Public Health Mask ADVISORY

The Daviess County Health Department Administrator, Cheryl Alexander in partnership with the Daviess County Commissioners, Jim Ruse, Wayne Uthe, David Cox and Emergency Management Director, David Roll hereby issue a mask advisory for Daviess County:
It is our duty to protect the health of our community so by issuing this “advisory” we hope to slow the spread of Covid-19 in our community, businesses and schools. Our numbers have continued to climb over the past 2 months with no relief in sight. As a group we want to encourage the use of mask especially if you are in a setting you cannot social distance. Our positivity rate continues to be high, meaning we have a high level of transmission within our county. As the health department director I can “mandate” mask, but I have always had the support of our community and hope to continue with this support by asking you to wear one voluntarily. I encourage all businesses to post a sign at all entrances asking their patrons to wear a mask inside their facilities. We have had the policy in place at the health department for several months and I have not had opposition to this request, we must protect our employees as well as the public. This advisory is for all persons age 2 and older who are in contact with other people who are not household members.
As of December 15, we had 454 cases but have seen 10 new cases come in by 10:00 a.m. December 16, 2020 so this gives you some idea of what we are dealing with on a daily basis. When we have cases we have to quarantine many people including students from schools which can cause a school to close down. I have been in contact with all school superintendents and they have one goal and that is to educate our children with much normalcy as possible, this is certainly not a year of normal. We are all in this together so again I ask all residents over the age of two in Daviess County to voluntarily wear a mask when around others in your community; you may save a life by doing so. This is your community and it is up to all of us to keep each other safe and healthy.
Other strategies to stop the spread:
• Stay home if you are ill,
• Practice social distancing,
• Wash your hands often,
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces.
I get many calls about large gatherings in our community and although there is currently no mandate for gatherings I encourage you to think about all the people who can become infected just from one positive case in a gathering. Just doing the strategies above will help along with a mask.
This advisory began December 20, 2020 and will be reviewed on January 20, 2021.

Cheryl Alexander, RN-Administrator

December 16, 2020