The Coronavirus is getting more serious and concerning by the day, and there is so much contradictory information and opinions being thrown at us from all different angles that it can be confusing to know what to do and how best to handle this situation. Every channel we turn to, website we click on, or post we see on social media sways us one way and then the other, so it can be hard to know what the real facts are and how cautious we should be. So, we want to offer some guidance by sharing our advice and giving you 10 different ways you can protect yourself and others during this chaotic time.
1. Stop Kissing Each Other
Before the haram police goes off on us, that’s not the kind of kissing we’re talking about. We’re talking about the two, maybe three kisses we give each other on each cheek (depending on the culture) when greeting one another. It’s seen as disrespectful not to in most cultures within our community. But let’s not worry about what others think more than our own health and safety. Chances are, they’re hoping you don’t lean in first anyways! So, start greeting each other from a distance to limit contact and avoid passing germs.
2. Take Social Distancing Seriously
You won’t have to worry too much about our first tip if you follow this piece of advice. Our social events are never-ending–there’s always either an ‘azuma, wedding, engagement, or party of some sort, especially considering how large our families tend to be. But it’s important to consider keeping your distance and postponing social occasions if possible. You may think your family is safe from the virus, but you never know.
It takes one person to pass it on to someone else, and an infected person may appear fine and healthy before symptoms start to show, but are still highly contagious in the early stages. As many have been saying, you may be young and healthy and able to recover from the virus, but you have to think about the people you interact with, like your parents, siblings, grandparents, children, and the members of your family and community that have an illness or disease that already compromises their immune systems.
3. Be More Hygienic
This is something we should always be doing, Coronavirus or not, but we definitely have to be more cautious, especially when we go out to public places. Always have handsanitizer with at least 60% alcohol with you because there are so many people touching the same doors, shopping carts or baskets, money, and even products when you’re out and about. But even after using sanitizer, you should still not touch your face, mouth, or eyes, because even alcohol-based sanitizers don’t eliminate all germs, and don’t do much for other substances like viruses.
So, remember to always wash your hands as soon as you can, especially before eating or touching your face, mouth, and eyes. When washing your hands with soap and water, you can sing to the tune of your favorite jam (ours is Shou Helo by Nassif Zeytoun) until you’ve made it to 20 seconds. You can also repeatedly say “La Hawla Wala Quwwata illa Billah,” to praise God and ask Him for His help and protection. This phrase should be said often, especially in times of weakness and during struggles that we cannot handle on our own, like this one.
One thing that is easy to forget to do is to clean our phones, too. We’re constantly using them, and it’s pointless to wash our hands only to touch a dirty phone immediately after. So take a disinfecting wipe, or put a dab of hand sanitizer on a cotton round and wipe your phone after using it with unclean hands.
It’s probably even best to start wearing gloves while out, and then just throw them in the trash before returning home to avoid contact with germs and to avoid bringing them home with you. But, you should still wash your hands once you get home for extra protection.
4. Eat Healthier to Improve Your Immunity
As much as we can take care of our outside health and hygiene, we need to do the same with our internal health, and try to improve our immunity naturally instead of just relying on chemicals to ward off and fight the virus for us. This includes eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods that boost your immune system like citrus fruits, red bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, yogurt, almonds, turmeric, green tea, papaya, kiwi, sunflower seeds, and even shellfish and poultry to name a few. Some shellfish are rich in zinc, which helps our immune system function properly. Chicken is high in B-6, which helps our body’s healing and immunity, and also improves the formation of new and healthy red blood cells that can fight off viruses, diseases, and bacteria. Chicken soup is a go-to when feeling sick, but you can also make it a part of your regular diet before sickness hits as a preventative measure.
Fruits and veggies are easy to include in your diet because you can quickly wash them up and eat them as a snack with some dip, or whip them together as a morning smoothie. Smoothies are great because you can combine numerous fruits, veggies, and even powders and spices together, and you’ll have yourself a nutritious and vitamin-packed drink to enjoy that will help you start your day off with an extra boost of energy and immunity.
We live in a fast-paced society and we’re always looking for quick meals or snacks to eat on-the-go, but because of social distancing, we have more time on our hands to make healthier efforts and changes to our diets. Another alternative is taking vitamin supplements instead, but it’s always better to consult a healthcare professional first to make sure you’re taking the right vitamins and dosage.
5. Be Thoughtful
Times are scary, and the increased fear has created an “every man for himself” kind of mentality. But that is the worst thing we can do as a community. When you’re out preparing for the worst, think about the other people who are just as afraid as you are, who also have children to feed, houses to sanitize, and families to take care of that also need ahem, ahem toilet paper, even if they already have bidets. We are definitely not trying to drip-dry.
6. Be Kind
With our anxiety, stress, and fear reaching to an all-time high, it’s easy to let our emotions and frustrations get the best of us, especially when it’s impacting all aspects of our lives from our health to our financial stability. Since the start of the Coronavirus, racism has also increased with people blaming foreigners coming from outside countries–especially the Chinese community–for causing and spreading the virus. But we cannot be insensitive and lose our sense of humanity.
Those in China have been affected by this virus the most with more than 3,000 deaths to date. Plus, there are many Chinese-Americans born and raised here that are just like any other American, so it is unfair and unjust for them to avoid going out in public out of fear of being harassed, mistreated, and discriminated against simply because they are Chinese. They are going through the same fears, anxieties, hardships, if not more than the next person. Be kind, and if you see anyone being mistreated, stick up for them. Don’t stay silent to the bullying of others, otherwise you’re no better.
7. Help Those in Need
As has been reported, those over 60, as well as those with chronic health problems are more at risk for severe disease and even death if they become infected with this virus. Therefore, we should look out for those in our community who may not have family or loved ones to help them. Check in on a neighbor, and if you’re out and see someone you think may need help, offer to assist them. Helping others is helping ourselves as we are trying to prevent this disease from spreading and taking more lives.
8. Stay Calm
When we’re afraid, we don’t think rationally. We tend to make impulsive decisions and act way too fast. Stay calm so that you can not only think clearer, but so that you also don’t increase the fear of those around you. If you show that you are hopeful, confident and strong, your children and family will feed off of that energy. And don’t panic or rush to the doctor at the sign of a sore throat or cough. That’s causing more damage than good at this point as hospitals are being flooded and cannot take care of those who truly need their care.
This goes back to our point about being more thoughtful. Due to people panicking, they are buying medical masks left and right, which limits the supply for those that really need them–like the nurses and doctors at the front lines trying to save the lives of infected people who are really suffering. Doctors have even ended up in intensive care due to the lack of medical supplies. It is important for us as a community to try and stay calm so that we are not making the situation worse, and instead, can find ways to help ourselves and others in our community who may be in worse off situations than we realize.
9. Stay Informed
Following the news and the media is a double-edged sword. On one hand, there is a lot of mixed information out there, and the trust is lost in all of the contradicting advice, facts, and theories made about the Coronavirus, especially on social media with influencers telling others that it is a supposed “hoax.” Plus, the Coronavirus is all that is being talked about on the news, in the media, and on the internet, which can increase people’s anxiety and stress. So, take a break every once in a while and do something that makes you feel good, like reading, watching your favorite show, praying, or spending time with family. When you do check back for updates, be careful where you are getting your information from. Make sure it’s from a credible source before you react or share the information with others.
It is important to stay informed so that we know if the situation is getting better or worse, and so that we are aware of what measures are being taken, as well as what measures we need to take individually and when. You don’t necessarily have to wait for officials to tell you to social distance yourself or to shut down your business even if your community has not been affected as much by the virus yet. Do what you feel is best and are most comfortable with. It’s better to be pro-active so that the situation remains as stable and maintainable as possible.
10. Pray and Make Dua (At Home)
We kept this one for last, not because it is the last thing you should do (because we should be trying to keep up with our daily prayers regardless of whether there is a pandemic spreading or not), but because we should keep in mind that, while we can and should have faith in God and ask Him for protection, we cannot “Tawaakul” on Him. Tawaakul means to be careless and not make any efforts yourself because you are just relying on God. We have been hearing Muslims brush off the concern and respond to people talking about being more cautious hygienically or social distancing themselves by saying, “Only God can protect us. Whatever God wants to happen will happen.”
Yes, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean to do nothing. That is not what our religion says. By the example of the Prophet (SAW), we have to take our own precautions and make our own efforts, and once we do all that we possibly can, we put our trust in God to take care of the rest. As hard as it may be, it’s important to avoid going to mosques at this time, and to pray at home even if there are still mosques open. It is the right thing to do for yourself and others, and at the end of the day, your prayers won’t count for any less as long as you stay consistent. More downtime is an opportunity to focus on your spiritual growth, so let’s take advantage of it. Read more Quran, and make dua for yourself, your loved ones, and all of those suffering, and Inshallah we will all get through this, together.
What are you doing to get through this difficult time? Have any tips that we didn’t share? Let us know in the comments below!
