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welp, a lot of you are going to be quarantining soon, so if you have the resources to prepare, here's stuff to keep in mind:
1. do your laundry. you know that whole "if the pandemic ended at 6p, what would you do?" laundry, i would do my laundry.
1. do your laundry. you know that whole "if the pandemic ended at 6p, what would you do?" laundry, i would do my laundry.
wait, wait: back up
what is quarantine? (i'm using NY state's rules)
it's staying 14 days in a location that's separated by a door from other people, with private bathroom
so if you live alone or have separate bathrooms, inside your house/apartment
if not, maybe a hotel room
what is quarantine? (i'm using NY state's rules)
it's staying 14 days in a location that's separated by a door from other people, with private bathroom
so if you live alone or have separate bathrooms, inside your house/apartment
if not, maybe a hotel room
can you go outside during quarantine?
if you live in a building alone, you're allowed to go outside, but not to walk off your property, and you must always be 6ft away from others
if you live in any kind of shared space, no. you can't leave the indoors
if you live in a building alone, you're allowed to go outside, but not to walk off your property, and you must always be 6ft away from others
if you live in any kind of shared space, no. you can't leave the indoors
you have to have access to certain hygiene supplies: soap, water, paper towel, cleaning wipes, masks, and trash bags
medically, you have to have a thermometer
i also recommend an oximeter if you can get one, and otc medication for COVID symptoms in case you do get sick
medically, you have to have a thermometer
i also recommend an oximeter if you can get one, and otc medication for COVID symptoms in case you do get sick
alright, back to the practical pre-quarantine stuff:
1. if you don't live alone with a washer and dryer in your apartment/house, you might want to stay current on laundry so you have clean clothes and towels
1. if you don't live alone with a washer and dryer in your apartment/house, you might want to stay current on laundry so you have clean clothes and towels
2. food. think about what you might like to eat, and stock up if you're able. stay current on your grocery staples.
and btw you will want snacks! so stock up on easy-to-eat food you enjoy!
and, think: what do you like when you're sick? soups? high-calorie foods? get those, too
and btw you will want snacks! so stock up on easy-to-eat food you enjoy!
and, think: what do you like when you're sick? soups? high-calorie foods? get those, too
3. friends! family! neighbors! who would you reach out to for support? who can drop off supplies? do you have all their contact information?
two weeks is a long time: think of people who can offer support in different ways, like mental health check-ins or bringing baked goods...
two weeks is a long time: think of people who can offer support in different ways, like mental health check-ins or bringing baked goods...
4. exercise. do you have a way to move around even if you were stuck inside, in a room? do you need anything to do that exercise? a yoga mat, weights, stretching bands, treadmill, etc? (some of these are more realistic than others - i'm not about to drag a treadmill to a hotel!)
5. boredom. do you have electronics and all their cords together (charging/connecting)? do you have books, art supplies, crafting projects, games, cards?
think about what you might want to do for two weeks, then lower your expectations two notches and get your entertainment set
think about what you might want to do for two weeks, then lower your expectations two notches and get your entertainment set
6. who's going to take care of any tasks you can no longer do? childcare? eldercare? pets? plant watering? bill paying? picking up your mail?
plan now for if you needed to leave your home to quarantine, or if you got sick and were unable to take care of them yourself
plan now for if you needed to leave your home to quarantine, or if you got sick and were unable to take care of them yourself
i'm going to pause there for now. the other recommendations i have are kind of dark, but let's be real:
sitting alone waiting to get sick, or waiting to see how sick you get, knowing it can be permanently disabling or fatal - it just sucks. it's awful. we don't deserve this.
sitting alone waiting to get sick, or waiting to see how sick you get, knowing it can be permanently disabling or fatal - it just sucks. it's awful. we don't deserve this.
Here's NY's guidance:
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/03/quarantine_guidance_0.pdf
Also, if you don't have the resources to prepare, your local health department is responsible to support you. (I don't know how well that's working everywhere, so if you can help others, maybe offer that to your network right now.)
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/03/quarantine_guidance_0.pdf
Also, if you don't have the resources to prepare, your local health department is responsible to support you. (I don't know how well that's working everywhere, so if you can help others, maybe offer that to your network right now.)
