Take care of yourself and help others in need

COUNTY NEWS

As Los Alamos County wraps up another week under the State of New Mexico’s “Stay At Home” executive order, Social Services Manager Donna Casados commented upon the current situation and commended the community on taking positive, proactive steps to comply with the order.

“We’ve observed that many of our residents are taking the order seriously,” she said, noting that the mitigation measure of social distancing remains the best course of action when individuals must take care of urgent business or tasks that require them to move around in Los Alamos.

“Keeping six feet between yourself and others, continuing to have good hygiene with frequent hand-washing or use of hand sanitizers, and staying at home – these are all good ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. While you may feel that you are not at risk, our community does include those who are high-risk, and so taking precautions when out in public means you are doing your part to protect others who might become seriously ill if they contract COVID-19,” Casados said.

She encouraged the community to follow the advice provided by the Governor in a recent news conference.

“If you need groceries, send one person to the store with a list – don’t take the entire family,” she said. “Ask if you can shop for other family members or friends and drop off their groceries on their door step. Having fewer people in stores helps mitigate the chance of infecting others.”

Casados said it’s also important to take time for self-care during this stressful situation, and offered helpful tips from the Centers for Disease Control:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals. Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

“Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make our community stronger,” she said.