Recommendations
Practice Social Distancing
- Keep at least 6-feet between you and others. For many adults, that is approximately their arm span.
- Avoid shaking hands or hugging as a social greeting.
- Consider shopping at non-peak hours and take advantage of delivery or pick-up services with retailers.
- Follow the visitor restrictions of hospitals and nursing homes/assisted living centers.
- Stay at home if you are feeling sick or have been exposed to COVID-19.
- If you are an older adult, or have an underlying health condition, stay home as much as you can.
Cloth Face Coverings
The CDC release updated guidance on the use of cloth face coverings. This guidance recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other physical distancing of at least 6 feet is difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). The use of simple cloth face coverings is intended to help slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
Do not use a face mask meant for a healthcare worker.
Wearing a face covering in public does NOT minimize the need to practice physical distancing and handwashing. These will still be our greatest tools for helping slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
Recommendations on cloth face coverings:
- CDC's Recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html
- CDC's Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
- Iowa Department of Public Health Guidance for Cloth Face Coverings: https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/7/COVID-19%20Guidance%20for%20Cloth%20Face%20Coverings4_6_20.pdf
Cloth Face Coverings - Tips
Proper Care of Cloth Face Coverings
If You Are Sick, Follow Self-Isolation Recommendations
If you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19, follow this plan: COVID-19: What to Do When You Have COVID-19
What does self isolation mean?
- Stay home and do not go to school, public areas, or attend gatherings.
- Do not use public transportation, ride sharing, or taxis.
- Postpone all travel.
- Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene.
- Postpone all non-essential medical appointments until you have completed your 10 days of self isolation. If you have an essential medical appointment during this time, please work with your healthcare provider and local public health professionals as needed to help coordinate the visit.
If You Might Have Been Exposed to COVID-19, Follow Quarantine Recommendations
If you recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 but feel healthy, stay home and monitor your health for the recommended number of days since your last exposure.
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Close contact is defined as being less than 6 feet away from someone for more than 15 minutes.
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A negative test for Covid-19 does not end your quarantine period. You must complete the full quarantine.
If you develop symptoms during this time, follow the self-isolation guidance list above.
- Add 10 days to your quarantine if you become symptomatic and immediately self-isolate from your family.
- Get tested for COVID-19.
- Follow health department guidelines for self-isolation as described above.
What does quarantine mean?
- Stay home
- Separate yourself from others
- Monitor your health
- Follow directions from the health department
For Critical Infrastructure Workers
To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
Learn more about guidance for this group here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/critical-workers-implementing-safety-practices.pdf
Travel Guidance
Travel in the United States:
If you are thinking of traveling away from your local community, use this resource to help you plan your trip.
- CDC's Considerations for Travelers—Coronavirus in the US Guidance
- Do not travel if you are sick, or if you have recently been around someone with COVID-19. Do not travel with someone who is sick.
International Travel:
There is widespread, ongoing transmission of novel coronavirus worldwide (see Global COVID-19 Pandemic Notice). If you have traveled internationally, stay home and monitor your health.
Mass Gathering Guidance
Please see the following mass gathering guidance as you plan events in Scott County: