Greene County Health Department gears up for flu season with "SMASH"

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

The Greene County Health Department is looking to create partnerships, now, with the hospital, clinics, primary healthcare providers, EMS and others who can help distribute and administer COVID vaccines when it becomes available to the masses. If you are interested in working with the health department to provide mass vaccination for COVID-19, please email health@co.greene.in.us with the type of efforts or capacity of service you are willing to share and point of contact (POC) information. POCs will be asked to participate in a virtual steering committee and table top exercise for Greene County’s mass vaccination planning including open and close points of distribution (POD) preparation. The health department is asking all clinicians—physicians, physician assistants, nurses, certified medical assistants and emergency medical technicians who live and/or work in Greene County to volunteer to administer COVID-19 vaccines; estimated execution, mid-July 2021.

We are also encouraging partnerships with providers to serve as sentinel surveillance sites for COVID and flu this season. The Indiana Department of Health is enrolling more providers in the dual flu and COVID sentinel surveillance system this fall to share data on influenza like illness seen in their practice and send specimens to the Indiana Department of Health Laboratories for testing.

October 1 starts flu season; and, as colder weather ensues, more people are forced indoors increasing contact with each other. It is more important than ever before to actively engage in non-pharmaceutical interventions that “SMASH” the spread of COVID-19 as we wait for community administration of a vaccine. The acronym “SMASH” is a good way to remember the activities that reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Social distancing

Masking

Avoiding Crowds

Staying home if you are sick

Handwashing

The CDC has now issued updated guidance on “How COVID-19 Spreads,” which includes information about the potential for airborne spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. You can review this information at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads...

CDC continues to believe people are more likely to become infected the longer and closer they are to a person with COVID-19.

CDC acknowledges the existence of some published reports showing limited, uncommon circumstances where people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than six feet away or shortly after the COVID-19 positive person left a poorly ventilated and enclosed space that often involved heavy breathing activities such as signing, exercising, etc. Such environments and activities may contribute to the build-up of virus-carrying particles.

CDC’s existing science-based recommendations remain the same with this acknowledgment: people can protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19 by staying at least six feet away from others, wearing a mask that covers their nose and mouth, washing their hands frequently, cleaning touched surfaces often and staying home when sick.

Listed below are answers to some frequently asked questions:

-Once a vaccine is available, will I still need to wear a mask after I get vaccinated?

Right now—yes, because several vaccines are still under trials and the CDC needs to learn more about efficacy before making recommendations. Masks are critical to reducing the spread of COVID and flu. A large segment of the population will not be vaccinated right away, so wearing a mask is still essential.

-What cloth masks are most effective? How do I tell it it’s working?

Clinical masks or respirators work best, but those are for medical purposes. The recommendation for public use is cotton or cotton blend with two or more layers. Again, masks need two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric that fits snugly around your face. No bandanas, face shields or gaiters—there is still not enough evidence on their effectiveness. Wash your hands before putting on your mask, make sure the ends of your mask fits snugly against the sides.

-Why should I wear a mask if the virus is smaller than what a mask traps?

The virus is encapsulated in the droplets release while sneezing, coughing and breathing, which can be largely prevented from escaping by wearing the recommended face covering.

-If wearing a mask works, why are people who wear masks included in contact tracing?

You are still a close contact even when wearing a mask if you were exposed within six feet for 15 minutes or more during the course of the day to a person with COVID-19. Remember, masks are primarily to protect others from being infected.

-When should I take a test after exposure to a person with COVID-19?

The CDC has no official guidance, but the Infectious Disease Society of America recommends 5-7 days. The CDC does not recommend testing to get out of quarantine. Quarantine is 14 days with or without a negative test.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: