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Healthy Habits to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Around the world, everyone is focused on COVID-19. As the outbreak continues, staying home and practicing social distancing to slow the spread of the virus is more important than ever. Of course, staying home isn’t the only thing that needs to be done.

At a time when going out in pubic carries the gravity of potentially catching a deadly virus, “home” has become a safe space. However, that doesn’t mean that daily items you use don’t collect germs. Practicing some healthy lifestyle habits can help keep you and your family safe while also helping stop the spread of COVID-19.

Home Health

Spending more time at home can be a great thing. It means that there’s more time for family and relaxation. Countless people are likely able to catch up on some much-needed sleep (and a few Netflix shows).

Although it’s great to be enjoying these things, try to take some time to give your house the attention it needs. Just because COVID-19 is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, other illnesses are still around. High-use areas like the kitchen and bathroom could probably use a thorough cleaning. Wipe down frequently touched surfaces like knobs, handles, and light switches with a disinfectant spray. Also, be sure to regularly swap out things like kitchen towels and sponges as they can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

With everyone spending more time at home, keeping it clean will help you stay healthy.

Smartphone Cleanse

Did you know that your smartphone is one of the dirtiest items you own? Studies have shown that the screen of a smartphone can harbor ten times more bacteria than a public toilet seat. With that in mind, you should be cleaning your phone at least once a day.

The best way to do this is to wipe it down with a soft cloth and an alcohol-based cleanser. If you want to get fancy, consider investing in a UV gadget that disinfects your phone with light.

Part of what’s great about smartphones is how easy they make sharing things. Although sharing photos, news, and yes, memes, with friends digitally is a great way to pass the time, try to avoid passing your phone around. Most people don’t think twice when handing their phone over to show someone a picture. However, keeping to yourself helps stop the spread of germs. You don’t want to share an illness while trying to share a photo.

While you practice social distancing, you’ll be using your phone more than usual. That’s okay. Just make sure you clean it often so that you aren’t holding a germ factory in your hands all day.

Ditch the Handshake

It should go without saying that handshakes are a bad idea. Even after the COVID-19 outbreak ends, handshakes should probably disappear. They are an easy way to spread germs and disease from person to person and there are plenty of alternatives.

For instance, the classic fist bump is a better option. Rather than touching palms, a knuckle-to-knuckle exchange has a much lower risk of transmitting germs. Still, a touch-free approach is better. Try the “quarantine handshake” which involves tapping toes with someone instead of clasping hands. Or, try showing off your geeky side with a Vulcan salute, the hand gesture popularized by “Star Trek.”

Regardless of how you choose to express your greeting, keep your hands to yourself as much as possible. This helps stop the spread of COVID-19 and countless other germs.

Velocity Urgent Care is Here to Help

Even though we should all be trying to stay at home, life still happens. You might sprain an ankle while jogging outdoors or cut yourself while trying a new recipe. You may also get sick—whether it’s with COVID-19 symptoms or a completely different infection.

At Velocity Urgent Care, we are here for you.

Our network of clinics across Virginia is open for business to meet your healthcare needs. Moreover, we are taking serious safety precautions to ensure that our locations are as clean as possible. We’ve put strict sterilization protocols into place and are carefully handling patients who may be contagious to ensure that each one of our clinics is safe for those who need urgent medical care.

As local primary care offices either close or transition to telemedicine, we understand that certain things can’t be treated over the phone—or through a screen. Whether you have seasonal allergy symptoms, an earache, a stomachache, a broken bone, or are just feeling under the weather, Velocity Urgent Care is the place to go for fast, safe, and effective treatment. You can walk-in anytime during our convenient hours or schedule an appointment online and skip the waiting room.

If you think you might be infected with COVID-19, or are experiencing symptoms of coughing, a fever, and/or shortness of breath, we are ready to help. Velocity Urgent Care offers COVID-19 testing to detect a current infection as well as antibody testing to detect a prior infection at all locations, including drive-up service in Northern Virginia and at designated Hampton Roads sites. For more information, please visit https://velocityuc.com/locations. For those that want to avoid going to the hospital or the emergency room to get tested, our clinics are a great alternative.

Velocity Urgent Care is also an in-network provider for most major insurance plans, meaning you can be seen for the cost of your co-pay and deductible. All of our locations also accept Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Veterans Administration beneficiaries are also welcome.

To find out more about our services, locations, hours, and more, visit www.velocityuc.com.