Six Helpful Hints To Help Stay Safe While Spending Days Social Isolating

by Alvard Petten March 28, 2020

With the rapid spread of the coronavirus throughout Canada and the world, it is clear that social isolation is the best course of action to slow the spread of disease.

While it is necessary to "flatten the curve," spending days on end indoors has its drawbacks that can lead to an increased risk of infection, whether we are talking about the coronavirus, influenza, mental health, or other illnesses.

Here are six tips for staying healthy while isolating:

1. Wash your hands

Hand-washing with soap is an effective way to prevent the spread of many microbes, including the coronavirus. The surfactant action of soap disrupts the fatty outer membrane of the virus and helps destroy it.

2. Use a humidifier

Many studies done on viruses show that low humidity increases the spread and risk of infection.

3. Use a high-quality air filter with UVC light

One of the problems of spending a lot of time indoors all day is that buildings get minimal airflow. This allows for the buildup of viral particles (along with allergens, other microbes, and chemicals from cleaners, paints, furniture, etc.). To decrease this exposure, use a high-quality air filter that ideally includes a HEPA filter plus UVC light, which helps kill microorganisms like viruses. At the very least, we should be opening our windows to allow for air circulation throughout the house daily.

4. Disinfect surfaces with an effective but non-toxic cleaner

It's is said that the coronavirus can live on surfaces for a few days; therefore, it is essential to clean home surfaces often. An inexpensive disinfectant can be made easily by mixing equal parts 70% isopropyl alcohol and clear ammonia. Blending with essential oil can make this even more effective we recommend lavender, lemon and tea tree or a couple of drops of thieves oil make cleaning not only practical but it smells great too.

5. Spend some time outside

Just because you are practicing social distancing doesn't mean you cannot go outside. Spending time in the sun can help increase vitamin D levels, which helps decrease viral replication, as do the ultraviolet rays. Being outside in the fresh air is also preferable to the recirculated indoor air where viral particles can accumulate. So get outside, go for a walk, play, enjoy having an excuse to slow down and unplug in nature.

6. Focus on the basics

There are plenty of things we know help to improve the immune system, such as getting plenty of sleep, staying hydrated, eating a healthy and diverse diet of whole foods, limiting processed foods and alcohol intake, and doing moderate exercise.