EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING – COPING DURING COVID-19 (Part 2)
In these unprecedented times, we can expect to have a lot of mixed feelings. While it’s true that we may experience many strong and some unpleasant emotional responses to the current health situation, there are many things we can do to help ourselves feel safer and in control of ourselves. May is Mental Health Month, and Mercer County is presenting information weekly to help people cope. Last week's topic was Owning Your Feelings. The following information is provided by the Mercer County Division of Mental Health and Mental Health America.
Create New Healthy Routines
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Routine and ritual are restorative. Our brain wants activity that is predictable so we can relax our nervous system. Remember that our activities, thoughts and mood are closely linked so to change your mood, change your activities and/or your thoughts.
FAST FACTS
• When it comes to diet, sleep and exercise, having good, strong routines is linked to improved mental and physical health.
• People with more daily routines have lower levels of distress when facing problems with their health or negative life events.
• It takes an average of 66 days for a behavior to become automatic (a habit), but for some people, it can take as long as 8.5 months. Don’t give up!
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Create a routine that is right for you. Some parts of the day may present more challenges than others. Healthy routines should include eating a nutrition-rich diet, exercise and adequate sleep. No two routines will be the same and your routine may even vary slightly from one day to another.
Make swaps. Think about things you do during the day that aren’t so healthy and swap them with healthier behaviors. Substitute a brisk walk for sugary snacks to keep your blood pumping and endorphins flowing.
Make time for things you enjoy. Even if it’s just 15 minutes a day, set aside time to do something you find fun or relaxing. It will release chemical messengers in your body that are good for your physical health.
Make time to get and provide warm, comforting, social support. We can stay socially connected while we remain physically distanced. Remember, call the MentalHealthCares NJ Hope and Healing line for free emotional support: 866-202-4357.
Working and learning from home.
• Confine your workspace to a specific area in your home so your work and learning doesn’t intrude on your personal needs. This will help to focus your mind and increase your productivity.
• Control sound as much as possible.
• End the work/school day with clear boundaries by putting away electronic devices and work tools at the end of the day. Set specific hours in the day for work/school.
• Have a morning or evening check-in with colleagues or friends to reduce social isolation and provide structure and support.
Mercer testing sites: Quaker Bridge Mall, Trenton, Hightstown
Mercer County, in collaboration with health care and municipal partners, is operating an appointment-only, drive-up testing site for COVID-19 at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence, and appointment-only walk-up testing sites in Trenton and Hightstown for individuals who lack transportation to the mall location.
Testing will be provided for symptomatic Mercer County residents age 18 or older who have an appointment. In addition to fever, cough and shortness of breath, symptoms of COVID-19 can include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste and smell.
If you are symptomatic for COVID-19 and want to be tested, contact your primary health care practitioner. If a test is needed, your doctor will fax a prescription to the Mercer County health call center at 609-630-4031, and the center will contact you to schedule an appointment. If you lack transportation to get to Quaker Bridge Mall, you will be offered an appointment at a walk-up site along with instructions on when and where to go. The Trenton sites are open in each city ward one day a week. The Hightstown site will be open Fridays at 12 noon in the parking lot of St. Anthony of Padua Church, 156 Maxwell Ave.
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If you do not have a doctor, call an urgent care center or call the Henry J. Austin Health Center at 609-259-5900 to see if you need testing. They can help you to talk with a doctor by phone or video. Henry J. Austin will serve all patients, including those without health insurance. There is no charge for the test at Mercer County testing sites.
For the health, safety and security of staff at the Quaker Bridge Mall testing site, patients will not be permitted to leave their vehicles. Walk-ups are not permitted at that testing location.
You must have an appointment to be tested. Those who show up at a testing site without an appointment will not be able to be tested.
If you have questions about the testing process, call 609-337-4081 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Español, call 609-436-5038 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The testing sites are collaborative efforts between the County of Mercer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, Capital Health System, St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, the Trenton Health Team, Henry J. Austin Health Center, the City of Trenton, Lawrence Township and Quaker Bridge Mall management.
If you believe you may have symptoms of COVID-19, the State of New Jersey’s COVID-19 Information Hub provides a self-assessment tool that will help you determine whether you should be tested. Visit self.covid19.nj.gov.
COUNTY CLERK OFFERS ONLINE SERVICES
Through the COVID-19 crisis, the Mercer County Clerk’s Office is still offering several key services. Timely recording of documents can continue online via njcountyrecording.com. However, due to the office closure, you will need to sign up using an outside vendor. Both Simplifile and CSC are established and responsible vendors. You can contact Simplifile at 1-800-460-5657 or simplifile.com. CSC can be reached at 1-866-652-0111 or erecording@cscglobal.com. If you are a member, you can access the NewVision Search System at records.mercercounty.org/ RecordsNG_Search. You can also search for any property in the county by starting a free account at pip.mercercounty.org.
HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19?
The NJ Poison Control Center and 211 have partnered with the State to provide information to the public on COVID-19:
Call: 2-1-1
Call (24/7): 1-800-962-1253
Text: NJCOVID to 898-211
Visit covid19.nj.gov or nj.gov/health for additional information
PREVENTION
To ensure the lowest chance of obtaining the virus, and spreading the virus to others:
- Practice social distancing.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when you have to go out in public; for example, to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities. Do not use a facemask meant for a health care worker. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
- If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash and wash your hands or clean them with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
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SYMPTOMS
Symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being contagious. It's also important to consider whether you've been in contact with an infected person, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing. In addition to fever, cough and shortness of breath, symptoms can include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
If you believe you've been infected and you are not in immediate danger, you should contact your doctor by phone. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911, and notify the dispatch personnel that you may have COVID-19.
COVID-19 Symptom Checker.
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BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
For information on COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus and its impact on businesses – including resources, assistance and regulations -- visit the State of New Jersey business portal and the Mercer County Office of Economic Development.
CENSUS 2020
It’s not too late to complete your 2020 Census form! It's safe and easy, and it’s your opportunity to bring education, health care, housing and political power to your community.
People across America are keeping their families and communities safe and healthy by staying home, or serving the public by providing essential services. Responding to the Census yourself — is another way to do your part and help keep your community strong.
If the paper form you received in the mail doesn’t work for you, you can respond online or by phone. There are so many ways to count yourself in the 2020 Census -- don’t wait! To respond online, visit https://my2020census.gov/login; to respond by phone, call 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish).
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JOBS AND HIRING
Did you lose your job or have your hours reduced as a result of COVID-19? The State of New Jersey has created a resource page to help you connect to benefits and resources you need while you are trying to safely get back to work, as well as some tips for coping with the stress of losing a job. covid19.nj.gov/work
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
If you receive a call from a scammer or suspect price gouging, please report it to the Division of Consumer Affairs at (973) 504-6240 or https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/.
CURRENT STATUS
The New Jersey Department of Health on May 13 announced 1,028 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 141,560 with 9,702 deaths. Mercer County has had 5,499 positive cases, with 360 deaths. To view Mercer County data by municipality, please visit the Mercer County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://arcg.is/1y1eHO. Please note that municipal data lags behind the state data and will update as information becomes available. Visit the New Jersey Department of Health's COVID-19 Dashboard for more statewide information.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 12 announced 18,106 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in the United States to 1,342594 with 80,820 deaths, with 55 locations (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, North Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands) reporting cases. For more information, visit cdc.gov.
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