Howell Co. Health Dept. recommends social distancing, masking

Howell County Health Department encourages residents to continue to be diligent in their efforts to protect themselves and loved ones from the COVID infection and to contain the spread of COVID-19.  The Department stresses the importance of social distancing and masking in these efforts.

Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household. To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm’s length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.

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Social distancing should be practiced in combination with other everyday preventative actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing cloth face coverings, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, and frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact for a prolonged period. Spread happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected, but do not have symptoms, likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from others when possible, even if you—or they—do not have any symptoms. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, it is recommended that all individuals in the State of Missouri wear a cloth face covering when in a public setting where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Studies show that individuals in close proximity to others may transmit the virus that causes COVID-19 without having developed symptoms themselves. Homemade cloth face coverings offer some degree of protection against large infectious droplets, such as mucus or saliva, when speaking, sneezing, or coughing. This particularly protects those around the person wearing the face covering and helps people, who may have the virus and do not know it, from transmitting it to others. Face coverings may also limit the wearer from touching their own mouth and nose.  A cloth face covering should fit snugly but comfortably over the mouth and nose and against the side of the face, and be secured with ties or ear loops.

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth when removing their cloth face covering. Handle only by the ear loops or ties. Remove when hand washing or hand sanitizer is available to immediately perform hand hygiene after removing. Routine laundering of the face covering is recommended.

Be advised, that even simple cloth face coverings can make it harder to breathe. Individuals should take care not to use materials or excessive layers that restrict breathing ability. All individuals should take care to monitor their own health while wearing a mask or face covering, and consult a doctor with any concerns.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. If you are a caregiver for an individual with the virus, every attempt should be made to get a surgical facemask or N-95 respirator.

What else should I be doing to limit the spread of COVID-19? If you must be in public settings, face coverings should be used in conjunction with the other health recommendations already in place, such as maintaining 6 feet distance from other people, using proper cough/sneeze etiquette, frequent hand-washing, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Individuals who are sick, or have close contact with someone who is sick, should stay home.

How should an employer use this guidance? Identifying and mitigating exposures to the virus that causes COVID-19 before work begins should be an initial step taken in any facility. Engineering and administrative controls that prevent or reduce exposures should be used with any policy that considers use of face coverings by employees. Face covering use does not replace good business practices to maintain a healthy work environment, including encouraging sick employees to stay home, supporting good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene, and performing routine environmental cleaning and disinfection. Employee policies should include considerations for good contamination control as well as employee’s medical conditions that may preclude use of face coverings. Consult with infection control, industrial hygiene, or a public health agency for guidance or facility-specific recommendations. For more information: www.health.mo.gov/coronavirus

Department Director, Chris Gilliam, has stated that the health department is receiving a high volume of COVID-19 related questions from concerned citizens and employers.  He reports that HCHD does it’s best to give accurate timely responses.  He adds, “At times we are overwhelmed and cannot respond as quickly as we may hope.”  He states that a great deal of information on COVID-19 related information can be easily accessed on the CDC COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/index.html  Gilliam states that the link on the site identified as Cases, Data, and Surveillance is particularly informative and that he hopes people will take the time to see the information for themselves.

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