Show All Answers

1. Stay healthy, happy, and virtually connected (added Nov. 30, 2020)

Silver Comet Village, a senior living community in Powder Springs,  recognizes the importance of socialization and wants to help individuals and their families maintain their health and stay connected - even if in-person contact is not an option.

In its Nov. 15 blog post, it explains why socialization matters and suggests ways to find new ways to connect.

Read the blog post in its entirety here.

2. Should I wear a mask or face covering when I go out in public?

Gov. Kemp, officials urge Georgians to wear face coverings to fight COVID-19

(From the Office of the Governor, gov.georgia.gov)

Governor Brian P. Kemp, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) urge all Georgians to continue to follow safe daily habits to reduce our risk of exposure to COVID-19 and keep the virus from spreading. Wear a face covering in public settings, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently.

A cloth face covering should be worn whenever people are in a community setting where social distancing may be difficult, such as in the grocery store, picking up food at a restaurant, or riding public transportation and especially in areas of widespread community transmission of COVID-19. Cloth face coverings help slow the spread of the virus and help people who may be infected and not know it from transmitting it to others.

The use of cloth face coverings does not take the place of social distancing. Stay at least six feet from other people, do not gather in groups, stay out of crowded places, and avoid mass gatherings.

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — at least 60% alcohol — when soap and water are not readily available. Practice good health hygiene, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

For more information about COVID-19, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

For updates on COVID-19, follow @GaDPH, @GeorgiaEMA, and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook.

More information from experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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. The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. 

A significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity — for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing — even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  

In light of this new evidence, CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

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.

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. 

CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

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.

Cloth face coverings should:

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• be secured with ties or ear loops
• include multiple layers of fabric
• allow for breathing without restriction
• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

How can I make a face covering?

The CDC lists several ways to create face coverings, from sew to no sew methods, at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.

3. Coronavirus Rumor Control

FEMA has published a website to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis, so the public is urged stay informed with FEMA updated myth vs. facts related to the federal COVID-19 response. Access the page at this link: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control.

4. Beware of Scams

Coronavirus scams could be making the rounds, according to governor’s office. These may range from websites selling bogus products, fake emails or texts, and social media posts that may be aimed at stealing people’s money or personal information.

“These scam emails and posts may promote awareness and offer prevention tips and fake information about cases in your area. They also might ask for donations to help victims of the virus, offer advice on unproven treatments, or contain malicious email attachments,” Kemp’s office says.

Among the tips shared by the governor’s office and Attorney General Chris Carr:

• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know — it could download a virus onto your computer or device.
• Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or experts saying that have information about the virus. (Legitimate links to the CDC and information on the coronavirus can be found below.
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations. No vaccine or “cure” has yet to be developed for this strain of coronavirus, so pay no attention to sales pitches claiming such.
• Do your homework when it comes to donations to help victims of the virus or other related causes. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card or by wiring money, don’t do it.
• Be wary of “investment opportunities” and claims that the products or services of publicly-traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure coronavirus and these companies’ stocks will increase in value as a result.
• Scammers may also overcharge for health-related products or shipping costs, so always comparison shop before making any purchases.

5. Stop the Spread of Coronavirus and Other Illnesses

Heed these tips to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often
• Cover your coughs and sneezes, preferably with a tissue and throw that tissue away
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay home from school or work (except to get medical care) if you are ill
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor
• Separate yourself from other people when you are ill
• Avoid sharing personal household items with others who are ill
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday

6. COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

From the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drugabuse.gov:

Because it attacks the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially serious threat to those who smoke tobacco or marijuana or who vape. People with opioid use disorder (OUD) and methamphetamine use disorder may also be vulnerable due to those drugs’ effects on respiratory and pulmonary health. Additionally, individuals with a substance use disorder are more likely to experience homelessness or incarceration than those in the general population, and these circumstances pose unique challenges regarding transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. All these possibilities should be a focus of active surveillance as we work to understand this emerging health threat.

...

We know very little right now about COVID-19 and even less about its intersection with substance use disorders. But we can make educated guesses based on past experience that people with compromised health due to smoking or vaping and people with opioid, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other substance use disorders could find themselves at increased risk of COVID-19 and its more serious complications—for multiple physiological and social/environmental reasons.

For the full article and additional links, visit https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2020/04/covid-19-potential-implications-individuals-substance-use-disorders.

7. More Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention What To Do If You Are Sick
• Georgia Department of Public Health Businesses and Employers webpage
• Georgia Commute Options Developing a Telework Plan