Stay Safe While States Reopen

As states being to reopen, it is important that we err on the side of caution while we try to bring back the "old normal" into our lives. Although exciting, the coronavirus has not disappeared. We must make sure we are still being responsible and protecting ourselves and those around us.

How can we make sure we are staying protected and protecting others? One way is to continue wearing cloth face masks in public places and practicing social/physical distancing. The premise behind wearing masks is to protect others around you if you have the virus but are not showing any symptoms. Before putting on your mask, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. When putting on your mask, sure to cover your nose and mouth before you fasten it. If you have a mask with a blue side and white side, be sure to have the blue side is facing out and the white, filtered side is facing you. Wearing masks and staying at least 6 feet apart from others will limit your chances of coming in contact with the virus.

Although gloves protect your hands from touching surfaces directly, it is advised to instead wash or sanitize between trips rather than wearing the same pair of gloves from place to place. This could lead to cross-contamination if your gloves touched an infected surface prior to you touching another surface. 

Another way to stay protected while protecting others is to follow the state and local business guidelines. Each state has different protocols for reopening, so be sure to go over them before going out or traveling. By following these guidelines, our "new normal" can hopefully become old news in no time.