States are starting to reopen their economies during the pandemic, ready or not. People have gotten tired of quarantine, and with a vaccine most likely months or years away, now the emphasis has shifted to reopening as safely as possible.

Some essential tips to keep you and your loved ones safe as you venture out into the world during the pandemic include the following:

• Stick to outdoors whenever possible—Heat and UV light have been shown to have some effect on killing the virus. Humidity may also help decrease airborne droplets. Activities that can be done outdoors instead of indoors are preferable. Meeting with friends outdoors and dining outdoors increases airflow and helps prevent contamination.
• Wear a mask or face covering—While the advice on mask-wearing has been confusing, the main reason to wear one is to avoid spreading your germs to other people. It is especially important since people who don’t even show any symptoms of COVID-19 can still spread the virus by spewing forth respiratory droplets while speaking, etc.
• Avoid crowds—Keeping 6 feet from others is essential to decreasing the spread of the virus so crowded beaches and parks need to be avoided.

Should you suffer a foot or ankle injury while you are out and about, be sure to see your foot doctor for the proper care. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.