Monitoring Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The City of Parkland is monitoring the latest information about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Florida Department of Health (DOH), and Broward County. We will continue to evaluate and modify our plan as necessary. We advise residents to follow the basic preventive actions for all respiratory viruses and remain updated from official, reliable sources including CDC.gov, floridahealth.gov, broward.floridahealth.gov, and broward.org.

What is Coronavirus Disease 2019?

Coronavirus is a new disease and we are still learning about the severity of illness it causes, but the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel Coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is Coronavirus Disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19.

What preventive actions can I take?

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Follow simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases: wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, dry hands with a clean towel, avoid touching your face, stay home when you are sick, avoid close contact with people who are sick, eat well-balanced meals and get adequate sleep, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a disinfectant household cleaning spray or wipe, and call your doctor before visiting the doctor’s office. View more information on COVID-19 prevention here.

Practice Social Distancing

Social distancing measures are taken to restrict when and where people can gather to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings, and canceling events. Keep at least six feet between you and other people. Avoid shaking hands, fist bumps, and hugging. Limit interactions especially if you are 65 or older and have underlying or chronic health conditions such as compromised immunity, diabetes, or heart or lung disease. Be smart, be responsible, be considerate, stay home and let’s work together to practice social distancing. View more information on social distancing here.

Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings when conducting essential activities away from home to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure. The CDC offers several examples on how to make a homemade cloth face covering and includes directions for those who can sew and others who may not be able to, learn more at: https://bit.ly/39Rcdig.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

Cloth face coverings should: fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for breathing without restriction, and be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Symptoms

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. Symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath may appear 2-14 days after exposure. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.