By Amir Mohammad
Your Health
Dr. Amir Mohammad
It has been a few months since I last wrote my health column. The reason was our full focus on implementing and enforcing the executive orders throughout the town and keeping our schools open as safely as possible.
After conducting contact tracing, we noticed a spike in COVID-19 positive cases around mid-November that led to the closure of Amity High School. Positive cases have risen significantly in Orange since March. However, the most commonly infected demographic remains our youth and older population.
In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday, we advised all the schools in town to remain virtual for a week after the holiday to curb any post-holiday spike. Although our schools in Orange are back in session, we continue to monitor them closely. If we notice a trend toward more infection among school going children, we will recommend other available learning options.
With the upcoming holidays, it’s so important that Orange families remain hyper vigilant and avoid all possibilities of acquiring and spreading the coronavirus. This will in turn prevent COVID-19 illness among children and keep the schools open.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important to practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow) and to wear face coverings or masks when unable to keep a six-foot distance.
Most scientific studies have demonstrated that on average it takes five to six days for symptoms to appear after being exposed to someone confirmed positive with COVID-19. We have noticed that if one person becomes infected, they can easily transmit the infection to the entire household if they don’t isolate themselves and follow strict isolation guidelines. Keep track of your daily symptoms and seek medical advice as necessary.
Recent announcements about COVID-19 vaccines and their efficacy are promising, but they won’t be available right away. The first people to get the vaccine will likely be first responders, healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. We must continue to remain vigilant and practice public health measures. Essential health and safety measures include mask-wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene, limiting non-essential travel and public and private gatherings. These measures will continue to be necessary for the foreseeable future, even when vaccination programs are underway, to protect vulnerable populations from acquiring COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines for holiday celebrations say the following people should not attend in-person holiday gatherings: anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 who has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others; anyone with symptoms; anyone awaiting a test result; anyone who may have been exposed to someone else with COVID-19 in the last 14 days; and anyone at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
If you are older or have underlying health conditions (hypertension, diabetes, kidney problems) then you should avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household.
COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool in stopping the global pandemic. The vaccine itself will not protect you against contracting the virus, but just like other vaccines it will work with the immune system to help you fight the virus if you are exposed. You can stay informed about vaccine developments and recommendations through a number of reliable venues, such as the Connecticut Vaccine Advisory Group site and the CDC’s vaccine website.
Speaking of vaccines, it is still not late to get a flu vaccine now. You certainly want to avoid a “twindemic” while awaiting to receive a COVID-19 vaccine next year.
We all must work together to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. If you notice any risky behavior or a practice; don’t hesitate to inform me via email at healthdirector@orange-ct.gov.
Dr. Amir Mohammad is the Director of Public Health for the town of Orange.