Now is not the time to let your (COVID-19) guard down!

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Encompass Health

Posted on

Feb 23, 2021

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Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties

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With two COVID-19 vaccines now being distributed, a sense of relief and anticipation is in the air. The first two vaccines have a 95% effectiveness rating. The fact that there are another three vaccines in phase 3 clinical trials certainly sweetens the deal.
This long-awaited news is promising. However, that doesn't mean its time to let our guard down. We must remain vigilant in our now routine measures of infection control namely handwashing, social distancing and wearing masks.
Because of the limited supply of the vaccine, it is being distributed in phases and vaccinating those at greatest risk and exposure first. That means it could be several months before the vaccine is available to the general public.
As predicted, cases and hospitalizations have continued to rise since the holidays, and we can only expect that to continue in the first few weeks of the new year.
We are all tired of this pandemic, but we also know that many lives can be saved in the next few months by reducing the spread of COVID-19 before the vaccine is widely distributed to the public.
Until then, here are some reminders from the CDC on how to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep you and your loved ones safe:

Wear a mask in public. Make sure it covers both your nose and mouth.
Keep your distance. Six feet or two arm lengths is still the recommended distance to keep from those outside your household.
Stay out of poorly ventilated spaces.
Avoid crowds.
Wash your hands. Soap and water is preferred, but keep sanitizer readily available when that's not an option.
If you feel sick, do not come to work! Seek medical care if appropriate.

While we can finally see a light at the end of this long tunnel, we still are months away from being back to normal. In the meantime, following these simple guidelines could save lives.

Submitted & Written By: Encompass Health- click here to learn more.

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Local Services By This Author

Encompass Health

Rehabilitation Services 6400 Edgelake Dr., Sarasota, Florida, 34240

We are focused on two things: the progress our patients make and the outcomes they achieve. This is evident by our industry-leading performance scores. We want you to get better; and to make that happen, we need to know where you began. Upon arrival at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota, we will measure how much help you need to perform basic skills - this is called your Functional Outcome Measures. Your rehabilitation team will review this assessment with you, set challenging but attainable goals and design a treatment plan to help you meet your specific goals. Before you leave the hospital, we will rescore your Functional Outcome Measures assessment to see how much you've improved, determine how well you have met your goals and provide you the materials and training you need to continue your progress after you leave the hospital. We proudly display our Gold Seal of Approval as we have earned the JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITATION.