Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health strongly encourage everyone to continue to take protective measures to reduce the spread of CoViD-19.
With the holidays approaching, we want to remind everyone that large celebrations with friends and family create the perfect storm for spreading germs. Close contact with non-household members increases the risk of transmitting respiratory viruses.
When you participate in festivities during the coming weeks, follow these healthy tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Avoid crowds or socializing in groups larger than 10, especially indoors. (If you have a fever or feel sick at all, stay home.)
- Even in small groups or outdoors, keep physically separated by six or more feet from others whenever possible – potentially infectious respiratory droplets are much less likely to reach others at this distance.
- Wear a mask or face-covering over both nose and mouth – cloth masks form a simple barrier to reduce the number of respiratory droplets expelled.
- Limit the amount of time spent in close contact with non-household members; the risk of spreading germs like the Novel SARS-CoV-2 virus increases with time.
- Keep surfaces clean and disinfected. Avoid touching common objects or sharing items; take precautions around food and drinks.
- Wash your hands frequently — especially before eating!
- Monitor your health. If you develop any signs of CoViD-19 (e.g., fatigue, cough, fever, difficulty breathing, or loss of sense of smell or taste) or feel ill, call your doctor.
- Take time for self-care and mental health; go for a walk, read a book, or just relax.
Make holiday shopping safer, too. Shop online sales prior to the holidays and use contactless services for purchased items, like curbside pick-up or delivery to your home. If you go out shopping:
- avoid the busiest times of the day or choose outdoor open-air markets,
- stay at least six feet from others,
- use hand sanitizer if you touch items others might have touched,
- wear a cloth face-covering to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, and
- wash your hands as soon as you get back home!
