You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Doing My Part,” during Colorado’s fight against COVID-19. It has even resulted in some popular hashtags, #DoingMyPart and #DoingMyPartCO, and we want you to embrace it, because it’s important. As individuals we must each do what is within our power to minimize the impacts of COVID-19.
A recent contact investigation resulted in 50 school-aged children having to quarantine, after an individual who was still infectious attended activities at a day camp. Because of that avoidable exposure, people had to take time away from work, their personal health was put at risk, and the day camp’s ability to operate as usual was negatively impacted.
Fast forward to today. Kids are back in school, and we want them to be able to continue to be there. School is crucial not only because of the education and other support it provides for our children, but also because it serves as a backbone support structure for our economy. When children are at school, parents and caregivers can go to work and employers have a consistent workforce. It’s a win-win.
However, if a child is sick, they should not attend school in person. When a child with COVID-19 symptoms heads to school, they potentially expose many people in the course of the school day. Anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person – defined as being within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes – must quarantine at home for 14 days.
Exposure results in quarantine, and quarantine is hard on parents, children, and the educators our community relies on to show up for students every day.
We encourage parents, caregivers and students to honestly fill out the school symptom trackers daily and stay home when indicated, so that our schools can remain open and our community can continue to move forward. Our educators and our children need each of us to do our part.
We can all do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Mesa County’s reopening and return to school and campus plans are well thought out, keep our community’s overall health as a top priority, and provide ways businesses can open safely, but they require individual responsibility from each of us to:
- Maintain 6 feet of social distance
- Cover nose and mouth in public (wear that mask!)
- Wash hands often (soap and water is best, but hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol works too).
- Stay home when sick
- Get tested if symptoms appear
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, contact your healthcare provider, or Mesa County Public Health at 970-683-2300, to inquire about testing.
