Do your part to keep West Chester healthy

These are unprecedented times in West Chester and across the globe. We can do our part to stop the spread of the virus by staying at home. 

Recently the Butler County Board of Health sent out guidelines on what we can do to help flatten the curve. 

1.    Stay home! - Our health system will not be able to cope with the projected numbers of people who will need acute care if we do not practice socially distance.

2.    No kid playdates, parties, sleepovers, or families/friends visiting each other’s houses and apartments - This sounds extreme because it is. We are trying to create distance between family units and between individuals. It may be particularly uncomfortable for families with small children, kids with differential abilities or challenges, and for kids who simply love to play with their friends. But even if you choose only one friend to have over, you are creating new links and possibilities for the type of transmission that all of our school/work/public event closures are trying to prevent. We have already taken extreme social measures to address this serious disease – let’s not actively co-opt our efforts by having high levels of social interaction at people’s houses instead of the schools or workplaces.

3.    Take care of yourself and your family, but maintain social distance - Exercise, take walks/runs outside and stay connected through phone, video, and other social media. But when you go outside, do your best to maintain at least six feet between you and non-family members. If you have kids, try not to use public facilities like playground structures, as coronavirus can live on plastic and metal for two to three days, and these structures aren’t getting regularly cleaned.

4.    Reduce the frequency of going to stores - Of course, trips to the grocery store will be necessary, but try to limit them and go at times when they are less busy. Consider asking grocery stores to queue people at the door in order to limit the number of people inside a store at any one time. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before and after your trip. Maintain distance from others while shopping—and remember that hoarding supplies negatively impacts others so buy what you need and leave some for everyone else.

5.    If you are sick, isolate yourself, stay home, and contact a medical professional - If you are sick, you should try to isolate yourself from the rest of your family within your residence as best as you can.