FYI as a meeting planner – I have cancelled all of my March and April meetings.
Some hotels are also shutting down completely. Also, the CDC will announce
today that all dental practices should close for 14 days. OH, PA ,and VA had
already closed down dental, with WA ,CA, and NY set to do so today. Sorry I
don’t know about other sectors. I see that some stores are closing down
locations and limiting hours in remaining locations.
Heather Hunt
Executive Director
Southern Association of Orthodontists
October 15-17, 2020
Omni Hotel Nashville
From: <highland-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of "Alex Agle (Redacted
sender "alex" for DMARC)" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: <highland-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 3:18 PM
To: <highland-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [highland-discuss] COVID-19 Advisory
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share some information about the new virus that is going around.
1. The COVID-19 virus is new, so we don't have a natural immunity to it. It
can spread quickly. The overall goal is to slow the rate at which it spreads
in order to protect susceptible populations.
2. About 80% of people who get the virus will be either symptom-free or will
experience a bad cold or flu-like symptoms. For people in good health, the
risk of death is minimal.
3. The remaining 20% of people can experience more serious issues. 15%
experience severe pneumonia, 4% of cases can become critical, and 1% fatal.
Generally people in this category have underlying health issues, such as
chronic heart, kidney, or lung disease, or diabetes. Smoking, high blood
pressure, or asthma also increases risk. Age (60+) also increases risk, but it
may be that older people are more likely to have underlying health conditions.
4. The virus spreads via respiratory droplets, which eventually land on
surfaces. The recommendation is to stay six feet away from people to avoid
exposure to respiratory droplets in the air. Droplets in the air might enter
your eyes, nose, or mouth and infect you. The droplets will land on surfaces
after a minute or two. You can become infected by touching contaminated
surfaces and then touching your eyes nose or mouth. The respiratory droplets
are not aerosolized like hairspray, which lingers in the air for a longer
period of time, so that is good news.
5. If you become sick, especially with a fever, then contact your doctor for
advice. People with COVID-19 should start to feel better after 5-6 days. If
you start to feel worse, then contact your doctor again.
6. If you live with someone who has COVID-19, stay in another room and limit
your exposure to them. When approaching them, DO wear a mask. Disinfect high
touch surfaces, such as door knobs and hand rails.
7. For treatment of pneumonia, some patients might need to be put on a
ventilator for as long as a few weeks. This could overwhelm hospitals if the
virus spreads too rapidly. This is the main reason why public health officials
are concerned about slowing the spread and why public gatherings are being
cancelled.
8. There are currently 99 cases in Georgia, but remember that these are the
known cases. Younger people who get the virus can appear symptom-free, yet
still spread it.
9. The pneumonia and flu vaccines are not effective against COVID-19.
10. Avoid unnecessary contact with other people, not because you are scared of
contracting COVID-19, but to do your part in slowing its spread to susceptible
populations.
Community-specific information:
1. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer after
touching any of the pedestrian gates and keypads.
2. If visiting the clubhouse, we recommend that you wipe down any exercise
equipment that you will be using. Wash your hands after touching door knobs.
Stay at least six feet away from other people.
3. We have a janitorial service that does some weekly cleaning in the
clubhouse. I have asked that they also clean high touch surfaces, such as door
knobs, fitness equipment, pedestrian and pool gates, and pedestrian and call
box keypads.
General health tips:
1. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Wash your
hands when you first get home. Use hand sanitizer if you don't have access to
soap and water.
2. Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
4. Stay home when you are sick, even if it is not COVID-19.
5. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, crook of your elbow, or your
armpit.
6. Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces in your home, such as door knobs and
hand rails.
Thanks,
Alex
--
Alex Agle
alex@xxxxxxxxx
C 404-229-3325
W 404-894-6165
