wear masks and face shields for a long time. So, going to the dentist at this time can be considered safe.
Risks: Going to an eye doctor
The safety of an eye exam will depend on many factors. If the clinic takes precautions such as disinfecting surfaces, tools, etc. regularly, wearing gloves and masks, then you can consider it. However, during examination, the use of instruments can also increase the risk of virus transmission through the mucous membranes of the eye. Therefore, if you do not have a serious problem, you should not see an eye doctor at this time.
Friend meeting
Safe: Chat via online apps
Chatting, chatting through applications can make you feel boring, but in fact, this is still the safest way to communicate at the moment.
Safe: Meet outside
You and your friends can meet in open spaces like parks and sit 2m apart to ensure safety. Food and drink each person should bring their own and avoid sharing anything. Also, avoid hugging and shaking hands.
Meet friends at a park, a well-ventilated place, and wear a mask to prevent illness
Do you need to wear a mask when meeting? If 2 people stand 2m apart and know your friend well, you may not need to wear a mask. However, it is best to still wear it to avoid risks.
In addition, meeting outdoors and standing 2m apart still cannot guarantee 100% that you will not be infected with the virus. Droplets when speaking, coughing, etc. can travel further if the cough is strong or if a person is talking or singing loudly.
Risk: Meet at home
Pay attention to wear a mask and stand 2m apart. And of course, avoid hugging, shaking hands, sharing meals and sharing items.
Let the kids play outside
Safe: Let children play indoors or outdoors with family members
For families with young children, it is safest for children to play with family members at home because this not only helps children avoid the risk of virus infection, but also limits the spread to others.
Letting children play at home is the safest because this not only helps children avoid the risk of infection, but also limits the transmission to others.
Safety: Take your kids to the playground
Choose a quiet playground, especially one that has just been disinfected. When going to the playground, both adults and children over 2 years old must wear masks and maintain a safe distance. You can also clean playground equipment before children use it, and make sure children wash their hands often.
Letting children go out at this time can be dangerous because young children still do not understand and do not have a clear sense of following disease prevention recommendations such as keeping a distance from others, wearing masks properly…
Going out for personal needs such as haircuts, manicures, etc.
Safe: DIY
You want a haircut? Manicure? Ideally, you should do it yourself at home or ask for the support of a family member.
Safe: Quick haircut
To be on the safe side, you should only stay at the barber shop for about 15-20 minutes. And do not forget to wear a mask and keep a distance of 2m from others.
Cutting your own hair at home will help you limit the risk of infection
Risks: Manicure or pedicure
When doing a manicure or pedicure, it’s best to choose salons that have a mica barrier between the client and the manicurist. In addition, you also need to wear a mask and keep a safe distance. A pedicure can be a bit safer than a manicure because you don’t need to stand too close to the manicurist and you never touch your face with your feet. However, to be safe, you should still limit your manicure at this time.
Risk: Doing your hair too long
Dyeing, straightening, curling during this time can increase the risk of disease transmission as these are time-consuming tasks and you will have to be in the salon for a long time.
High risk: Waxing eyebrows and face
Currently, facial-related services are discouraged, including services such as eyebrows, facials or shaving. If you still want to do it, choose a reputable facility, strictly follow epidemic prevention measures such as regularly disinfecting tools and surfaces, employees must wear masks properly and wash their hands often.
Go to work or go to school
Safety: Walking or cycling
Fresh air and not being around other people will help reduce the risk of infection. Don’t forget to wear a mask when going out to protect yourself and those around you.
If the company is close to home, walk to work and remember to wear a mask
Safety: Take a private car or taxi
Clean all surfaces before you touch them and wash your hands afterwards. Both you and the driver must wear a mask. In addition, while driving, you can also ask the driver to open the window to allow air to circulate.
Risk: Choosing an empty bus
Choose low-traffic buses and follow hygiene measures when using public transport such as don’t touch anything, wash your hands as soon as possible and don’t touch your face if you haven’t already. hand. And don’t forget to sit away from other passengers.
High risk: Bus is crowded
If you find the car is too crowded, it is best to wait for the next one or choose a safer alternative.
Go out to exercise
Risks: Exercising at the gym
Although exercise can help increase resistance, reduce the risk of disease, but going to the gym at the present time is very dangerous. Because the gym is a place with a very high risk of COVID-19 cross-infection. If the local epidemic situation is still not serious and you still want to go to the gym, it is best to follow safety principles such as limiting exercise in crowded places, cleaning tools with antiseptic water before using them. use and pay attention to frequent hand washing.
Low risk: Outdoor exercise
Switching to outdoor exercise instead of going to the gym can help reduce the risk of infection. When exercising outdoors, you will avoid the usual crowding in the gym. Not only that, a study also showed that walking outdoors for about 90 minutes can boost cognitive function and reduce anxiety.
Safe: Workout online at home with a trainer
Besides working out outdoors, you have the option of working out at home with a LEEP personal trainer. APP through online applications such as Zalo, Viber, Messenger… With this form of exercise, you can completely take the initiative in time and arrange a suitable training schedule. The coaches will support you to practice in the right way, effectively during the epidemic season. Curious about this “fun” form of exercise? If yes, what are you waiting for without downloading LEEP. APP to your device.
Online training helps you practice safely during the pandemic but equally effective
At the present time, where you go, who you meet needs to be carefully considered, especially if you are at high risk of being infected by traveling from an epidemic area or have been to places where there are infected people. Currently, although there is no social isolation and some activities are still taking place normally, you should still limit going out if not necessary. And don’t forget to take important precautions like wearing a mask when in public, washing your hands often with soap and avoiding touching common surfaces.
Reference source
How to go out and not spread coronavirus this summer https://www.vox.com/21309315/coronavirus-is-it-safe-travel-vacation-dentist-doctor Accessed: 6/8/2020
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
