Prevention (Masks)

To Mask or Not to Mask.....

On June 15, 2021,Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that COVID-19 restrictions are lifted immediately as 70 percent of New Yorkers aged 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. The State's health guidance and New York Forward industry specific guidelines—including social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing—are now optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings. 
Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDC guidance. Consistent with the State's implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals. Further, the State's health guidelines continue to be in effect for large-scale indoor event venues, pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings per CDC guidelines.

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Tips to Help Kids Wear Masks at School

Thank you parents and guardians! In many ways you have already started helping your child practice wearing a mask for the start of in-person classes. Parents and guardians wearing a mask in front of children and talking with them on what to expect in the upcoming year is very helpful. Below are some additional ideas to help kids cope with masks.

(Updated 8/27/2020)

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MAsk Safety

Face Coverings in Public Recommended by the CDC

Learn to make a face covering from everyday items in your home.

The CDC is now recommending that the general public wear cloth face coverings when we must go into public (like grocery or pharmacy trips). The NYSDOH has released an Executive Order for work-sites to wear a face covering when interacting with the public. These effort helps to lesson asymptomatic carriers from spreading COVID-19. Face coverings do NOT replace social distancing. Still shop 6 feet from others. The public is urged to use cloth and not to purchase surgical loop masks or N95 masks to help ensure enough masks for healthcare providers. Learn how to make a cloth face covering from inexpensive house hold items.
(Updated 4/16/2020)

The old motto of a great defense is the best offense certainly applies to preventing or slowing the spread of contagious viruses like COVID-19.

Especially lately, you have heard the mantra - WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY - and hopefully you do so as you know it is important to prevent spreading or catching germs. But did you know why? And do you know why it is so important to wash for 20 seconds (much longer than you might think as you stand at the sink)? And why soap is such an important component?

Please watch the video below that explains in easy to understand detail, why washing for 20 seconds WITH soap is one of the BEST ways to prevent spreading or catching COVID-19 and other germs.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND WASHING YOUR HANDS


SIX STEPS TO PREVENTING CORONAVIRUS COVID-19

ONTARIO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH 3-25-20 COVID-19 MESSAGE

COVID Cleaners

Cloth Face Masks

Recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the Unvaccinated: 

CDC is recommending the use of a cloth face covering to keep people who are infected but do not have symptoms from spreading COVID-19 to others. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
  • The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
  • The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Medical face masks are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders, as recommended by CDC.
  • The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
  • CDC continues to recommend that people try keep about 6 feet between themselves and others.

See the graphics below for very important considerations when using cloth face masks. Remember save the N95 and surgical masks for healthcare professionals. You need to continue to physically distance yourself (social distance), limit trips to the store (only 1 person from each family if safe), wash your hands and stay home . Remember, if you are an essential worker and you are sick, stay home.

Face Cloth Coverings

How to Safely Wear and Store Your Mask

(Updated 4/27/2021)