5 things you really need to do while the virus is outside the window

Morally support those who have a harder time

Sitting in isolation and pausing life is difficult and unpleasant. But some of us have a harder time than others. For example, those who live alone and may suffer greatly from a lack of communication. Anxious people who take on all the burdens of the world and are worried. Those with coronavirus or their family members. Those who are forced to go to work and contact people, putting themselves at risk: doctors, cashiers, couriers, transport drivers. Think about which of your acquaintances needs such help. Or, if you feel potential in yourself, write on social networks that those who need support can contact you. Even if you do not have a degree in psychology, but you are empathic and good at dealing with stress, you can help someone in an emergency.

Help with shopping and other household issues

The elderly and those with poor health (diabetes and other chronic diseases) must now be on the lookout and observe the strictest quarantine. Going to the grocery store or to the post office for a parcel is the risk of contact with other people who may be asymptomatic with coronavirus. That said, not everyone has access to grocery delivery apps. If there are such people among your neighbors or acquaintances, try to help them with trips to the store, pharmacy or post office. You can post a notice at the entrance with your contacts, samples are easy to find on the Internet. For example, the Yandex. Rayon service has it: you can use it yourself and send it to your friends. If you use delivery, but your elderly neighbors do not, invite them to order groceries for them too.

Fabio Perfetti Helps the Elderly in Ronco Briantiino, Lombardy.

If there are delivery services in your city, use them instead of going to the store. For example, using “” you can order both food and personal care products or household cleaning products to your home. Contactless delivery is available for all orders. In addition, the body temperature of couriers and collectors is constantly monitored - this information is applied to orders.

And if you are missing restaurant dishes or want to support your favorite cafe in difficult times, "" will come to the rescue. Delivery is carried out contactless. Also, many establishments have tightened the rules for transferring orders: they measure the temperature of couriers, ask them to disinfect their hands and backpacks. Now the service works in 36 cities of Russia, but will soon appear in 32 more.

Try not to get out of work

If you only need a laptop to work in self-isolation, the problem is solved. But even if you cannot perform your professional duties remotely, try to stay in a working rhythm. First, help your future career: take a rewarding online course, read books you didn't have enough time for, listen to podcasts from people whose professional paths inspire you. Second, stay in touch with your colleagues so that neither you nor they feel disconnected from the world. Arrange collective calls and videoconferences, discuss future projects or analyze the past and make work on mistakes.

Yuri Monzani Coaches the football team in Concorezzo, Lombardy.

Understand that self-isolation is not a vacation

Most importantly, minimize contact and reduce your own risk of getting sick. Do not forget that the pandemic has changed the rules of etiquette - now you should not shake hands with each other when you meet. Feel free to remind others of this: health is far more important than social rituals. Try to be careful and take care of yourself. Do not eat foods that make your stomach ache, do not engage in traumatic sports. The health care system is going through difficult times now, so it would be best not to put an additional burden on doctors and hospitals. Just staying healthy now is already helping society.

Alternatively, you can contact local hospitals to see if they need any help. For example, donated blood, making masks, volunteering. If you have experience in fundraising, look at local charities and help raise funds for COVID-19 projects.

Anna Kutskailis Helps to sew masks in Desio, Lombardy.

Don't spread panic on social media

The worldwide shift to online and widespread concern has led to a distortion of information. People on social media are divided into several categories. Nihilists deny the existence of coronavirus and demand some kind of proof, completely ignoring WHO reports and open data on the course of the epidemic in different countries. Alarmists spread terror by talking about the virus flying through the air. Conspiracy theorists are looking for the culprit in what is happening and are trying to convince everyone around that this epidemic is beneficial to someone. Traditional healers advise to wear a garlic necklace and eat only ginger. All this only creates confusion and misunderstanding of what is happening. Try to go to official sources, don't panic and be the voice of reason.

Tonya Rubtsova Started an Instagram account in Russian about the epidemic in Italy @ toshkatoshka.ru, writes from Uzmate Velate, Lombardy.

Remember that during an epidemic, you need to contact as little as possible with people. If you need to convey something to your loved ones, use the "Delivery" service from "". Drivers will take any package weighing up to 20 kg and not larger than a suitcase.

If you select the "Door to Door" option in the mobile application, then neither you nor the recipient will need to leave the house: you will leave the parcel at the door, the driver will pick it up, take it to the addressee's door and make sure it has been received. It is completely safe: for carriers who cooperate with Yandex. Taxi, there are now organized disinfection points for cars. Drivers carefully clean the panels, steering wheel, door handles and other surfaces in the car with alcohol wipes.

Also at the end of March, Yandex. Taxi launched a project to help medical and social services in connection with the pandemic. The Help Nearby service is designed to transport doctors, deliver social food kits and coronavirus tests. The project has already started in Moscow and Kazan, in the near future - the expansion of the geography.

In addition, "", "" and "" have formed a fund to support drivers and couriers. The funds from it will be used to help service partners who have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection, and those who are quarantined due to contacts with infected. Also, part of the funds will be used to disinfect cars and purchase funds for anti-virus treatment. The total volume of the fund is 600 million rubles.