Dear Neighbors of Vintage Township,
Originally, I had planned for the March letter to the neighborhood to be about spring planting, fertilizing fescue, checking sprinklers etc. Given the recent public safety developments however, I think it is more important to discuss some basic information regarding the COVID-19 virus situation.
You are likely hearing the term Social Distancing a lot in both media and in conversation. It is a fancy term for limiting contact with people during this time to minimize the spread of the virus. For this reason, the NCAA tournament was canceled, Disney World is closed, Texas Tech has extended spring break, and it may lead to the short-term closure of other schools here in Lubbock in the coming weeks. As a society, we must slow down the rate of infection as to not overload the Healthcare System and to minimize the numbers of illnesses. While it is true that the mortality rate of COVID-19 is not significantly higher than the flu, because the mortality rate is a percentage of the total number people infected, a higher number of cases inevitably results in more deaths. With minimizing spread in mind, I wanted to share with you the following guidelines taken directly from the CDC.
Recommendations for Community Preparedness in the setting of no to minimal reported cases:
· Know how to find local resources and updates: https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/health-department/about-us/covid-19
· Know the symptoms
o Congestion
o High fever
o Cough
o Difficulty breathing
· Know what to do if you develop symptoms
o Mild- STAY HOME, rest, fluids hydration, Tylenol for fever
o More severe symptoms or known/concerning travel history- call your PCP first to see if you need to be seen and/or tested for COVID-19. Wear a mask if you need to go into the doctor.
o Seek immediate medical care if persistent very high fever (>102) or difficulty breathing
· Implement protective measures
o Frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 second
o Hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol
o Avoid touching your face when possible
o Disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. Data indicates the virus can live on hard surfaces for up to 12 hours. Lysol is effective, if unable to find in the stores, a solution of 10:1 water to bleach or alcohol-based cleaners
· Develop a household action plan
o Contingency plan for work and school cancellation
o Consider having a 2-week supply of necessities on hand including food and prescription medications- many pharmacies are making exceptions to fill these
o Consider delivery services for groceries and other necessities
o Develop a communication plan for friends, families and neighbors to check in remotely
· Know high risk populations should be extra cautious
o Elderly
o Pregnant women
o People with chronic medical condition, especially lung issues
These recommendations may seem extreme, however they are not meant to trigger panic or fear. Most cases of this virus are still mild, but high numbers of infection overall put our most vulnerable population at significant risk. To protect the community as a whole, even adults and children with mild illness need to stay home. For more information on COVID-19, including ways to discuss the current situation with young children see the CDC website including: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html. Hopefully by following these CDC recommendations we can greatly reduce the impact this virus will have in our community and across the country.
Sincerely,
Murphy Coon
Vice-President of HOA Board
If you have any questions or comments please contact the HOA board at myvintagehoa@yahoo.com helenotto@vintagtetownship.net or 806 782 4294