While COVID continues to be an ever-present part of our lives, we have been monitoring the situation closely, and have noticed the plethora of often conflicting information that’s taking over the internet and news cycles. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by it all!

As a small boutique agency in Carlsbad, CA that supports many other small businesses in Southern California and beyond, we have seen the vast economic implications of this pandemic first-hand. Because of this, we know that the safer our behavior, the quicker we’ll all be able to resume business as usual.

 

Cue: Safety Tip Roundup!

We’ve scoured the interwebs, combed through the information, and here are the best tips & tricks we’ve found to make sure we stay safe and slow spread as much as possible.

 

1) Masks:

Masks are one of the major ways to keep yourself & others from contracting COVID-19. However, it’s important to note that the type of mask you wear is extremely important when it comes to preventing spread.

You may have seen some masks with a little plastic valve attached to them. The marketing behind these masks as effective filtering devices is misleading. They only filter for the person who wears them. The valve attached to these masks allows unfiltered (and potentially COVID-laced) air to be exhaled out. In short, they do NOT stop the spread of the virus and should not be used. If you see someone wearing this mask, be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from them at all times.

Instead of these masks, try wearing cloth masks (the higher the thread count, and the more layers, the more effective!), or surgical masks.

And with all of our research, we’ve come to really appreciate our client, Oura. They had been working on masks long before the pandemic even started, and we love the ingenuity of their (locally made in Southern California) product. We have been so proud to work with them, along with so many other companies, that are focusing their efforts on helping our communities stay safe during this time.

When removing your mask, only grip the ear loops or ties. Do not remove the mask by touching the front of it, as it can be infected by COVID-19. Don’t forget to wash your hands immediately after!

 

2) Gloves:

There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about gloves. The virus survives on gloves, just as it survives on our skin, and they are not helpful unless used for short and specific tasks.

For example: if you are grocery shopping with gloves on, you’re essentially just transferring germs from each item you touch to the next. In the same way, you sanitize your hands to keep clean, you have to sanitize your gloves for them to be clean. They may remind you not to touch your face, but they will not stop the spread of the virus.

A helpful tip when grocery shopping: Most grocery stores have wipe dispensers now. Wipe down your grocery cart, and then put a new wipe under each hand to push the grocery cart. You can even use a third wipe to pick up your items! However, remember to keep sanitizing your hands regularly.

So when is a good time to use gloves? During single-use errands, where you cannot wash your hands immediately after. Example: Filling up gas! Put gloves on right before, fill up your gas, then toss the gloves and use hand sanitizer! That way, you won’t transfer anything to your car handles, steering wheel, seat belt, etc.

When removing gloves, make sure not to touch the outside of them and to remove them properly.

 

3) Social Interaction

We know, it’s really hard to quarantine for months at a time! Denying ourselves social interaction makes it difficult, and the more difficult it becomes, the more likely we are to slip up and make unsafe decisions. Here are some of our favorite ways for small & safe COVID-19 compliant get-togethers.

  • Walks around the neighborhood! Mask up, call a friend, and take a stroll together. This has been such a helpful way to get out of the house and get some in-person interaction and movement. Make sure to maintain proper distancing when walking!
  • Backyard movie nights! Get a projector, hang up a white sheet, and play an outdoor movie! Wear masks and set up your chairs or blankets 6 ft apart to enjoy a nice outdoor summer screening.
  • Park picnics! Call a friend to meet up in a non-crowded area. Wear masks and set up your blankets 6 ft apart. Enjoy time together chatting, reading books, or even listening to music. Remember: each person should bring their own snacks, to prevent cross-contamination!
  • Virtual trivia nights! Many restaurants and bars are taking their trivia nights online. Get a group of friends together virtually, and enjoy trivia night from the comfort and safety of your own home!
  • Virtual movie nights! Hop on Zoom with a group of friends. Everyone should load up the movie on their own screen, and on the count of three, you all simultaneously press play! Netflix also has Netflix Party – a browser extension to allow simultaneous group viewing. It’s a great way to share an experience while staying safe!

 

We are continuously working to support our clients in every capacity possible. Their success is our priority, and their businesses rely heavily on our communities to make well-informed decisions.

Together, we will get through this.