• Homes with shared entrances expose everyone in the common areas, entryways, hallways, laundry rooms, sometimes even from the air in common ventilation systems.
• Wear a mask when in common areas. Mask protection is improved in the sequence: cloth masks, surgical masks, respirators (N95, KN95, FFP2, KF94), elastomeric half masks, and powered air purifying respirators (PAPR).
• Wear goggles, safety glasses, or even regular glasses, to further reduce the chance of exposure through particles entering through the eyes.
• The coronavirus stays around in the air and on surfaces. Spend as little time as possible in entryways and common areas, even when they are not crowded.
• Bring lots of fresh air inside. Where possible open windows. Evaluate and improve ventilation and add filtration.
  • Change air with fresh, clean air with better filters (MERV-13, if possible) in central ventilation systems. When possible, keep ventilation and furnace fans ON, minimize recirculation of stale air to bring in more outside air.
  • Maximize clean air supply in apartments and homes (as possible) and place HEPA air purifiers in common areas. Avoid ionizers and ozone generation that are sometimes included in HEPA air purifiers.
  • HEPA air purifiers in your apartment will help reduce risk from shared air through central ventilation systems, air leakage under doors, or when windows can’t be open.
  • Make DIY air cleaner (with MERV-13 or similar filters and fan boxes) for homes, neighbors, community groups.
  • Clean air at least six-twelve times/hour (6-12 ACH) in common areas, meeting rooms, gyms, other places people gather.
• Assume any surface others will interact with—your mail-box, the doorknob, elevator buttons—is contaminated. Put something disposable between you and the surface, gloves, a piece of cloth, or even a piece of paper.
• Once you get to your apartment, wash your hands well before touching anything else (with soap for at least 20 seconds). Carry hand sanitizer with you to clean your hands when you are going out.
• Assume the air in elevators and high touch buttons are contaminated, as there may be many people per day sharing that small space. Avoid sharing elevators with other people. When possible, use the stairs if they are otherwise not being used.
• See setting up a receiving area for packages (below).

Find and use the stores in your area that take safety seriously, including providing for:

• Ordering online for home delivery with no contact, or for pick up at curbside or parking lot. Some pharmacies deliver prescriptions or have drive-by pickup.
• Requiring mask wearing of all patrons and staff.
• Staff who remind shoppers to distance while shopping.
• Staff who use a no-contact digital IR thermometer to check external body temperature, to make sure no one who enters the store has a fever.
• Extended hours to avoid crowding.
• Early opening with access limited to seniors and other vulnerable customers.
• Limiting the number of people in the store at any one time.
• Customers, store workers, and store managers should continually seek ways to improve safety of the community.
• Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes at the entrance, throughout the store and at check out for cashiers and baggers, as well as customers.

• Have a designated set of clothes and shoes that you use when shopping. Before and after shopping, launder or disinfect these clothes thoroughly, and keep them separate from your everyday clothes and shoes.
• Wear a mask and gloves.
• Bring your own designated shopping bags if you have them, disinfect them before and after shopping, and keep the bags away from everyday items. A rolling suitcase is a great alternative to grocery bags when walking long distances is necessary.
• Hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, soap, or other sanitizing materials should be brought to the store, in case you or others are in need.
• Make a grocery list of essential items, including amounts, before going to the store. If you know the layout of the store, organize the list so that you go through the store without doubling back.Include backup items in case the store is out of something specific. A well done list will make it unnecessary to call home as the use of a cell phone in the store is to be avoided.
• If possible, set up a receiving area in your garage, porch or entry area where you can leave non perishable items for 2-4 days, by which time any virus on the surfaces will not be active. If you have to bring them into your home, set up containers or a marked off area for them near the entryway.

• If possible, leave the package unopened in your receiving area: garage, porch or some similar area for 2-4 days.
• If it needs to be opened immediately, or you do not have such a space available, wash off the box with soapy water, disinfectant or alcohol wipes (70% is effective) before opening. Remove the item or items carefully and discard the outside box. Alternatively, if it can be fitted into an oven, heat at at 75°C (170°F) for 12 min (wear a mask or stay away during this process).
• Where packages are left in outdoor or non-climate controlled receiving areas, summer heat and sun may somewhat reduce the time needed for disinfection of packages. Winter cold or refrigeration extends the time for disinfection so that alternative means should be employed.
• Reminder: Wash your hands when you are done.
• When traveling, moving or sending items from one safe location to another, wrapping boxes or other packages in plastic bags or movers wrap allows it to be handled by others on the way and then to unwrap and bring in the contents safely at the destination.