FROM MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH What you can do to prepare, if you or a family member gets ill, or
if your community experiences spread of COVID-19. Start now: ·
Monitor local
information about COVID-19 in your community. ·
Practice personal
protective measures (e.g., keep social distance when in public and wash hands
frequently, especially when in public spaces). ·
Put household plan into
action. ·
Individuals with underlying medical conditions should
consider staying at home and avoiding gatherings or other situations of
potential exposures, including travel. Continue these activities: ·
Know where to find local
information on COVID-19 and local trends of COVID-19 cases. ·
Know the signs and
symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if symptomatic: o Stay home when you are sick. o Call your health care provider’s office before
you go in. o Limit movement in the community. o Limit visitors. ·
Know what additional
measures people at high risk and who are vulnerable should take. ·
Implement personal
protective measures (e.g., stay home when sick, handwashing, respiratory
etiquette, clean frequently touched surfaces daily). ·
Create a household plan
of action in case of illness in the household or disruption of daily activities
due to COVID-19 in the community. o Consider getting a two-week supply of
prescription and over the counter medications, food and other essentials to
keep at home. Know how to get food delivered if possible. o Establish ways to communicate with others (e.g.,
family, friends, co-workers). o Establish plans to telework, what to do about
child care needs, and how to adapt to cancellation of events. ·
Know about emergency
operations plans for schools/workplaces of household members. CDC recommends postponing and canceling until
further notice: ·
Events where 50 people
or more would gather, including but not limited to: o o Concerts. o Conferences. o Professional, college, and school performances
or sporting events. o Festivals. o Parades. o Weddings. o Other types of assemblies. ·
Smaller events (fewer
than 50 people) that are held in crowded auditoriums, rooms, or other venues
that do not allow social distancing of 6 feet per person. ·
Events with more than 10
people where the majority of participants are at higher risk for severe illness
from COVID-19, including gatherings such as those at: o Retirement facilities. o Assisted living facilities. o Developmental homes. o Support groups for people with health
conditions. ·
Events of any size
should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to
guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social
distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual. ·
More information is
available at CDC: Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events
Ready. How to stay healthy and
prevent transmission The Minnesota Department of Health recommends people
take the same precautions as avoiding colds and flu: wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and water, stay home if you are sick, and cover your cough. The Center for Disease Control currently does not recommend the
use of facemasks as a preventive measure for the general public. Minimizing contact with others through social distancing — keeping at least six feet away
from people — may help limit the spread. Click here for more information on social social distancing. The Minnesota Department of Health also recommends
that people 70 and older, and people of any age who have underlying health
conditions that put them at a higher risk of severe illness from the
coronavirus, should stay at home, avoid gatherings and other potential COVID-19
exposures, and not travel. Worried about getting sick? Here are some steps you can take
to boost your immune system. It’s also recommended that you try to not touch your face, which
can serve as an entry point for microbes. Try these handy tips for avoiding touching your face. The CDC also recommends cleaning all “high-touch” surfaces — which
includes your phone. Here’s how to properly clean your phone without damaging it. Coronavirus symptoms Most patients with the coronavirus have developed a fever and/or
the symptoms of an acute respiratory illness, like a cough or difficulty
breathing. There are other CDC-recommended criteria used when determining if
someone should be tested, including: ·
People with a history of traveling to a geographic area with
community transmission within 14 days of onset of fever and cough/difficulty
breathing who test negative for the flu. ·
People who are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19
with a fever or cough/difficulty breathing. ·
People who are part of a case cluster of patients with a fever or
cough/difficulty breathing and test negative for the flu. ·
People with pneumonia/acute respiratory distress syndrome of
unknown cause (testing negative for respiratory pathogens). ·
People who are healthcare workers with direct patient contact who
have a fever and a cough/difficulty breathing, or with pneumonia and who test
negative for the flu. What to do if you think
you are sick If you think you are sick with COVID-19, you should call your
health care provider and let them know you may have the virus before going for
an appointment. Minnesota patients who think they may have been infected with
COVID-19 can get tested for the coronavirus for free at a drive-up clinic if
a doctor says it’s necessary. If you think you are sick, you should stay home, and if you have
kids who are sick, you should keep your kids home, under White House guidelines. If someone in your household
has tested positive for the coronavirus, the entire household should stay at
home. The CDC also recommends the following for those who think they are
sick: ·
Isolate at home, avoiding public areas and public transportation ·
Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home ·
Wear a facemask when around other people ·
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze ·
Dispose of used tissues in a lined trash can ·
Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds ·
Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces ·
Monitor your symptoms and seek prompt medical attention if they
worsen If you have questions about the coronavirus, you can call the
Minnesota Department of Health’s COVID-19 Hotline at 651-201-3920 from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Traveling Wondering if you should cancel your trip? Public health officials
are urging residents to reconsider any foreign and domestic trips. Read this for some of the things to consider when deciding whether
to travel. If you are traveling, be aware that airports and airlines are
making a number of changes in response to the coronavirus. Here’s what you can expect. Also, read these tips on how to avoid getting sick while traveling. |
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