How to proactively prepare for Covid-19

At Tia, we work to take an approach that is proactive as opposed to reactive. With this in mind, we want to help you prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally in this continually changing landscape of coronavirus.

In the following, you will find a breakdown of some of the terms you are likely hearing on repeat and the actionable things you can do to prepare for any scenario — with confidence.

Real talk, what is quarantine and how does it work?

• Quarantines help to protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease. Quarantine guidance comes from elected officials and can be mandated to protect the public by preventing exposure and encouraging containment. separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Here are the definitions to some other terms you might be hearing a lot of:

• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Social distancing is the practice of limiting exposure to the general public. This means avoiding crowded places, groups, events, and working from home if that option is available.

How do I (and should I) prepare?

To be extra clear, NYC is *not* in a mass state of quarantine like Italy. All that said, preparation is smart for all of us — especially given the speed at which things are changing. With this in mind, here are our quick recs for the varying degrees of quarantine and isolation

#1: Stock up on your meds

If you take any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications regularly, we recommend stocking up and having an extra month supply in the case that you are not able to get to a pharmacy.

Starting tomorrow, your Tia Care Team is here to help you prep your medicine cabinet (think: getting your birth control refilled ahead of schedule or any other important medications!).

Stay tuned for more on Virtual Visits from Tia tomorrow.

#2: Fill up your pantry (and your fridge)!

While there’s been a land grab for hand sanitizer, TP and bleach, don’t forget that it’s food (preferably non-perishable, nutrient-backed food!) that is especially critical to stock up on!

We recommend you get enough frozen and non-perishable foods for a few weeks of eating at home. Look out for a special edition #FoodAsMedicine pantry prep guide coming out in the following week.

If you’re a filtered-water person, make sure yours is in tip-top shape and buy an extra as back up!

#3: Nerd out on logistics for you & your loved ones.

Whether it’s adapting to a WFH schedule, prepping childcare, or thinking through how to protect older relatives who are at greater risk, it’s worth thinking through logistics ahead of time. Over-planning and over-communicating is the name of the game!

Lastly, remember that we all deal differently — some may want to take greater protective measures like skipping out on a concert or big birthday party. Others may be less concerned or in communities with less risk of exposure. The point is that this is all so personal, you have to account for the individualized factors in *your* life.

Oh and don’t forget to breathe!