Contact: media@apphealth.com
Date: November 23, 2020
[Jefferson, NC] – With the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up this week, we urge everyone to take actions to limit exposure and decrease the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
This Thanksgiving Holiday, like many other things this year, will be different but if we want to prevent and limit sickness and even death, we must make some sacrifices to protect our loved ones and the broader community.
The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to be with those who live in your household. However, if you do decide to host or attend a holiday gathering, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Tips for Reducing COVID-19 Exposure at a Holiday Gathering
- Stay home if you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. Please stay home if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 even if you have tested negative previously.
- Keep the gathering small,
- Stay outdoors as much as possible if you can,
- Maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others, wash your hands and wear a face covering consistently as much as possible
- Avoid self-serve food,
- Higher risk guests consider joining virtually,
- Seat people who live together at their own table and 6 feet apart from other tables,
- Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces like door knobs, light switches, handles, etc.,
- Consider getting tested for COVID-19 before the event, but know that this test is one point in time and you should continue practicing all preventive measures like social distancing and wearing a mask that fits over both your nose and mouth even if you test negative
- Self-quarantine for 14 days before the event is best, but may not always be possible. If you were unable do this, please minimize your exposure to others and higher risk settings where masks are not worn consistently or places where you cannot maintain safe social distance from others
Additional tips for gathering safely and guidance for private social gatherings is available from NC DHHS.
“Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we can still celebrate and do so in a way that protects our health and those we love. We urge everyone to practice prevention measures and when you are around others outside your household, follow the 3Ws and wear a face covering, wait 6 feet from others and wash your hands and follow the holiday gathering tips to lessen your risk of exposure and spread to others. We do not want Thanksgiving celebrations to turn into heartache in the Christmas holidays ahead. We know everyone is tired, but we are asking for your help to encourage everyone to take these important steps to protect those we love most as well as our community,” stated Jennifer Greene, Health Director, AppHealthCare.
COVID-19 Symptoms
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of reported symptoms. These include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, we would encourage you to be tested.
- Schedule a testing appointment by calling AppHealthCare at (828) 795-1970 or visit AppHealthCare.com to schedule an appointment online. COVID-19 testing will not be offered Thursday, November 26th or Friday, November 27th due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Testing will resume Monday, November 30th.
- Schedule a testing appointment by calling Mountain Family Care Center, a part of Ashe Memorial Hospital, at (336) 846-6322.
- Schedule a testing appointment at CVS Pharmacy in West Jefferson
- Schedule a testing appointment at Ashe Pediatrics by calling (336) 846-4543
- Find a testing site near you at the NC Department of Health & Human Services website
- Contact your healthcare provider for information about additional testing options
If you get a test Monday or Tuesday of this week, know that your test results may be delayed given the Thanksgiving Holiday. It is important to note if you receive a COVID-19 test and have symptoms, you should self-isolate until you know your results to prevent spread. If you are getting a test because of close contact to a positive case, a negative test result does not shorten your quarantine time. Also, a COVID-19 test represents a point in time and does not prevent you from additional exposure.
Additional Resources
For more information related to COVID-19, including local data, visit AppHealthCare’s website here.
This Thanksgiving Holiday week, our COVID-19 call center is available to take COVID-19 related calls Monday through Wednesday 8:00am-6:00pm at (828) 795-1970. The Call Center will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th and will resume on normal hours on Saturday, November 28th. You can also email questions to preparedness@apphealth.com.
AppHealthCare is available and on-call 24/7 to respond to public health emergencies. To reach us, call Watauga (828) 264-4995, Ashe (336) 246-9449, Alleghany (336) 372-5641 anytime and follow the prompts. For more information, visit www.AppHealthCare.com and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
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