Happy new year… sort of. Here are some actions we can all take re: Covid in our region

We'd like to wish you a happy new year, but with the rapid growth of the Covid crisis in our region, we are thinking this may not be the most appropriate.

By now, we probably all know someone or a few people, who caught Covid. Some are fine, others have been / are struggling, some are being hospitalized. In all cases, we have no doubt that the worst is still ahead of us, and that more locals will die of it too.

The situation is serious indeed, both in terms of the rapidity of the spread of the virus within our communities, and the severe strain our local hospitals are under because of the dramatic spike in cases.

With this in mind, we put together a list of relevant actions all of us can take to be in a better position in this Covid crisis. Please note however that we are not medical doctors, and urge you to seek personalised advice should you need it.

1) It’s ok not to be ok

Given how exhausting these past two years have already been, it’s worth starting by reminding ourselves that it’s ok if we don’t feel too well. It’s perfectly normal if you feel tired, not very productive, not necessarily keen to be social or engage in activities, or else. These past two years have already been harrowing, and we all need some self-care and compassion.

If your mental health is suffering, seek help. Reach out to trusted relatives. Share your feelings. Be heard.

Also, all Medicare cardholders are eligible for 10 subsidised individual and 10 group mental health appointments per year — referred to as a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Australians affected by COVID-19 can now access an additional  10 sessions per calendar year until 30 June 2022.

2) Stop the spread

Within about a couple of weeks, Australia has gone from having one of the lowest rates of new Covid cases per population anywhere in the world to being in the top 20 of countries with a population over 500,000. NSW now has one of world’s highest infection rates.

Let’s stop the spread by socially distancing, wearing a mask, washing/sanitising our hands often, avoiding meeting people indoors, opening our windows to ensure air flows, etc.

3) Managing COVID-19 at home

On this website, you will find information on how to isolate, monitor COVID-19 symptoms, how to treat COVID-19, how to support people with COVID-19 and more.

We also greatly encourage you to watch these 2 videos from Dr. Sandhya Ramanathan: Home Medical Management Plan for Mild Covid-19 and Managing Risk in a “Living with Covid” World. She has been awarded a Community Service Medal by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners for this work. Make sure to read the text box under the videos as she provides a useful list of equipment to have at home, and actions you can take to prevent a Covid infection and if you do get Covid.

Also, and if possible, have a stock of rapid antigen test kits readily available at home. Here are how Covid symptoms compare with the cold and the flu. You can also use this Symptom checker if you don't have access to any tests.

4) Discuss with your family members what you will do in case one of you gets Covid

This link shared earlier provides some tips about how to prepare your home if a family member or housemate gets COVID-19.

You can also read this article from the ABC to help you out.

In addition to organising your house and household in case anyone needs to isolate, have a plan for who can look after your children, pets or people in your care should you need to get hospitalised.

If you do get Covid, check the 2 videos listed above to see how you can reduce your viral load.

5) Have a list of important contact details

Make sure everyone in your household, including your children, knows how to contact friends or other family members who can help in case of need.

Also, if you need information about COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccines, call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Healthdirect hotline is 1800 022 222 and Iso support hotline is 1800 943 553.

If you need some psychological support, you can contact Lifeline Australia (13 11 14) Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and more.

6) Food and goods - stock up and plan forward

Have 2 weeks stocks of food and essential items at home should one of your household have to isolate, or plan for how you’ll get food and essentials such as nutritious food, frozen meals, pet food, electrolytes, nappies etc.

If you isolate and don’t want to spend all of your time in front of a screen, put together a list of books, notes, meditation exercices etc. that you may wish to have to avoid boredom.

7) Check regularly on your family, friends and neighbours to see how is everyone doing (physically but also psychologically)

8) Offer to help others if you can

There are many things you can do to help others including: bring their shopping home for them, mowing their lawn, caring for their pets, reading them a book/story over the phone/video-call, helping them with a meal, or creating a meal train, or simply being a listening ear for anyone needing to share their experience and be heard.

9) Consider creating a community support group with your relatives or in your neighbourhood

This may be a way to more effectively take care of those who have Covid/have to isolate/ are generally struggling. You can find some resources here: Neighbourhood support — Resilient Byron.

10) Support locals who are raising funds to buy snacks and goods as donations for the staff working in different hospitals around the region as gestures of appreciation

11) Join Mullumbimby Flattening the Curve Facebook group to access relevant information about Covid in our region, thanks to the dedication of several members of our community. One of them has been compiling a list of Byron Shire relevant resources at https://bit.ly/byroncovidresources.

12) Join the Community Covid Support Byron Shire Facebook group, which purpose is to connect the need for assistance with accessing goods and services to offers of help.

Like you, we wish we could just have had a break this summer. Instead, we need to find the energy to reduce the risks to ourselves, engage in self-care and continue supporting others. We are still in this together.