March 17, 2020 3:45 a.m.
As response to the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the Douglas County Commissioners and the Douglas Public Health Network are providing information on “social distancing”. A release from both organizations said today social distancing measures are most often thought of as a way to slow the spread of pandemic illness. The release said health experts have looked at past pandemics and found that during the 1957-58 pandemic, the spread of the disease followed public gatherings such as conferences and festivals. The release said during the pandemic, the highest case rates were seen in school children and older adults, due to their close contact in a crowded setting. It said health experts believe that avoiding crowds of people will be important in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Since a pandemic cannot be stopped once it has started, and because health experts are still discovering more about the novel coronavirus, social distancing measures need to be used to slow the spread of the disease and provide the community with the valuable time needed to be better prepared, according to the release.
A local COVID-19 hotline remains open to answer the questions of residents related to the virus. The call center is staffed with volunteer health care professionals who can answer questions from the public. It is available from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., seven days a week. The number to call is 464-6550.