• By Public Health
• Posted Thursday, April 9, 2020

Residents urged to stay home and find other ways to celebrate holiday

Easter and Passover will be celebrated this weekend and they traditionally entail large family and church gatherings. However, residents must remember that safety for themselves and their loved ones must come first. The COVID-19 virus can be deadly for seniors and for people with compromised immune systems, respiratory ailments and other underlying medical conditions.

COVID-19 is highly contagious. People who are infected can have the virus for days before showing symptoms—and some will never have symptoms, says Forsyth Health Director Joshua Swift.

“You could feel fine and yet be bringing COVID-19 into your home and to your loved ones without knowing it,” Swift said. “In the worst-case scenario, that might be an elderly relative or someone ill-equipped to fight it off.”

The best prevention is to follow the local and state orders to stay at home unless you're going out for an essential reason. If you must go out, remember:

• Wear a face mask to reduce the chance that you pass the virus to others, if it turns out you were already infected but did not know it.
• Follow the order to not assemble in groups of 10 or more.
• Maintain the social distance guideline of 6 feet.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
• Keep your hands away from your face.

“This weekend is meant to be time for commemoration and celebration,” Swift said. “If you must go out, please, adjust your plans so that you keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Together, we can defeat COVID-19.”