Staying healthy

**NOTE: This webpage is monitored and updated frequently, but the best source of information during this time is always the CDC's COVID-19 page, HERE.**

Resources and information below are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Prevention:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is, of course, to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often and vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Please remember to wear a mask or face covering in public spaces, especially ones where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.  Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. CDC guidance on masks and face coverings, HERE.

  • Children under age 2, and anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unable to remove the mask without assistance are not advised to wear a mask or face covering.

Health Care:

In need of a health care provider? Visit the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers website and search by location.

Arizonans looking to get their kids enrolled in KidsCare, Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, can find more information HERE. Children under the age of 19 may qualify for KidsCare, even if they are not eligible for other AHCCCS health insurance. For those who qualify, monthly premiums may apply. 

Mental Health & Emergency Services​: 

Tips to cope with stress and take care of your mental health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

  • Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media use. 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 and get plenty of sleep.
  • 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.
  • Call your health care provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
  • People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.

More ways to take care of your emotional health can be found on the CDC’s website, HERE.

Arizona mental health resources by county are available, HERE.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need help:

Social distancing:

Health care experts across the board agree that social distancing—the practice of avoiding close contact with others—is effective in slowing the spread of the virus and lessening the burden on our health care system. This is why we are seeing widespread closures of schools, cancellations of events, and new restrictions on gathering sizes. These preventative measures will save lives, especially by distancing ourselves from those most at risk, living in nursing homes and long term care facilities.

We must all make small sacrifices now to preserve our health care system in the long run. A helpful article on this practice is available, here.

Staying up to date: 

The Arizona Department of Health Services has a state-specific coronavirus information page, here. This page is updated daily at 9 AM MST. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization (WHO) provide updates on the virus and safety information for the public and health care professionals. A factsheet from the CDC is available, here. 

You can sign up for the CDC's email updates here.

You can sign up for the WHO's email updates here.

Coronavirus resources available in 15 different languages, HERE.