Commission Recommends Use Of Masks
April 16, 2020
Pictured above, from left to right, are Southern Stone County Commissioner Hank Smythe, SCHD Health Educator Monica Mueller, Presiding Commissioner Mark Maples, SCHD Emergency Response Planner Chris Thornton and Northern Stone County Commissioner Wayne Blades. The County Commission and Stone County Health Department encourage citizens wear cloth face coverings in public settings, such as at grocery stores.
Stone County Health Department (SCHD) and Stone County Commissioners encourage residents to wear cloth face coverings (mask) in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores or pharmacies. Wearing a cloth face cover is a voluntary public health measure that can slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. The cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items such as a cotton bandana or a t-shirt. SCHD administrator Pam Burnett suggests, “Critical supplies such as N-95 respirators and surgical masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders”.
A cloth mask should fit snugly, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to the shape, the cloth mask should allow for breathing without restriction and never put a mask on a child under the age of 2 unless advised by a physician. Individuals should remove their mask without touching their eyes, nose and mouth and wash hands immediately after removing. A cloth mask should go directly into the washing machine or hot soapy water to safely sterilize/clean it before the next use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has instructions on how to fashion a homemade cloth face mask.
One Stone County resident, Jo Scott, of Galena, donated homemade cloth masks to Stone County Health Department which were then distributed to businesses and other county agencies. “This is a great resource for Stone County and we are thankful to have such wonderful volunteers making these masks so that Stone County can be better protected”, said Chris Thornton, SCHD’s Emergency Response Coordinator. Wearing a cloth mask in addition to the preventative measures already in place such as maintaining a six foot distance, washing hands for at least 20 seconds, staying home when you are sick and limiting unnecessary trips out in public is the best way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
For more information about COVID-19 call 417-357-6134.
In Missouri, the total cases as of Tuesday afternoon, April 14, were 4,686, with 133 deaths.
In surrounding counties, totals were as follows. Barry County: two positive cases, zero deaths. Taney County: seven positive cases, one death. Christian County: 19 positive cases, zero deaths. Lawrence County: zero positive cases.
A cloth mask should fit snugly, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to the shape, the cloth mask should allow for breathing without restriction and never put a mask on a child under the age of 2 unless advised by a physician. Individuals should remove their mask without touching their eyes, nose and mouth and wash hands immediately after removing. A cloth mask should go directly into the washing machine or hot soapy water to safely sterilize/clean it before the next use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has instructions on how to fashion a homemade cloth face mask.
One Stone County resident, Jo Scott, of Galena, donated homemade cloth masks to Stone County Health Department which were then distributed to businesses and other county agencies. “This is a great resource for Stone County and we are thankful to have such wonderful volunteers making these masks so that Stone County can be better protected”, said Chris Thornton, SCHD’s Emergency Response Coordinator. Wearing a cloth mask in addition to the preventative measures already in place such as maintaining a six foot distance, washing hands for at least 20 seconds, staying home when you are sick and limiting unnecessary trips out in public is the best way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
For more information about COVID-19 call 417-357-6134.
In Missouri, the total cases as of Tuesday afternoon, April 14, were 4,686, with 133 deaths.
In surrounding counties, totals were as follows. Barry County: two positive cases, zero deaths. Taney County: seven positive cases, one death. Christian County: 19 positive cases, zero deaths. Lawrence County: zero positive cases.