A Special Message Regarding Helene

COVID-19: You can help flatten the curve.

coronavirus-cases

Here’s how:

✓         Stay home if you are feeling unwell, even just a little bit.

✓         Stay home and call your personal doctor if you develop a fever, new and persistent cough (even if it is mild), or shortness of breath. Do not go to the doctor’s office without calling in advance.

✓         Stay home in general, to the extent you can, to avoid getting sick. Be aware that even asymptomatic individuals are capable of transmitting COVID-19 to you. Anyone over 60 years of age is at greater risk for experiencing severe, even life-threatening, symptoms should you get COVID-19 (your risk would be further increased if you have underlying health conditions). Reserve time spent away from home for essential outings only. Cancel non-essential appointments. Cancel non-essential travel.

✓         When you must be in public, practice aggressive social distancing.  Social distancing is a public health strategy used to prevent the spread of infection by respiratory droplets. COVID-19 is spread via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even speaks.  Respiratory droplets can only travel about 6 feet. To combat droplet spread:

o          Be mindful, at all times, to keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and others (except close household contacts).

o          Do not congregate in groups of more than 10 people. Avoid crowds.

o          Stay in touch with friends through phone calls, letters, email, or even video phone calls (for the tech-savvy). If you visit a friend or loved one, do not hug or shake hands when you greet and maintain a distance of 6 feet between you.

✓         COVID-19 can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces. An infected respiratory droplet lands on a surface and then a person touches that surface with a hand. That hand is now contaminated and can infect a person (by touching eyes, nose, or mouth) or can spread the virus further by transferring it to a high-touch surface like a handrail or elevator button that many others will touch. To combat this method of transmission:

o          Clean your hands frequently using an alcohol-based rub or soap and warm water. Purposeful, thorough hand cleaning should take about 20 seconds.

o          Avoid touching your face. COVID-19 gets into your body through your eyes, nose, and mouth.

o          Avoid touching high-touch objects with your fingers. Use your elbow, for instance, to depress an elevator button. Pull our sleeve down over your hand before grabbing a railing. Use your elbow to open a door. Avoid handshakes.