Department of Public Health and Environment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Health Launches “Do Your Part” Campaign to Help Prevent Spread of Coronavirus
CONTACT: Susan Lilly, Public Information Officer, San Miguel County
970-729-2028 susanl@sanmiguelsheriff.org
(March 13, 2020) -- San Miguel County, CO -- San Miguel County Department of Public Health and Environment is launching a new public health campaign with “DO YOUR PART” posters in English and Spanish to help educate, encourage and emphasize the importance of behavior modifications to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
The poster highlights key messages such as practicing good personal hygiene, avoiding large gatherings, maintaining social-distancing, and avoiding contact with sick people in and out of the home.
In further guidance today regarding large gatherings, Colorado state health officials suggested canceling events with more than 250 people, and federal guidance earlier this week suggested canceling events with more than 100 people, which makes sense for metropolitan areas. Our county health officials know our community and venues best, and we are therefore urging voluntary compliance to cancel events of more than seventy-five people.
Health officials are also emphasizing that everyone practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from people).
“This does not mean isolation,” Grace Franklin, County Public Health Director said. “This means making a few behavioral adjustments to help with infection control and containment.”
County Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Grundy said in general, people can continue going to restaurants and visit with friends for example, with the noted exception of those at high risk (people over 65 years old, those with pre-existing conditions such as heart, kidney, or lung disease, and immune-compromised individuals).
“Really it’s business as usual for most people,” Dr. Grundy said. “We want our high-risk population to be extra vigilant with these preventative practices, and that’s not much different than usual, but very important today with COVID-19.’
County health officials say the “Do Your Part” campaign is aimed at getting these messages to our county citizens and visitors.
“We need people to do their part, and that includes individuals, business owners, event planners, everyone in our community can make a difference in the containment of this virus,” Dr. Grundy said.
For more information and to sign up for Coronavirus email alerts go to sanmiguelcountyco.gov. The posters can be viewed and download as PDFs: "Do Your Part!" in English and "Haga Su Parte!" en Espanol.
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To protect and preserve the health and environment by providing high-quality public health care services and environmental protection services to the people of San Miguel County.