Cleaning and Disinfecting: Best Practices
SARS-CoV4 — this is a link to a 74 page .pdf pamphlet on cleaning and disinfecting for COVID-19 that was written for small businesses, but of course it’s of use to anyone. The slides above are probably the best section of the pamphlet.
Safe Grocery Shopping Tips
Updated 4/7/20
This is an attempt to put out a summary of safe guidelines for people to follow while grocery shopping. This checklist is pulled from several credible sources as well as personal experience. But I am not a medical professional and make no claims these guidelines are infallible. Neither I nor anyone else can provide guidelines for grocery shoppers that would reduce the risk of catching the virus to zero. We are all learning more about COVID-19 every day. It’s a new virus and it’s hard to study because the data is incomplete (e.g. lack of testing in the US; incomplete reporting from China; different models of reporting fatalities from Great Britain, etc) and it’s happening in real time. So, with these caveats in mind, please read on. And if you have anything to add or correct, please do so. I can be reached at jon@jon-rice.com.
The good news at this point (4/7/20), is that there is still no conclusive evidence that the virus is being spread by food containers or food itself. The available evidence at this point suggests the intensity of the virus varies directly with one’s level of exposure to it (see the New York Times, 4/1/20, These Coronavirus Exposures Might Be the Most Dangerous:
As with any other poison, viruses are usually deadlier in larger amounts). The main way the virus is spread is human-to-human contact. The bad news, however, is that grocery store workers at least elsewhere in the country are getting sick and dying (see The Washington Post, 4/7/20, Grocery workers are beginning to die of coronavirus).
So the first rule about trips to the grocery store remains: go as few times as possible. [Read more…]
COVID-19 — Information & Community Resources
March 20, 2020
COVID-19 is very contagious and needs to be taken very seriously by EVERYONE.
If you are over 60, have a chronic health condition, or are a caretaker for anyone in these groups, you especially need to do everything you can to physically isolate. Please take precautions very seriously!
These are the things EVERYONE must do to protect themselves and others:
- Wash your hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds or use 60%+ hand sanitizer.
- Avoid exposure by practicing physical isolation (6′ or more) with anyone outside your household.
- Wipe down any items coming into the house with CDC-approved cleaners.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- If you feel sick, STAY AT HOME and call a doctor.
- The best way to protect yourself and help your community is to stay away from people outside your household as much as possible.
Low Risk volunteers are being organized to pick up essential supplies like groceries and prescriptions which they will deliver to the door of any neighbor requesting help. This service is being offered so High Risk residents can avoid the risk of exposure and to make it easier for all residents to stay home.
Available Local Aid Resources
Neighborhood Contacts
Jon Rice: 434-249-3585 or cvillejon@gmail.com
Sumner Brown: 434-906-0049 or sumner@healthyself.org
si ud. prefiere comunicarse en español, llame a Kristen McCleary: 540-908-0136
Please reach out to Jon, Sumner, or Kristen with your preferred way of being contacted and let us know about any immediate needs you or your household have as well as any you anticipate over the next two months so we can prepare. We hope to have a fully functional neighborhood grocery and other essential item pickup and delivery service in place by early next week.
Charlottesville Community-Wide Resources
www.supportcville.com/get-support — great collection of links for ways you can get support as well as provide support.
Community Resources Hotline (434) 234-4490, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm — the City’s Department of Human Services can help you navigate access to city-vetted resources for housing, financial assistance, food, and other supplies.
Health Dept COVID-19 Hotline (434) 972-6261, Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm for questions about COVID-19. (This line is not for requesting testing as test requests must come from your physician.)
Shelter for Help in Emergency (434) 293-8509 — if you are in an unsafe domestic situation.
Region Ten Emergency Services Hotline (434) 972-1800 or text 741741 — if you are struggling emotionally or are experiencing a mental health crisis.
