HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ - 08 Cortland County Health Dept Press ReleaseCORTLAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING Nicole Anjeski, MS, MPH
60 CENTRAL AVENUE Public Health Director
CORTLAND, NEW YORK 13045-2746 Lisa Perfetti, BSN, RN
(607) 753-5036 Deputy Public Health Director
FAX: (607) 753-5209 Ngozi Mezu-Patel, MD
http://www.cortland-co.org/432/Health-Department Medical Advisor
WORKING TO BUILD A HEALTHY COMMUNITY SINCE 1929
TO: Local Media
From: Nicole Anjeski, Public Health Director, Cortland County Health Department
RE: Health Alert: Community Members Should Take Action Immediately to Prevent Spread of
Respiratory Viruses in Cortland County
DATE: 8/21/2023
Common respiratory viruses like COVID-19, Flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
typically spread during the fall and winter.
Cortland County community members should begin taking actions immediately to:
1) Prevent serious illness or death from COVID-19, Flu, and RSV
2) Prevent getting sick with respiratory viruses
3) Prevent spreading respiratory viruses to others if they do get sick
Steps to Prevent Serious Illness & Death:
Get vaccinated:
Vaccines available in the U.S. are proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness,
hospitalization and death from respiratory viruses. Vaccines are the best way to keep our
community safe from respiratory viruses this fall.
o Flu Vaccine: Everyone age 6 months and older should receive the seasonal flu vaccine
to be best protected throughout the entire flu season.
o COVID-19 Vaccine: Everyone age 6 months and older should make sure they are up to
date with the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently CDC guidance states everyone age 6 years
and older should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be
up to date. People age 65+, immunocompromised, and children 6 months to 5 years
may need additional doses to be up to date. An updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected
this fall. Community members with questions about when they should get the COVID-19
vaccine should consult with their healthcare provider.
o RSV Vaccine: Everyone age 60 and older may get the RSV vaccine based on
discussions between the patient and their healthcare provider.
Get tested if you are sick:
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, and RSV are often very similar. Getting tested can help your
healthcare provider determine the right treatment plan.
Notify your healthcare provider of test results and get treatment:
Notify your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you test positive for COVID-19 or Flu.
There are treatments available for COVID-19 and Flu that can lower your chances of getting
very sick or dying from these illnesses. These treatments work best when started shortly after
you begin symptoms, so notify your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Steps to Prevent Getting Sick and Spreading Viruses to Others:
Stay home if you are ill and get tested
Avoid contact with people who are ill
Follow recommendations if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19
Improve ventilation by opening windows, change HVAC filters frequently, using portable HEPA
filters, turning on exhaust/other fans, turning thermostats to “on” instead of “auto.”
Move indoor activities outdoors whenever possible
Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol based hand sanitizer
Cover nose and mouth with a tissues when coughing or sneezing
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Practice other good health habits like disinfecting surfaces often, getting plenty of sleep, being
physically active, managing stress, drinking fluids, and eating nutritious food.