Officials worry over lack of hospital beds

Posted on April 10, 2020

Social distancing is the key to reducing the spread of COVID-19, yet residents in rural communities – including Taylor – are not heeding the guidelines set out by the CDC.

“I had a conference call this afternoon with state and local officials, and they say we need to push the message of social distancing – hard. They are tracking cellphone usage, and based on that data, they are saying that rural counties are not doing a good job of staying put,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Danny Glover Jr. told members of the Taylor County School Board at their regular meeting Tuesday,

“If we don’t adhere to the guidelines, the worry is we – rural counties – could exceed the amount of (hospital) beds available in North Florida,” he said.

“Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” Taylor County’s department of health representative Martine Young said.

“Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home,” she explained.

To practice social or physical distancing:

• Stay at least six feet away from other people.

• Do not gather in groups.

• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.

“Keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to this virus and slowing its spread locally and across the country and world,” officials said.

Why practice social distancing?

COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about six feet) for a prolonged period. Spread happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.

The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. COVID-19 can live for hours or days on a surface, depending on factors such as sunlight and humidity. Social distancing helps limit contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces.

Tips for social distancing

• Follow guidance from authorities where you live.

• If you need to shop for food or medicine at the grocery store or pharmacy, stay at least 6 feet away from others.

• Use mail-order for medications, if possible.

• Consider a grocery delivery service.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others, including when you have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store.

• Stay at least six feet between yourself and others, even when you wear a face covering.

• Avoid large and small gatherings in private places and public spaces, such a friend’s house, parks, restaurants, shops, or any other place. This advice applies to people of any age, including teens and younger adults. Children should not have in-person playdates while school is out. To help maintain social connections while social distancing, learn tips to keep children healthy while school’s out.

• Work from home when possible.

• If possible, avoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis.

• If you are a student or parent, talk to your school about options for digital/distance learning.

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Someone in self-quarantine stays separated from others, and they limit movement outside of their home or current place. A person may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it (for example, when traveling or out in the community), or they could have the virus without feeling symptoms. Quarantine helps limit further spread of COVID-19.

Isolation

Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people. People who are in isolation should stay home. In the home, anyone sick should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick” bedroom or space and using a different bathroom (if possible).

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