The new normal with COVID-19: 7 things you should do

Saria Saccocio, MD

Family Medicine

Even though the United States is successfully flattening the curve when it comes to COVID-19, Saria Saccocio, MD, said it’s important to continue to be vigilant. Here are seven things she encouraged everyone to do.

Continue social distancing – We need to be especially careful to protect those who are at highest risk, such as older adults, those with multiple health conditions, and those who are immuno-compromised.

Get your flu shot this fall – We know that COVID-19 will likely follow the same seasonal pattern as the flu. If we have a spike in flu cases and a spike in COVID-19 cases at the same time, that will put a detrimental strain on our health systems. It’s critical for us to vaccinate for the illnesses that we have vaccinations for.

Wash hands and disinfect surfaces – It’s still very important to wash your hands and to clean surfaces because you can be exposed if you touch your face with a part of your body that has been exposed to virus particles.

Wear a facemask – Because the virus is airborne, the CDC has recommended that people wear facemasks when they’re out in public.

Watch out for scammers – There are instances of people selling things such as tests or masks that are not at the quality they need to be.

Get care for chronic conditions and medical emergencies – Our hospitals and practices are providing a safe environment for you to get care.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, stay home – Use our online symptom checker to find out what you need to do.