COVID-19 summer safety: Tips
I picked up at the hospital
BY DONNA DUARTE-LADD
Summer is here and we are (finally!)
moving through the Phases
here in New York City. Yet, as of this
week, COVID-19 cases in other states
are growing, such as Florida and Arizona.
Other states are teetering back
into the hot zone, where they were
once making progress; their cases are
increasing again.
Kids want to be outside. Who can
blame them? It is summer — this is
the season we city peeps use to recharge
our spirits and soak up much
needed Vitamin D. Yet, ( enter Debbie
Downer), I am personally seeing parents
not wearing masks along with
their kids.
So What Do We Do?
I recently shared that my fouryear
old was in the hospital for emergency
stomach surgery. We were in
the hospital during the height of the
pandemic in one of the city’s busiest
COVID-19 hospitals. On the pediatric
floor, we were near at least
five COVID-19 patients — some very
young. Weirdly, I didn’t feel unsafe as
the hospital staff was regularly disinfecting
and took the upmost precautious.
At one point, I shared this with
one of the doctors who said something
that stuck with me. She told me, “Do
not become comfortable, that this is
a virus we cannot see, and this is the
scariest part of it all.” She continued
to advise me, “Do not let your guard
down with this virus at least until
there is an antibody.”
So as I go out to the playground
and pick up food, I use the safety tips
I learned from the healthcare workers
during our hospital stay. And hey,
I am not an expert on COVID-19 — I
am just a parent who wants to keep
my kids safe and do our part in the
community to keep this virus from
growing.
Here Are the Tips I Picked Up:
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.20 COM | JULY 10-JULY 16, 2020
We wear masks when out and try
our best to keep the 6-feet distance
rule. My youngest tested negative
for COVID-19; we quarantined after
the hospital stay, yet one of our wise
doctors shared that they have patients
who are very sick with all the
symptoms of the virus yet test negative.
There is so much we still need to
learn about this virus. Let’s do our
part and keep the vulnerable and our
families safe.
I sanitize the swing at the playground.
I definitely get some side-eye
on this one. But here’s the thing…
anytime a nurse left the chair she or
he would wipe it down — every single
time. I don’t do the slide because,
frankly, it’s not worth it. However, if
my kid is spending a serious amount
of time on the slide, I change his
clothes when we get home.
I have become a bit more relaxed
on this rule, but if we are out for
a long day, I spray disinfectant on
all our shoes. Again the healthcare
workers personally did this to their
shoes — it is something I picked up.
Stay informed. The CDC does an
excellent job with their guidance. I
think their tips on visiting parks is
not only wise advice but easy to follow.
T
his story originally appeared on
newyorkfamily.com, one of our sister
publications.
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