Coronavirus Guidance
Coronavirus Guidance - March 3, 2020
As you may know, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and has now been detected in 50 locations internationally, including cases in the United States.
Currently, the risk to Massachusetts residents is low.
The disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19). Some of the symptoms of this lower respiratory (lung) infection can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, pneumonia.
Outbreaks of new virus infections are always of public health concern and that is why we want to help you understand what is happening and how to protect yourself and your family.
Many of the things you do to help prevent colds and the flu can help protect you against other respiratory viruses:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If unable to wash, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (not with your hands)
Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick
Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are advised to notify their supervisor and stay home until they are free of fever and any other symptoms, such as coughing, for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants).
We know that outbreaks of new virus infections are always of public health concern. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other federal agencies and our local Board of Health to share the most up to date information available. The Town of Halifax will continue to carefully monitor the guidance from DPH and CDC and we will follow their recommendations.
For the most up to date information, please see the information below:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has created a website updated constantly with the latest guidance, including printable fact sheets in multiple languages. Visit: http://www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an interim guidance for employers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html