There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost everyone’s lives — not only in the U.S. but around the globe. In America, there have been over 2 million cases. While some of the risk factors for the virus include those with respiratory issues and weak immune systems, the U.S. Surgeon General also stated that people of color who live in densely-populated areas are also at a higher risk. In April 2020, almost 28% of New York City’s COVID deaths were among black people and an even higher percentage of Latinos.
The reality is, people who live in more populated urban areas may be more likely to risk exposure. That’s why things like wearing masks in public and social distancing are still important, even as states start to reopen.
One way to continue to keep yourself safe now, and in a post-COVID world, is to work from home. If you’ve already been working remotely, now isn’t the time to stop being vigilant with your health and safety — and the wellbeing of your family.
So, what can you do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe while working from home in a post-COVID world?
Keeping Yourself Safe Online
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that we’re lucky to live in a time where technology allows people to stay connected. Zoom meetings have all but taken over the business world, and since schools in 186 countries had halted in-person classes as early as March 2020, 1.2 billion kids around the globe had to keep learning outside of the classroom. Thanks to e-learning platforms, that was made possible for many kids around the world.
While technology is a great way to keep things moving forward, it’s not without its risks. When it comes to your kids, teaching them the importance of safety online at a young age will help to keep them protected, educated, and entertained. Some of the most common risks for kids online include:
- Cyberbullying
- Sexual predators
- Phishing
- Falling for different scams
- Accidentally downloading a virus
But, your kids aren’t the only ones who need to be aware of cyber threats. While it’s easy to think you wouldn’t fall into a trap online, paying attention to the things you do, share, and click, can keep your private information safe. What can you do to make things just a bit more secure? Try some of these suggestions:
- If you bank online, use a two-factor authorization to log-in to your account.
- Never click links from emails that seem suspicious or ask for information.
- Use passwords with a combination of numbers, letters, and characters.
Even as things turn to a new normal, you and your kids will probably be spending a lot of time online, especially when you work from home. So, make sure everyone in your family understands how to stay safe from predators on the web.
Protecting Your Home When You’re Away
Finally, things like retail shops and restaurants are starting to open up across the country. You might be itching to head down the street to your favorite pizza place or to take the family somewhere for the weekend.
But, in light of the pandemic itself, as well as the current racial climate in the U.S., it’s more important than ever to protect your home while you’re away.
Having a solid home security system is a great place to start and can give you peace of mind when you’re away — whether it’s for an hour or a week. A standard home security system should include things like alarms, extra locks on the doors and windows, and even cameras around your property. You can even take advantage of a nanny cam inside your home if someone does manage to break in.
Many cameras allow you to check them via an app on your phone, so you can see what’s happening in real-time. If the worst does occur and someone tries to either break in or damage your home while you’re away, you can at least take some comfort in knowing you got the act on video, and it may be more likely for that individual to get caught.
Keeping it Clean
Keep in mind that just because the spread of COVID-19 is being slowed across the states, the virus itself hasn’t just magically gone away. If you’re continuing to work from home or you’re trying to limit your exposure, it’s still important to keep your home interior clean and sanitized on a regular basis.
According to the CDC, regular cleaning should include wiping down solid surfaces with soap, water, and disinfectant, and wearing gloves while you work, depending on your job.
It’s also important to keep practicing diligent hand washing at home. Even if you keep every surface in your house clean, you could spread germs (and even this virus) if your hands are not. So, wash them frequently, even if you’re not leaving the house.
While everyone is anxious to get life back to normal, it may not fully be there for quite some time. In the meantime, take advantage of working from home, enjoy a little quiet when you can, and keep these tips in mind to keep yourself, your family, and your home safe during these uncertain times.
