covid messaging for field - angsg/peripheral-brain GitHub Wiki

  1. The following is guidance based on the most current information. Be advised this is a rapidly evolving threat, and all service members should remain attentive for updates and changes as we respond to this novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

  2. The coronavirus is today a major threat to the military readiness of every National Guard unit.

  3. GENERAL MEASURES for FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION: The threat can be lowered if you take certain actions.

    a. The first important action is determining whether you should attend drill (IDT), annual training (AT), or other missions.

    • STAY HOME if you are sick with acute symptoms of a cold or respiratory flu-like illness. In particular stay home if you have a fever greater than 100.4° F.

    • STAY HOME if you are getting sick with the symptoms of a cold or the flu.

    • STAY HOME if someone you live with is sick with the symptoms of a cold or the flu.

    b. NOTIFY YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND:

    • If you decide to stay home, you must notify your chain of command by phone immediately and explain your circumstances.

    • In addition, if you have travelled to China, South Korea, Italy, or Iran in the past month, notify your chain of command before deciding to come to drill.

    • We recommend keeping a record of who you spoke with and the date/time of the call.

    c. PREVENTION: The second important action is to lower your risk of catching the coronavirus in your daily life.

    • IF YOU HAVE NOT YET HAD AN INFLUENZA SHOT, GET ONE. It is a regulatory requirement to maintain your medical readiness.

    • WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY. The virus can be spread on things that other people have touched.

    • KEEP HAND SANITIZER IN YOUR CAR. Wash your hands every time you get in the car.

    • DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE. This is difficult to do, but it will stop a major way of catching the virus.

    • STOP SMOKING. Your lungs will become more resistant to infection in just a few days because of all the tar and impurities in cigarette smoke.

    • GET PLENTY OF SLEEP. Your immune system is weaker when you are sleep deprived.

    • EAT HEALTHY AND DRINK SUFFICIENT WATER.

    • STAY OUT OF THE GYM. There are lots of people touching lots of surfaces there.

    • DON’T EXERCISE TO EXHAUSTION. Exhaustion weakens your immune system.

    • DON’T RISK SPREADING THE VIRUS to other people, even if you feel well.

  4. COUGH INTO YOUR ELBOW. Don’t cough into your hand.

  5. WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.

  6. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE. xi. AVOID SICK PEOPLE to reduce your own risk. xii. IF YOU GET SICK WHILE AT DRILL, do NOT go to your medical section. Instead, telephone them, so you don’t run the risk of contaminating the entire section. You will receive instructions on how to proceed.

  7. No one knows how long the epidemic will last or how much it will grow. Follow these basic principles and stay flexible.

  8. Additional guidance is as follows: a. This is an evolving situation, daily. The latest information from the CDC can be obtained at this URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html. b. At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. c. Nonpharmaceutical interventions are actions (as noted above, apart from getting vaccinated and taking medicine) that people and communities can take to help slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.

    d. Currently, nonpharmaceutical interventions are the most important response strategy against COVID-19.

    e. All communities can take measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in getting ready and staying healthy.