The whole world is suffering a state of fear due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, as many countries suspended schools to limit the spread of the virus. Egypt also suspended schools and universities for two weeks from 15 March, and closed all theatres and cinemas amid precautionary measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus. Subsequently, many government and private institutions and companies put plans to reduce working hours and the number of employees in office. Women have an important role in this difficult period. Mothers all over the world, Egypt especially, should protect their children and families from the pandemic. Daily News Egypt presents some tips for women to combat Coronavirus. Keep your family at home Schools and universities are suspended, and most of the employees were given an excuse to work from home, so please try to avoid streets unless there is an emergency. Don`t take your kids to shopping malls or cafes. It's not a vacation! Even in home, try to maintain personal distance between each other. Measure the temperature of your children regularly. If any family member showed symptoms of COVID-19, you should isolate him/her and call the hotline allocated by the Ministry of Health. Pay more attention to personal hygiene Good personal hygiene measures and using antiseptics on hard surfaces and grounds can slow the spread of Coronavirus. Always talk positively and emphasise the importance of effective prevention measures with your family members, mainly careful hand washing, and open windows from time to time to refresh the air in your homes naturally. Do shopping responsibly Women usually buy food and other household goods. We advise you not to stockpile products from supermarkets or pharmacies. Egyptian cabinet assured everyone that the state has enough reserves of all goods. Even in the most affected countries like Italy, we have not heard of any stockpiling of goods. Cook your food According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Food and Drug Administration, there is no evidence that COVID-19 could be transmitted through food, but it's still risks as no one is 100% sure of that. In general, it is always advised to eat well-cooked and washed food prepared at home. If your kids got bored from homemade food, try new recipes to increase their appetite. Create home activities Of course after all these preventive measures, most of the family members will be bored, as a mother you have to plan for them some activities to make them enjoy their stay at home, such as, watching films, playing games together, etc. If you are an employee, try to balance between your work and family. Share COVID-19 updates with your children Try to tell your children the news of COVID-19 in a simple and easy way as not to be terrifying. There is misinformation about COVID-19 being shared online, so, it's important to be careful where you look for information and advice. Try to correct misinformation for people around you As mothers usually create social media groups to spread news among them, try as much as you can to correct any false news about COVID-19, either in these groups or among work colleagues, relatives, or neighbours. It's part of your responsibility. Finally, the war against the disease is the responsibility of every one, so please try to stick to these tips in order to overcome this difficult period. Wishing everyone good health.
