COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, has had a tremendous impact on where we can go—and when. Governors across the country have issued shelter-in-place orders over the past five weeks to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus and help ensure public safety. Depending upon the state in which you live, violating a shelter-in-place order can have consequences, including fines. However, the primary purpose of these shelter-in-place orders that are in effect across the country is not to penalize people, but to keep them safe and to prevent the further spread of the virus.
In most states, people are allowed to go out in public for certain limited purposes, such as traveling to the market to pick up food or to a hospital or doctor’s office when emergencies warrant. Moreover, certain workers who are deemed “essential”, such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, are permitted to go to work.
Some states are also requiring that individuals who do have to go out in public wear protective masks over their noses and mouths at all times. Even still, people can (and should) take other important safety measures when they go out in public.
Also, when people are out and about, there still exists the possibility that accidents and injuries may occur as a result of negligent driving and other types of carelessness. After all, at this unprecedented time, people have a lot to deal with—and they have a lot on their minds. Many personal injury lawyers are doing online consultations with potential and current clients to keep cases moving. Despite court closures, personal injury cases are still being moved forward and settled.
Wearing a Face Mask in a Public Place
During a global pandemic, people still have to leave their homes to go to work, to run errands, or to get groceries. Getting out of the house occasionally is also an important way to stay sane and healthy during the current crisis. However, going out in public still puts you within reach of the germs that have proven harmful and deadly to many.
Even if your state governor has not mandated wearing a face mask while you are out in public, doing so is still an extremely good idea. In fact, it’s in the interest of public safety. Recently, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined that people who live in areas that have high rates of COVID-19 transmission (especially in heavily concentrated urban areas) should wear masks. If a mask is not available, individuals who go out in public should wear a piece of cloth or some other breathable fabric over their mouths and noses at all times.
When it comes to social distancing while out in public, individuals should try and remain at least six feet apart. This is especially true if you have to go to a grocery store or other public place. When you are in your own home or taking a walk outside, wearing a face mask is probably not necessary, as you will easily maintain at least six feet of distance between yourself and another person.
When You Have to Go Out, Don’t Dally
The main purpose of the stay-at-home orders currently in effect across the country is to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus within the population. The list of severe respiratory symptoms that are associated with COVID-19 is lengthy and alarming. Moreover, even if someone acquires the virus and recovers from it, that recovery period can be very long, even taking several weeks.
The moral of the story is that COVID-19 is something to be avoided, and you should make every effort to limit your exposure to and interactions with other people. If you have to go to the grocery store or some other public place in a pandemic, make your shopping trip swift and efficient. You should not view the trip as a source of entertainment, but instead, you should get in and get out.
Refrain from Touching Things With Your Fingertips
Stop for a minute and think about how many times your fingertips touch various surfaces on a daily basis. From walk signs at traffic intersections, to elevator buttons and doorknobs, our fingertips touch some of the dirtiest and germ-infested surfaces imaginable. In the event you have to touch one of these surfaces, you should try and use another body part, such as your elbows, shoulders, foot, hip, or knuckles. As an alternative, you might even consider taking a paper towel or glove and putting it over your hand before you touch the questionable surface.
In the long run, it is much easier to throw an item of clothing into the washing machine later than to touch a questionable surface now. That is especially true if you are planning on touching one or both of your hands up to your face, especially when eating.
Keeping Your Distance
There is a lot of talk these days about social distancing. Social distancing can mean different things to different people. To some individuals, social distancing simply means staying at home for as much time as possible and avoiding people altogether. To others, it means not having contact with family members or friends who live outside your home.
Most experts agree that when you are outside your home, you should maintain a distance of at least six feet from others. This includes when you are waiting in a line at the store, going out on a walk, or going on a bike ride where others will be nearby.
If you are at the grocery store and are trying to reach an item on the shelf, for example, you may want to wait until no one else is around or until the aisle is clear before you reach for the item.
Using Automatic Options
Again, when you have to go out in public, you should be mindful of what you are touching, including doorknobs and door handles. You should try and avoid touching these types of surfaces entirely, if you can. The majority of modern buildings also have some type of accessibility control or button that can be used to open automatic doors. Although these devices are primarily intended for people who are in wheelchairs or have other mobility concerns, these accessibility buttons are very easy to touch with a hip or forearm.
At home, soap dispensers that disburse soap automatically can also help, and using these devices means that you do not have concern yourself as much about the transfer of germs.
Be Careful With Your Cellular Phone and Other Electronic Devices
COVID-19 has made many people have been much more careful about constantly wiping off their cell phones and other electronic devices with disinfecting wipes on a regular basis. As an alternative to constantly wiping down your electronic devices, you may just want to refrain from putting the device down on any questionable surface to begin with—at least in a public place. One of the benefits of today’s technology is that it is relatively small and can easily fit inside a purse or a pocket. If you do not expose your devices to potentially germy surfaces in the first place, you do not have to worry.
Be Mindful of How You Shop for Produce at the Grocery Store
When you are shopping at the grocery store, you should be mindful of how you shop for groceries—especially produce. When it comes time to shop for produce, it’s not usually a good idea to use your hands to sort through unwrapped food. A better alternative is to take a plastic produce bag, place it over your hand, and inspect the produce that you want. Taking this small step helps other shoppers feel comfortable, and it may also encourage them to take the same actions when they shop, which is a win for everyone.
Refrain From Touching Others
If you see a friend or relative out in public, there is a natural tendency to want to embrace him or her—or even kiss that person. After all, most of us have been cooped up for the better part of five weeks, and we are anxious to see (not to mention socialize with) our friends and relatives again.
As a general rule of thumb, though, if a person does not currently live in your home, you should not touch him or her in any way. While air hugging (or kissing) is a somewhat less desirable alternative, you should maintain at least six feet of distance between yourself and the other person at all times.
Always Remember to Wash Your Hands
Frequent handwashing, along with proper social distancing, is one of the best ways that you can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Whenever you are out in public for any reason, wash your hands as soon as you return home. This advice is especially true if you made contact with a questionable surface while you were out.
When it comes to hand washing, experts recommend that you spend 20 seconds doing so—and that you wash and scrub slowly. When washing your hands, you should also take the time to scrub each hand, including the wrists and in between each of your fingers, and that you run the water over your hands, fingers, and wrists. This helps to remove dead germs, along with any remaining soap.
Wiping Down the Surfaces in Your Car and Home
When you finish running errands and return home, it is not a bad idea to wipe down the surfaces inside your car that you (or someone who resides in your home) regularly touch. These surfaces include the door handles (both interior and exterior), console, gearshift, and steering wheel. Also, when you get home from being out in public, you should strongly consider wiping down frequently used areas—especially those in the kitchen and bathroom—that you and others in your household use on a regular basis.
Do Not Handle Cash Money
Everyone knows that money, including both bills and coins, are some of the dirtiest and most germ-filled surfaces to be commonly found. This is true even when there is no pandemic going on. Consequently, you should refrain from touching cash money to the greatest extent possible. Instead, you should try and rely upon methods of payment that do not involve hand-to-hand contact. Those methods of payment include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
You may also want to use credit cards that have a contactless logo. When it comes to signing off on a credit card purchase, usually your best bet is to use your knuckle—rather than your index finger—when you have to sign. If you have to sign a credit card receipt or other document in person, you should carry your own pen to sign with.
If you were recently involved in an accident and have questions contact a personal injury attorney from Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC today.
