
Managing Money In A Crisis
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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.
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:
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):
The CDC suggests washing your hands for at least 20 seconds — or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. If you’re sick of that tune, here are three choruses you can belt out.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don’t take him just because you can
Ooh, baby, do you know what that’s worth?
Ooh, heaven is a place on earth
They say in heaven love comes first
We’ll make heaven a place on earth
Ooh, heaven is a place on earth
Why men great ’til they gotta be great?
Don’t text me, tell it straight to my face
Best friend sat me down in the salon chair
Shampoo press, get you out of my hair
Fresh photos with the bomb lighting
New man on the Minnesota Vikings
Truth hurts, needed something more exciting
Bom bom bi dom bi dum bum bay
Need a track for the kids? The Alphabet Song fits the bill — but to reach 20 seconds, you’ll need to sing “Now I know my ABCs / Next time won’t you sing with me?”
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.
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:
Remember, we’re preparing — not panicking. Try to secure a two-week supply of food, cleaning supplies and home goods, but don’t go overboard. Hoarding can leave others without access to the essentials they need during the outbreak, and lead to the kind of hysteria and bare shelves we’re seeing in Australia and Italy.
As of June 5th, the WHO recommends every person wear a face mask in public if physical distancing is difficult — like on public transportation and in shops or other crowded, confined areas. 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.
When it comes to the coronavirus, natural sanitizers won’t cut it. The CDC recommends a heavy-duty hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to effectively kill bacteria.
The high alcohol content can be super drying, so follow up with a nourishing hand cream.
Where to buy hand sanitizer online
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
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:
If your child’s school does shut down, keep your kids entertained while they maintain their distance from others:
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.
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
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.
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
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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.
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:
No one wants to cancel their upcoming trips and travel. But it’s best to play it safe when it comes to pandemics like the coronavirus.
The CDC updates its travel advisories frequently. If the place you’re traveling to has a Level 3 or Level 4 warning, consider postponing or canceling your trip. For context, the CDC has issued Level 4 alerts for China and Italy, two countries with a sustained spread of the coronavirus.
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.
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