Is COVID-19 putting the PD Awareness Day on hold?

The PD Awareness Day might be put on hold this year. I have been delaying announcement of the event that was to be scheduled Saturday, May 9 in Portland because of the situation with COVID-19. Recommendations by the state and federal levels of the CDC, and by MaineHealth, the host of the event, have made the situation fluid, so to speak. The general recommendations tell high risk groups (including older people) to avoid large gatherings until it is safe to do so.

While as of this morning the Maine CDC has posted three presumptive* cases of COVID-19 in Maine, the state only received the test kits this week. Sadly, it is therefore likely that there are others with COVID-19 who have not yet been tested, or for whom tests are pending, though hopefully those numbers will be low. If you would like to keep an eye on the testing in Maine, check here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/coronavirus.shtml

I am hopeful that good public health measures and common sense by Mainers will help limit the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Please remember these general tips to avoid contracting or transmitting COVID-19 or any viral respiratory illness (don’t forget it is still cold and flu season):

1. Consider door handles and surfaces such as counters in public places dirty. You should be doing that anyway. However, in this situation you should be especially aware that this is a “droplet disease,” meaning the virus could be on a surface from a cough, a sneeze, or a dirty hand. Be aware of surfaces around you. It is much less about the air you are breathing than the invisible droplets on surfaces (though the air can be a problem as below).
2. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. This is how the virus infects most people. Try to be aware of this behavior. People touch their faces much more frequently than you might think. Viruses exploit this. Beat them at their own game.
3. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Scrub the entire surface of the hands and fingers, creating a soapy lather. As I used to tell my kids, make bubbles with that soap. If you have not previously been an avid hand washer, it is time to change your ways.
4. Always, always, always wash your hands before leaving a restroom. You know who you are.
5. Avoid close contact with sick people. If someone has a respiratory infection it is a good time for “social distance.” Shaking hands, hugs, kisses should not happen. And, stay out of the droplet range (6 feet is minimum, but farther is better) of a coughing or sneezing person. Don’t visit at all if you can help it. They will only feel worse if they infect you too.
6. Especially for those at high risk, it is generally a good time for social distance with well people too. The incubation of time of COVID-19 is 2-14 days. You might not even know you are sick during incubation.
7. If COVID-19 is around, it is not a good time to be in crowded places. Unfortunately, some people do not show significant signs or symptoms of disease, but may still spread the virus (a repetition, I know, but I don’t think I can overstate it). This is especially true of younger people, who tend to have a milder case.
8. Stay home if you’re sick and avoid close contact with others.
9. If you are worried about possible COVID-19 infection, call your doctor’s office. If you have this concern, have a cough or fever, you should have a mask on the entire time you are at the doctor’s office-including the waiting room, unless they take it off to examine you.
10. If you sneeze or cough, use a tissue, and then throw it away. Putting it in your pocket (or up your sleeve) is a bad idea. After you throw that used tissue away, wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into the sleeve of a folded arm, not your hand!
11. Don’t use your sleeve to wipe your nose. Use a tissue, then wash your hands.
12. Stop what you are doing and wash your hands now.
13. Also clean other things you handle a lot: your steering wheel, your phone, computer keyboards, etc. It is generally a good time to disinfect counters at home also.
14. Don’t forget cash has been in a lot of hands, maybe to buy some cold medicine.
15. Be nice. Although it is a recommendation by the CDC that we all keep extra supplies on hand at home (including refills of medications), don’t be like those people who hoard all the cleaning supplies or toilet paper. Let’s be good to each other and get through this hopefully small scare together. If we are smart, and we all behave, we may limit spread in Maine.
16. Finally, in the words of Douglas Adams, “DON’T PANIC.”

*A presumptive case has tested positive in a lab here in Maine and will be confirmed by the federal CDC in Atlanta.