Health preparedness tips
March 5, 2020
Sublette County Public Health, Sublette County Rural Health Care District, Sublette County Emergency Management and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office have set up a joint information system to keep apprised of the coronavirus situation. As of the evening of March 4, 2020, there are 80 confirmed cases nationwide and 9 deaths due to COVID-19. To date, there are no reported cases in Wyoming.
For comparison perspective, the Centers for Disease Control report that 8,200 people have died and 140,000 people have been hospitalized during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to preliminary estimates.
While the risk factors are still uncertain at this time, health officials encourage practicing good hygiene, frequent washing of hands with soap and water, disinfecting contact surfaces, and practicing social distancing if sick and staying away from sick people. They also recommend having at least a two-week emergency supply of food and medicines in case you and your family need to isolate yourselves should conditions worsen.
The Sublette County Rural Health Care District advised if you, anyone in your family, or acquaintances have flu-like symptoms and are thinking about going to either the Pinedale or Marbleton Clinics, please CALL BEFORE YOU GO. Patients with COVID-19 can have mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. If you have been in China in the past two weeks and develop symptoms, call your doctor.
The Pinedale Medical Clinic can be reached at 307-367-4133.
The Marbleton Medical Clinic can be reached at 307-276-3306.
Should I stock up on food and meds?
The reason to stock up on certain products now isn't so much to avoid potential shortages in the event of an outbreak, but to practice what experts call social distancing. Basically, you want to avoid crowds to minimize your risk of catching the disease. If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, the last place you want to be is in line at a crowded grocery store or drugstore.
If you take daily medications — for example, blood pressure pills — make sure you have enough to last a couple of weeks. Make sure you can get approval for an extended supply from your insurance provider.
Also worth pre-buying: fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Think about adding enough nonperishable foods to your pantry to carry you through for a couple of weeks.
It’s also a good idea to have a supply of your go-to sickbed foods, like chicken or vegetable broth and crackers in case of illness, as well as hydrating drinks such as Gatorade and Pedialyte for kids (although health officials indicate so far kids seem less vulnerable to COVID-19). If you do get sick, you want to be ready to ride it out at home if need be. To date, 80% of COVID-19 cases have been mild (cold or flu symptoms.)
Are special cleaning supplies needed?
Health experts still don't know exactly how long the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces. Other coronaviruses are killed by most household cleansers such as bleach wipes or alcohol. Even wiping down surfaces with soap and water should be effective.
If COVID-19 does start circulating in your community or there's someone sick at home, plan on cleaning surfaces that get touched frequently, such as kitchen counters and bathroom faucets, several times a day. Best to have a supply of these cleaners and disinfectants on hand to be prepared than need to mix with potentially sick people and have to get them from the store should things worsen.
What about wearing face masks?
The science on whether it's helpful to wear a face mask out in public is mixed, as it depends on what kind of mask you are wearing and whether you use it correctly. Some infectious disease experts are reluctant to recommend that people wear masks as a preventive measure because they can provide a false sense of security. What experts do seem to agree on is that wearing a mask is a good idea if you are sick, so you can reduce the chances that you'll infect others, whether it's family members at home or people at the doctor's office if you go in to be seen.
Practicing good health hygiene
You've heard it over and over, but one of the best ways to protect yourself against infection from COVID-19 — or cold or flu, for that matter – is good old-fashioned hand hygiene. Washing your hands frequently, as well as avoiding touching your face, eyes and nose, is a tried-and-true way to cut down on respiratory infections. Studies have shown that good hand-washing and frequent hand-washing will decrease the risk of transmission of these viruses anywhere from 30 to 50 percent. You can use the alcohol-based hand gels, or you can use soap and water. It doesn't need to be any kind of antibacterial soap. Also, if you're not already doing it, start practicing good respiratory etiquette: Cough into your elbow instead of spewing virus-laden particles into the air. Teach this to children and remind them to wash their hands well. Make sure to throw out your used tissues, since they might have virus particles on them. Wash hands right after touching nose or mouth.
For more information about the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
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