Our country is now faced with the threat of Coronavirus 19 pandemic and our community may come to a state of emergency. Our emergency management team and our police department have an emergency action plan prepared to help and service each of the individuals in our communities’ needs if the state of emergency is issued. Your Council Members, Borough Employees, and Mayor studied and passed NIMS 100 and 700 classes, which prepares us to help understand their role in the emergency action plan to help everyone in our community. By completing these classes we will be eligible for Government reimbursement and replenish our additional costs. Many other communities have not taken these classes to prepare for community emergencies.
Please thank your Council Members, Chief and Police Officers, public works, borough secretary, emergency action officer, zoning officer, web page, neighborhood website department for their commitment to your health, well being and safety for all the work they have done in preparation for our emergency action plan because they have spent a great amount of time in preparation to make sure our community individuals are safe.
WHAT EAST WASHINGTON RESIDENTS CAN DO
- Everyone can do their part to help respond to this emerging public health threat:
- Individuals and communities should familiarize themselves with recommendations to protect themselves and their community from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.
- Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.
- If you are a healthcare provider, use your judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Factors to consider, in addition to clinical symptoms, may include:
- Does the patient have recent travel from an affected area?
- Has the patient been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or patients with pneumonia of unknown cause?
- Does the patient reside in an area where there has been community spread of COVID-19?
- If you are a healthcare provider or a public health responder caring for a COVID-19 patient, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
- If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID19, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure. They will decide whether you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill are able to isolate at home.
- If you are a resident in a community where there is an ongoing spread of COVID-19 and you develop COVID-19 symptoms, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms. They will decide whether you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill are able to isolate at home.
- For people who are ill with COVID-19, but are not sick enough to be hospitalized, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness.
- If you have been in China or another affected area or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow the spread of this virus.
Thank you for your help
Michael Gomber
Mayor of East Washington