Most of us have lived in a shared arrangement at one time or another, and some still are. Coliving is an increasingly popular concept in our society, whether it is a dormitory experience in college or a retirement community full of older people. And as for the current times, people living in shared spaces are much more prone to catching COVID-19. That’s why you have to be extra careful and thoughtful of others in our flats, etc. Today in this guide, we’re going to shed some light on how you can avoid COVID-19 while living in a shared space.

GET VACCINATED

The first and most crucial step is getting vaccinated or getting a booster to gain some immunity against COVID. Getting vaccinated if possible is critical for keeping others safe, and vaccines offer good protection against severe illness and death. To get long-lasting protection, all adults who have been vaccinated need to get a booster shot. Usually, a booster shot is required after some time has passed since the initial vaccination. With booster doses, you can reduce the risk of being infected by COVID-19 variants, such as Omicron.

EVERYDAY STEPS TO FOLLOW

• Always wash your hands after returning home, eating, cleaning, and going to the bathroom.
• Keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Discard the used tissue and wash your hands afterward.

• Keep a distance of at least 2 feet from each other inside the flat.
• If you so desire to avoid COVID, warm water is preferable to cold. Make a habit of cleaning your water bottle daily.
• Avoid touching your flatmate’s devices, such as laptops, phones, etc., as these electronics travel to places you have no idea of.
• ‘Separate your personal items from one another. Cleaning the items that other flatmates used thoroughly.
• ‘Using a standard cleanser and antiseptic, clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces twice a day or more. Toilets and sinks, door handles (including refrigerators), kitchen surfaces and small appliances (e.g., kettles, coffee makers), light switches, telephones, remote controls, and toys are examples of high-touch areas. When objects and
• high-touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, and viruses are less likely to be transmitted between people and objects.

Ensure that your living area is well-ventilated. Make sure to open windows whenever possible.

If you’re cooking for yourself and others, make sure you carefully wash all veggies. You can also soak them in warm water for a few minutes before cutting.

Consider wearing a mask when you enter crowds of people in indoor settings if someone in your household is unvaccinated or immunocompromised.

If at all possible, obtain yourself a single-shared room. Several co-living providers are considering such requests. You’ll pay a bit more, but you’ll reduce the risk of getting infected by a good margin.

MAKE A STRATEGY

• ‘If you get or someone gets COVID, make sure you have a plan for how to get care. Be sure everyone in your flat knows about that plan.
• ‘Share each other’s doctor’s contact information. Include your current medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, as well as the medications you take.
• If you must stay isolated from everyone else for some time, make sure you have enough medication and supplies if you have any underlying conditions that put you at increased risk for severe illness from COVID.
• ‘If your roommate or flatmate has flu symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible. When caring for him/her, take adequate precautions for yourself, such as wearing masks and gloves.
• Separate a room specifically for isolation so the whole flat does not become contagious.

IF YOUR FLATMATE GETS INFECTED WITH COVID

• Consider making a separate resting and healing area for that individual.
• If a separate room isn’t available for the infected one and the flatmates will be sharing it, make sure the room has excellent airflow.
• Keep their space, as well as all other living spaces, as airy as possible. If the air quality is good, open the windows.
• If you can, make sure the sick person has their own bathroom. Be sure to turn the exhaust fan on when the bathroom is being used.
• The only bathroom in the facility should be cleaned thoroughly after each use by the infected person.
• You should not share towels, bedding, food, utensils, and face coverings.
• When offering care, hide your face.
• In order to protect other flatmates from infection, the sick person needs to wear a face covering.

Are you a tenant of KUMMUNI in one of our CoLiving spaces and you need to get in touch with our Community manager? Please click here