Coronavirus – A Comprehensive Guide

by johnknowd

The Coronavirus is here for the foreseeable future, but don’t worry! Thousand Oaks Insurance is here to help you get prepared. Also, pay attention to any new information coming from the Centers for Disease Control and other reliable sources.

Coronavirus General Tips

Symptoms of the Coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It can also cause body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. A lack of these symptoms alone does not mean you are free of the virus. Many who get Coronavirus show few or no symptoms, which is why we recommend following these recommendations from the CDC on how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Stay home.
Keep a 6 foot distance from others and avoid groups of 10 or more.
Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough (into your elbow or use a tissue). You should ALWAYS do this even if there is not a rampant virus on the loose.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Clean and disinfect areas in your home you frequently touch like door knobs and sink handles.

Food and Supplies

Frankly, the most necessary supplies are things you should already have on hand: Food, water, and a warm place to sleep. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have basic emergency supplies on hand.

3 Weeks of Food: Don’t buy more food than you need, but now’s a good time to cook some of the dry stuff that’s been sitting in your pantry! We recommend dried beans, rice, pasta, popcorn, and an Instant Pot for emergency food supplies. Here’s a list of some good types of foods to buy. Canned items are great to have around.
Water Purifier: You don’t need to panic-buy a bunch of bottled water to reach the recommended two weeks of water in any emergency kit. It’s just a lot of wasted plastic. It’s unlikely anything will happen to your water supply. The easiest method? Snag a water pitcher, Pur or Brita will do.
Water Kettle/Boiler: You’re likely not going to lose power, so a water boiler is also a great option. It’s wonderful for coffee, tea, and heating water faster than the stove. Again, don’t hoard bottled water!
First Aid Kit: Everyone should have one and now is a good time to make sure yours is still stocked with acetaminophen. Here’s a cheap first aid kit on Amazon.
A Month of Needed Medications or Baby Supplies: Don’t forget to refill medications, pick up baby stuff like diapers, or snag other monthly-use items you might forget about. For example, toothpaste, toilet paper, or shampoo.
Soap and Hand Sanitizer: It’s tough to find both of these, but they’ll be in stock sometime soon. If you want to try and DIY it, here’s WIRED’s guide to making your own hand sanitizer.

Coronavirus Discounted Services

A few companies are offering discounts or other perks during the pandemic.

Google is offering G Suite customers advanced video conferencing capabilities via Hangouts. This includes larger meetings, live streaming, and the ability to record meetings.
Microsoft is offering six months of its Teams service for free. Teams is collaborative work software that includes cloud storage, video sharing, conferencing, and more.
Zoom has lifted video call time limits for users in some affected areas as well as schools.
Postmates rolled out the option for non-contact deliveries. You can request that your Postmate leave your food at the door. Uber Eats allows you to request the same thing in the notes section when ordering.

If You Need Something to Do

Introverts unite! Now’s the perfect time to hunker down and read, play, or watch all the things that you’ve been meaning to!

Videogames: By the time you finish playing through The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Witcher franchise, this virus will be long gone. Looking for something free? Apex Legends and Fortnite are available on all platforms for free and offer a smooth, multiplayer, gaming experience.
Movies and TV: It is time to break out those VHS tapes and rewatch those oldies. I recommend Lady and the Tramp, Tarzan, or any of the Scooby Doo movies. Also, Netflix and Hulu offer some excellent shows and movies that can keep you and the family occupied for weeks.
Board Games: Board games like The Grimm Forest and Settlers of Catan can be a great way to keep your mind off of being stuck inside.
Work Out: Whether it is in or outdoors, there are some great exercise options available. Less populated areas offer excellent biking and hiking options. We live in the age of smart technology so take advantage of at-home fitness. Pick up a yoga mat, look fora virtual instructor, or attend a class via Instagram Live.