Coronavirus: What to do and what not to do

Editor’s note: This list will be updated as guidance is issued by public and health officials.

DO

• Stay home. California is under a shelter-in-place order. Everyone is required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job. If you go out, keep at least 6feet of distance.

• Wash hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

• If soap and water aren’t available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

DON’T

• Shake hands

• Touch your face

• Go to the doctor if you aren’t sick

• Stockpile masks or gloves

DO monitor your health

• If you believe you have symptoms of novel coronavirus, call your primary care physician or the hospital before you go.

• If you have mild symptoms, self-isolate until the symptoms are resolved.

• There are limited tests in Humboldt County. Even if you test positive, the medical advice is likely to be the same: Self isolate until the symptoms are resolved.

• St. Joseph Health has tips to help: https://www.providence.org/patients-and-visitors/coronavirus-advisory

DO seek more info from county public health officials

• The Humboldt County

Department of Health and Human Services has a hotline on COVID-19information. Residents can call 707-4415000or send nonmedical questions to covidinfo@ co.humboldt.ca.us.

DON’T call 911 seeking this information

• 911is reserved for reporting life-threatening emergencies.

DO follow recommendations from state officials

• Guidance for businesses can be found here: https:// www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ Guidance.aspx

DO find out how schools are working for students

• Humboldt County Office of Education has a Google spreadsheet that lists the status of local schools. Find it here: https://bit. ly/39VONJr

• Information from Humboldt State University: https://covid19.humboldt.edu/

• Information from College of the Redwoods: https://bit. ly/2TU7jMP

DO check whether you’re eligible for benefits

• The state Employment Development Department answers questions about what to do if you lost work hours because of the coronavirus. A FAQ from EDD can be found here: https://www. edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm

DON’T worry about utilities … for now

• Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will not disconnect your power for nonpayment during the health crisis, the utility said. The rule applies to both businesses and residential services. For more information, call 1-800-743-5000. PG&E has a program called CARE that helps customers with economic hardships. To find out if you qualify, go to www.pge.com/care.