How to Successfully Prepare for Reopening After Lockdown

As part of our partnership with Crédit Mutuel, Women’s Cardiovascular Healthcare Foundation (Agir pour le Coeur des Femmes) organized two webinars to help Crédit Mutuel and CIC Ile-de-France employees successfully adapt to the new reality as things reopen after COVID-19. They featured practical and reassuring information about the best ways to navigate the reopening while following strict instructions for limiting spread of the virus. The presentation provided the latest scientific and medical information as of May 5, 2020 in order to support people returning to the office and reopening agencies to the public on May 11. Here are some extracts from the presentation. “The COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) pandemic has revealed behavior trends, as well as our personal and societal limits. We’re in a time of great scientific uncertainty and there are infinitely more questions than answers. Science is a discipline where we learn as we go. We must stay humble and share our knowledge. During the lockdown, we became aware of our health capital and the importance of preventive medicine rather than just treatment.” “The lockdown period had an impact on our lifestyle and our mental wellness. This led to an overexposure to certain cardiovascular risk factors, including richer food with more sodium and sugar, more tobacco use, more alcohol use, more mental and social stress and isolation, more sedentary time, more screen time, less restorative sleep and more fatigue. This period may also have destabilized certain chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. So, it’s important to listen to our bodies and consult a doctor if you experience any symptoms. Prevention is better than treatment.” “The goal of this session is to provide knowledgeable reassurance, inform listeners about COVID-19 symptoms, explain that this illness is benign in 85% of cases, explain who is at highest risk for the illness, review everyday health habits to follow and discuss how to calmly return to work with confidence in your employer and its leadership. It’s essential to keep caring for yourself and take your usual medications, to avoid self-medication and to keep your medical records up-to-date. The true danger is to postpone necessary or even urgent treatments, which can have real, harmful effects on our health.” “There are some simple health habits you should follow to protect yourself and those around you. Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds using water and soap or hand sanitizer; cough or sneeze into your elbow; use disposable tissues; greet people without shaking hands or hugging; stay six feet apart; wear a mask, especially in stores, at work and while riding public transportation; air out the rooms in your home; and regularly clean your work space, computer and door handles.” “It’s important to wash your hands before putting on your mask with elastic bands. Avoid touching the outside, pulling the mask down below your chin or putting it in your pocket after using it. A paper surgical mask should be changed every four hours minimum. A fabric mask should be washed every day at 60°C (140°F) and ironed with heat. Other masks for more targeted purposes are reserved for healthcare workers exposed to the virus. However, it’s best not to wear gloves because they tend to make us think we’re protected and don’t have to follow everyday health habits.” “We need to free ourselves from the fear of a second wave of COVID-19 infections. The preventive safety measures should enable hospitals to readjust and respond to new emergencies if necessary. Let’s remember that keeping calm is a skill we can learn.” “In summary, here are four key points to remember: - Keep following the simple health habits, like washing your hands a lot, and avoid getting carried away in collective paranoia - Have confidence in company leaders who have received all the health information needed to safely return to work - If you have any COVID symptoms, call your regular doctor or 911, if necessary, and notify your employer
- Keep taking care of yourself, take your medications if you have a chronic illness, and don’t put off medical care when you need it. Healthcare professionals have set things up to take care of you and protect you. Emergency departments, hospitals and clinics are functioning normally. How to wear masks correctly https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html