Page 18 - July 2020 Adelante Magazine

communityCORONA VIRUS:SPREAD CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA & LOS ANGELES AS BUSINESSES BEGIN TO OPEN BACK UP: GOVERNOR REQUIRES FACEMASKS FOR RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC PLACES18Beginning last month, it appears Los Angeles and California are opening back up and the Safer at Home orders are being relaxed. However, even as California opens for business the rates of Covid-19 cases are still rising and/or staying at a plateau level in some places. This means there is still a lot of Covid-19 spreading around and you must be careful to avoid acquiring the infection.In California, more than 170,000 persons have tested positive for Covid-19 as of June 23, 2020. On June 20, 4,515 new cases were identified state-wide with 1,761 of this number in Los Angeles County. As of the end of June, more than 5,500 residents of California have died of the disease and this number is still climbing. (source, CDPH.ca.gov).Of those diagnosed in California, more than 80,000 were in Los Angeles County. To address this continued rise in infection rates, on Thursday June 18, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom announced that face masks would be required in all public spaces — with a few exceptions.as much as it was at the beginning. It is also unfortunate that the current Federal Adminis- tration and the White House are downplaying these numbers and there are almost no public briefings from the Corona Virus Task Force. We have not heard from Dr. Anthony Fauci or Dr. Deborah Birx in weeks.Businesses begin to Re-Open: L.A. County announced last month the go-ahead for bars, tattoo parlors, nail salons and other adjacent personal services to reopen on Friday. Specifically, approved businesses includes: bars, wineries, breweries, tasting rooms, cardrooms, satellite wagering facil- ities, racetracks with no spectators, esthetician services, skin care and cosme- tology services, electrology, nail salons, body art shops, tattoo parlors, microblading services, piercing shops and massage therapy operations.As these businesses reopen, do remember it is up to you to protect yourself when going in any venue.for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:Nationally across the United States, more than 2.35 million persons have been identified with Covid-19 with about 125,000 deaths from this illness as of the end of June.The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus spreads mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Surfaces can also get infected. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like hypertension, obesity, heart or lung disease, diabetes or asthma seem to be at higher riskThe CDCʼs own website estimates that between 129,000 and 145,000 could die of Covid-19 by July 4, 2020 (cdc.gov). Looking forward, some reports estimate that as many as 180,000 could die from Covid-19 by November 2020.Who is at Higher Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19?• Smokers• Older adults (65+)It is unfortunate that this illness is not being covered by the national and local news media• Individuals with compromised immune systemsWWW.ADELANTEMAGAZINE.COM | TO ADVERTISE IN ADELANTE MAGAZINE CALL 323-256-6639How can people protect themselves?• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow or a tissue. Wash hands after- wards.• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.• Stay home and away from people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.• If you smoke or vape, consider quitting. Smoking and vaping causes harm to the lungs.• Follow guidance from public health officials. Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.• Stay home except for essential needs/activ- ities.• Practice physical distancing – stay 6 feet away from people.• Wear a cloth face mask if you leave home. • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day and especially when in contact with contaminated surfaces• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.