Why Should I Keep My Family Ready for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
People who are infected with coronavirus
or are around someone who has it need to stay
home to prevent spreading the virus.
When someone in the house is
sick with COVID-19, everyone in the house must stay home for 1 to 2 weeks, depending
on symptoms and COVID-19 test results. This is called quarantine
or isolation. Keeping your household ready can reduce stress
in case that happens.
What Do We Need to Be Ready to Quarantine?
It's best to prepare before someone in your house gets sick. Here are some ways
to stock up at home and be ready:
- Food and water. Choose food that doesn't need to be in the refrigerator
and can stay good on the shelf for a long time. Buy canned foods and juices, rice,
dried beans, granola bars, peanut butter, and dry cereal. Get baby foods, if needed.
If you have pets, stock up on what they need.
- Foods your family likes when sick. These might include things
like soup, crackers, and fluids to stay hydrated.
- Household supplies. Don't forget toilet paper, paper towels,
shampoo, toothpaste, and dish soap.
- Medicines. Make sure prescriptions are filled and on hand. Get
over-the-counter (nonprescription) fever reducers. Your doctor can advise you on how
to use them.
- A thermometer.
Depending on your child's age, you might need a digital thermometer, temporal artery
thermometer, or electronic ear (tympanic) thermometer.
- Cleaning supplies. If someone is sick, regularly wipe down things
that get touched a lot (like doorknobs, cellphones, and handles).
- Plenty of hand soap. Using soap and water to wash
hands when staying home is best. You can use hand sanitizer if soap and water
aren't available. Safely store hand sanitizer and cleaning products out of reach of
the kids.
- Masks or face coverings. Masks
are important for going out. But they can also help stop the spread of COVID-19 at
home. Indoors, anyone who is sick should wear a mask when around others to prevent
spreading the virus.
Kids older than 2 years should wear a mask or cloth
face covering when in public. Help your kids get
used to masks. You can make
them together. Practice wearing them so kids feel more comfortable when they wear
them or see loved ones wearing them. Children under 2 years old and people
who have trouble breathing should not wear a mask.
For more information on quarantine and isolation, visit the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
What Else Should I Know?
If you aren't quarantining and need essential items, keep these tips in mind:
- Try to go to stores during off hours when they might not be as crowded.
- Wash your hands before and after going out.
- Wear a mask or cloth face covering in public.
- Use online shopping with delivery or pick-up where available to limit the time
you are in stores. Experts say to wipe down delivery boxes or open them outside if
possible, and then wash your hands.
Date reviewed: December 2020
