It can be difficult at times to remember why we are being forced to stay in our homes. A lot of us have been feeling anxious and stressed and are suffering from information overload about coronavirus. We are here to give you a friendly reminder that we are socially distancing not only for ourselves but for those who desperately need it. We have come up with a friendly guide on what the best practices are to deal with Covid-19 while it is in South Africa.

Door handles, your phone screen and so much more are riddled with bacteria. Hand washing is always best for removing germs such as bacteria and viruses. But if soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based sanitiser that is 60% or higher does the trick. Remember the 20-second rule when washing your hands. This is especially important to remember if you have to go out to replenish food items or get items from the pharmacy.

Staying at home currently is mandatory unless you are a frontline or essential services provider. Please follow the rules – they have been set in place for a reason and even though you yourself may not fall into an at-risk category, by staying at home you are helping those that are. It may feel rough to be staying indoors when you’re not sick but in order to help our community it must be done. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle in isolation, keep exercising if possible, try to eat a balanced diet and get enough sleep.

It might be hard to stick to your normal schedule when working from home but it is important to have a routine in order to get back some stability. Especially with children now staying home from school, actual play dates are out but virtual ones are in! We don’t know how long the Covid-19 lockdown will be in effect in South Africa so it’s best to continue to have some sort of routine in place for when the pandemic is over. Things like charts for play-time and school time, star charts for kids doing chores or exercise. Even for adults, writing down a schedule and sticking to it provides a sense of normalcy that is very important during this time.

The elderly and those with pre-existing chronic conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick from the coronavirus. Just because you are young and the virus won’t affect you as much, doesn’t mean that others won’t. Show those who need it most love by social distancing if you have to be out and offering to help those who are at higher risk if you can. Check in with elderly neighbours who may need to top up on groceries and may not have access or the know-how to order online.

Listen to health experts and professionals and don’t give into the hype of Covid-19 in South Africa. Remind yourself that 81% of those infected around the world have been cured. If watching too much news makes you feel anxious, limit the amount of time you give in to the media and distract yourself in other ways. Try to select news sources you trust and watch what is necessary to keep you informed but not panicked.

Tap into skills that you might have forgotten about to manage your emotions during this outbreak. Whether it be drawing, making music, knitting or whatever it is, take advantage of this time to perfect your skill and distract yourself from what’s going on. There are a multitude of online resources and lockdown inspirational projects that are helping people stay on track, so consider joining in on a project like this. There is strength in numbers.

It is normal to feel stressed or anxious in a crisis, especially when you feel trapped indoors. Try to make some time for meditation, a ten-minute meditation is 1% of your day that can make the other 99% better. Practice a short stretch or yoga-inspired workout to help you centre yourself. It doesn’t have to be a 60-minute hardcore cardio burn, a super simple 10-minute stretch and breathing session can do wonders for the mind and soul.

If you can avoid going out to the shops at all costs the better, there are heaps of specialised stores that offer delivery of their products. From meal deliveries and care packages to fresh bread to vegetable boxes and fish. Don’t forget that in these hard times it’s important to continue your support of local small businesses. The more we avoid going out, the more likely we can reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa.

Talking to people you trust can help, contact your friends and family through video chats, texting, and phone calls. In these hard times, it’s important to stay connected as we self isolate. There are plenty of video chatting services out there to keep you staying in touch with those that are close to you. Check in with those that you know are alone at home, young or old, everyone benefits from social interaction, even via a screen.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY BE INFECTED

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has a toll-free number for the public that deals with Covid-19 related issues or questions: 0800 029 999. The line is operated 24 hours a day.