Everyone should have a Coronavirus COVID-19 household plan, to protect yourself, and your family. Have a discussion with your family, relatives, neighbors, and friends about what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community.
- Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk. Older people are more vulnerable to infections.
- Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning. Join a neighborhood website social media page.
- Create a list of local health care services, support, and resources.
- Create an emergency contact list. Emergency contacts may include family, friends, neighbors, health care providers, teachers, employers, and your local and/or state health department.
Preventive Actions for Your COVID-19 Household Plan
Remind everyone in your household to:
- Limit close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet).
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, TV remote, computer mouse and keyboard, cabinet handles, toilet handle, and your cell phone) using household detergent and water. If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Learn about the emergency operation plans at your child’s school.
- Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan. Discuss sick-leave policies and telework options.
During a Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak in Your Community
- Stay home when you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
- Keep away from others who are sick.
- Stay informed. Get up-to-date information about COVID-19 from your health officials.
- Keep track of school dismissals in your community.
- Discourage children from gathering in public places while school is dismissed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
- Stay in touch with family and friends with chronic medical conditions.
- Talk with your children about the outbreak to reassure them that they are safe.
- Continue practicing everyday preventive actions.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
What to Do if You or Someone in Your Household Contracts COVID-19
Call your doctor. Do not go to the doctor’s office. Request a TeleHealth appointment.- Ask to work from home or take leave if you or someone in your household gets sick with COVID-19 symptoms.
- If your child becomes sick with COVID-19, notify their school.
- Choose a room and a bathroom in your home that can be used to separate sick family members from those who are healthy.
- Avoid sharing personal items (TV remote, phone, food, and drinks).
- Have your sick family member wear a disposable facemask to help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others.
- Clean and disinfect the sick family member’s room and bathroom, as needed.
- Stay in touch with others by phone or email. If you live alone and become sick, you may need help.
- If you have a chronic medical condition and live alone, ask family, friends, and health care providers to check on you.
- Take care of the emotional health of your family members.
Additional COVID-19 Household Plan Information
CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/
Florida 2019 Novel Coronavirus Response (COVID-19) – https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/
Florida Department of Health – http://www.floridahealth.gov/
World Health Organization – https://www.who.int/
FCN Coronavirus COVID-19 Updates
FCN Blog – What you Need to Know About COVID-19
FCN Blog – Taking Care of Your Neurological Disorder during Coronavirus (COVID-19)
After a COVID-19 Outbreak has Ended in Your Community
Remember, a COVID-19 outbreak could last a long time. The impact on individuals, households, and communities might be great.
What you can do to improve your household’s plan:
- Continue to practice everyday preventive actions.
- Discuss the lessons you learned with your family. Were your COVID-19 preparedness actions effective at home, work, and school? Talk about problems found in your plan and effective solutions. Identify additional resources needed for you and your household.
- Help your children cope after the outbreak. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions. Because parents, teachers, and other adults see children in different situations, it is important for them to work together to share information about how each child is coping after the outbreak.
- Take care of the emotional health of your family members. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories about COVID-19. Connect with family and friends.
- Participate in community discussions about emergency planning. Let others know about what readiness actions worked for you and your family.