Guidelines for COVID-19 as of March 10, 2020
Updated: March 12, 2020 By Kevin Dayhoff,
Westminster Common Councilmember, Westminster Fire Department PIO and Chaplain
and Maryland Troopers Association Lodge #20 Chaplain.
Westminster Maryland March 10, 2020 – Municipal, county, and state officials have been carefully
monitoring local, national, and international developments regarding the
outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that first emerged in December
2019 in China's Hubei province.
On March 9 and 10th, 2020,
I was putting together my column for the Carroll County Times for Sunday, March
14, 2020, “Dayhoff:
Historically, Westminster and Carroll County handle public emergencies well.”
I came across a great deal of good information developed by a number of folks
at the local, county, and state level, who working many long hours to protect
the public’s health, safety, and well-being. https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/lifestyles/cc-lt-dayhoff-031520-20200313-7y2x7m36qbfttoastadcjxlp7m-story.html#nt=outfit&nt=feed-flex-feature
As we continue to monitor developments
regarding the coronavirus, County, municipal, and state officials recognize
that citizens may be negatively affected by impacts of this global outbreak.
As always, the focus of public officials
is the health, safety and well-being of the citizens we serve. Our thoughts are
also with those who have been impacted.
Our monitoring of events has included
the coordinated response of the State of Maryland; and the work of Maggie Kunz,
M.P.H., Health Planner, the communications lead with Carroll County Health
Department, Valerie Hawkins, Carroll County Emergency Management Manager, and
Chris Winebrenner, the Communications Manager with the Carroll County
Government.
On March 5, 2020, Maryland Governor
Larry Hogan declared a State of Emergency in the State of Maryland. The state
explained that COVID-19 is a potentially severe respiratory disease that can
cause serious illness or death, caused by the person-to-person spread of a novel
(new) coronavirus, which was not previously found in humans.
Perhaps some of the most important
things citizens can do to prevent the spread of the disease is wash their hands,
cover their coughs and sneezes, stay home when sick, and take other steps to
prevent infections generally, including the seasonal flu that is widespread
now.
At this point it is impossible for
health authorities to predict the spread of COVID-19 and fully understand its
impact, but this does not alter a public safety focus.
Finding credible sources of
information has become increasingly important.
On March 10, 2020 the Carroll County
Health Department reported, “Please note that this outbreak is changing very
frequently and so answers to the questions … may also change. Make sure you get
updated information from … reliable public health sources…:”
Other important web sites for
information include:
For additional up-to-date information,
please go to the Carroll County Health Department website: https://cchd.maryland.gov/
or call the “New COVID-19 Hotline for Carroll County: 410-876-4848” found on
the website.
As of March 10, 2020, the latest
information and guidance from the Carroll County Health Department may be found
below:
Is testing available at local providers/labs?
Testing has begun at Lab Corps and
should be available through other labs soon. Individuals can call their
providers to see if they will be offering COVID-19 testing once it is
available. Private lab testing is at the discretion of the provider.
What should I do if I think I
might have COVID-19? Who should be tested for COVID-19?
●If you
are having a medical emergency, call 911.
●If you
are having symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and think
you may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, call
your health care provider. Be sure to tell them about your potential exposure.
Based on your situation and current guidelines, they will assist you in getting
the testing or care that you need.
●If you
have general questions, call our COVID-19 line at 410-876-4848, staffed 8 am –
5 pm Monday-Friday. If program staff are not available at that time, please
leave a detailed message and a good number for a call back and someone will get
back to you as soon as possible. You can also call the state hotline at 211
anytime.
Testing guidance from the CDC,
updated 3/8/2020:
Criteria to Guide Evaluation and
Laboratory Testing for COVID-19 Health care providers should work
with their local and state health departments to coordinate testing through
public health laboratories.
COVID-19 testing is becoming
available in clinical laboratories. We hope to have more details about this
process soon.
Clinicians should use their
judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with
COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Most patients with confirmed
COVID-19 have developed fever and/or cough and/or difficulty breathing.
Priorities for testing may include:
1. Hospitalized patients who have
signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19
2. Other symptomatic individuals
such as, older adults (age ≥ 65 years) and individuals with chronic medical
conditions and/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk
for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive
medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease).
3. Any persons including
healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact
(within 6 feet for a prolonged period or having direct contact with infectious
body fluids) with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who
have a history of travel from affected geographic areas (China, Iran, Italy,
Japan, South Korea) within 14 days of their symptom onset.
Mildly ill patients should stay
home and contact their healthcare provider by phone for guidance about clinical
management.
Patients who have severe symptoms,
such as difficulty breathing, should seek care immediately.
Older patients and individuals who
have underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact
their physician early in the course of even mild illness.
Is there a cost for COVID-19
testing?
Governor Larry Hogan issued a
directive requiring all state health insurers to waive costs associated with
testing for COVID-19. The directive, issued under the governor’s authority
during a state of emergency,
waives any cost-sharing, including co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles,
in order to remove cost barriers to testing.
What is 2019 novel coronavirus
COVID-19?
●The
2019 novel coronavirus is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people
and can spread from person-to-person. The disease has been named COVID-19.
●This
new virus is part of a family of viruses that can affect humans and animals.
They are called coronaviruses because they are shaped like crowns.
●Some
coronaviruses make people mildly ill with respiratory illnesses like colds.
Some medical testing includes these milder coronaviruses.
●Sometimes
coronaviruses like COVID-19, SARS, and MERS can cause more serious illness.
How many cases of COVID-19 are
there? Where are the cases of COVID-19 in Maryland?
●As
of 3/11/2020, there are 9 cases of COVID-19 in Maryland. 94 people in
Maryland have met the criteria to be tested for 2019-nCoV.
●Pending
tests will no longer be reported, since private labs can now offer the test.
More
details on MD cases:
● 5
cases are from Montgomery County
● 1
case is from Harford County
● 3
cases are from Prince George’s County
● All
current Maryland cases are related to travel. There is currently no sign of
community spread in Maryland.
● Notes
about potential for spread in MD: After returning to the United States, and
before being tested for the disease, one of the MD COVID-19 patients attended
an event on Feb. 28 at The Village at Rockville on Veirs Drive, near Lakewood
Country Club. Between 70 and 100 people were at the event. Anyone
who was at the event, from noon to 6 p.m., should immediately contact their
primary health care provider, Hogan said. Additionally, anyone who has visited
the facility since and feels ill should seek medical care.
● A
person from New Jersey who was diagnosed with COVID-19 was at the Conservative
Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor; MDH
recommends that members of the public who attended this event monitor
themselves for symptoms of a respiratory infection including fever, cold-like
symptoms, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Persons
who attended this event should check their temperature twice a day and notify
their health care provider and local health department if their temperature
exceeds 100.4 or if they develop a respiratory illness. They should remain at
home until they receive instructions about next steps from their health care
provider or local health department.
Current risk assessment from the
CDC:
● Current risk assessment:
- For the majority of people, the immediate risk of being
exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. There is
not widespread circulation in most communities in the United States.
- People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus
that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure,
with increase in risk dependent on the location.
- Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at
elevated risk of exposure.
- Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 also are at elevated
risk of exposure.
- Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at
elevated risk of exposure, with increase in risk dependent on location.
How
does COVID-19 spread?
The virus is thought to spread
mainly:
● Between
people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)
● Through
respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes
● 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 possibly
their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
What are the symptoms of
COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have
reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
● fever
● cough
●shortness
of breath
Patients with more severe
complications have had pneumonia in both lungs.
How severe is COVID-19?
● Reported
illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including illness resulting in
death. Scientists are working in countries with many cases to learn more about
the severity of COVID-19.
● According
to these recent studies, most people who get COVID-19 recover from their
infection. Close to 80% of people will have mild or moderate symptoms.
● Older
people and people with pre-existing medical conditions may be at greater risk
for serious illness and death from COVID-19. Examples of pre-existing
conditions are cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that
impact the body’s immune system.
How can I protect myself and my
family?
There is currently no vaccine to
prevent COVID-19 infection. Simple actions can help prevent the spread of
respiratory viruses, including:
● Wash
your hands often with soap and water 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
with at least 60% alcohol.
● Avoid
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
● Avoid
close contact with people who are sick.
If you are sick:
● Stay
home when you are sick, until you are fever-free for 24 hours without
fever-reducing medicine.
● Cover
your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
● Clean
and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household
cleaning spray or wipe.
Should I wear a mask to prevent
COVID-19?
● No.
The CDC does not currently recommend that people who are not sick wear a face
mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
● You
should only wear a face mask if a healthcare professional recommends it.
● Face
masks may be used by people who may have COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of
the disease to others.
● Healthcare
workers and caregivers of people with COVID-19 should wear face masks.
What are the recommendations for
older adults and people with chronic illness who are at higher risk of
getting very sick from COVID-19?
● When
you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact
and wash your hands often.
● During
a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as
much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
Are children or pregnant women
at higher risk?
We do not yet have information
from published scientific reports about susceptibility of pregnant women to
COVID-19. Pregnant women experience body and immune system changes which might
make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Pregnant women also might be at risk for severe illness, morbidity, or
mortality compared to the general population as observed in cases of other
related coronavirus infections [including severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
(MERS-CoV)] and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, during
pregnancy. Pregnant women should engage in usual preventive actions to avoid
infection like washing hands often and avoiding people who are sick.
There is no evidence that children
are more susceptible. In fact, most confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported from
China have occurred in adults. Infections in children have been reported,
including in very young children. From limited information published from past
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East
respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreaks, infection among children
was relatively uncommon.
Children should engage in usual preventive
actions to avoid infection, including cleaning hands often using soap and water
or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoiding people who are sick, and staying up
to date on vaccinations, including influenza vaccine.
How do they treat COVID-19?
● People
infected with COVID-19 will receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.
There is no specific treatment for COVID-19, but new treatments are being
researched and developed.
Should I change my travel plans?
● CDC
recommends travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer
all cruise ship travel at this time.
Can I get COVID-19 from my pet?
● No,
at present there is no evidence that companion animals or pets such as cats and
dogs have been infected or have spread COVID-19.
Is it safe to get packages or
items from an affected country?
● Yes.
The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and
the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has
been moved and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also
low.
Can someone who has been
quarantined for COVID-19 spread the illness to others?
● Quarantine
means separating people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but have
not developed illness (symptoms) from others who have not been exposed
● Someone
who has been released from COVID-19 quarantine is not considered a risk for
spreading the virus to others because they have not developed illness during
the incubation period
What is being done to prepare
for the possible spread of COVID-19?
Since January, all
Maryland state agencies have taken every precaution to prepare
and mobilize resources to address COVID-19. Governor Hogan declared a
State of Emergency in Maryland in order to access additional funds and
resources.
The Maryland Department of
Health is:
*coordinating with state,
federal and local partners to lead response efforts and provide regular updates
from federal partners
* issuing guidance to healthcare
providers, EMS, and health departments
* preparing to test for COVID-19
* inventorying resources to meet
healthcare and other needs that may arise
The Carroll County Health Department
is following similar steps on a local level, working with our schools,
colleges, businesses, government, and other agencies to keep information
coordinated and consistent.
What can I do to prepare?
You can prepare for COVID-19
like you prepare for other possible community issues like winter storms or
hurricanes.
● Have
a two-week supply of food and water at home.
● Have
an adequate supply of health supplies such as over the counter medicines,
tissues, thermometers, fluids with electrolytes, and other items in case
someone becomes sick. However, buy what you need for your family and leave
supplies for others in your community to help everyone stay healthy.
● Check
regular prescription drugs and refill if needed. NOTE: Due
to Governor Hogan’s directive, state health carriers will now be required to
waive any time restrictions on prescription medical refills, making it easier
for individuals to obtain medications in advance of any quarantine.
● Talk
with family and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they had to
stay home due to illness.
● Stay
informed and help others stay informed using reliable sources such as local and
state health departments and the CDC.
For more information:
Please note that this outbreak
is changing very frequently and so answers to the questions above may also
change. Make sure you get updated information from the reliable public health
sources below.
++++++
Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.
