The New York Times - USA (2020-10-25)

4 D THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020

EXPERTS SAYcoronavirus cases in
the United States are climbing
toward a third peak, rising to

record levels in nearly half the
states in the country. The upswing
seems driven by outbreaks in the

Midwest and Mountain West,
where some hospitals are becom-
ing overwhelmed.
“The big concern, of course, is

what’s going to happen in the
winter,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, the
vice chairman of the American

Academy of Pediatrics’ commit-
tee on infectious diseases. “There
is some reason for hope that it
won’t be horrible. But I think we

don’t really know.”
While the onset of another
surge may sound frightening,

there are things parents can do

right now to protect your family’s

physical and mental health.

Ensure your family

is vaccinated.

There isn’t a vaccine for the co-

ronavirus yet, but make sure you

and your family are fully vacci-

nated for other illnesses, includ-

ing the flu.

Public health leaders are urging

everyone to get the flu vaccine,

not only for his or her own well-

being but for the greater good.

The more people stay healthy, the

less chance that hospitals will

become overwhelmed with sick

patients this winter. Especially

because it’s possible to get the flu

and Covid-19 at the same time.

Experts recommend that both

adults and children 6 months and

older be fully vaccinated against

influenza by the end of October. If

your child is under 9 and has

never received a flu vaccine, or

has only ever received one dose of

the vaccine in the past, the Ameri-

can Academy of Pediatrics recom-

mends two doses, spaced four

weeks apart.

Also check with your pediat-

rician to make sure your child is

up-to-date on other vital vaccines

for diseases such as measles,

tetanus and whooping cough.

Create a child care backup plan.

Many families were caught by

surprise in the spring when

schools and day cares shut down.

And experts warn that such clo-

sures could happen again.

“We’re going to see this roller

coaster effect,” said Dr. Eric

Toner, a senior scholar at the

Johns Hopkins Center for Health

Security and an expert on health

care preparedness. “Cases go up,

cases go down.”

As a result, it’s helpful for par-

ents to plan for all possible situa-

tions. If your child falls ill, for

instance, make sure you under-

stand the policies of your day care

or school in advance. At what

point would your child need to be

tested for the coronavirus? When

is it OK to return to school? Rules

can vary considerably, but the

more you know in advance, the

better you can plan.

If you have people who can

provide alternate options for child

care — perhaps trusted babysit-

ters or grandparents nearby —

speak with them before a shut-

down, rather than assume that

they’ll automatically be free. Will

they be able to help out every

day? Two times a week? Things

can change at the last minute, but

it will be reassuring to have a plan

should you suddenly need

backup.

If your children are attending

school or day care in person and

become exposed to someone with

the coronavirus, your family may

have to quarantine for 14 days and

won’t have backup child care.

Spend some time now thinking

about how you’ll get through

those 14 days. If you and your

partner work, can you create a

staggered schedule that allows

you both to care for the kids? Ask

your employer about flexible

working options, like family medi-

cal leave or flex time. If your

workplace offers sick time, when

is it permissible to use it?

As the spring made clear, child

care solutions can be tough to

find.

“It’s complicated, and some-

times there are no good answers,”

Dr. Toner said.

Cut yourself some slack. The

Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit

that provides therapy and other

services to children and families

with mental health and learning

disorders, has advice on its web-

site for single parents on how to

manage the trifecta of child care,

employment and the pandemic,

but these tips can be useful to

nearly anyone.

One of the recommendations:

“Set the parenting bar lower.”

It’s OK if your child is getting

more screen time than usual or

your go-to lunch has become

quesadillas.

Preserve your family’s

mental health.

The uncertainty of the pandemic

has already produced a great deal

of anxiety in parents and children.

“What makes this marathon so

much worse is the fact that we’re

telling you it’s going to get muddy

up ahead,” said Dr. Harold S.

Koplewicz, medical director of the

Child Mind Institute and a child

and adolescent psychiatrist based

in New York City. “When thinking

about tomorrow — that’s what

creates anxiety.”

Try to avoid speculating about

an advancing surge and instead

stay focused on the present by

putting in place structure and

routines for your children, he said.

Stick to consistent bedtimes

and mealtimes. Even simple

routines like getting dressed

every morning can offer much-

needed structure. Weekly activi-

ties like pizza night or movie night

can give the whole family some-

thing to look forward to.

Make a habit of expressing

gratitude as well, Dr. Koplewicz

added: Encourage all members of

your family to explain “why we

are lucky this week” and chal-

lenge them to come up with a

different reason each time.

Finally, consider teaching your

children mindfulness exercises,

Dr. Koplewicz said, which can be

as simple as sitting still for one

minute. It’s a way to help your

kids stay rooted in the moment

and feel calm. They’re great for

parents, too.

“Listen to your body, listen to

the environment, and just let your

thoughts go,” he said.

Stock up on necessary supplies

(but don’t be a hoarder).

Even if your family never gets

sick with Covid-19, other infec-

tions are likely to make an ap-

pearance. You’ll feel more secure

knowing that you have everything

you need right at your fingertips.

A sample list might include:

• Fever reducers such as acet-
  aminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen
  (Advil) for yourself and your
  children


• Thermometers for adults and
  kids, as well as disposable ther-
  mometer probe covers (if you use
  those) and backup batteries


• Hydrating liquids like Pedialyte
  or diluted apple juice


• Disinfecting wipes


• Extra formula, baby wipes
  and diapers

Combat pandemic fatigue.

More troubling than the onset of

cold and flu season is the fatigue

people feel over continual social

distancing, avoiding crowded

indoor spaces, and wearing

masks, Dr. Toner said. In addition,

there is bound to be additional

risk as states reopen.

“The reason we’re seeing in-

creasing cases now is because

we’ve relaxed those containment

measures,” he added. “Those

places that somehow think

they’re immune to the virus will

see big spikes.”

So don’t let pandemic fatigue

prevent you from keeping your-

self — and others — safe. Wear a

mask if you’re going to spend time

with people outside of your house-

hold; wash your hands fre-

quently; use hand sanitizer if you

don’t have access to soap and

water; maintain six feet of dis-

tance from others when possible;

and avoid crowded indoor spaces,

Dr. O’Leary advised.

In addition, get tested for

Covid-19 if you’re sick or if you

believe that you might have been

in contact with someone who was.

“We have very good evidence

now that this constellation of

simple actions really works and

has driven down the number of

infections tremendously,” he

added.

Staying healthy is another way

to help prevent illness. Everyone

in the family should get enough

sleep and make a point of exercis-

ing regularly, even if all you do is

take a brisk walk. Eat nutritious

foods like vegetables, whole

grains and lean meats as often as

possible, and make sure you and

your kids are getting regular

checkups.

The pandemic can be exhaust-

ing. At times it can feel depressing

and even interminable. But if your

family makes good choices now,

you’ll feel stronger and more

mentally prepared to ride this out.

KA YOUNG LEE

As winter approaches, parents still need to be vigilant, take

precautions and do a little self-care.

BY CHRISTINA CARON

Be Prepared

For Coronavirus Surges

BEST BINS FOR THE GARAGE

Rubbermaid Brute Totes

If you want bins for your garage, attic

or basement that can take a lot of

abuse, look to Rubbermaid Brute

Totes. These containers are made

with high-density polyethylene, a

sturdier and more temperature-

resistant plastic than clear polypro-

pylene containers. The Brute’s

molded handles also make them

more comfortable to carry than less

expensive garage bins. Note that

while the bins don’t let in water, the

deeply grooved lids can tend to

collect water, which can attract bugs

and bacteria, so be careful about

using these outside in rainy

conditions. $25 from lowes.com

BEST FIREPROOF

DOCUMENT SAFE

Honeywell 1104

For a document safe that protects

precious belongings from fire and

water, get the Honeywell 1104. It

can survive hotter fires for longer

than any other home or office docu-

ment safe, and should be able to

keep out water for 24 hours. Its

interior is long enough and wide

enough that you’ll be able to fit

documents of any standard size, and

thoughtful design features like the

securely attached lid and hydraulic

hinges that prevent your fingers from

getting crushed when you close it set

it apart from the competition. $164

from honeywell.com

BEST CLEAR PLASTIC BINS

Iris Weathertight Totes

Any closet could benefit from Iris

Weathertight Totes. They’re sturdy

and easy to use, and they come in a

dozen sizes. These are also the

tightest-sealing clear bins you can

find, thanks to a foam gasket in the

lid and six-latch configuration (most

bins have only two, on each end). The

Irises stack securely — each bin’s

base sits snugly into a groove on the

lid of the one below. They also maxi-

mize interior space, thanks to their

straight rather than sloped sides. $11

from containerstore.com

Falling temperatures not

only mean breaking out

coats and sweaters but

also putting away beach

blankets and pool floaties.

While you could store ev-

erything in a pile at the

bottom of a closet, proper

storage means less clutter,

better-cared-for items and

the peace of mind that

comes with knowing that

everything is exactly

where it’s supposed to be

come summer 2021.

BEST BEDDING STORAGE

Misslo Folding Breathable

Jumbo Storage Bag

Blanket bags protect your bedding

from dust and damage, and the

Misslo Folding Breathable Jumbo

Storage Bag is the most hassle-free

to get a king-size comforter into,

thanks to a top that zips open on

three sides. The bags are made with

a material that’s thick enough to allow

them to stand up on their own, and

they have a sturdy zipper for zipping

up smoothly and holding the bags

closed. $25 from amazon.com

BEST COMPRESSION

STORAGE BAGS

SpaceSaver Vacuum

Storage Bags

For storing clothes and bedding,

vacuum bags can be a good option

for tight storage spaces. The

SpaceSaver Vacuum Storage Bags

not only shrink more and faster, but

they also look better and hold their

seal better than the rest. The jumbo-

size bags, which are 30 by 40 inches,

comfortably hold a queen-size com-

forter or several pillows, and they

really do save space, compressing by

a little over 60 percent. $45 from

amazon.com

The New

Essentials:

Winter

Storage

This list is adapted from Wirecutter,
the New York Times company that
reviews and recommends products.

.