Don’t Forget to Wear a Mask, Keep Social Distancing and Wash Your Hands!

This week’s blog is written by Dion McGill, SCY Communications and Community Outreach Manager. 

Unfortunately, many of us awoke today to the news that several high ranking public officials have tested positive for COVID-19.  It’s also important to note that when someone tests positive for COVID-19, this affects everyone around them, and those people who have had direct contact then need to quarantine for 14 days.

Today is a perfect time to remind each other that we are still, unfortunately, in the midst of a large ranging pandemic. Also, while we can allow our fears to get the best of us, but it is most important at this time that we turn to the increasing knowledge and expertise of the medical community in terms of how we can best mitigate the risk of contraction.

Here are a list of resources on COVID-19, including best practices for protecting yourself and others, best practices for businesses and employers, best practices for educators currently doing in-person or blended style teaching, and general information on coronavirus. Please share these resources with friends, family and colleagues.

Finally, we want to wish all those who have contracted a COVID-19 a speedy recovery.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

Resources:

• City of Chicago: COVID Dashboard
• CDC: How to protect yourself and others
• CDC: Community, work, and school
• CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), May 2020
• CDC: Symptoms of Coronavirus