How to prepare for another wave of COVID-19
The U.S. is entering a dangerous new phase of increasing COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths. You’re already social-distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, and avoiding close contact with people outside your bubble. So what else can you do to prepare? Preparing for this surge should be a two-factor process. You should continue to PREVENT illness by doing all the things just mentioned. But how else can you prepare? What if someone in your family does get sick? How will you cope? What will you need to do? What if you think you might need to go to the hospital?
Preparation should include both prevention and preparation in case you do get COVID-19. Here’s what you should do NOW to prepare.
get your household ready
Getting your household ready for additional stay-at-home orders is important. Even if a “lockdown” doesn’t occur, this is a good time to avoid unnecessary exposure to large groups. So, ensuring you’re stocked up on food, entertainment and supplies is one thing you can do now to ensure you can stay comfortably at home if you need. Check out this CNN article on what you can purchase to ensure your household is ready. You should be sure to pick up
Cleaning supplies (made with at least 60% alcohol).
Basic at-home medicines for flu or COVID-19, including acetaminophen/ibuprofen, decongestants, cough drops or syrup, and antidiarrheals.
A two-week supply of food and snacks. Shelf-stable items like pasta, canned sauces, canned fruits and vegetables, etc. work well.
A basic disaster kit (flashlight, blanket, candles, matches, battery-powered radio, etc.).
Entertainment items like books, games, magazines, puzzles or art supplies .
Gather important health documents
This is a great time to gather together your healthcare documents in case you do become sick. In fact, even if you never end up getting COVID-19, if you take this step it will still pay off in the future. Having all your healthcare documentation together is incredibly helpful for any time you need to be in a hospital, for instance when going into labor, or if you get in a car crash. Documents to have include:
Your insurance cards and coverage information
Your prescription coverage cards
A Power of Attorney (POA) selection
A will
An advanced directive with a legal POA
Copies of your list of current prescriptions
See what each of these documents are, plus exactly how to create them in The COVID-19 Survival Guide.
pack your COVID kit
You might be thinking, “Wait, if I already have household supplies and a disaster kit, what else could I need?”
A COVID Kit is the kit you will use if you start to show severe symptoms of COVID-19. It’s what you will use to ensure you are ready to go the hospital, and have everything you need while you’re there to get the best care possible from your healthcare team, participate fully in your recovery process, and decrease the chances of long-term symptoms. For instance, did you know some of the long-term cognitive symptoms that are seen after severe COVID-19 can be prevented or decreased by ensuring you have your hearing aids or glasses with you in the hospital?
The kit should include things like:
Your folder of healthcare documents (see above)
An extra set of loose-fitting clothing and undergarments
Tennis shoes
A notepad and paper
An old set of glasses and/or hearing aids, if you use them
A phone charger
The full list of all 14 items is found in The COVID-19 Survival Guide, which also details exactly how to use each item. For a totally free printable checklist of all the items you should pack, head over to the Resources page, and log in with the password that was sent to you when you signed up for the newsletter. Not a subscriber? Get the password to the Resource page by signing up here.
prepare mentally
The coming surge of COVID-19 is coinciding with the darkest part of the year. Couple that with social isolation as families stay distanced, the stress of the pandemic, PLUS an election cycle and we have ourselves a perfect storm for anxiety.
It’s true that you can’t self-care yourself out of the stress that comes from systemic racism, inequality, financial strain or other systems-level stressors. But there are things you can do to lessen the impact of these external forces on your mind, and most importantly, on your immune system. Consider taking some or all of the following steps:
Set up regular, scheduled pleasant events like FaceTime dates with friends, movie night with family, or an afternoon of reading. Stick to these the same way you would to meetings at work. Even if you don’t feel like doing them, do them anyway.
Limit excess news consumption. If you have to stay on top of current events, schedule a time to read or watch the news for about one hour a day. Catch up during that time, and then focus on other parts of your life for the rest of the day.
Stay socially connected. Use all the technology we have in the modern era (thank goodness!) to stay connected. Reconnect with old friends who live in other cities.
Get a telehealth therapist. Need help finding a therapist? Start here.
Get regular exercise.
Drink only moderately, and preferably in a social setting (FaceTime game night, anyone?).
Get plenty of bright, natural sunlight. Even if it’s freezing outside and grey, bundle up and take a brisk walk around the block to let your brain soak up the natural light. Bright light helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle, which in turns regulates thinking and emotions. You need this bright light to stay sane and sharp.
Good luck out there friends. We’re all in this together.
Stay well,
