How to Prepare for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Each day new information comes out regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).  It’s important to focus on what you can control during this time, keeping a level head when preparing yourself for possible quarantine and limited outside interactions. You should especially limit interaction for those with compromised immune systems and older adults.

There are various ways you can help lessen the anxiety around coronavirus by taking active measures to ensure you and your loved ones are well prepared. Here are some tips to stay informed and focused on what you can do at home.

6 Ways to Prepare for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Keep Communicating

Communication is key during this time and it’s important to have active conversations about your health with family as well as your health care provider.

Your health care provider is the best resource for information specific to your health situation, particularly if you are managing a chronic or complex health condition. Not sure how to broach the subject? Here are 6 questions to ask your doctor about COVID-19.

If you do not have a regular doctor but need to speak with a medical professional, K Health is offering free virtual primary care for coronavirus questions. Just use COVID19 at checkout for the 14-day free trial.

And don’t forget to check in with family and neighbors. Their support can make a big difference when it comes to keeping up with your health. If you’re limiting in-person interaction, a quick call or text to a loved one can help you feel more connected and provide accountability for daily health maintenance.

Practice Social Distancing

Social distancing has been trending for all the right reasons this week. It’s the most important public health measure to help control the spread of the virus. Nearly every day the CDC has offered guidance to reduce public gatherings. If you have a chronic condition or are an older adult, it’s important to isolate yourself from others to avoid interaction with those who might have the virus.

• • If you think you might be sick, it’s critical that you stay home and keep yourself separated from others living under the same roof.
  • Even if you are healthy and young, by practicing social distancing you’re doing your part to stop the outbreak, also known as flattening the curve.
  • It’s also important to avoid unnecessary travel and limit your public outings to the essentials, like picking up medications or stocking up on groceries.

Update 4/3/2020: The CDC recommends people use cloth face coverings when out in public and continue to practice social distancing.  This is especially important for those in highly impacted areas of COVID-19.

Prepare Your Emergency Medicine and Food Supply

If you or a loved one become sick, it could become difficult to get the food and medical necessities you need. It’s important to get ahead of this by securing an adequate supply of the essentials now.

At the grocery store, stock up on items like the ones below:

• Dry goods such as pasta, rice, beans and oats
• Canned foods such as tomatoes, beans, and tuna
• Frozen foods such as fruits and vegetables

You’ll also want to have these over the counter remedies on hand:

• Pain relievers (acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen)
  Update 3/23/2020: The WHO has issued a statement regarding the use of ibuprofen and does not recommend against using it as supplementary medication.

• Remedies for an upset stomach (TUMS, Pepto-Bismol)

• Respiratory support and cough suppressants (Sudafed, Mucinex, Dayquil)

Refill Prescription Medications

For your prescription medications, speak directly with your health care provider about increasing the quantity of each refill on maintenance medications. Your health care provider will be able to guide you on the correct amount of fills depending on your health needs.

If you’d like to get an extra refill of your medication and your insurance only covers a specific amount per month, RxSaver can help. You can use an RxSaver coupon to get up to 85% off the retail price for the extra medication.

Limit Your Exposure at the Pharmacy

Look into delivery and pharmacy drive-through options. You can determine which pharmacies near you offer delivery services on prescription medications and get your medications delivered to your door. RxSaver coupons are accepted at all major pharmacies, and you can apply an RxSaver coupon to your delivery order with a simple phone call to the pharmacist.

If prescription delivery is not available through your pharmacy you can also utilize the following options for getting your prescriptions while minimizing face-to-face interactions :

• Utilize your pharmacy drive-thru, if available.
• Try programs like KrogerHealth’s Sync Up which allow you to fill all your monthly medications at once for one easy pickup.
• Explore online pharmacies like HealthWarehouse to get your prescriptions delivered directly to your door. Search your prescription below to see how HealthWarehouse prices compare to your local pharmacy.

Boost Your Immune System

Just because your daily routine is changing due to the coronavirus crisis doesn’t mean you should slow down on self-care. Healthy habits like gentle exercise and a regular sleep schedule can help protect your health by strengthening your immune system.

And if you’ve got some unhealthy respiratory habits to break, now is the time! Experts suspect that smoking and vaping increase the severity of coronavirus. Check out the American Lung Association’s free smoking cessation resources to get the support you need to quit.

Stay Updated on Coronavirus But Don’t Overwhelm Yourself

It’s important to stay engaged with the latest updates on coronavirus, but it’s also important to practice mental boundaries when it comes to consuming too much information at once.  News fatigue can easily cause more stress and undue anxiety during this time. Limit how often you check the news and practice healthy boundaries as often as needed.