Coronavirus: How to prepare for potential outbreak

While the coronavirus has not hit your area yet, there are still some steps you could do now to prepare if it does.

First, you should see if you can work from home if COVID-19 impacts your area, NPR reported.

Plan now for backup child care, if schools or day cares are forced to close because of an outbreak. Also, make arrangements for care for older relatives if you get sick, NPR reported.

Hawaii’s Department of Health is suggesting having a 14-day emergency kit ready, Hawaii News Now reported.

In Maine, residents are being told to prepare as if they were getting ready for a blizzard, meaning make sure you have enough food and supplies for a few days, WCSH reported.

Experts say to make sure you have enough daily medication to last a couple of weeks and work now to get approval from your insurance company to get an extended supply.

You may also want to make sure you have fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, pediatrician Edith Bracho-Sanchez told NPR.

Also, check the pantry and make sure you have nonperishable foods to keep you fed for a couple of weeks, Aesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician told NPR. Have foods you depend on when you’re sick with a cold or flu, foods like broths and crackers and have Gatorade or Pedialyte at the ready.

Make sure you have enough other supplies in your home, detergent and diapers for young children, The New York Times reported.

Make sure you are up to date on all your vaccines, including the flu shot, WKYT reported.

And wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with both soap, water and finally hand sanitizer. Don’t use sanitizer for an alternative to hand washing, WKYT reported.

Also go to the source for information by bookmarking the local health department’s website, the Times reported.

What is the Coronavirus? What is the Coronavirus?

Cox Media Group