We encourage you to engage in common sense behaviors to avoid contracting and spreading illness including;

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water – sing the ABC song for appropriate timing
• Avoid touching your face
• Practice social distancing which includes remaining 6 feet away from others
• We recommend you wear a mask whenever you will be near individuals not part of your family and keep 6 feet from others
• Avoid unnecessary travel and contact with others including shopping – make one trip getting everything you will need for at least a week
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• At work (if you are essential personnel), in your car and at home, wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant
• Stay home if you are sick and avoid family members who may be ill
• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow and wash your hands immediately after

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. We recommend the following;

• Talk with others about your fears and anxieties given the situation, let people know how you are feeling, Dr. Hamilton is available to make an appointment with you to discuss if needed
• Remind yourself that the majority of cases of Covid 19 are mild and people recover without problems
• If you find yourself spending too much time on Facebook, news outlets or Google and rather than it decreasing your anxiety, it is increasing it, take a break from media
• Take a walk outside and connect with nature
• Read a funny book or watch a funny movie or TV show
• Use Facetime, Skype or the good old fashion phone, to connect with others rather than text or Messenger
• Stress can often lead to eating more junk food – try to stay on healthy routines of eating right and sleeping well.
• Do not increase your alcohol intake or use more cannabis or start to use cannabis.
• If you have children at home, engage them in games and play. Allow them to talk about whatever fears they may be experiencing and provide reassurance. Keep family routines the same as possible.
• If you have older people in your life, either close by or far away, make sure you stay connected with them as well. Be especially careful if visiting in person as they are at higher risk of serious complications of the virus.
• If you know of any elderly neighbors who do not have family nearby please offer to assist them in obtaining groceries
• Engage with apps that help to decrease stress such as Headspace, Calm, Rootd, Colorfy, SleepTime