It’s been recently reported that COVID cases in Mandaluyong have jumped in a week—from 134 to 276 as of March 10—and many of these, according to Mayor Carmencita Abalos, are condo residents. This resulted in stricter health protocols in the business district’s residential buildings, which include the closing of common areas such as pools and gyms, and having floors where patients reside guarded.
You don’t have to panic if you live in a condo; however, you do need to exercise utmost care every time you need to step out of your unit. Here are a few things you can do to keep your space and yourself safe:
Have a sanitation area.
By now you probably already have this, but just to reiterate—have a sanitation area by your front door where you can drop the clothes you’ve worn and where you can quickly disinfect your bags and hands prior to taking a shower. Take off your shoes. If you have a foot bath, better (you can read up on how to make one here), but if you don’t, make sure to spritz your footwear (especially the soles) with your available disinfectant.
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Air out your unit once in a while.
Condos don’t usually have centralized air conditioning, which is actually a pretty good thing during these times. While it’s tempting to always keep your windows shut and just have your AC or your electric fan run the whole day, it’s still important to let your air circulate once in a while.
If possible, open your windows a bit for a short while daily. Studies have shown that ventilation is important to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Health and Social Care in the UK recommends that “people open windows fully for short, sharp bursts of ten to 15 minutes regularly throughout the day, or leave them open a small amount continuously.”
Be aware of building notices and always ask for updates from the admin.
Don’t ignore the memos your admin has posted on the walls of your elevators. Take time to read them as they often contain announcements on protocol changes, as well news of any COVID patients currently in quarantine in your building. Moreover, be proactive by asking the admin about any updates you need to know about; more often than not, they’ll be more than glad to tell you, and if you find that they may be getting a bit lax, you can at least make suggestions on how they can improve their response.
Always wear your face mask and your face shield outside your unit.
Yes, even if you’re just going throw your trash down the garbage chute or are going down to get deliveries, you have to be responsible for yourself and show your care for those around you by doing so.
Avoid hanging out in common areas.
If in case you need to drop by these places, make sure that you don’t take long.
Avoid inviting visitors.
As much as possible, avoid inviting people over especially if it’s really not needed. Yes, it is a bummer, but it’s not just for your safety, but also for the safety of your visitor and of the rest of the residents in your building.
If you think you have COVID, coordinate with your condo’s administration right away.
Each condo has a checklist of what to do in the event that a resident shows symptoms, which is why it’s very important to coordinate with your building admin right away if you suspect that you’ve caught the virus. They will then be responsible for informing other residents with whom you’ve been in close contact about it, while also keeping residents on other floors safe. They may also coordinate with the barangay and a nearby healthcare provider for the next steps so that you get the help that you need.