A checklist for how to survive the coronavirus outbreak

So far, 2020 has been marked by the coronavirus — a novel virus that’s spreading throughout the globe. While COVID-19 is a worrying pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that most confirmed cases are mild.

If you live in a city, travel a lot or use mass transit, the goal is to prepare — not panic. Focus on steps you can take to contain transmission and protect yourself during the outbreak.

Practice good hygiene to stay healthy

The virus spreads through respiratory droplets — like coughs or sneezes — and by touching infected surfaces. The easiest way to avoid contracting or transmitting the virus is by washing your hands regularly and vigorously — especially before and after eating and using the bathroom.

To wash your hands like a pro, follow these five tips from the CDC:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
2. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse your hands well under running water.
5. Dry your hands naturally or using a clean towel.

Don’t have access to soap and water? Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and smooth it across the front and back of your hands until they’re dry.

Other ways to practice good hygiene while you’re out and about, according to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Maintain social distancing. Stay at least 3 feet away from anyone who’s coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you come into contact with an infected person and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, the virus can enter your body and make you sick.
• Practice respiratory hygiene. Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you use a tissue, toss it immediately.
• Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, are coughing or experience difficulty breathing, don’t go to work or school. Seek medical care as soon as possible — and be sure to let your doctor know if you’ve recently traveled to an area affected by the coronavirus.

Refill your prescriptions

Think about it: If COVID-19 starts spreading through your community, the last place you want to be is standing in line with other sick people at the pharmacy.

If you take prescription medications, ask your health insurance company about an extended supply with your next refill. If your pets take medication or have prescription diets, check with your vet about getting extra refills too.

While you’re at it, chat with your pharmacist about how to handle filling prescriptions in the near future. Many pharmacies now offer home delivery that you may be able to take advantage of. Some are even waiving delivery fees right now.

Prescriptions aside, stock up on cold and flu medications and anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen.

Stock up on food and home essentials

Imagine if a blizzard or hurricane was about to hit your hometown. What would you need to grab before you bunkered down?

Aim to buy enough of the essentials to last two weeks — the time experts say it takes for symptoms to surface:

• Nonperishable foods, such as pasta, rice, cereal and shelf-stable milk
• Frozen fruits and vegetables
• Foods you can easily freeze, including meat, bread and cooked grains
• Bottled water, as well as hydrating drinks like Pedialyte in case you do get sick
• Toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap and household cleaners
• Hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes
• Pet food, baby food and food for family members with special diets

Buy face masks and household cleaners

If you’re healthy, face masks aren’t necessary, according to WHO. But if you’re feeling unwell or taking care of a sick person, it’s a good idea to wear a mask. Just make sure it’s fitted to your face so that you don’t breathe in infected droplets, and avoid touching the front of the mask.

At home, clean and disinfect all surfaces using a cleaning spray or wipe. Most standard household cleaners, like bleach wipes and alcohol, are effective in killing the virus.

If you’ve run out, use soap and water. Because soap is a detergent, it can break down the lipids in virus particles.

Where to buy hand sanitizer online

Switch to contactless payments

We don’t need to tell you that money is often covered in germs — and WHO has confirmed it can be a means of transferring COVID-19. During the outbreak, try to avoid handling cash and use contactless payments instead, like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.

You can connect to a contactless payment app on your smartphone, or use your credit card if it’s equipped with NFC technology. That way, you can hold up your phone or card to the checkout reader and pay without handing over your card or touching a keypad.

How to set up contactless payments

If you’re a parent or caregiver, plan for backup care

Map out a plan for what to do if you get sick or if your child’s daycare center or school closes because of the outbreak.

This could involve:

• Asking a friend or family member to help.
• Pooling childcare with your neighbors, so parents can take turns watching the kids.
• Finding a backup nanny or babysitter.
• Checking whether working from home is an option.

If your child’s school does shut down, keep your kids entertained while they maintain their distance from others:

• Create fun challenges — like, how many books can you read this week?
• Set up virtual playdates with their friends through Skype or FaceTime.
• Make them feel useful by enlisting their help with household chores and bigger projects, like painting.
• Relax any rules around screen time. Your kids may need a computer to do their school work and communicate with teachers and friends.

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in the crisis. But children are resilient, and they appear to be more resistant to the virus, according to the CDC. That said, if it’s possible that they’ve come into contact with COVID-19, try to keep them away from vulnerable people, like grandparents and those with health issues that put them at a higher risk.

Ask your manager about working from home

Many companies across the US are offering employees the option to work from home, with some making it mandatory.

If your workplace hasn’t said anything yet, talk to your boss about telecommuting — especially if you live in a big city like New York, where crowds are inevitable. If they’re hesitant, suggest some parameters to follow, like setting up a morning video call and staying reachable via IM, Slack or text during working hours

When working from home isn’t an option

Some companies aren’t allowing employees to work from home without a cut in pay, posing a financial threat to those who can’t afford to miss work. And for other people, working from home isn’t feasible because of the nature of their job — think teachers and factory, restaurant and retail workers.

If these circumstances apply to you, the best thing to do is ramp up the hygiene at your workplace. Wipe down all commonly used surfaces — like doorknobs — before and after you touch them, and ask your employer to arrange regular deep cleanings.

If you feel ill, please stay home while you recover. Doing so gives you time to get well while also keeping your illness contained from your community. If you face backlash, know that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has legislation prohibiting employees from threatening workers who raise concerns about safety and health conditions.

Take advantage of delivery

Ordering groceries or takeout? Services like Instacart and Amazon Prime have added delivery options to help you avoid coming in contact with your delivery driver.

Services offering no-contact delivery

Sign up for Teladoc or another telemedicine system

Telemedicine allows physicians to diagnose, treat and prescribe medications to patients online or through an app. Companies like Teledoc make it convenient to get the medical help you need in real time, and they’re becoming more popular amid the coronavirus outbreak.

With telemedicine services, you’ll need to create an account before you can start searching for healthcare providers and making appointments.

Cost structures differ by system. For instance, Teladoc offers subscription-style pricing, while other services like Doctor on Demand charge a fee per visit.

7 tips for taking rideshare or public transportation during the outbreak

Taking public transportation from A to B isn’t always a choice. Practice ways to stay healthy while taking the train, bus or subway, or riding in an Uber or Lyft:

• Keep your hands away from your face. Avoid touching your face, especially if you’ve made contact with the turnstiles and poles on public transport.
• Wipe down surfaces you come into contact with. Like the seatbelt, doorknob or window button. And if you drop your bag on a seat or the floor, give it a good wipe afterward.
• Avoid eating and drinking. To keep your hands away from your face, save sipping and snacking for when you get to your destination.
• Carry hand sanitizer. Use it as soon as you hop off, and wash your hands properly when you get a chance.
• Stagger your commute. Aim to leave work or school an hour earlier or later to avoid rush hour.
• Move away from coughing or sneezing. If you can’t physically put space between you and someone who’s coughing or sneezing, turn around so you’re not facing them. (Sorry, not sorry!)
• Change clothes when you’re home. That way, you avoid transferring germs you might have picked up while traveling onto your couch or bed.

Bottom line

The coronavirus is officially a pandemic, and there’s a lot we don’t know yet. But experts at WHO and the CDC continue to offer guidance for staying safe and healthy during the outbreak.

Along with practicing good hygiene, read up on the latest coronavirus news to stay on top of changing information.

Frequently asked questions

• How long is the coronavirus outbreak expected to last?

  The short answer: We don’t know. WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and revealed the number of confirmed cases at more than 118,000 globally.

  However, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Europe is now the epicenter of the virus, and other countries can still “change the course of this pandemic.”

  He reiterated four key actions the world can take to prevent infection and minimize the impact of COVID-19: “First, prepare and be ready. Second, detect, protect and treat. Third, reduce transmission. Fourth, innovate and learn.”

  On a personal level, it’s key to practice good hygiene, avoid crowds as much as possible and steer clear of vulnerable groups of people.

• Which groups are at the highest risk for coronavirus?

  People who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, according to the CDC, include:

  • Seniors over the age of 60.
  • People with chronic medical conditions, like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.
  • Immunocompromised people — such as those going through chemo or radiation, the medically unvaccinated and those with autoimmune disorders, like Hashimoto’s.

• How can I protect myself if I'm in a high-risk group?

  Take the same everyday precautions, like washing your hands frequently and disinfecting any surfaces you touch. Also avoid crowds and all nonessential travel — especially cruise trips.

• How long does the coronavirus survive on surfaces?

  That’s unclear, according to WHO. But preliminary information suggests that the coronavirus may live on surfaces for a few hours to several days.

• Is there a vaccine, treatment or cure for coronavirus?

  Not yet — there are no specific treatments or drugs for COVID-19. WHO says most patients can fully recover with proper medical care, so seek medical attention as soon as possible if you start experiencing symptoms.

• Can my dog or cat get the coronavirus?

  Cats and dogs can be affected by the virus that causes COVID-19 — though dogs are less susceptible, according to the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute. The researchers say cats in particular can spread the virus to other felines, and a tiger at The Bronx Zoo in New York became the first non-domesticated cat to be diagnosed with the disease. However, there’s no evidence that pets can pass the disease to humans.