Coronavirus Updates and Information

How to protect yourself

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• Social distancing

  • The virus spreads person-to-person. The CDC estimates that 6 feet is a safe distance from someone who may be infected.

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• Wash your hands

  • This is still commonly considered as some of the easiest armor against the virus. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.

  • Hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol is an acceptable alternative to soap and water.

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• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

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• Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces

  • Diluted household bleach solutions and solutions with 70% alcohol are ideal for disinfecting surfaces.

    • Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/disinfecting-your-home.html 

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• Responding to public health crises can have a detrimental effect on mental health

  • The CDC recommends limiting the consumption of media coverage about the disease and focusing on self-care activities at home.

    • Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

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How to protect others

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• Stay home if you are sick

  • Unless medical care is needed, the safest way to protect others is to stay home.

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• Cover coughs and sneezes

  • Cough and sneeze into your elbow, to prevent any particles from transferring to another person through touch.

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• Wash your hands

  • Use warm, soapy water, and wash for at least 20 seconds.

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• Wear cloth face coverings in public settings

  • Especially in places like grocery stores and other communal areas where it is hard to maintain social distancing.

    • Recent studies have shown that coronavirus patients can be asymptomatic (lack any symptoms of the disease), so face coverings are important.

      • Source:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html 

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• Use noncontact methods of greeting, rather than handshaking to prevent the spread of the virus

  • Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf 

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Tips for your home

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• Increase the ventilation in your home or place of work by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning

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• Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and handrails regularly

  • Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf

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What are the symptoms?

 

Symptoms may not appear for up to two weeks. If you feel you may have been exposed, please exercise caution when considering leaving home. 

• Fever

• Cough

• Shortness of breath

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Who is most at risk?

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• Older Adults

• People with underlying health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, lung disease)

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Who should be tested? 

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• Most people will have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care and may not need to be tested.

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• CDC has guidance for who should be tested, but decisions about testing are made by state and local health departments or healthcare providers.

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• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.

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• You can also visit your state or local health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.

  • Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

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Where can I find more information?

 

We have many helpful articles below that have been tracking the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also find more information about how to stay safe in this unprecedented time at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html