Spring Break Recovery & Variants
Top of Mind – Spring Break Recovery and Variants
Greetings Friends! I know many of you snuck away for some break time – no judgement here! However, making an effort to quarantine and monitor for illness on return is important! Hospitalizations recently increased and we need to limit the spread of new strains.
The BEST action – quarantine for SEVEN days and test on day FIVE (lots of testing options right now). If negative, then go back into the world with the usual protections on DAY 7. You should have your Test Iowa result within 24hrs. I recently did this after traveling to help with a vaccine clinic. The seven days went by fast and my test was back quickly (and yes, I cancelled a dentist appt and did not go to the Y).
What does quarantine after Spring Break mean? For SEVEN DAYS after you return (including the day you got back) AND with a NEGATIVE COVID-19 test on DAY 5:
• Stay away from family members and friends who did not travel with you
• Cancel appointments outside of your home – dentist, doctor, dog groomer, facials … for that first week back
• Avoid group exercise and activity (including going to the gym)
• Monitor for symptoms of COVID
Do not leave quarantine until you have a negative test. You can get tested anytime ON OR AFTER day 5.
Do this even if you had COVID-19 in the last 90 days or were vaccinated. There are variants circulating all over the country, at least two of which are likely to be resistant to the vaccine AND immunity from infection.
You got to go on vacation, so be kind and keep your vacation germs at home.
WHERE IS MY VACCINE?!
There is a LOT of vaccine in Iowa right now – 30,000 doses administered per day. We need about 4 million doses administered to hit herd immunity, which puts us at late summer. Counties with more people are not getting exactly proportionately more vaccine, so the priority groups may shift slower in those counties.
Now, public health is a terrific first stop for all things vaccine information. Google your county health department. They should also have links to pharmacies providing vaccines. Note: pharmacies may be prioritizing differently than public health for a variety of reasons.
https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/.../get-a-covid-19.../
Who in Polk County is eligible RIGHT NOW?
Remember – the rules in each county might be a little different than the state due to allocation challenges.
POLK COUNTY
March 15, 2021, COVID-19 vaccine appointments will be open to:
• 64 years and under with underlying health conditions
On Monday, March 22, 2021, we will begin to vaccinate Phase 1B, Tier 2:
1) Farm Workers (year-round, seasonal and migrant) whose work environment (including employer provided housing, break rooms, and transportation) or shared short-term housing (with co-workers) does not allow for adequate social distancing.
2) Frontline workers (not clerks, cashiers, office staff or managers) employed in the manufacturing and distribution (not retail, not hospitality) of critical goods necessary for survival (Food, Air, Water, Medical, Safety) whose work environment won’t allow for social distancing at all (not that some of the time they must work in close quarters).
3) Individuals with disabilities living in home settings and their direct care staff
A note to those in their 20s and 30s – you may want to consider waiting until the Janssen (J&J) vaccine is available later this spring UNLESS you have underlying medical conditions. A single dose is a great option for otherwise healthy people in those age groups.
Stay Safe and Healthy and Enjoy this GORGEOUS Weather!