Home service workers can keep providing services in homes if they are essential to health, safety, sanitation, necessary to the operation of the home or otherwise allowed under the current Order. This includes plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other services needed to maintain a safe and sanitary home. Home construction and repair work is also allowed, as is home-based care for children, adults, seniors, and pets.
It is important to clean and disinfect your home frequently:
- Clean and disinfect any surfaces you touch. Disinfect household surfaces every day. These surfaces include counters, toilets, TV remotes, phones, doorknobs, etc. To properly clean:
- Use EPA approved disinfectant: This chart lists all approved disinfectants that kill the COVID-19 virus.
If you do not have an EPA approved disinfectant, you can use a solution of 1/3 cup household bleach to one gallon of water. Leave the solution on the surface for five minutes to disinfect properly.
Carefully follow cleaning instructions: The amount of time a disinfectant should stay on a surface will depend on the product. The time can vary from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Read the instructions on the container to know how to properly kill the virus that causes COVID-19.
Clean dirty surfaces with detergent or soap and water before disinfecting them.
Use precautions when washing soft surfaces:
- Wear disposable gloves when handling potentially infected laundry. If disposable gloves are not available, disinfect the outside of reusable gloves before removing them.
- Do not shake laundry before putting in the washing machine to avoid dispersing any virus into the air.
- Use the warmest water setting possible (based on the manufacturer's care instructions). Thoroughly dry all clothing.
- Clean and disinfect clothing hampers the same way you would clean and disinfect other hard surfaces.
- It is OK to wash clothes/sheets from the isolation area with other clothes/sheets but keep isolation area laundry separate until you plan to do laundry.
Sources: Marin HHS, CDC, EPA
Most grocery stores are cleaning carts and other items/areas in the store but you should also take precautions. It is fine to wipe down shopping carts but be sure to read and follow the instructions of the product you are using – some require up to 4 minutes on a surface to kill viruses. The most important things that you can do are: Wear a face covering, as recommended in the June 18, 2020 State Guidance for Face Coverings, except if a face covering is not recommended (e.g., for children 2 and younger, or anyone who has trouble breathing or is unable to remove a face covering without assistance), maintain at least 6' distance from anyone not in your household, do not touch your face, and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you return from shopping.
Additional helpful hints for safe grocery shopping include:
- Think through if you really need to…are the items on your list nice to have or need to have?
- If you do need to go, go when there will likely be the least number of people in the store.
- Make a list and plan your route so you are not walking back and forth, and you limit the time you are inside the store.
- If you are a senior citizen or have health issues, check with your store – they may have special hours for you when the fewest number of people will be there.
- Some grocery stores will deliver to your home, or allow you to order online and pick up at the store, bringing your groceries to you while you wait inside your vehicle. Check with you local grocer to find out what options they have available.
Source: CDC, Sunset Magazine
You should wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds using soap and water. An easy way to “time” your hand washing is to sing the “happy birthday" song twice.
This video is a good illustration of the proper handwashing technique.
Source: CDC, David Gravelle
The risk of infection from delivered foods and items is low but there are things you can do to lessen the risk:
- Have no contact deliveries where items are left outside your home rather than handed to you directly.
- Use gloves to unpack. Dispose of packaging immediately in the trash or recycle bin before taking off gloves.
For non-perishable items, leave them in the garage or other out of the way area until you need them.