Answers to readers’ COVID-19 questions
The Houston Chronicle is asking readers to submit questions and story ideas about the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. Questions are answered online at houstonchronicle.com/coronavirus.
Here are the answers to some recent questions from readers:
Q: What should I do if my roommates or loved ones aren’t practicing social distancing?
A: You can help educate those people, but ultimately you can’t force them to be responsible, said Dr. Stacey Rose of Baylor College of Medicine.
Try to teach them about the community risk they pose to others when they don’t social distance, Rose suggested.
If they don’t listen or change their behavior, see if you have the option to remove yourself from that setting. Not everyone has that luxury. If that’s the case, modify your own behavior. Maintain distance from your roommate, clean your household surfaces and consider eating at different times, Rose said.
Q: Is it safe to handle and read my delivered Houston Chronicle newspaper? What about packages and the mail?
A: Health authorities have given no indication that the coronavirus can spread on newsprint, Chronicle Executive Editor Steve Riley said. But press workers and delivery agents are using gloves.
The same thing is true with the mail, with no indication from health authorities. Coronaviruses aren’t thought to travel well on those types of surfaces, so the risk is “very low” for packages or products that have been shipped, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, it is best to err on the side of caution when opening packages. A study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that COVID-19 can survive up to 24 hours on cardboard.
It’s a good practice to wash your hands after bringing in packages and immediately dispose of or recycle the packaging.
Q: Does a flu shot or pneumonia shot prevent me from contracting the new coronavirus?
A: No. While the flu and the novel coronavirus share some symptoms, they are
not the same. Physicians do, however, encourage everyone to get a flu shot and a pneumonia shot, if eligible, to ease the burden on the health care system down the line and to prevent complications if you have concurrent illnesses.
Q: Are homemade face masks safe to use? Are they helpful for hospitals?
A: If you’re making a mask at home, they obviously aren’t approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and that means the CDC doesn’t recommend them in hospitals or health care settings. However, your homemade mask is perfect for Harris County’s mandate that people wear face coverings while outside.
They are easy to make, even without a sewing machine. Watch Chronicle staffer Laura Duclos show
you how to make no-sew, CDC-approved coronavirus face coverings at houstonchronicle.com/no-sewmasks.
Q: How can I protect my baby or toddler from the new coronavirus?
A: COVID-19 seems to be much milder in children than in adults, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. But children still can catch and spread the virus like anyone else, so it’s best to keep your child away from crowds and not put them in situations where they could break social distancing rules.
Clean the surfaces in your home frequently, launder their clothes and plush toys, teach children to wash their hands properly and make sure they stay away from people who are sick, the CDC advises. If your child is at an age where they don’t understand the situation and can’t keep their hands out of their mouth and face, it’s especially important to disinfect your home and their toys often.