10 Ways to Survive COVID As a Floridian
I admit, maybe it was surviving 100s of hurricanes and prepping every year for a near disaster, or my natural worried Latina mom attitude, or perhaps it is the Cuban propensity to be obsessed with the news, but I prepared my Buffalo family for COVID back in February. All it took was a few headlines in China and the twitter feeds of experts for me to realize that no matter the spin, COVID 19 was not going to be another swine flu.
I stocked up on groceries, started social distancing before it was en vogue, and bought a massive bottle of antibacterial for my husband. He’s a coach at Buffalo State, and his super healthy athletes had started coming down with a mysterious “flu”. I didn’t want him to get sick. He did roll his eyes when I handed the bottle to him, but two weeks later when his athletic director made the antibacterial rounds, my husband was already ahead of the game.
As a Floridian, I’m used to the countless “Florida Man” jokes, but seeing that the ultimate “Florida Man” has now led my beloved Florida to a path of pandemic destruction breaks my heart. How can I possibly help? Here are 10 plus ways to survive COVID 19 as a Floridian.
- Wear a Mask — Think of a mask like a diaper. It might leak but at least we aren’t peeing on each other
- Social Distance — If a place is packed, especially if it is indoors, leave.
- Social Bubble — Decide NOW who you want to hang out with (ex. the abuelos). Both parties self-quarantine for 2 weeks. Then only hang out with each other exclusively. This is ideal for those who need childcare with relatives, families, and close friends. The circle needs to be small and everyone needs to self-quarantine as much as possible to keep the bubble safe.
- Stock Up — The food supply has survived. Limit trips to the grocery store by stocking up on pantry items. Buy groceries only once or twice a month to reduce exposure.
- Bagged Only — If a store does not require masks, only buy bagged/boxed items. For example, avoid produce sitting out where folks can just sneeze on them. Or buy prebagged snacks.
- Take Out — Don’t go in a restaurant. Most are too closed and too packed. While you probably will not get sick from the food, there is a lot of cross-contamination and spray. Do take out or delivery. As long as the numbers rise, avoid even the outdoor patios. Once the numbers fall again, outdoor dining will be safer. And no buffets, ever.
- Indoors — COVID is essentially airborne indoors. The droplets might linger for an hour or so in one area. The air conditioners will blow infected droplets right into your face. Avoid going indoors if masks aren’t required or the building is full.
- Outdoors — Good news Florida: Heat and humidity reduce spread. Outdoors social distance, wear masks, avoid crowded places. Stay away from contact surfaces (ex. outdoor benches, tables, or lawn chairs) or wipe them down before using. I bring my own chair everywhere. MOM TIP: Go to the bathroom before you leave your home, especially if you have young children who can’t wait. Or have pullups handy for longer trips.
- Socialize Safely — We’ve already seen the horrible mental health outcomes of isolation. Depression and overdoses are on the rise. Domestic violence has increased, as well as child abuse. Thankfully you live in Florida. This means you can meet safely outdoors with small groups of friends all year. Take advantage. Have a socially distanced outdoor mom group. Everyone brings their own coffee, snacks, and chairs. Stay six feet apart and visit. Check in on families in distress. Older children can wear masks and play outdoors in parks or swim. Toddlers and babies will enjoy hanging with their families more. Socially distance from the elderly or sick family members safely, but keep in contact.
- Medical Supplies & Testing — Many people with COVID suffer stomach flu symptoms and extreme lethargy at the beginning. Most have a high fever. And most people will suffer through the illness in their homes. Buy cold medicine, fever medicine, water, Gatorade, Pedialyte, stomach medicine, etc. in case a family member or neighbor become sick. Have soup in the pantry. Designate a room in your home for quarantining a family member. Ideally, the room should have its own bathroom. If you suspect illness GET TESTED.
Stay safe. Listen to the experts at WHO. Ignore politicians. Your local government will post updated health guidelines for your area. Read up on what other states and countries are successfully doing to keep updated. Avoid cable news and political pundits who profit off of clicks and not facts.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
Your doctor or kid’s pediatrician knows your family. You can trust them. CALL YOUR DOCTOR if you are not sure what to do. They will have the latest accurate information.
Do not rely on Facebook and Twitter to give you the news. Don’t listen to Tio Manolo who talked to his neighbor Carmen who saw on the news that it is a big hoax by lizard people. There are 115,000 dead Americanos, most of which are older, had illness, or were from the black community or Latino. This is very, very real.
Finally, if you are over sixty or have a chronic illness, get your paperwork in order. Know who will make decisions if you are incapacitated. You want to take care of your family in case you end up in the hospital for weeks on end, or worse.
Stay safe friends! I hope that these tips save a few families the pain of COVID. As a Floridian in New York, I wish you the best. Be smart. Survive.
Sabrina Peña Young is an award-winning composer and filmmaker and enjoys cooking Cuban and Dominican cuisine. She lives in Western New York with her beautiful family and super hyper dog Sandy. She is the Creative Director of Bandwidth Media & Film, a digital media and post-production studio.
