Coronavirus Information Page

First and foremost, I want you to know that our entire staff is working round the clock with federal, state, and local officials in the district as we continue dealing with coronavirus. As always, please reach out to our Washington, D.C. or district offices if you have any specific questions, concerns, or need assistance.

What Is Coronavirus?

COVID-19, more commonly called the "coronavirus," is the disease caused by the new coronavirus that emerged in China in 2019.

What Are The Symptoms And Warning Signs Of Coronavirus?

According to the CDC, People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

*This list is not all inclusive. Consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.*

Who Is At Higher Risk Of Catching Coronavirus?

According to the CDC, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:

• People 65 years and older
• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:

• People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• People who have serious heart conditions
• People who are immunocompromised
  • Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
• People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
• People with diabetes
• People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
• People with liver disease

How Do I Protect Myself And Others?

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home as much as possible.
• Put distance between yourself and other people.
• Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
• Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

• You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
  • 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 cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Cover coughs and sneezes

• If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
• Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectant will work.

More information can be found here.

What Should You Do If You Are Considered "At-Risk?"

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:

• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.
• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
• During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
  • Bluish lips or face

What Is "Social Distancing" And Why Is The Government Asking Us To Practice It?

Our respective governments -- federal, state, and local -- are asking us to practice "social distancing" in order to contain the spread of the virus.

Social distancing is purposefully putting physical distance between yourself and others in order to avoid spreading illness.

We all need to, to the best of our ability, calmly and rationally implement social distancing efforts for the coming weeks. This means trying to maintain a six foot distance from other people, staying at home, avoiding large group gatherings, working from home (if possible), and calling your doctor first before going into their offices if you have symptoms.

What Can You Do?

• Maintain supplies on hand
  • Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
  • If you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for medications.
  • Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
  • Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.
• Take everyday precautions
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Take everyday preventive actions
    • Clean your hands often
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
    • If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
    • To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
    • Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
    • Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
    • Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)
    • Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
    • Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

What Should You Do If You Get Sick?

• Stay home
• Call your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms
• If you are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can recover at home. Follow CDC instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.
• Wash your hands regularly
• Wear a mask if you are sick, or if you are caring for someone with the virus

What Can You Do In Your Community?

UPDATED: A Community-Based Approach To Reduce Coronavirus Exposure To Seniors & Other At-Risk Demographics

First and foremost, thank you to each and everyone of you for all that you have been doing for the past weeks as we continue to battle the coronavirus. The sacrifices that you are making now will pay off in the near future.

Please continue listening to your local officials. Additionally, we all need to continue social distancing whenever possible. Please only leave your home for essential activities such as groceries, picking up food or prescriptions and attending religious services. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and if we keep up the pressure we will be there soon. Furthermore, if you feel sick, call your doctor.

COVID-19 has shown a significantly higher mortality rate among aging Americans. Additionally, those with chronic respiratory and pre-existing medical conditions face a greater risk of death than those without underlying health problems.

Communities need to continue uniting at the local and neighborhood levels to develop strategies to reduce potential pathogen exposure to at-risk demographics. As Americans and communities, we have the moral responsibility to love our neighbors by reaching out to those next-door, who are at increased risk of the coronavirus, and supporting them in maintaining their everyday life. This can include running errands for them, picking up and dropping off groceries, going to the post office for them, and hundreds of other tasks that are often taken for granted. Familiarity and trust with those in our lives and those who live around us is key to ensuring success.

If you are a member of a:

• Church
• Home Owners Association
• Kiwanis Club
• Knights of Columbus
• Rotary Club
• High School athletics team
• Activist organization
• Charity
• Chamber of Commerce
• Nextdoor App
• Business
• Girl Scout troop
• City Council
• Parent Teacher Association

…or any other civic group, charity, or organization, you are encouraged to continue identifying those near you, who know you and trust you, and who are at higher risk, and develop a strategy to continue reaching out to those in need and help to limit their potential exposure to the virus.

We should all continue to treat this pandemic as seriously as possible, while making sure that at-risk segments of the population have access to the supplies they will need.

Please continue to have these conversations in your communities as we battle the coronavirus. Please step-up and create a plan for your neighborhood. In the words of Ben Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Remember we are in this together and every little bit helps.

Reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging to see what local telephone or online supports are available near your aging loved ones.

Here's how to find your local Area Agency on Aging:

1. Link to this Eldercare Locator
2. Put in your older loved one's zip code
3. Contact the aging agencies they list.