COVID-19: We must take action.
IMPORTANT UPDATE 6/5/20: Beginning on June 5, Allegheny County will move to the green phase of Governor Wolf’s three-phase plan for re-opening Pennsylvania. While the green phase eases many restrictions, it is still important to maintain social distancing, wear a mask, wash hands frequently, limit large gatherings, and adhere to other guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about what this means.
As the COVID-19 outbreak threatens our community, we are all experiencing drastic changes in our lives – and being called to take drastic actions. Young, healthy people, like many who participate with PUMP, have a unique and vital role to play in the challenge facing our community.
Contrary to the narrative that young people do not have to worry as much about getting sick, CDC analysis shows that many young people who contract COVID-19 develop serious complications and require hospitalization. Even if you are not showing any symptoms, you could still have been exposed to COVID-19 and could be spreading it to your community.
As more people require hospitalization, our medical system’s limited resources will be depleted and healthcare workers will be overburdened. That’s why we all need to do our part to “flatten the curve.” Choosing to stay home and follow prevention practices can help keep yourself and those around you safe – while also slowing down the transmission of the virus to our most vulnerable populations, including older adults and people of all ages with other health conditions.
The choice to stay home will literally save lives.
The health and safety of ALL in our community including those who we directly serve and support through PUMP activities is and always will be our hw a very fluid and rapidly changing situation which we continue to monitor daily via the Allegheny County Health Depiartment, PA Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control.
Here are some of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your community:
- Stay home.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds,
- Disinfect surfaces regularly.
- Never touch your face with unclean hands.
- If you must go out, stay at least six feet away from others and wear a mask.
- If you think you might be sick with COVID-19, follow these guidelines.
- Sign up for Allegheny Alerts to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 locally.
- Take care of your mental health during this stressful time. Check out tips from the CDC on managing stress and anxiety and find local support.
Other resources to help you and your community stay safe:
- Info about COVID-19 from the Allegheny County Health Department is available in multiple languages
- Use the CDC’s self-checker to evaluate your symptoms
- CMU Researchers Share Advice for Spotting Fake COVID-19 News (Pittsburgh Magazine)
- As discrimination against Asian populations has been increasing in around the world and in the U.S., the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations is a resource to report discrimination – read their full statement
Check out our other COVID-19 resources: