WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

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The best thing we can do to help our families and community be prepared for the COVID pandemic is to understand how the virus spreads, know how to prevent the spread of illness and take care of our mental and physical wellbeing.  We must remain mindful of are those actions we must take to stay healthy and prevent the spread of any illness, including:

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• Staying home if you are sick and encouraging those who are sick to stay home until they no longer have symptoms.
• Minimizing physical contact with others as much as possible, avoiding all group gatherings and limiting contact with people at higher risk like our Elders and those in poor health
• Washing your hands often and practicing coughing and sneezing etiquette (using a tissue and quickly disposing of it or coughing into your shirt sleeve.
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that are touched frequently, like door handles, light switches, toilets, and toys.
• Switching your pharmacy provider to Janeway Pharmachoice in Massey to take advantage of their medication and pharmacy product delivery services.
• Continuing to eat healthy and engaging in regular exercise.

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BE PREPARED AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR WELLNESS WITH A PLAN

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If COVID-19 spreads into the region and even into the Sagamok community, you will want to adjust your behaviours and routines even more to reduce the risks of infection.  You and your family will need a plan:

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• Reduce your exposure to crowded places by choosing to do your essential shopping to off-peak hours or only using curb-side pickup or online purchasing and avoiding areas with confirmed cases.
• Arrange for alternative caregivers for your children if a family member becomes sick.
• Stay home from work to care for a family member at home.
• Be prepared to stay home if you become ill until you are no longer showing any symptoms, and to be prepared to weather out a period of time of complete isolation as a family.  Your plan should include essential supplies (food, prescriptions, hygiene and disinfection products) and emergency kits that you should have on hand.
• Rely on high quality information from credible, reliable sources, like the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ontario Public Health and Public Health Sudbury Districts.
• Tell your family, friends and neighbours about your plan.  Hopefully this will encourage them to make their own plans and provide an opportunity to talk to them about a buddy system to check in on each other and run essential errands if either of you become ill.

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TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT

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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of peoples right around the globe.  The emergence of the virus has disrupted almost every routine in our lives and the economic impacts can leave us reeling from the stresses that impact our mental health.  Getting back to what was once “normal” seems so far away, if even possible to get back to.  As much as things have changed, we can’t lose hope and we can’t let the circumstances put our fires.  We want to encourage our community members to attend to their mental health and wellbeing during these difficult times and consider:

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• Our families who are affected by this illness need our love and support, compassion and most of all, our kindness.
• Minimizing your anxiety about the pandemic by limiting the times that you seek information and updates on the situation and by making sure that you rely on credible sources that you can trust.
• Helping others, while protecting yourself.  Supporting and helping each others in our times of need is our greatest strength when facing any threat.
• Staying positive for your children by helping them find positive ways of expressing feelings like fear and sadness and as much as possible, encouraging your children to play, socialize and connect, even if it is only with your family or in ways that ensure physical distancing.
• Staying connected to our Elders and vulnerable populations by calling them regularly and checking in on them through on-line platforms, sharing simple facts about what is going on and reminding them how to protect themselves, of the importance of maintaining their routines and schedules and to keep smiling.
• Pay attention to your own needs and feelings and engage in healthy activities that you enjoy and find relaxing, exercising regularly, keeping regular sleep routines and eating healthy foods. Knowing where to find and access the mental health resources to support you and our families during these uncertain times. Religious alternatives Saswin fire and prayer are important.

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