The Pennyrile Area Development District board of directors heard an update about COVID-19 (coronavirus) during their meeting Monday afternoon.
Marketing Specialist Amanda Sweeney from the Christian County Health Department says the latest version of the coronavirus is an acute respiratory illness. She adds the number of people getting the virus is continuing to increase across the country and world.
Her presentation focused mainly on businesses, in which she recommends that employees should stay home when they are sick and practice respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene in public.
She urges employers to have some leniency in allowing employees to stay home if they are not feeling well, or if they are caring for a sick family member, to help stop the spread of any sickness. If employees are out sick, Sweeney says employers should not ask them to provide a doctor’s note, at this time.
In addition, she notes that businesses should be cleaned regularly, especially with disinfecting wipes that kill germs on surfaces used daily.
She adds if you become sick, the CDC recommends you stay home for 24-hours after you are fever-free.
Sweeney adds business owners need to have a plan of action in case the coronavirus rises to an emergency level.
For the latest information, including tips to prevent catching the disease, you can follow the Christian County Health Department on Facebook. If you have any questions about the virus, you can call the Kentucky COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-722-5725.
