A letter from local health care leaders on continued covid-19 safety measures

A letter from local health care leaders,

Over the past three months, our organizations have proudly come together in an unprecedented fashion to address the enormous challenges we have faced as a community due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This public health crisis is unlike anything most of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes, and it is only through a collective focus and response by health care leaders, our business community, and everyone who calls western Pennsylvania home that we can manage this pandemic in a manner that minimizes its serious associated health risks while also protecting the short and long-term economic well-being of our region.

Despite success, the virus remains a threat. In recent days, the number of COVID-19-infected patients has risen locally and across the country. We remain ready to provide care for patients — but we also need you to take some important steps to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

We believe it imperative to not lose our focus on the basic steps that allow each of us to help all of us — protecting ourselves, our friends, and our family members, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The latter includes the elderly, but also people with other compromising medical conditions — and it isn’t always easy to know who those individuals are at a glance. So we all must do the simple things that matter the most in helping to prevent illness and death during this pandemic — for the young, our seniors, and everyone.

As health care leaders, we ask the people of this region to:

• Wear protective masks whenever you’re around others and wear them correctly (cover your nose and mouth) … do it for yourself, and do it for others.
• Wash your hands and clean high-touch surfaces often … make it a habit.
• Practice physical distancing everywhere, staying 6 feet apart.
• If you have symptoms that you think could be COVID-19 or a respiratory illness, stay home and call your doctor.
• If you feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19, but have no symptoms, stay at home and call your doctor.That allows the best planning for possible testing and care.
• Finally, be kind to each other. A little more thoughtfulness, understanding, and tolerance for the inconveniences we are experiencing may be the best medicine of all.

Thank you.  Be safe and well.