Common Sense & Education Will Lead to the Death of the Covid-19 Virus

If you’re reading this feature, there are a few assumptions to be made; (1) you’re online enjoying the April issue—in its digital version, and we thank you for taking this step. (2) Our magazine was delivered to your mailbox and carefully extracted from the protective plastic wrapper. Or, (3) you picked up an issue at one of our many drop-off locations where our titles are found in large bundles. Finally, and the least desirable choice is that you picked up an issue at an office, coffee shop, or restaurant that allows guests take-out options.

In the last two instances, our magazines are packaged and protected using clean techniques, and delivered in a secure wrapper; however, once exposed to the air in public places, the chances of the virus showing up on the covers are increased.

We’ve been in contact with those involved with our production; this includes writers, photographers, designers, printers and, delivery staff to discuss our processes, so our publications get into your hands absent of contamination by aerosolized particles of the virus.

Our periodicals are wrapped in heavy plastic and are completely safe. However, once put on display, they are subject to environmental hazards, the same as the coffee cup you’re drinking from, the bottle of water pulled from a cooler, or the plastic utensils picked up from your favorite restaurant. It comes down to this; if you didn’t unwrap it with your clean paws, then calculate that it is infectious and needs to be cleaned before use.

Research shows that Coronavirus can spread quickly. For example, the ATM at your bank, the mail delivered to your home, the door handle to any of the dozen or so places you visit, even the coat you’re wearing in public today, all could carry the virus.

It isn’t a joke, the risk to our health is heightened because the life of the live virus (whose droplets are invisible) is hours—even days—putting us at an increased risk if we do not take all necessary precautions.

Most individuals are too busy, or they don’t realize that everything they touch during the day is comparable to licking the surfaces other’s hands have touched. Of course, many businesses have upped their game and are regularly cleaning, but this isn’t fool-proof, and that is proven by the rising contagions’ numbers.

Once you’ve touched a surface and put your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes, you will have introduced the virus into your body—which serves as the perfect host—and allows for incubation (growth); all while you are unknowingly infecting others.

Because the virus is microscopic and not visible, many come to the false conclusion that the Coronavirus isn’t in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, this silent and unobserved traveler is around you. Unless you’ve been isolating for the last two weeks or have taken extreme measures—such as wearing a mask, gloves, and eyewear while in public—you could be carrying the virus and sharing its possible deadly effects.

It’s a personal responsibility to prevent the spreading of Covid-19, but this cannot be done unless we all make a conscious effort and restrict our contact with contaminated surfaces and keep at a reasonable distance from others; vigilance is the key to success.

To help keep our readers safe, we offer a few suggestions to avoid getting sick or making others ill.

• Before you leave your house, be sure you wash your hands for 20 seconds and be sure to develop a full lather.
  
• If it doesn’t stain or ruin your outerwear, spray the exterior of your clothing with a commercial antiviral product; this includes hats, shoes, and bags you carry. Then upon returning home—repeat.
  
• Leave coats, gloves, and hats outside of your internal living space.
  
• Put on rubber or plastic gloves, and have extra ones in your pockets and vehicles, along with quality disinfectant wipes so you can continuously clean them while out in public.
  
• Keep at least 6 feet from you and everyone else—if it isn’t possible, try to walk away without causing hard feelings—apologize as appropriate.
  
• While there have been claims that masks don’t prevent potential infection, don’t believe it doesn’t help; any protection is better than none. For the fashion-conscious, you could wear a scarf below your eyes—cover your nose and mouth. But, don’t get a sense of false security; you still need to keep your distance from everyone.
  
• Once you leave your car, put on your face protection and don’t touch or try to reposition. When you return to your vehicle—after completing your errands, dispose of all used items into a plastic bag and tie it securely.
  
• While out, try to have a list of exactly where you need to go and do as much shopping at one location as possible and attempt to visit store locations in off-hours when the concentration of fellow shoppers is significantly lower.
  
• When banking, collecting mail, or picking up your favorite reading material (our magazines), drop it into a plastic bag, and once home, you may wipe the exterior of all items with an antiviral cleaning wipe as to limit possible exposure.
  
• Attempt to do as much personal business as you can online, but when ordering and accepting packages, be sure to apply the same cleaning actions to the outside of boxes, in addition to the content of the containers.
  
• Don’t assume family members are ‘bug-free’ unless they are under your direct supervision or they have not ventured into the public arena, you have to expect that they have been exposed.
  
• When arriving home, throw your laundry into the wash and change your clothes.
  
• Stay home, be occupied with chores that never seem to get accomplished, and educate others by phone or internet; share with them how you are safeguarding yourself and your family.
  
• Extend additional courtesy to the elderly who will be upended by this pandemic. Now is the time to reach out to anyone you believe is in need. Nutrition is a significant concern for this population, and anything you can do to help a neighbor will be appreciated by your community.
  
• Try to become part of the solution rather than the problem.