How to Unlock Mindfully After 2 Months of Quarantine: Things You Should Do and Avoid.

Today is 8th day in the month of June, the day when 2nd phase of Unlock-1 is implemented following the guidelines of the government. Many people are forced to step out of their houses even when the cases are at its peak and are feeling very anxious that will they catch coronavirus when they move out of their houses.

From today onwards, it will be almost life as usual, though international travel, school and colleges remain shut. We may see reports of Covid-19 cases and deaths, but the time has come to step out and go to work.

The question is How do we protect ourselves from coronavirus while stepping out for work?

Here are some secrets to stay protected:

Things You Should Do:

• Every day wear a new mask in public places (preferably a cloth mask).
• Always carry a hand sanitizer with you and a spare mask.
• Carry your own food and water to the office, this is for those people who rely completely on office canteens or hotel food. It's the best time to change these habits.
• If you are carpooling, make sure no more than 3 people accommodate in a regular sedan or a hatchback and no more than 5 people in an SUV. Do not use AC inside the car, keep windows open and also check if other passengers are showing symptoms linked to Covid-19.
• If you run a business or manage the office premises, make sure you appoint a person(s) who check and monitor symptoms like cough, cold, throat pain, difficulty breathing and temperature, of every person entering and leaving the office premises.
• Avoid face-to-face interactions with your seniors or juniors in offices, use intercoms and mobile phones instead.
• At the workplace make sure you are seated two feet apart from everyone and also warn others who are not following it.
• Practice respiratory etiquette of using folded elbows or more better, carry tissues for sneezing and coughing and dispose the tissue in a closed bin.
• Sanitize your hands after touching high-contact surfaces like door handles, lift-doors and buttons, railings, grab bars etc.
• Avoid use of AC in offices, use natural ventilation and lighting. How using ACs is very harmful, at home as well as in offices is explained in this article : Are ACs safe to use during Covid-19 Pandemic

Things You Should Avoid

• It's estimated that a normal human being touches their face 16 times an hour, which is more than enough for a virus which is residing on your palms to get into your body. So do not touch your nose, eyes and mouth unnecessarily.
• Avoid unnecessary movements in the office and visits to other stations and colleagues.
• Limit face-to-face interactions.
• Avoid sharing food and beverage in the office, although sharing is caring but let us keep this value aside for a while.
• No handshakes and hugging. It's a natural instinct to shake hands in a formal environment like office.
• If you can, avoid public transport for a while. If inevitable ensure a distance of at least ONE metre from another person.
• Try to limit public restrooms, but if you do, wash your hands thoroughly.
• Don't use common towels in restrooms and offices. use disposable tissues and hand driers.
• Avoid rush hours and visits to crowded places at any cost.

If you have any more tips on avoiding covid-19 do share it in the comments below.

Some of the people might argue that "Why is it necessary to lift the lockdown at this stage when India is at its peak for coronavirus cases?" Here's Why:

The Lockdown Is Unaffordable

"The original purpose of the lockdowns was to delay the spike so we can put health services and systems in place, so we are able handle the spike [when it comes]," says Dr N Devadasan, a public health expert. "That objective, to a large extent, has been met."

In the last two months, India has turned stadia, schools and even train coaches into quarantine centres, added and expanded Covid-19 wards in hospitals, and ramped up testing as well as production of protective gear. While grave challenges remain and shortages persist, the consensus seems to be that the government has bought as much time as possible.

"It's certainly time to lift the lockdown," says Gautam Menon, a professor and researcher on models of infectious diseases.

Beyond a point, it's hard to sustain a lockdown that has gone on for so long - economically, socially and psychologically.

From day one, India's lockdown came at a huge cost, especially since so many of its people live on a daily wage or close to it. It put food supply chains at risk, cost millions their livelihood, and throttled every kind of business - from car manufacturers to high-end fashion to the corner shop selling tobacco. As the economy sputtered and unemployment rose, India's growth forecast tumbled to a 30-year-low.

The opinion is shared by global consultant McKinsey, whose report from earlier this month said India's economy must be "managed alongside persistent infection risks".

Coronavirus is a major challenge and we must face it by taking necessary precautions. Don't be fearful, be responsible and work confidently.

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