It is crucial that everyone practices good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

Hand Hygiene Etiquette

Handwashing with soap and water, or hand sanitizing with sanitizing solutions, gels or tissues.

Do this regularly, especially after touching door handles and surfaces or using the bathroom.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Before and after preparing food;
• Before and after eating;
• After using the toilet;
• After coughing or sneezing into a tissue;
• After handling body fluid-contaminated waste or laundry;
• Whenever hands look dirty; and
• Do not touch eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Respiratory Etiquette

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue;
• Dispose of tissues in a lined waste container and wash your hands immediately after a cough or sneeze; and
• Or, cough/sneeze into the bend of your arm, not your hand.

Etiquette Inside the Home

1. Now is the time for every family member to contribute their time and effort to the household chores.
Each person picks a chore, or chores:

• Clean and sanitize handrails, door handles, light switches and countertops at least once, or twice a day;
• Mop the floor;
• Vacuum;
• Dust;
• Clean the kitchen;
• Clean the bathroom;
• Make the bed; and
• Remember to be mindful of the 2-meter rule-keeping your distance from others.

For more helpful tips, visit the Canadian Government’s guide to public health measures.

2. Before COVID-19 we would say, “There is never enough time, or there was work pressure. So, now there is time and possibly less work pressure. So, now what do you say?

Find a purpose, a family goal, something that makes your family happy and do it!

For example: Maybe you have been putting off sorting the family photographs. This is the ideal time to gather around the kitchen table, reminisce, learn some family history and ponder over fond family memories. Or, do a family activity that you never had time to do before.

Neighbours Helping Neighbours

As a back up to family, if you have elderly neighbours check-in and find out how they are doing and ask them if they need any help or assistance with anything. Make sure they have your contact information so they can call you.

• Offer to put out the garbage bins for them.

Here is the link to some great Help Prevent posters you or your neighbours might find useful. You could also create your own.

Take Time for Yourself

Reflect and review your goals and dreams. Don’t procrastinate. Start each day with a purpose and be prepared for when life returns to normal. Be ahead of the curve!

• Practice your etiquette skills by doing the Quiz and Trivia on the Elizabeth Etiquette app
• Book an Etiquette Class with Elizabeth via Skype or Zoom.

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Tap into Genius: Double your reading speed using both sides of your brain while reading a book! It makes getting through your children’s homework that much faster then slow down for your favourite book. (Connect with Dianne Jamieson-Noel via LinkedIn for details)

Check out this breakthrough parenting game and task sheets, designed to help families replace old negative habits while integrating new positive ones.

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Recognition

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers, near and far, who are working tirelessly to save lives and combat COVID-19. Thank you for your selfless acts of due diligence and hard work throughout this global scare.

Keep safe and healthy!

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Neighbour photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash