Caring during the Pandemic

When my husband contracted Coronavirus, I was scared not only for him, but also for myself. In my house at the moment, self-isolating can be tricky as we share the same bed. Coronavirus started right after we started sorting the house out, and there wasn't a room free where we could sleep separately. I can not guarantee you won't catch the virus, but these tips kept me safe and helped me to protect myself. Here is what I did.

1: I changed and washed the sheets every day on our bed. We had to share the same bed, so I did this, while putting as much distance between us as possible.

2. I washed our clothes separately. I put my own clothes in one bag and his in another, and I kept them apart. I then washed my clothes in one single separate wash to his clothes.

3. I washed up using gloves, and I washed my husbands crockery, knives and forks in separate hot soapy water to mine.

I cleaned all my surfaces and sinks using separate disposable cloths and gloves. I cleaned them using flash, and then I disinfected them using a separate cloth, I then threw these away, using clean cloths every time.

4. I disinfected and cleaned the bathroom and toilets every day

5. I switched polishing for disinfecting to lessen the risk of bacteria transference.

6. I bleached my bins every few days, and emptied them every day.

5. I used bleach to clean my floors

6. I opened all windows in my house every day, because you risk catching the virus more indoors than out, so opening the windows lessened that risk.

I used gloves, every time I cleaned, no matter what.

7. I washed my hands after cleaning, washing up, going to the toilet, handling bins and after doing laundry. I also did this, every time I went near him, because there were times I had to steady him so he didn't fall.

8. I changed my clothes every day, and washed the clothes I had worn straight away.

9. During the day, I kept my distance when passing him things or sitting in the same room, and we avoided physical contact until he was clear of the virus and for a week afterwards.

Protecting yourself from the virus when you live under the same roof as a couple can be difficult in some circumstances. Not everyone has spare rooms in their home. Some people live in homes such as studio flats which can be open plan and limited in space. However, even in limited spaces, it is still really important to try and protect yourself if a member of your household gets Coronavirus, and with a few techniques it isn't impossible. As I said above, I kept my distance during the day, and when passing him things, or sitting in the same room, and I put distance between us in the bed, because there was no other alternative. These extra precautions enabled me to protect myself from catching the virus.

You can modify these rules to suit your needs, as long as you still follow the rule of social distancing. Disinfecting aswell as cleaning is a good idea, because it helps to kill off any excess bacteria that may be still lingering. My methods may seem quite strict and rigid to some people, but in circumstances where the risk of catching the virus is high, it is better to be cautious and use active preventative methods to lessen the risk of catching it yourself.

I had no access to a mask at this stage, as I had trouble finding one that didn't affect my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When I wear anything that covers my mouth and face, it can send me into a panic attack which can stop me breathing, because of the event leading to my PTSD in the first place. However, a mask can be helpful in aiding someone with the virus from passing it on, though I have not seen much evidence around the use of them. None the less though, in my opinion, anything is worth a try, despite my condition, and I am researching my options. Once I find one what works, I will be writing another article regarding PTSD and the use of masks, because I know if I had one available at the time, I would have used it, despite the controversial evidence surrounding them. At a time like this anything is worth a try. It is about finding ways to reduce the risk, and we still have so much to learn about what works and what doesn't. Take my advice, as someone who has seen enough to know what this illness can do, even at its mildest. Even if your not sure, any preventative methods are worth a try, no stone should be left unturned with this virus. I'd rather face my PTSD and find something what works, than go through the virus, or risk putting someone through what my husband has gone through, because this virus in its worst form really is enough to end a life.