By Madeline Clancy
The CDC website states: “As cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to increase across the United States, the safest way to celebrate the winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a federal agency that works to protect the health of American citizens. Although it is ideal to celebrate holidays with people important to you, this year safety is a priority, and it is recommended that people stay home and limit celebrations to people they live with.
Great Valley High School nurse Mrs. Morse continues to remind the community about health safety.
For people who are traveling, here are some rules to consider before returning to school.
“The state mandate for anyone traveling outside the state for more than 24 hours is to have a COVID test prior to return or you can get a test upon return to PA. If you do not get a test, you would have to quarantine for 14 days (this is the Chester County health Dept guidelines as well).”
Her advice for precautions to take if using public transportation such as planes, trains, or busses: “With the rising cases I wouldn’t suggest people travel during the upcoming holidays at all. If they do however it is important to wear a mask and stay six feet apart from others. And again, one cannot stress the importance of washing your hands frequently when taking transportation. Avoid touching anything if possible and use hand sanitizer if you need to touch handles, doors or other public matter. I would also suggest washing with soap and water as soon as possible as this is a more effective way to cleanse your hands. Also, it is important to maintain distance when standing in lines at the airport or train station.”
A final piece of advice that Mrs. Morse had for people planning family gatherings since the CDC is reporting that these have been one of the largest sources of COVID spread. Mrs. Morse explained.
“Family members are in tight spaces and usually do not wear masks when they are celebrating. It was even found that spread occurred at outdoor family gatherings. Few people know if they have been exposed to COVID and they visit relatives only to find out that they had been in contact with an infectious person. The 14 -day quarantine was enacted as it was found that it could take that long for a person to show symptoms from their contact with a positive case. People who have COVID were infectious 2 days prior to coming down with symptoms.”
Testing for COVID can be difficult, and if one cannot be tested, then they are required to quarantine for fourteen days. So, when should someone be tested?
Mrs Morse said, “Some people found it difficult to get a test while out of state so you can plan ahead and schedule testing when you get home. You will have to quarantine until you have your results back. There are tests that you can do at home (mail order) as well as drive-up rapid testing (15toknow.com) that you get your results in 15 minutes. An appointment is necessary for the drive-up locations in Plymouth meeting and Exton.”
The holidays will certainly be different this year; however, coronavirus precautions do not need to stop people from celebrating. With technology, using apps such as Zoom and FaceTime people can connect with friends and family members online instead of in person.
Stay connected, stay healthy, and stay tuned! Here is to a 2021 that returns us to the days of yore.