Preparing Yourself and Your Santa Fe Home for Coronavirus COVID-19

How is Coronavirus COVID-19 Spread?

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

What are the Symptoms of Coronavirus COVID-19?

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

How Can I Avoid Catching Coronavirus COVID-19?

• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others. The CDC recommends that everyone where a cloth face cover in public settings except children under 2, those who have trouble breathing, or those that don’t have the ability to remove the mask without assistance.
• Start practicing “social distancing” where you stay about 6-feet away from other people. Close contact is one of the main ways Coronavirus COVID-19 is spread.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to get all areas of your hands including the area around your fingernails.
• When soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth. This is especially vital when your hands haven’t been washed.
• Carry tissues with you and when you cough or sneeze do so into the tissue and throw the tissue away. Then wash your hands.
• Disinfect your home and work areas (see our “Disinfecting and Preparing Your Home section further below)
• Avoid gatherings of people. In fact, many states are banning events and large gatherings.
• If you decide to continue working out at a gym (that isn’t closed), wash the equipment before you use it, and after you use it and wash your hands
• several times during your workout. You should discuss with your doctor/health care provider the risks vs benefits of gym exercising/workouts.
  
  

What to do if You Display Symptoms of Coronavirus COVID-19:

Disinfecting and Preparing Your Home for COVID-19:

• By actively trying to keep the virus out (disinfecting your home).
• By preparing for the potential of isolation for two-weeks.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home

• Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

• • • Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:
      • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or
      • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water.

Preparing for Potential Isolation

New Mexico Guidelines for Testing

• ​​It is essential that New Mexico maintains sufficient amounts of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment for health care staff and COVID-19 test kit materials.
• It is critical that all New Mexicans know that those without symptoms of COVID-19 infection – those symptoms being fever, cough, or shortness of breath and/or muscle cramping – do not need testing for COVID-19. We are currently in allergy season, and having allergy symptoms such as sneezing, and itchy eyes, nose or throat is not an indication for testing.
• As we work to increase the state’s capacity for COVID-19 testing, the test needs to be prioritized for those with symptoms of COVID-19 infection: fever, cough or shortness of breath. Please trust New Mexico’s valued medical professionals who are working so hard to protect and treat the New Mexico public and only get tested if you are currently exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
• Workplaces should not mandate that employees get tested for COVID-19 UNLESS employees are displaying symptoms: fever, cough or shortness of breath.
• ​It is critical that those who DO have symptoms of COVID-19 do NOT enter medical facilities without first contacting them, especially emergency departments.
• There is no specific treatment for COVID-19 and most cases will resolve on their own. In fact, 80% of cases are mild. Unless you have serious, emergent symptoms, you should not enter emergency departments. Entering medical facilities unnecessarily puts others at risk, increasing the potential to both infect others in the facility who would be more susceptible and reduce the facility’s ability to care for other patients.
• ​Reasons to seek emergency attention with COVID-19 are no different than reasons for going to an emergency department for other medical conditions: if you are having trouble breathing or significant shortness of breath, please seek medical attention.
  
  

Notes About Masks

• CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others.
• Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.
• Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• Masks with exhalation valves or vents should NOT be worn to help prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others (source control).

Videos on Coronavirus COVID-19:

Additional Link Resources:

City of Santa Fe: Help for People Who Run a Business in Santa Fe:
https://www.santafenm.gov/help_for_businesses_impacted_by_covid-19

New Mexico Health: Coronavirus Disease 2019 in New Mexico
https://cv.nmhealth.org/