Community Corner
How To Ensure Connecticut Continues Its Successful Reopening
For the safety and well-being of everyone, residents should keep wearing face masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance.
This post is sponsored and contributed by a Patch Brand Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own.
As Connecticut continues to reopen, coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths within the state continue to decline. Given this success, residents are urged to keep taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here are some smart, practical measures from CT.gov that we can all take to help keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy as more businesses reopen throughout the state.
Continue To Wear Face Coverings In Public
Since April 20, any person in a public place in Connecticut who cannot maintain a safe social distance of 6 feet must cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face covering. This does not apply to anyone for whom doing so would be contrary to their health because of a medical condition.
The majority of residents wearing face coverings in public has been key to helping Connecticut reopen successfully. When you wear a face mask or face covering, you're protecting those around you. It's compassionate and responsible, and if we all continue to do our part, we can effectively limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Wash Your Hands Frequently
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you've been in a public space. It's also important to wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Even if you don't feel sick or don’t think you've been exposed to the virus, you should continue to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed or un-sanitized hands.
Maintain Social Distancing
According to CT.gov, residents should maintain at least 6 feet of social distance between themselves and other people. Residents continuing to avoid face-to-face contact will allow more businesses and public spaces to reopen safely.
All social and recreational gatherings in Connecticut are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Religious, spiritual and worship gatherings are limited to 25 percent of capacity or up to 100 people indoors, and a maximum of 150 people outdoors.
Clean And Disinfect
Daily cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and household common areas is recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to CT.gov, high-touch surfaces include:
- Tables
- Hard-backed chairs
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Remotes
- Drawer handles
- Desks
- Toilets
- Sinks
- Keyboards
- Cellphones
Stay Home If You're Sick
If you're experiencing a fever, cough or other symptoms, contact your primary care provider about getting tested. According to CT.gov, anyone who does not have a primary care provider should call 211 or visit the CT Testing Locator to locate the nearest testing site. Tests are available free of charge.
When you can safely be back around others depends on a number of different factors. Find the CDC's recommendations for your situation here.
Participate In ContaCT, Connecticut's Contact Tracing Program
ContaCT is Connecticut's confidential statewide software system for monitoring the health and well-being of individuals who have confirmed positive for the coronavirus. The entire process is voluntary, but it is vital to the state's success in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 over the summer and into the fall.
Understanding who positive individuals were in touch with as they contracted the virus provides precious information for contact tracers to work with. Contact tracers can then connect with individuals who may be carrying the virus, preventing their own families, loved ones and co-workers from getting infected.
If you test positive for COVID-19 and are contacted by Connecticut public health professionals by email, phone or text asking you to fill out a questionnaire, please do so. Just one person participating in contact tracing could save lives. Learn more about Connecticut’s Contact Tracing Platform.
For the latest updates on Connecticut's reopening and information about how you can stay healthy, check out ct.gov/coronavirus
Sources:
CT.gov: Connecticut's Contact Tracing Platform
CT.gov: Connecticut State Parks and Forests COVID-19 Updates
CT.gov: Do I Have To Wear A Mask In Public?
CT.gov: How To Clean To Limit The Risk Of Coronavirus Infection
CT.gov: Latest Guidance
CT.gov: Reopen Connecticut
CT.gov: Where Do I Go To Get Tested For COVID-19?
CDC: How To Protect Yourself & Others
CDC: When You Can Be Around Others After You Had Or Likely Had COVID-19
