Practical advice for daily living in Coronavirus times

Regardless whether you’re quarantined at home, still working or somewhere in between, there are everyday things you’ll have to continue doing in the world.

Here are a few tips and bits of practical information that may be of use during the Coronavirus situation.

Again, we add the cautionary “things are changing by the hour” regarding these, particularly when it comes to hours and openings.

Care with surfaces

We’ve heard the importance of cleaning surfaces.

The New England Journal of Medicine has said the COVID-19 virus can stay on varying surfaces for hours and, in some cases, days.

Scientists said the virus can be detectable up to four hours on metals, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

The lesson? Clean and disinfect surfaces, doorknobs and handles frequently.

For more info, check here:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200320192755.htm

Teeth

We’ve been asked to put off elective medical treatments during the Coronavirus situation, including dentistry, but that doesn't exclude having toothaches or other dental problems.

If you’re having serious issues, don’t hesitate to give your dentist a call.

One Las Cruces dentist, Las Cruces Dental Solutions, has launched a virtual dentistry service to address needs.

According to a press release, the goals of the service are to create access to dental consultations for both urgent and non-urgent dental concerns and thereby reduce the use of local emergency rooms for dental problems as well as reduce the number of in-office dental visits overall to help increase social distancing and contribute to combating COVID-19 infections.

You can learn more about this teledentistry service by contacting Mathew Peterson, DDS, of Las Cruces Dental Solutions, 575-527-4746, or by visiting www.dentalconsultsnow.com.

Credit/debit cards and electronic readers

Have you bought groceries, paid with your debit card and wondered, as you typed in your PIN, if a previous customer carrying coronavirus might have done the same thing?

It’s a possibility. And while some business are requesting card-use only because of the notoriously germy nature of cash and coins, credit cards aren’t a perfect alternative, given the virus can live up to three days on plastic.

So, yes, if you use your credit/debit card and use a reader, clean your card and wash your hands. You can do both at the same time, because the plastic cards can be washed in soap and water.

Here’s more: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-clean-your-credit-cards/

Gas pumps

As long as we’re still driving our vehicles, they’re still going to need gasoline.

And we never know how many people, or who, used the pump before us.

If you have disposable gloves, that’s a great help. If not, try a wipe or just, again, keep washing your hands.

Here’s more advice on keeping clean at the gas station: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-how-to-protect-yourself-against-coronavirus-when-pumping-gas/

Mind the toilet

The City of Las Cruces reminds us that the only thing to flush down the toilet is toilet paper. No paper towels. No wipes (even if they say they are flushable). Just toilet paper.

The city’s water and trash services are not affected by the coronavirus, so you’re fine putting paper towels in the normal trash.

The last thing you want to happen during all this is for your toilet to clog and overflow.