Given President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency yesterday, the (as I am writing this) 26 diagnosed cases in Maryland, and what I have seen going on around town, 1/
I thought I would share my own comments on the COVID-19 public health emergency. 2/
I hope that by now you have read the COVID-19 alert issued by the Town of Riverdale Park – if not, you can find it in English and Spanish at riverdaleparkmd.info/news_detail_T6…. 3/
The Town will continue to monitor and act as conditions change. 4/
My computer screen has been filled for the last few weeks with information, stories, and announcements about COVID-19. I have been carefully monitoring both the local situation, so I can prepare for the immediate impact it will... 5/
have on the Town, and the national and international aspects of the crisis, so I can anticipate what might happen in the weeks and months ahead. 6/
While I am optimistic that our Town, our Nation, and our world will pull through in the end, this virus will have a substantial impact on the physical and economic health of all of us. If the disease impacts our residents as it... 7/
has in other countries, the Town could potentially lose dozens of residents. From watching the course of the disease in other countries around the world, the best thing we can do to minimize COVID-19’s impact is to slow its... 8/
spread, so that our medical system is not overwhelmed by thousands of people all getting sick at the same time, as is happening in Italy right now. 9/
To slow the spread, I am joining the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in advising everyone to practice “Social Distancing.” Both of those organizations suggest avoiding close... 10/
physical contact with those who are visibly sick and, if COVID-19 is spreading in our community (which it is), all people. Their recommendations are for a minimum of six feet of separation from anyone you think is ill, or at least... 11/
three feet for everyone, but I would encourage you to do more than that – to stay in your home as much as possible, and to avoid any close physical contact with people from outside your home. I have been taking walks around... 12/
town over the last few days and have personally observed that the CDC recommendations for social distancing are not being followed – please do so for the immediate future, people’s lives are in the balance. 13/
Please remember that social (physical) distancing is not the same as emotional distancing. It will be important to maintain social connections with your friends and family. And I hope you will reach out to neighbors and other... 14/
members of our community to check in on them and make sure they are okay. I’m particularly worried about our residents who are in high risk categories, including... 15/
those who are older and have health conditions that make them more fragile. 16/
When you must go out, and in particular when you return home, wash your hands. Use a lot of soap, take a lot of time (at least 20 seconds, but more doesn’t hurt), and thoroughly scrub every part of your hands. 17/
It’s a good idea to wash your hands at other times as well, and washing before and after you eat will reduce your chances of getting the virus, and of you infecting others should you get it. CDC guidance is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… 18/
Last but not least, if you become ill with something resembling a cold or flu (in particular if you have a fever), contact your doctor or the Prince George’s County Health Department Coronavirus hotline at (301) 883-6627 (currently.... 19/
open 8:00am to 8:00 pm, but these hours may expand). They will assess your symptoms and provide instruction of what to do next if your symptoms are serious or match the profile of COVID-19. 20/
If you are exhibiting the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 and feel that your life is in immediate danger, call 911 for an emergency response. Please don’t call 911 to learn more about COVID-19; the number is for emergency calls only. 21/
Public health officials are predicting that without aggressive containment 40-70% of the population will eventually be exposed to COVID-19, with a large fraction experiencing relatively mild symptoms. We need to work together, 22/
including *real* sacrifices, to ensure access to medical care for those experiencing life-threatening symptoms. The more people who get sick at the same time, the more likely it is that there won’t be enough hospital beds or mechanical... 23/
ventilators for everyone who needs them. If we can slow the spread of the virus using the advice in this note, fewer people will fall ill at the same time, and our friends and neighbors can access the health care they need. 24/
If you have any questions about COVID-19 or the Town’s response to it, feel free to contact me. 25/
Also, the state department of health has created a new web site – coronavirus.maryland.gov -- to help you stay up to date on the situation. /end
Maryland is up to 31 cases today, at the moment. This is with very limited testing.
