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Why You Need to Start Planning Now For Holiday Shopping

Too early to start planning for the holiday season? Nonsense. Due to COVID-19, online purchasing is up 28%, and the landscape of shopping, in general, will look much different this year. 

Some of us are always ahead of the game and trying to capture the best deals, while others are the last second gift-buyers. But regardless of whatever category you typically fall under, you’re going to want to be the former instead of the latter this year and we’re here to tell you why. 

Shipping. Shipping. Shipping. 

From lost packages to avoiding face-to-face deliveries, shipping has been a nightmare during the pandemic. Currently, shipping carriers have announced that they are already delivering at peak holiday numbers and they are estimated to be at a 5% over capacity. So, how do you beat this? Shop early and allow your order time to arrive so you do not unintentionally gain a part-time job tracking your own packages. 

Out of Stock Products 

Traditionally, Black Friday marks the unofficial start of the holiday season, but it is no secret now that the sale season will be kicking off as soon as mid-October. This means that some of the biggest deals and best-sellers may be short in inventory the longer you wait! If you decide to try and play the dangerous game of buying at the last second, you may end up being the person handing out gifts weeks after the holidays. 

Avoiding Busy Shopping Center 

For obvious reasons, brick-and-mortar shopping has become a tricky situation and it will only get more challenging when tons of people swarm to the malls around you! Whether it’s in the form of waiting in lines out in the cold or being in uncomfortably packed department stores, there’s so many reasons to avoid or at least limit the amount of time spent shopping at the mall. 

The holidays are already a stressful time. With so many additional stressors, do not make the season any harder than it must be! Get ahead with your planning, keep yourself and those around you healthy and enjoy being with your family. 

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Live Wisely

Do I Need to Wear a Mask?

This is a question we’ve been asking right along with all of you. Currently, the CDC recommends that these individuals wear a mask:

  1. People who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms to protect others from the risk of getting infected
  2. Health workers
  3. People caring for someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings

But as we all know, things are changing rapidly. As of March 30th, two arguments were shared by leading government agencies:

  1. Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed that they are reviewing guidelines on who should wear a mask. The biggest reason for this is that the proportion of individuals who are infected but asymptomatic could be as high as 25%. These people won’t show any signs, like a fever or cough, for up to 48 hours after they’re infected. If everyone is wearing a mask, the 25% carrying COVID-19 will infect far fewer people around them.
  2. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has expressed concern that the recommendation to arm everyone with a mask could cause even worse shortages of N95 and other medical masks for health care workers who need them most.

The CDC does have a solution for this need for balance:

During a public health emergency, face masks may be reserved for health care workers. You may need to improvise a face mask using a scarf or bandana.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

When searching for a mask please keep in mind that our UV masks were NOT designed to prevent the transmission of airborne illnesses or viruses. If they were, we’d be sending them to healthcare professionals, toot sweet! Our Ultimate Coverage masks, bandanas and gaiters were created to protect against 98% of UVA/UVB rays and are essential for those seeking serious sun protection. 

If you are in need of added protection, you can create a mask at home. One of our This is Brave warriors, Bethany, who is immunocompromised and must wear a mask, has been making masks for herself, her children and healthcare workers. Here are some of the tips and tutorials she is using to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses.

Regional Medical Center recommends these fabrics: 

  • Outer lining: denim, duck cloth, canvas, twill, tightly woven fabric
  • Inner lining: cotton, cotton-blend non-stretch fabric
  • Avoid: Polyester or less breathable fabrics

See Bethany with her daughters modeling their new masks:

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