Let’s work together to keep our families and community healthy.
As we face the Coronavirus, it will take each of us doing our part. We can take the necessary precautions without having to live in fear. Below, we provide tips, links and articles to help you protect your family from the COVID-19.
The main thing to remember is to stay home if you feel sick. Keep practicing social distancing, wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds and wear a mask in public places.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, you can call your local health department.
Latest Updates on COVID-19
We will update you as we continue to learn new things about this virus and how it impacts your life, your family and your business. You can always go to the Team Kentucky page for daily updates.
FAQ
“The Coronavirus is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person. Some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. We are still learning about how the virus spreads and the severity of illness it causes.” – CDC
Please remember that we are all still learning about this new virus. That’s why it’s so important to stay up-to-date with the CDC and your local health department on the latest developments. We encourage you to fact check anything you read on social media against our trusted sources. Here are some prevention tips:
It’s important to keep practicing social distancing, 6ft apart from others.
Keep your nose and mouth covered with a mask when you’re around others. (DIY Cloth Mask)
Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds.
Clean high-touch surfaces often. (Cleaning and Disinfecting Resource)
Keep in mind that symptoms may take 2-14 days to appear after being exposed to the virus. Also, some people never show symptoms but still have the capability of spreading the virus.
Continue to monitor everyone in your family, especially before going shopping, to work, to church, the grocery, for routine doctor appointments, etc.
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
The CDC will continue to modify this list as they learn more.
Here is what the CDC recommends: If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms listed above, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your own healthcare provider.
Keep track of your symptoms.
If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.
The Kentucky’s state website updates their list regularly. You can search the full list or you can narrow it down by your county. If you don’t find one in your local county, please search for a county close to you. You can see the full list here.
You can read the guidelines and the timeline for reopenings for Kentucky businesses/churches/organizations here. It’s a phased reopening and each business/organization has certain requirements to meet. See the timeline and read the guidelines here.
There are so many viewpoints coming from a lot of different directions. We encourage you to read for yourself, from trusted sources. Again, remember that this virus is still new and we’re learning new things about it every day. A couple of sites we recommend:
No, we do not have masks for sale. We recommend making them with cloth scraps or purchasing them if you can.
It’s very important for you to keep lines of communication open with your children and not keep them from learning about the virus. They don’t need to know all of the details but this article will help you talk to them about it without causing more anxiety.
It’s very important for you to keep lines of communication open with your children and not keep them from learning about the virus. They don’t need to know all of the details but this article will help you talk to them about it without causing more anxiety.
Masking is a critical public health tool for preventing spread of COVID-19, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask, according to the CDC. You can learn more about their recommendations for types of masks and when to use them here.
First, you may need to take a break from the news and social media. There’s a way to stay informed without overwhelming yourself with too much information about the virus. Here are a few more health tips as you manage your anxiety during this time. Plus, check out this guide for managing stress and anxiety from the CDC.
Kentucky is implementing Contact Tracing to help stop the spread of diseases like COVID-19 and help Kentuckians stay healthy and safe. Contact Tracing is key to safely get back to work and school while also kickstarting the economy.
Public Health workers reach out to individuals who have COVID-19 to assess their situation, provide helpful resources, and ask about any recent in-person contacts who may have been exposed to the disease. Instructions are provided about how to stop spreading the disease and what to do until they recover.
Recent in-person contacts are notified that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are offered instructions and connected to local resources.
Individuals receive follow-up calls to see how they are doing and gather any new information.
By following the instructions provided by Public Health workers, contacts help stop the spread of COVID-19 and save the lives of Kentuckians.
See the infographic below to learn what this will look like with schools reopening. For more information about contact tracing, read here.
Yes. Everyone 6 months and up is now eligible to receive the COVD-19 vaccine. You can receive the vaccine at our health department locations.
They are safe and millions of people in the US have already received the vaccine after the vaccine went through intensive safety monitoring. Learn more facts about the vaccine and understand what we do/don’t know about the vaccine here.
The CDC has expanded the eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots with recommendations for those who have received the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. No matter what initial vaccine you received, you may choose which vaccine to receive as a booster.
If you received a Pfizer series:
Age 12 +
If you received a Moderna series:
Age 18 +
If you received a J&J vaccine:
Age 18 +
When should you get a booster shot?
At least 5 months after Pfizer or Moderna
At least 2 months after J&J
For the most up-to-date information about vaccines and boosters, please visit this Team Kentucky page.
Employers allow employees to work from home when possible
Non-critical Government offices to operate virtually
Reduce in-person shopping; order online or curbside pickup
Order take-out; avoid dining in restaurants or bars
Prioritize businesses that follow and enforce mask mandate and other guidelines
Reschedule, postpone or cancel public and private events
Do not host or attend gatherings of any size
Avoid non-essential activities outside of your home
Reduce overall activity and contacts, and follow existing guidance, including 10 steps to defeat COVID-19
See full graphic here.
You can find the different flyers and signage you need to be using in your Kentucky business at the bottom of this page from the state of Kentucky.
Are you Team Kentucky?
Let’s work together to take care of one another, each new day.