Hello my name is John Dowd and I'm aDivision Head of Public Health Preparedness and Health Education for the Middlesex County Office of Health Services.
Our office understands thatindividuals have questions and concerns about coronavirus.
I want to provide youwith information so that you can make informed decisions to protect yourselfand the community.
The Middlesex County Office of Health Services is continuingto keep residents and partners informed about new coronavirus, COVID-19.
Somepeople who live in or have recently traveled to places where people havegotten sick with COVID-19 are being monitored by health officials to protecttheir health and the health of other people in the community.
We will continueto communicate with the New Jersey Department of Health, our health caresystem, and municipal officials in order to effectively respond to any cases ofillness within our community.
What are coronaviruses? A coronavirus is a type ofcommon virus that can infect your respiratory tract.
They can spread muchlike colds and viruses.
Almost everyone gets a coronavirus infection at leastonce in their lifetime, most likely as a young child.
They tend to circulate in afall and winter.
COVID-19 is a new coronavirus which began in China inDecember 2019.
The virus began in the animal populationand then started to cause infection in humans.
A new virus is a concern since itis hard to predict how the virus will behave in the human population.
Risk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are closed contacts of someoneknown to have the virus.
Other people at higher risk for infection are those wholive in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of the disease.
Also healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk ofexposure.
Terms You May Hear Isolation Quarantine Incubation Period ActiveMonitoring Passive Monitoring Presumptive Positive Community Spread SocialDistancing Close Contact and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions The goal of isolation and quarantine is to stop or limit the spread of acontagious disease.
Isolation separates sick people with the contagious diseasefrom people who are not sick.
Quarantine separates and restricts themovement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they becomesick.
You will need to be quarantined for the incubation period of the disease.
The incubation period refers to a time from when a person is exposed to a disease to thetime that they develop symptoms.
COVID-19 incubation period is from 2 to 14 days.
Active Monitoring means the state or local Public Health Authority assumesresponsibility for establishing regular communication with potentially exposedpeople to assess for the presence of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
The mode of communication can be determined by the state or local public healthauthority.
It may include telephone calls, or any electronic or internet-basedmeans of communication.
Passive Monitoring (or Self-Monitoring) meanspeople should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twicea day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing.
Anyone on self monitoring should be provided a plan for whom tocontact if they develop fever, cough or difficulty breathing during theself-monitoring period to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.
Presumptive Positive is a state case that comes back positive that is waitingfor confirmatory testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, the state and local health authorities are proceeding with publichealth investigations and response activities as if these were confirmedcases.
Close Contact is defined as being within approximately six feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time; approximately 10 minutes orlonger.
Close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting orsharing a health care waiting area room with a COVID-19 case, or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case.
(For example – being coughed on.
) Community Spread means people havebeen infected with the virus in an area including some who are not sure how orwhere they became infected.
Social Distancing is a public health practicethat is meant to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease.
Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and canceling events.
Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions When a vaccine is unavailable NPI's are the best way to help slow the spread ofviruses.
They include personal, community and environmental actions.
Personal actions include staying home when you are sick, covering your coughs andsneezes with the tissue, and washing your hands often with soap and water.
Community NPI's are strategies organizations and community leaders can use to help limit face-to-face contact.
These strategies may include making sickleave policies more flexible in workplace settings, temporarily dismissing schools, avoiding close contact with others and cancelling largepublic events.
Environmental NPI's are surface cleaning measures that remove germs from frequently touched surfaces and objects.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can rangefrom mild to severe.
The illness starts with flu-like symptoms.
(Fever and cough) As the disease progresses and affects the lungs, you will have shortness of breathor difficulty breathing.
Please remember that is currently fluand respiratory disease season, and you may have symptoms of the flu.
Risk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are close contacts of someoneknown to have the virus.
Other people at higher risk for infection are those wholive in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of the disease.
Also, health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.
People who are at higher risk of getting very sick fromthis illness are older adults and people who have serious chronical medicalconditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
If you are at higherrisk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should ensure that you have suppliesin your home that meet your daily needs, take every day precautions to keep spacebetween yourself and others, when you go out in public keep away from others whoare sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
Avoid crowds as much aspossible, avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
lf there is community spread of COVID-19 in your community, stay home as much as possibleto reduce your risk of being exposed.
COVID-19 is spread through the air bycoughs and sneezes, touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Close contact with those who are sick.
There are steps that everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses like the flu.
It is recommended that every day protective actions can help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases.
Avoid close contact with peoplewho are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, stay home and you are sick, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue in the trash, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using aregular household cleaning spray or wipe, wash your hands often with soap andwater for at least 20 seconds – especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, at least60% alcohol.
Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty, practice other good health habits, get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious food, and manage your stress.
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow these steps: stay home except to get medical care.
You should restrict activities outside your home except for getting medical care.
Do not go to work, school or public areas, avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.
Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home, call ahead before visiting your doctor.
Depending on your risk exposure, your doctor could test you for COVID-19.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Avoid sharing personal household items.
Clean your hands often and clean all hi-touch surfaces every day.
Monitor your symptoms, and seek prompt medical attention ifyour illness is getting worse or if you are having trouble breathing.
There is no specific treatment forcoronavirus other than supportive care as needed.
People that have mild illnesscan manage symptoms with decongestants, cough suppressants, and fever reducingmedication.
People with severe illness can be provided supportive care at ahospital to provide oxygen, fluids and respiratory support.
Any person or group planning a trip should consult the CDC website for current travel advisoriesregarding any restrictions on travel.
The situation is evolving.
Stay up-to-datewith CDC's travel help notices related to this situation.
Individuals andfamilies can prepare for emergencies by making a kit, having a plan, and staying informed.
To learn more about preparedness planning, visit www.
ready.
gov When preparing for such an emergency such as COVID-19 or the flu, your emergency kits should have the following items: store a two week's supply of water and food, check your regular prescription medication to ensure a continuous supply in your home, have any non-prescription drugs andother health supplies on hand including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.
Store household suppliessuch as toilet paper, tissues, hand soap, paper towels, garbage bags and cleaningsupplies.
Get copies and maintain electronic versions of health records.
Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
If you have pets – have pet food and supplies.
If you have infants, have baby care items.
Talk to your work about their emergency plan and talk to your school about theiremergency plan.
Additional information on community planning for households, educational settings, workplace settings community events and faith-basedorganizations can be obtained by visiting the CDC's “Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities” website.
If anyone has questions about COVID-19, you cancall the 24-hour public hotline at 800-222-1222.
If you are using an out-of-state phone, the number to call is 1-800-962-1253.
Trained healthcare professionals at the New Jersey Poison Control Center are standing by to answer questions about Coronavirus.
The call is free.
If individuals are feeling stressed or overwhelmed about COVID-19, they can call the New Jersey Department of Human Services' toll free “warm line” at 877-294-HELP (4357).
The warm line is activated during events that impact the mental health of New Jersey residents.
The “warm line” does not replace 911, and is not used to report emergencies.
For additional information from the CDC or the New Jersey Department of Health, please visit their web and social media sites.
For Middlesex County information please visit our web and social media sites.
You can find local information by visiting municipal web and social media sites, and subscribing to local emergency alert systems.
I would like to thank you on behalf ofthe Middlesex County Department of Public Safety and Health for viewingthis presentation.
By staying informed and taking simple steps we can minimize our exposure to COVID-19 to protect our communities.
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