COVID-19 has impacted every part of our lives. I know it feels like we’ve been fighting this forever. And all of the information and guidelines can feel overwhelming. And this new normal we are living in just doesn’t feel great on many levels. But it’s so important that we all continue to stay informed and stay committed to stopping the spread of this awful disease. This is something we have to fight together.
One resource that has been really helpful to me is the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH). They have been working to provide the most up-to-date information about COVID-19. It makes such a difference to know there is one place to look where you can get factual information you can trust.
We have been making progress over the last few months, but COVID-19 is still spreading. It’s important that we don’t unravel all of work our families and communities have done by giving up or getting lax about social distancing.
We have the opportunity to make a real difference right now – the opportunity to save lives.
Coronaviruses are typically transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets that are exhaled from the nose and mouth at close contact. People can contract COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from an infected person who coughs or exhales near them, even if that person doesn’t have any symptoms at the time. Those droplets can also land on objects and surfaces, and people can then catch the virus from touching those surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Important things we all need to do to #CrushCOVID:
- Practice social distancing: Stay at least six feet apart from anyone who doesn’t live in your household. This is especially important if you are inside (at the pharmacy or grocery store), but it’s important outside, too! You want to limit the amount of droplets that fall on or near you.
- Wear a mask anytime you will be around people who don’t live in your household: Yes, you need a mask even if you are staying six feet apart! Remember: your mask protects the people around you, and their masks protect you. So if you are in a space where people aren’t wearing face masks, leave. And make sure your mask is covering both your mouth and your nose!
- Wash your hands: Frequent hand washing helps to stop the spread of germs before your hands come in contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth.
As you think about necessary outings or social activities, here is some good advice to keep in mind:
If you come in contact with someone you later find out was infected by COVID-19, or you start experiencing common symptoms, get tested and quarantine yourself until you receive the results. Your state or county should have information about local testing resources on their website.
While a lot of emphasis has been placed on vulnerable populations, they are not the only ones who need to practice physical distancing and face covering. We all need to do our part to protect the people around us and slow the spread until we totally crush covid. Together, we can beat this.
For more information about crushing COVID, check out the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Stay strong!
Guest Writer
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