Navigating the Novel Coronavirus: maintaining your physical and mental health during quarantine
A note from Million Marker: As we progress through these uncertain times, we are committed to the health of you and your family. While we will continue to provide information that will help protect you from toxic exposures, we know that the threat of COVID-19 is foremost on people’s minds. Therefore, we will also provide any relevant information about the coronavirus. While Million Marker will NOT have the capability to provide home testing for the virus, we are gathering information about progress on this topic. As always, if you have any questions about the health of yourself and your family, feel free contact us so we can direct you to the best resources.
The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has completely upended our daily lives. For many of us, the way we work, go shopping for groceries, exercise, and spend time with family and friends has changed dramatically. It can be frustrating to lose access to many of the ways we maintain physical and mental health.
However, with so much time at home, now is a great time to focus on the well-being of you and your family. And that extends to toxic chemical exposure.
Here are some ways to practice a healthy lifestyle:
Reduce plastic:
- Avoid plastic products. Plastic contains toxic chemicals that can leach into food and beverages. Plastics #3 and #7 are especially harmful.
- DON’T buy bottled water. The EPA has not detected COVID-19 in tap water. It is safe to continue using tap water for washing and drinking. You can also continue to use any current filtration systems.
- Opt for paper. Cities are beginning to ban bringing reusable bags to grocery stores in order to reduce potential contamination. When offered paper or plastic, opt for paper bags because viruses seem to last for less time (~24 hours) on porous materials like paper when compared to plastic materials.
Eat safely:
- Wash produce with running water for 20 seconds. For tougher produce, you can scrub with a vegetable brush. Do not use anything besides water to wash produce. Soap residue can remain on the food and can be harmful if ingested.
- Peel produce. If you are still worried, you can peel fruits and veggies before eating them to remove any contaminant that might be on the surface.
Disinfect:
- Use safe disinfectants. The EPA offered a list of disinfectants that are effective against the coronavirus. However, many contain potentially harmful ingredients. EWG went through the list and refined it to 16 safe products to use against the virus.
- Avoid “antibacterial” products. Antibacterial soaps and products do not provide any more protection than “regular” soap and cleaning products, and contain toxic ingredients.
Stay active:
- Move. Exercise is good for your mental health and physical health. Go on a walk, climb up and down the stairs, or find online exercise classes.
- Try yoga. Yoga is a great way to practice mindfulness. Corepower Yoga is offering free online yoga classes that are updated weekly.
- Run. What better time to train for the marathon you’ve always wanted to run. Here are some tips for beginners. Make sure to follow increased distancing when running near other people, as exercise can increase how far droplets are spread by nose and mouth.
Be mindful:
- There is light at the end of the tunnel. Be nice to people, practice social distancing, and know that your feelings and experiences are shared by those around you. We’re all in this together.
