How can I shop safely? What’s antibody testing?
Here are answers to some commonly-asked questions about making social choices during the coronavirus pandemic:
I’m still unsure about grocery shopping. How can I shop safely?
First, there currently is no evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of the COVID-19 virus, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Consumers continue to purchase most of their food from grocery stores, and many have modified operating hours to accommodate additional time to restock shelves and properly clean. In addition, many stores have established special shopping hours for seniors or other high-risk individuals and are offering pick-up and delivery services. Check a store’s website or call the store to learn more.
As a way to protect yourself, other shoppers and store workers, the FDA offers these recommendations:
■ Prepare a shopping list in advance. Buy only one to two weeks worth of groceries at a time. Buying more than you need can — collectively — create unnecessary demand and temporary shortages.
■ Wear a face covering or mask while you are in the store. Some stores and counties require this right now.
■ Carry your own wipes, or use one provided by the store to wipe down the handles of the shopping cart or basket. If you use reusable shopping bags, ensure they are cleaned or washed before each use.
■ Practice social distancing while shopping — keeping at least six feet between you, other shoppers, and store employees. Keep your hands away from your face.
■ Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds when you return home and again after you put away your groceries.
■ There is no evidence of food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19. However, if you wish, you can wipe down product packaging and allow it to air dry, as an extra precaution.
What is antibody testing and can I be tested for the COVID-19 virus with it?
This type of test looks for antibodies to the COVID-19 in a person’s blood. Typically, these antibodies are produced when someone gets COVID-19, but it typically takes one to three weeks to develop these antibodies, according to the CDC. Some people may take even longer to develop antibodies, and some people may not develop any at all.
A positive result from this test may mean that person was previously infected with the virus. Talk to your healthcare provider about what your antibody test result means.
Still, an antibody test should not be used to diagnose COVID-19, the CDC says. You need a viral test to see if you are infected. These tests identify the virus in respiratory samples, such as swabs from the inside of your nose.
The CDC reports that it’s still not clear that having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 can protect someone from a future infection or, if they do, how long this protection might last. Research continues in that area.
What areas of my household should I keep clean and disinfected?
The CDC recommends that you clean and disinfect all surfaces that are touched frequently, such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
If the surfaces appear to be dirty, clean them with detergent or soap and water before you disinfect them. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work for that, but check out the CDC’s recommendations for household cleaning and disinfection at CDC.gov for more information.
Are loss of smell or dizziness considered symptoms of a COVID-19 infection?
Numerous neurological symptoms have been observed in people who have been infected by the COVID-19 virus, including loss of smell, muscle weakness, dizziness, confusion, inability to taste, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, seizures and stroke.
The CDC recently added these symptoms to its initial list of emergency warning signs that warrant medical help.
Harvard Health states such symptoms appear to correlate with severity of the infection. A study of 214 people showing moderate to severe COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, indicated close to one-third exhibited one or more neurological symptoms, according to Harvard Health.
These symptoms also have been seen in COVID-19 patients in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Some with neurological symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 but did not have any respiratory symptoms; others experienced both neurological and respiratory symptoms.
Questions remain about how the virus brings about neurological symptoms. It is possible that an infection or the inflammation or altered oxygen and carbon dioxide levels caused by the virus could be the cause, reports Harvard Health.
Nonetheless, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience “new confusion or inability to rouse.”
In March, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recommended that the list of COVID-19 symptoms include the loss of smell, medically known as anosmia.
A group of otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat specialists) reported that two out of three confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany experienced a loss of smell, while anosmia was the primary symptom in 30% of those with mild symptoms who tested positive in South Korea, according to Harvard Health.
That being said, losing your sense of smell doesn’t automatically mean you have COVID-19. The loss of smell could be caused by allergies or other viruses, such as the one that causes the common cold. According to the Harvard group, researchers continue to gather data on the anosmia and COVID-19 connection, including how to tell the difference between the potential causes for a loss of smell. seeking
All guidance is subject to change based on new information and recommendations from health care professionals.