What You Can Do to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus

Washing hands with soap and water in bathroom to protect from coronavirus and viral illnesses like flu
Handwashing is the first, best defense against viral illnesses

Headlines are hopping with news about the coronavirus outbreak in China this month. With world travel so easy in our modern world, it is no surprise that cases of coronavirus are appearing in the United States. Understanding this virus and taking preventative actions are your two best measures to protect yourself from coronavirus.

What is Coronavirus?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the current outbreak is of 2019 Novel Coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV for short. Symptoms may appear two days to two weeks after exposure to the virus and people are contagious prior to becoming symptomatic.

2019-nCoV has a reported range from zero symptoms to severe illness and death. Common pneumonia-like symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

How is Coronavirus Transmitted?

This particular virus does not seem to have animal transmission like many other coronaviruses. Person-to-person transmission likely occurs through respiratory droplets. Coughing, sneezing and exhalation carry a virus in the tiny droplets that are expelled.

While people may not be breathing directly on one another, they may leave these carrier droplets on surfaces that others touch. In short, it spreads like the flu.

Take Action to Protect Yourself and Loved Ones

Your first, best defense against coronavirus and other viruses is to wash your hands. It may sound too simple.

Consider everything your hands touch in a day. Desks, pens, shared computer surfaces, telephones, conference tables, printers, door handles– the list of potentially contaminated surfaces in an office is too numerous to list in full. Instead of wrapping everything in paper or wearing nitrile gloves at work, just wash your hands.

Review the CDC’s recommendations for handwashing. Wet your hands with clean water. Lather long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” twice, scrubbing under the nails and cleaning the backs of your hands as well. Rinse with clean water. Use a clean towel to dry or air dry.

Viruses seek admittance to your body through your mucous membranes. Don’t touch your face unless your hands have been washed. Wash your hands before eating. Don’t put a pen to your lips or nose to help you think. If you regularly need to brush your hair out of your face, wear it up or back to eliminate possible transmission. Hand sanitizer is no substitute for good handwashing.

Be considerate toward others and stay home if you feel sick. If someone in your office seems to be sick, avoid physical contact completely. Keep a distance of at least three feet when you must be in the same room.

If you do rely on mass transit as part of your commute, wear nitrile gloves and avoid touching yourself above the shoulders until your trip is complete and you can discard the gloves. A thick respiratory mask may help you protect yourself from viruses in a cramped subway car, but a surgical mask won’t offer much protection from flying respiratory particles. You might also consider driving for a few weeks.

Practice Daily Wellness Habits

Because there is no vaccine to protect yourself from coronavirus, it is imperative that you bolster your immune system. Sleep deprivation makes people more susceptible to illness, therefore it is imperative to get adequate high-quality sleep. Good nutrition is essential to maintaining optimal immunity to the germs we are exposed to every day. Choose fresh fruit and vegetables and a lean protein at every meal. Regular exercise such as 30 minutes of brisk walking stimulates the immune system.

Since coronavirus is a lot like the flu, practice standard flu safety. And don’t underestimate the power of handwashing.

 

The New Cosmic Crisp Apple – Everything You Should Know

new cosmic crisp apple variety

A new variety of apple called the Cosmic Crisp became available to the public in December 2019. This highly-anticipated apple has had no shortage of controversy since its announcement and was even embroiled in a legal dispute between Washington State University and Seattle startup Phytelligence.

The New York Times has commented on the apple as being “dramatically dark” and “explosively crisp and juicy”- even going so far as to call it “the most promising and important apple of the future.” Let’s explore why it’s causing so much excitement:

What Is the Cosmic Crisp Apple?

The Cosmic Crisp is a hybrid of the Honeycrisp apple and Enterprise apple. Breeding of this variety began in 1997 in Wenatchee, Washington and is most notably praised for its beautiful appearance. Its light spots against its red skin call to mind a galaxy- hence the name Cosmic Crisp.

It was grown to have the taste of a Honeycrisp but the shelf life of an Enterprise. It takes around 3 years to produce a crop.

History of the Cosmic Crisp

Even though the majority of American apples are grown there, the Cosmic Crisp apple is the first apple variety developed in Washington State (apples are also the Washington State fruit as of 1989).

12 million Cosmic Crisp apple trees were pre-ordered by orchards in the spring of 2017, making it the largest apple launch in history. Washington state growers will maintain exclusive growing rights to the Cosmic Crisp apple variety for the first decade.

Experts are predicting the apple’s large size and juicy flavor will make it a huge hit with consumers. They are also slow to brown even after being cut and are able to maintain their flavor and texture even after being in storage for over a year.

The Cosmic Crisp Apple Lawsuit

Phytelligence was actually a spin-off company from Washington State University, having been founded by one of its professors, Amit Dhingra.

After signing an agreement with Washington State University in 2012 to grow Cosmic Crisp trees on behalf of the school, both parties eventually became locked in a long-standing legal dispute over propagation rights and patent infringement claims. Phytelligence was seeking a license to sell the trees while WSU claimed the startup was selling Cosmic Crisp trees though unauthorized to do so.

In June of 2019, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit against WSU. Eventually, Phytelligence announced in September 2019 that their board of directors unanimously decided to liquidate its assets and shut down the company.

where can I buy cosmic crisp apples?

Cosmic Crisp Apple – Where to Buy

Washington State is promoting the release of this new apple with the largest campaign in apple industry history for a single apple variety. They are estimated to spend over $10 million on marketing efforts, starting with the tagline “Imagine the Possibilities.”

Consumers are able to buy Cosmic Crisp apples in a wide variety of grocery stores since its national release. Orchard at the Office plans to offer this as an office fruit delivery option shortly after its launch.

 

Get the Most from your Wellness Program

Five Simple Wellness Program Ideas

Getting the most from your wellness program tops the list of concerns for many business owners. With healthcare costs on the rise and no relief in sight, helping employees achieve lasting wellness is more important than ever. However, the great news is you can take simple, inexpensive steps to create a healthier workplace immediately.

Share Some Wellness Information

A periodic e-mail linking employees to wellness-assisting agencies is a great place to begin. Whether it’s for smoking cessationnutrition guides, or dealing with alcohol abuse, staffers can bookmark or keep in their folders for any situation that may arise.

Healthy Snack Alternatives

Bringing fresh fruit into the office is as inexpensive as bagels with all the trimmings and the correlation to a more productive workplace are well-documented in multiple studies. ORCHARD At The OFFICE does all the work in getting the best fresh fruit for your business large or small. With options to suit any appetite, fresh fruit delivery helps you get the most out of your wellness budget.

Fresh fruit stretches your wellness budget

Monthly Coaching

Another cost-effective idea is periodically bringing in a fitness expert to give a brief presentation to your staff. From pointers on what to eat, how to stay fit, or simple daily exercises, a nutrition coach, a personal trainer, or a kinesiologist helps employees achieve their health and wellness goals.

Company Athletic Endeavors

The great thing about business-led athletic events is they are available to companies of any size. Therefore, a business with an employee count of five can join in a relay race put on by the Dallas Running Club.  In addition, informal activities like a softball game at the company picnic encourage employees to get physically active. Whether sponsoring an event or simply participating, an engaged organization helps carry the message of wellness economically.

Wellness Merchandise

Gifting staff members with health-related products adorned with your company logo sends an effective wellness message. Water bottles for runners and cyclists, hats and technical shirts, or even pill organizers all get people thinking about staying healthy.

To get fruit delivered to your Texas business, call 972-295-9091 or click here