Remain vigilant: Continue to practice safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure
The coronavirus outbreak has swept the globe since it was first reported in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Since then, healthcare officials have been working to respond to the virus.
Northwest Missouri has had a surprisingly low number of confirmed cases.
So far, Clinton County has reported one positive case, and as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, there were no reported cases for Buchanan County on the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services website.
There was an inmate at the correctional facility in St. Joseph who tested positive earlier in the month, but that individual was transferred to Kansas City for treatment.
While there aren’t many cases of COVID-19 in the region, residents should still remain vigilant to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Even as more positive cases are confirmed, continuing to practice precautionary measures will protect yourself and the community.
Some larger cities, such as St. Joseph, have ordered a shelter in place for its citizens, but even if your city hasn’t implemented precautions, people can still reduce their exposure by staying home. Only making necessary trips for groceries, medication, and supplies will cut down on person-to-person contact.
Following the CDC guidelines also will help reduce contracting the virus.
CDC guidelines to reduce COVID-19 exposure:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer of at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, dispose of the tissue, and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
For individuals who are over the age of 65 or have an underlying condition, minimizing expose is especially important. Those in the high-risk group should stay at home during the COVID-19 outbreak, and residents of Buchanan County should continue to observe the shelter-in-place ordinance implemented by the city.
If everyone continues to practice the CDC safety guidelines, it will help drastically reduce the number of individuals exposed to the coronavirus. This will give healthcare workers time to respond to those who have come in contact with the virus, and also allow researchers to explore treatment options.
For more information, visit the CDC website here.