Heading out on Spring Break? Winneshiek County Public Health has some COVID-19 related advice

As Spring Break nears, some Winneshiek County residents are getting ready to travel.  Winneshiek County Public Health continues to work with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners to monitor and respond to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The greatest health risk to Winneshiek County residents is from influenza, however, it is appropriate to take precautions against the COVID-19 virus. "The prevention for COVID-19 is similar to how you protect yourself from a variety of viruses, like influenza," said Winneshiek County Public Health Director Krista VandenBrink.  She tells people to "cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently, and stay home from work or vacation when ill."  Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.  Most often, person-to-person spread is thought to happen among people in close contact (about 6 feet) with each other. This spread is believed to occur when an infected person coughs or sneezes and droplets land on another person's nose or mouth. Therefore, when at home or traveling, it is important to avoid being near people who are visibly ill.