Doing our part to fight COVID-19, together while social distancing and home quarantine

Maintaining good hygiene is a major barrier to many infectious diseases as it promotes better health and well-being. In order to remain healthy, we need to work together to use clean water for sanitation and proper hygiene, to ensure food safety and nutrition, and to protect our environment while we promote Filipino culture and values. We heal as one against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Doing our part to fight COVID-19, together while social distancing and home quarantine

What more can we do? How can we support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are some tips for dealing with the current COVID-19 crisis and Enhanced Community Quarantine.

1) Practice personal hygiene at all times

Wash hands and bathe regularly

Proper handwashing with soap and water kills viruses! Always do so after touching any surface, buying from the market or grocery store, receiving any items and bringing them inside the home, or other instances where contact is required. Regular bathing is also essential for maintaining overall health and well-being, apart from disinfecting your body thoroughly after shopping.

Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with tissue or tissue or use the inside of your elbow. Throw away the tissues in the trash bin and wash the handkerchief or towelettes after use. Wash your hands immediately with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Wear mask

Wear a mask, especially if you have a cold or a cough. It will automatically cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If the mask is washable, wash it immediately after a day of use or when it is soiled. Dry it under the sun. If the mask is disposable, dispose of it properly and replace it regularly.

2) Sanitize surroundings and surfaces at home regularly

Maintain cleanliness at home

Current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable on surfaces made from a variety of materials for hours to days. It is suggested by CDC that continuous surface cleaning followed by disinfection is a best practice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in households and in the community. Also, don’t forget to dispose of household waste properly!

Clean frequently touched surfaces

If the surfaces are dirty, clean them up! Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched. This includes phones, laptops, tables, doorknobs, gates, light switches, and sockets. Use the appropriate surface method. There are different options for disinfection, including the use of household bleach or disinfectants, or the use of alcohol solutions containing at least 70% alcohol.

3) Cook simple and nutritious one-dish meals

Consume a wide variety of locally grown vegetables

Provide yourself and your family with a variety of nutritious and safe meals. Ramp up your cooking skills and mix a variety of affordable and nutritious vegetables such as squash, kangkong, spinach, sayote, malunggay, and camote tops. Check out this Filipino recipe book for simple, nutritious food using native vegetables published by the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR).

Select a variety of root crops, fruits, and alternative protein-rich food

Consume various locally grown root crops such as sweet potatoes and cassava; fruit including banana, mango, avocado, papaya and guava; and protein-rich food options such as monggo, toge, bataw, spinach, eggs, and peanuts. They can reinforce the essential nutrients needed on a daily basis. Explore recipes using available food resources to help reduce food waste by preventing food spoilage and ensuring food safety and safe handling at all times.

4) Always wash food before cooking

Clean all food items brought home from the market and groceries

Eating a variety of foods provides important health benefits, but we should select and prepare them properly to ensure food safety. Always wash and clean fresh food such as fruit, vegetables, and meat during preparation and cooking. Sanitize the packaging of sealed food packaged from the grocery store by wiping with a disinfectant or 70% alcohol.

Store used water and recycle for watering plants

The conservation of our natural resources, such as water, is important to sustain our practice of good hygiene, food safety, and food preparation. Let’s do a habit of saving, storing, and recycling water used to wash vegetables, fruits, or root crops during preparation and cooking — use it to water the garden!

5) Enjoy home-cooked meals

Rekindle relationships and eat together with family members

Good food connects people. Take home-cooked meals as an opportunity to bond and reconnect at home with family members. A healthy mind and body, coupled with a happy tummy, fits well with the holistic approaches needed to prevent disease and improve mental and physical health.

Dine, work at home and reconnect online with families and friends

Maintain your social networks up-to-date by socializing with family and friends at home, or through video calls. Stay connected despite social distancing — dine, work, and reconnect online using technology via phone, email, or social media.

6) Find solace and revive your hobbies

Make time for gardening

Did you know the many health benefits of gardening? Home gardening can be a great way to exercise and reduce anxiety while growing nutritious fruit and vegetables. In addition, it also helps to protect our environment. Explore opportunities to boost positive thoughts and feelings. It’s about time to unwind!

Engage in sustainable and low-carbon activities

Put your phone down and take a break from watching, reading, listening to the news, or scrolling through social media. Make time for hobbies and have some fun indoors! Do the activities you enjoy and find relaxing. Read a book and write some interesting stories. Spend quality time with family through painting, gardening, recycling, playing fun games, and storytelling with children about the environment — learn how to save Mother Earth!

7) Solidarity in trying times—together, possible!

Be informed! Check official sources for Enhanced Community Quarantine guidelines.

Rely on legitimate sources of information and stop spreading fake news. Be a responsible citizen and do your part of that as well.

Help when you can!

Check-in your community on who may need extra assistance. Together let’s #FlattenTheCurve and #ChangeTheEnding. It’s possible to create solidarity against COVID-19!

The families of our fishermen of Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Strait need our help as their livelihoods are affected by the pandemic. Support their fundraiser at bit.ly/BigasParaSaMangingisda and let’s help our fellow Filipino fisherfolks. Find out how you can do your part to help more through www.helpfromhome.ph today.

References¹
Source²

About the WWF-PH Food Tourism Program and Initiative

The Sustainable Diner project, under WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

—

Note: CebuFinest.com was chosen by the World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines, along with other online media bloggers, and selected personnel and members of the City Government of Cebu to participate in The Sustainable Diner workshop event held last September 26, 2017, in Seda Vertis North Hotel, Quezon City.

1. World Health Organization (WHO), 2020. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. Retrieved from: who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): How to Protect Yourself. Retrieved from: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
   International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), 2017. Katutubong Gulay Recipes. Retrieved from: files.wordpress.com/2017/04/katutubong-gulay-recipe-book.pdf
2. World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines, April 2020. The Sustainable Diner. Doing My Part for COVID-19: Together Possible! Retrieved from: wwf.org.ph/resource-center/story-archives-2020/doing-my-part-for-covid-19/