As confirmed cases of coronavirus continue to rise across the GTA, there are some simple, common-sense things Torontonians can do to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Regular hand washing with liquid or bar soap for twenty seconds is the best line of defence, while avoiding touching your face and coughing and sneezing into your sleeve also help to stave off transmission.
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But as public health officials continue to consider home quarantines for those potentially exposed to COVID-19, it's important to take a moment to consider what you or your family might need, if expected to live indoors for a period of fourteen days.
Food
It is unlikely that the city’s food supply would be threatened anytime soon. But in the case of a quarantine, it's best to limit the need to leave the house for groceries. Families would be well served to stock up on basic foodstuffs, like rice, beans, chicken broth, and pasta. And pet owners should ensure that they have two weeks’ worth of food in the house.
Soap Products
Vigorous hand washing with soap and water is the best way to protect against the coronavirus. Family members should be washing at a much greater frequency, so be sure to have an ample supply of soap products on hand. Hand sanitizers are convenient and can be an additional help, but be sure to check that they contain at least 60% alcohol content.
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Detergent
Given the need to keep the household as clean as possible, a quarantine likely means a need to launder towels, clothing and blankets at an increased frequency. There’s no need for anything stronger than the average commercial brand to keep the virus at bay.
Drugs and Health Supplies
Be sure to consider the medical needs of all members of your household, and take care to have necessary prescription medicines available. You can also avoid having to take an unexpected trip to the drugstore by stocking up on basic medicines like acetaminophen and Ibuprofen to treat some of the symptoms of the virus. And for testing purposes, be sure to have a working thermometer on hand.
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Household Cleaners
Because droplets from the virus can live on hard surfaces, a proven line of defence against COVID-19 is to ensure that such surfaces are effectively wiped down. Be sure to have the requisite supply of household cleaners on hand. A bleach/water solution is highly effective, but any commercial household cleaner should do the trick. With all of the extra cleaning that a prolonged quarantine demands, paper goods (paper towel and toilet paper) and extra garbage bags will also be handy.
