HEALTH

GOV. CUOMO'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 202.17 - SIMPLE FACE MASK
Effective 8 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2020, any individual over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public space and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance.  Follow this link to CDC Guidance for Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19.
About COVID-19
A little about Covid-19
  • COVID-19 is a new strain of respiratory virus belonging to the Coronavirus family.  
  • Due to its quick spread around the globe, and in communities, it is best to limit travel and keep socializing to a minimum.  
  • It can take between 2 and 14 days for COVID-19 symptoms to appear.​

Signs + Symptoms of COVID-19
  • SYMPTOMS can include: Fever, Cough, Fatigue, Sputum (thick mucus from lungs) and Shortness of Breath.  It can also include loss of smell/taste as well as abdominal pain/loose stools/nausea (although less common).  For a detailed report on symptoms, see this report by the WHO, page 11.
  • There are no specific symptoms for COVID that completely differentiate it from a flu or common cold.  
  • Watch for symptoms, especially if you are a care provider. Do you have a thermometer to check your temperature?  Low grade fevers, mild cough, and fatigue are early symptoms.  
  • If you feel like you have symptoms of any cold or flu, you should assume you could be infected with COVID. Please self-isolate until you feel better! ​

How does it spread?
  • Since this is a respiratory virus, it most likely spreads the same way a cold or flu does--  through respiratory droplets. So COVER your coughs and sneezes! Use a tissue when possible and throw it in the garbage.  
  • It can spread when we are in close contact (less than 6 ft) with someone who has it and the longer we are in close contact with them, the more likely we might pick it up.  
  • It is also possible to get it from touching something someone else coughed on, for example, and then touching our mouth or nose.  So let’s keep communal spaces clean and wash our hands.
  • Recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that COVID19 lives on surfaces for different amounts of time, depending on the material.  Cardboard - up to 24 hours, Stainless Steel and Plastic - up to 72 hours, Copper - up to 4 hours
Vulnerable Populations we should take special care of!!
  • People who are over 65
  • Have weakened immune systems
  • With chronic conditions such as diabetes or lung troubles.
  • Who are unhoused or far from home and can’t self-isolate
  • Who are incarcerated
  • Who are pregnant​

Personal Prevention
  • Direct contact such as shaking hands, hugging and kissing put you and others at very high risk of contracting this disease. Reframe your greetings: a smile, a bow, or a simple hello will do!
  • Wash your hands with soap and water! Hand sanitizer is a second option, but soap and water is ideal. Keep nails trimmed!
  • Don't touch your face!
  • Cover your coughs + sneezes! If you don’t have a tissue, then cough into your elbow. Immediately wash your hands following any contact with your face.
  • Boost your immunity and support overall health and wellbeing 💚
  • If you feel symptoms of any cold or flu - PLEASE STAY HOME until you feel better! 
  • Social Distancing - the less we congregate, the less things can spread.  It is suggested to keep six feet of personal space. Limiting our social interactions now can help flatten the curve!

Community Prevention in Shared Spaces
  • Come up with Community/ Household Agreements and make sure entering guests are also aware.  For example:
    • Wash your hands upon entering the space/ house.
    • Wash your hands before working in the kitchen.
    • No smooching on the shared pets.
    • Are outside guests allowed?  How many at a time? Are they allowed into some spaces and not others? Make sure to inform them of the household agreements!
    • Having a plan for how to handle a sick housemate BEFORE folks get sick.
  • Post informational graphics like this one to help educate folks on good hygiene.
  • Encourage frequent handwashing.  Make hand soap and easy to dispense. Use paper hand towels or electric dryers available at public sinks. No shared cloth towels.
  • Offer hand sanitizer when handwashing isn’t an option.
  • Routine cleaning of frequently used surfaces (door knobs, tables, light switches, toilets, remotes, etc.).  Wear gloves when cleaning and clean your hands after you’re done. Ventilate the space regularly by opening windows.
  • Disinfection: either 70% alcohol or Bleach Blend [4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water] to clean surfaces.  And here is a detailed list of EPA registered disinfectants.  
  • Shared kitchens - If you live with others, you might want to keep your own personal set of dishes, utensils, and cup.  If your home doesn’t have a dishwasher, then have your own designated sponge and drying towel as well. Use hot soapy water.
  • When eating in large community settings, use disposable if possible.  Don’t let people self serve from main dishes, but provide designated servers.  And most importantly - DON’T TOUCH YOUR THING TO THE COMMUNAL THING! For example, this means let the food drop from the serving spoon to the plate, don’t tap the serving spoon onto someone’s plate.  Don’t touch the lip of the bottle to someone’s cup as you pour into it.
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Masks
Per the WHO, there are certain times when wearing a mask might be recommended.  An N95 mask is not necessary for folks outside of a hospital setting, here we are talking about surgical/construction or homemade masks. Here are recommendations: 
  • Wear a mask if you are caring for someone with a suspected COVID-19 infection.
  • Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing to protect others.
  • Another mask benefit is to help stop you from touching your face.  A bandana can also help with this reminder.
  • Masks aren’t that effective without also paying attention to other hygienic protocols. 
  • Unless masks get wet or torn, you can reuse masks for roughly 12 hours.  Make sure to not touch your mask though, if you touch the front of your mask, consider it contaminated.    
  • DIY Mask Making
  • CDC Mask Guidelines
  • The more people in shared spaces are wearing masks, the less their secretions (along with potential virus) are released into the air.
  • The Mighty Masketeers of Columbia County are local heroes! Check out their site for valuable resources. 
treatment
At present, there are no specific treatments for COVID-19.  Antiviral medications are being developed but will take years to test and distribute.  A vaccine is likely a year away at best, and even then, will likely be moderately effective (think flu vaccine).  Existing antivirals are in the experimental phase for treating COVID-19 and are reserved for extremely ill patients. You may have heard politicians and other folks with NO medical background touting medications that will supposedly cure COVID. THIS IS NOT TRUE!  It is extremely important to understand that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are very dangerous and should never be used except as prescribed by your doctor!! Scant research has suggested a slight possibility of benefit to using these drugs, much more testing is needed to determine if this is the case. Also they likely will be only available for extremely ill patients.  Be wary of expensive treatments sold on-line, they are, at best, no better than things found in your kitchen and at worst can do far more harm than good.

With that being said, there is a lot you can do to boost your immune system, work with your plant allies, and eat healthy foods, almost all of which can be found in your kitchen, garden, nearby woods, or supermarket.  Here are some great resources, use at your comfort level. Herbal medicines are powerful, complex and different for everyone, please consult an herbalist with questions.

Herbalista Free Clinic- Cold Care Kitchen Medicine 
Herbalista Free Clinic- COVID19 Community Care Guide
Buhner - Herbal Treatments for Coronavirus Infections
when to seek medical care
Unfortunately, there are folks who get very sick.  Because of the limited resources of hospitals, emergency rooms, and clinics, it is asked that folks limit their exposure to these institutions until necessary.  How do we know when it is necessary? There’s no clear answer, but here are some guidelines.  
On the CDC site, here are some guidelines.  There is also a “self-check” tab that is automated and there to help you decide.
  • In other terms, if you feel so short of breath that you can’t walk up the stairs, put a mask on and go to the ER.
  • If you have significant chest pain, like someone is stepping on your chest, put a mask on and go to the ER.
  • If you or someone you are caring for is making no sense or you can’t wake them up, put a mask on them and go to the ER or call 911.
  • If you or someone you are caring for is so short of breath that you/their lips are blue, put a mask on and go to the ER or call 911. 
getting better
Again, the overwhelming majority of folks will get better!  Symptoms may last for two weeks, sometimes even three weeks.  Be prepared for this, it is normal with COVID. 
When you have been completely free of symptoms for 14 days, you are cleared from your self-isolation.  At this point, smile! You should go back to social distancing protocols (see above). We welcome you back with a virtual hug.
mental health
The disaster we find ourselves in is likely going to last a long time. Based on expert projections, we need to prepare ourselves for 9-18 months of some type of social upheaval. Regardless of the physical aspects of the disease, the isolation and economic precarity we are all facing is enormously stressful for us all, particularly  those who have already struggled with anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia or other emotional states; this upheaval can be extremely triggering. Be aware of your mental state and that of your neighbors.; we need each more than ever at this time. Call friends, limit your computer time, limit your news time, engage in hobbies or things that give you joy, and spend time in nature.  In addition, here is also a list of mental health resources that are available. ​
(For youth/teen-specific mental health resources, download the file below.)
noteworthys_teen_resources.pdf
File Size: 145 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
additional resources on COVID19
The New Lebanon Community Support Network recognizes and thanks the Lebanon Health Assembly for its leadership and dedication compiling this information. To stay up-to-date on the information available through the Lebanon Health Assembly, sign up for their weekly newsletter or contact them. 

OTHER RESOURCES:
         recursos en español
Spanish Safe Practices
​
The following information is provided from the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement:

La Lucha Durante COVID 19: Como la Organización Primaria de ayuda mutua y la única Organización de derechos de los inmigrantes en el condado de Columbia Y Greene, CCSM está trabajando para mantener a nuestra comunidad saludable durante la pandemia de COVID 19. Este álbum contiene información sobre cómo mantenerse sano y alimentado en la intersección de las crisis de inmigrantes y COVID 19. Sabemos que nuestros esfuerzos colectivos son necesarios para protegernos a todos aun reconociendo y practicando el distanciamiento social para detener la propagación de COVID 19. CCSM se está asociando con otras organizaciones sin fines de lucro para hacer referencias y conectar sus servicios a las comunidades de inmigrantes. Si su organización está interesada en colaborar o si es una persona que necesita apoyo, comuníquese con CCSM al518-303-3848 o por correo electrónico a sanctuarycolumbiacounty@gmail.com. Juntos venceremos este obstaculo, detendremos la propagación de COVID y continuaremos construyendo comunidades poderosas y resistentes. ​
         resources as PDF
nl_hotline_medical_resource_text.pdf
File Size: 190 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
healthcare
NY State of Health is opening a special enrollment period until 5/15/2020 due to the COVID 19 virus.  They urge all New Yorkers who do not have coverage now, to please call a health insurance broker, the insurance carrier or the NY Marketplace for further assistance.

The Healthcare Consortium
This is the official resource in Columbia and Greene counties for health insurance enrollment through New York State’s Department of Health. The Healthcare Consortium can help individuals and families shop for and enroll in a health insurance program, including public health insurance programs such as Medicaid, the Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus, and commercial self-pay programs, called Qualified Health Plans. While in-person visits are temporarily suspended, the Consortium will serve individuals by phone, 518-822-8820, which is being monitored Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; voicemails can also be left at that number, and someone will respond to them daily.

​Clients of the Consortium’s Transportation Program, CARTS, should call 518-822-8020.

Hudson River Healthcare
HRHCare providers work together to bring individuals coordinated medical, dental, and behavioral health care. The staff speak many languages and provide translation services available to make sure you receive care in the language of your choice. At this moment, all HRHCare sites are open and are testing for COVID19. But in order to limit exposure, HRHCare has protocols put in place. For any patient wanting to be seen with respiratory symptoms, please call the clinic first, 844-474-2273. ​
Paid Sick Leave Law
Under legislation signed by Governor Cuomo, New York workers are guaranteed job protection and financial compensation while they are on a mandatory or precautionary quarantine order due to COVID-19.  
Hand Sanitizer
If you are in need of hand sanitizer, contact Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling at 518-505-1535.
Lebanon Health Assembly Medical Hotline
518-545-4904 (call/text)
The medical hotline is run by the Lebanon Health Assembly and is a free service for people in our community.  It is volunteer-run by local health professionals, but is not meant to replace 911 or offer emergency services.  Please read through the information on this page about COVID symptoms, testing, masks, etc.  If you have questions or concerns that aren't answered or questions about whether or not you should seek medical care, please call us!  (The advice should not be considered medical advice but rather informed guidance to navigate the current crisis, please refer to your primary care doctor or other health institutions for formal guidance.) 

Hotline for Elderly and Vulnerable
518-828-0601, extension 1400
Sheriff David Bartlett has established a hotline for the elderly and vulnerable in our county, including those with medical conditions or are disabled, who would welcome a Deputy checking on their well-being on a daily basis. The number for the hotline is 518-828-0601, extension 1400.

Greener Pathways
518-822-7437, 518-291-4500
Weekend/Evening Hotline: 518-822-0090
Providing support to those with opioid and other drug addictions.

Columbia County Pathways to Recovery 
877-467-3365
​Providing support to those with opioid and other drug addictions. Provides comprehensive resources for individuals and families impacted by the crisis of substance use disorder.

NY Connects-Columbia
518-828-2273 or 877-260-9244
Contact Lynda and Kelly McGiffert
NY Connects serves older individuals and individuals with disabilities of all ages. Staff can help families, caregivers, and professionals while working from home. Leave a voicemail or email.
GETTING TESTED 
UPDATE:  There will be mobile testing clinics June 2nd in Hudson https://forms.gle/uF6z7FCd4VYAdHjc9  and June 7th– Drive through (Chatham Fair grounds) https://forms.gle/w93576mqsXnKQXoU6   Learn more.
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Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and The University at Albany have opened a Capital Region Testing Site on the UAlbany campus – 1400 Washington Avenue, Colonial Quad parking lot, accessible from main UAlbany entry, off Washington Avenue, Albany. The site prioritizes tests for individuals among the highest risk population.

APPOINTMENT IS REQUIRED. Residents who would like to be tested must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065. NO WALK-INS allowed. All patients must be in a vehicle. 

A screening form for testing should be completed ahead of arrival. Screening form can be found by following this link covid19screening.health.ny.gov.
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Once the screening form is completed, site administrators will contact the individual to set up an appointment.
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