On 12 occasions this week AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices regarding safety and security matters. 11 these alerts dealt with the worsening domestic and international public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus.
DOMESTIC TRAVEL ADVISORY
Beginning last Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, urging residents of these three state to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days. While the CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States, cases of coronavirus disease are widespread in each of these states, and in crowded travel settings, there may be an increased chance or getting or spreading COVID-19, particularly as it is possible to be shedding the virus while being completely asymptomatic.
FLORIDA HIGHWAY CHECKPOINTS
Last week, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-80 in response to a growing number of individuals fleeing these states, arriving in Florida and exposing residents to the disease. The action mandates individuals arriving in Florida from these states must isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from when they arrive, or for their entire stay if shorter than 14 days.
This week, DeSantis issued a new Executive Order extending the quarantine requirement to motorists arriving in Florida from areas with significant community spread (LA, NY, NJ, CT, etc..), and to require those persons to provide information, including in a written form, regarding the origin of their travel and the address of their location of isolation or quarantine for a period of 14 days. Failure to complete the form and failure to follow isolation or quarantine orders from the Dept. of Health are considered a violation of Florida law.
TEXAS HIGHWAY CHECKPOINTS
On Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order mandating a 14-day quarantine for road travelers arriving in Texas from any location in Louisiana. The self-quarantine procedure will mirror the process outlined in the Governor's previous Executive Order requiring mandatory self-quarantine for air travelers from the New York Tri-State Area and New Orleans.
These quarantine orders for both Florida and Texas do not apply to travel related to commercial activity, military service, emergency response, health response, or critical infrastructure functions.
ANOTHER 30 DAYS
Also on Sunday, President Donald Trump extended the voluntary national shutdown for another 30 days as sickness and death from the coronavirus pandemic continue to rise in the U.S
ROUGH TWO-WEEK PERIOD
On Tuesday afternoon during the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing, President Trump warned the nation to brace for a “rough two-week period” ahead as new projections indicate there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus pandemic even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained. Public health officials stress that the number could be less if people change their behavior. According to Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the Coronavirus Task Force, “We really believe we can do a lot better than that” if all Americans take seriously their role in preventing the spread of disease.
TROOPS TO THE BORDER
On Wednesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of an announcement by Gen. Terrance O’Shaughnessy, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, that the Dept. of Defense would be increasing the military presence on US/Mexico border to protect nation from possible COVID-19 migrants. Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Army North, said the additional 540 U.S. troops would help Border Patrol with newly granted authorities to apprehend and immediately return migrants potentially infected with COVID-19.
CDC RECOMMENDS MASKS
And on Friday, President Trump announced a new CDC recommendation that all Americans wear basic cloth masks, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission of the coronavirus. According to the CDC, recent studies show that a portion of individuals with coronavirus are "asymptomatic,” or not showing any symptoms, but can still transmit the virus to others. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity, including just speaking, even though no one might be exhibiting symptoms at that time.
In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as in grocery stores and pharmacies, and especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. For clarity, this is a voluntary public health measure, and is intended to compliment, and not replace, the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, which remains the cornerstone of the national effort to slow the spread of the disease.
DIY CLOTH MASK RESOURCES
Don't buy the masks online. Most are made in China anyhow. Make it at home.
CDC Homemade Cloth Face Coverings
Instructables DIY Cloth Face Mask
NYT How to Sew a Face Mask
The Olson Mask Pattern
OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)
WHO RISK OF SPREAD & IMPACT ASSESSMENT
China Very High
Regional Level Very High
Global Level Very High
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE RESOURCES
White House
The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America (PDF)
Official Coronavirus Information Pages:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization
Official Pandemic Preparedness Guidance:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Homeland Security / Ready.Gov
World Health Organization
Assorted Resources
(While some of the resources below were prepared for pandemic influenza, the broader guidance contain therein is directly applicable to the current coronavirus crisis).
Home Care for Patients w/ Suspected Coronavirus Infection
Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza
Fundamentals of Emergency Planning for Schools
Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID-19
Pub Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness & Response (SARS)
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
Faith-based & Community Org. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist
WHO Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning
Get Your Workplace Ready for Pandemic Flu
Dept of Defense Coronavirus Response Page
DHS Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights
View Last Week's Issue
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.