Let Us Do Our Part
by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD | April 19th, 2020
I listen to the news every night and hear the stats. Over 750,000 people in the United States have tested positive for Coronavirus and more than 40,000 have died. The most hit area has been New York. Behind each death is a story. I know four of those stories because they were members of the church I grew up in when I lived in Brooklyn. I pray for all the families.
This is also a reminder that we need to follow the advice of the experts because this disease is real. We need to do our part:
- Stay home – this is how we save lives. You should only leave your house if it is absolutely necessary. Make a list before you go to the grocery store. If you are an essential worker then you are the designated person to go to the grocery store for your family.
- Maintain social distancing – at least 6 feet apart and when this is not possible, wear a mask. We are doing to this protect each other. There are some people that are asymptomatic carriers meaning that they are carrying the virus and they do not have symptoms. If we all wear mask, we can protect each other.
- Wash your hands often and when you have no access to water use a hand sanitizer. You want to use the hand sanitizer when entering your car after pumping gas. When using a public rest room, I wash my hands before and after I use the bathroom. The minute I enter my house, I wash my hands. Washing your hands needs to be second nature.
- Practice self –care – Get enough sleep, exercise, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, take a daily vitamin, meditate, and take all your prescribed medications. Take advantage of your patient portal in case you have any questions for your health care provider.
- Connect with others – check in on your family and friends especially those who are older. It has been great going through my contact list and talking to people I have not spoken to in years.
I know a lot of what I have said has been said before but it is worth repeating especially now that we have people chanting that they want to get back to the way things were. We do not want to open the country up prematurely. We are all in this together. Let us do our part to protect ourselves and others.
