Newsletter: Friday, June 5
June is here and the summer weather is too!
In this week’s newsletter, learn about how to stay safe as Oregon begins reopening communities and we are all tempted to spend more time outside in the sunshine.
We would first like to acknowledge the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. In case you missed it, please view this post to read Community Pathways’ response to and support for the movement.
Keeping Safe during the Reopening
Oregon is slowly starting to reopen businesses and outdoor areas like state parks. The Governor’s plan to reopen includes phases that are done in a slow and cautious manner. The Governor has been working with doctors and public health experts to create guidance for businesses and individuals as they reopen. This guidance includes way in which businesses can make public spaces as safe as possible; it’s important to remember that no space will be 100% safe.
Phases of Reopening
There are three phases to reopening Oregon. Right now, most of Oregon’s counties are in “Phase 1” of reopening. Some counties are less populated, meaning there is a decreased risk of the virus spreading quickly and getting out of control; those counties entered phase 1 early and some are starting to enter into phase 2. Multnomah county, which encompasses much of Portland, is one of the last counties to enter Phase 1 because Portland is the most populated city in Oregon.
Businesses are required to follow “Statewide: Baseline Reopening” guidelines (see visual below) to maintain social distancing and promote other safety precautions during early reopening stages. Read regulations for Phase 1 reopening here. Phase 3 won’t happen until a treatment or vaccine can help quickly stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
Image Source: Oregon.gov
It might seem like life is getting back to “normal” but reopening does not mean that the virus is gone. In many ways, reopening means that we need to be more aware of our safety and hygiene than ever before. “The biggest thing to remember before venturing forth: Many people spreading the virus appear perfectly healthy, so a strategy of simply avoiding people who look sick won’t work.” According to this news article from OregonLive, some studies have found that anywhere from 44% to 62% of people with the disease got it from someone who did not show symptoms.
What can I do to Stay Safe?
We should continue to follow CDC’s recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19 even after our communities begin to re-open. In this video, the Office of Developmental Disability Services recommends steps to take in order to prevent the spread of the virus now and during the reopening of our communities.
Plan ahead and shop when stores are least crowded.
Wash hands often and use hand sanitizer
Wear a clean face covering
Keep a safe social distance (6 feet or more) and avoid people who are sick
Cover your cough and sneezes
Disinfect surfaces routinely touched
Stay home if you are sick and tell someone if you are not feeling well
It is important to realize that there is an increased risk of being exposed to the virus every time we go out in public and we are around people. If you are thinking about going out, talk with a support person about the risk.
As we begin to think about going out, we must continue to be cautious and limit our risk of exposure. It is still recommended that we reduce the amount of times we leave our home. We must not forget about maintaining social distance and wearing a face covering. Changing our behavior may be difficult at first. As with most things, over time these tasks will become second nature. We can also encourage one another to practice the things that keep us safer. Create a system to track where you go and whom you have been in contact with. This information can be beneficial in preventing the spread of the virus and may be needed at a later date. Read our newsletter from May 22nd for more information on contract tracing.
We can create new habits. Remember, if we don’t practice safety and the virus spreads, our community will close down again.
It is hard to be patient. We want to return to our “normal” lifestyles. However, reopening in phases is not the return to “normal”. Reopening is a way to help our economy. We need to remember that the Coronavirus spreads quickly and can cause serious illness and even death. There is currently not a cure or vaccine. As our communities reopen, the number one priority is to keep each other safe. Our leaders and lawmakers want to protect our health more than anything else.
““In picking our path forward, we seek the least harm possible to our community.””
Read more about adjusting to our new normal in a post issued by Oregon Support Services Association.
Customer Spotlight of the Week
It has been so nice to share with you what our PA’s have been up to the last few weeks! But we also want to share stories from other customers at Community Pathways who are adjusting to their “new normal,” too. Some people are doing very creative things at home to stay happy and healthy, and we thought you might want to hear their ideas!
Kimi and her mom play games and cook together at home. But mostly, Kimi has been dancing! She started dancing in high school dance class. She loves to dance to pop, country, show music, and more.
At home, Kimi loves to watch Joseph Corella at 567Broadway! She has awesome moves! Check out her dancing along with 567Broadway! here, and dance along if the mood strikes.
Kimi also loves to watch Zumba concerts. She shared a link to a concert with her favorite teacher, Alberto “Beto” Perez, so you can dance with him, too!
Kimi’s dancing inspired us to get up and move to our favorite music at home. We hope it helps you, too!
Do you have a favorite hobby at home? We want to hear about it!
Write to pcantlon@communitypath.org to share.
Your privacy is important to us. We won’t put your story in our newsletter (unless you want us to)!
