COVID Control

How will YOU HELP end the COVID pandemic?

One COVID PEEL measure or a few, everything you do counts!

Want COVID to end? It is up to YOU!

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Worth in Wearing Masks

The vital role of masks in ending the COVID pandemic

Masks have proven to be a key tool in ending pandemics for centuries. Masks offer primary protection and basic infection control when airborne diseases such as COVID are a threat. They provide a needed barrier to help stop viruses that may be floating in air from entering and exiting noses and mouths. In simple terms, wearing masks decreases risk of breathing in and/or breathing out contagious germs, regardless of vaccination status. 

There is a battle between mask motivate, mask mandate, and mask negate. The fact is, whether you choose to wear masks or not, an airborne pandemic as contagious as COVID will not end without efforts such as masks that prevent passing on infection.

Masks are vital to your defense when viral germs are in the air.

See the questions that follow for more on motivation to mask. 

Masks. We won’t end the pandemic without them.

Well-fitting masks help prevent breathing in infectious germs floating in air. Masks also prevent breathing germs into the air that might infect others. COVID is an airborne virus, meaning it floats in the air. Without masks, the virus will continue to spread. Masks are the first and most effective line of protection for everyone (vaccinated or not).
Masks should have layers and be able to block particles floating in air. If your nose and mouth can be seen through the mask, it may not be protective. N95 masks and some KN95 masks are usually best options for blocking most germs floating in air. Cloth masks with multiple layers of breathable fabric and surgical masks usually provide protection too.
First thing is to wear a mask whenever away from home. Masks should cover the nose and mouth at all times. A flexible nose bridge helps keep some masks in place. The mask should fit snug around sides of face with no gaps. Ear loops or head straps should be adjusted to help secure a snug fit. Well-fitted masks should not affect breathing.
Everyone should wear a mask when away from home, when with others that do not live in your home, or if with someone at home who is sick. Vaccinated persons and unvaccinated persons should wear masks to prevent breathing in or breathing out potentially infectious germs through the air. Though the risk is lower, vaccinated persons can get COVID and can pass COVID to others.
Homemade masks work and help prevent COVID spread as long as the masks are made of multiple layers of breathable fabric. Inserting a layer of N95-type material provides more protection. Cloth masks work best if light cannot be seen through the fabric. If light or your face can be seen through the mask, it may not provide protection against germs floating in air.
Masks should be worn when away from home; when with others that do not live in your home; or if someone in your home is sick or has been diagnosed with COVID. Masks should also be worn in the home if someone in the home is isolated or in quarantine due to potential exposure to COVID.
Yes. Everyone should wear a mask as long as we are in a pandemic. COVID vaccines help limit risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. However, vaccines do not block or stop infectious COVID germs while floating in air. Though the risk is lower, vaccinated persons can be infected with COVID and can pass COVID to others.
Some. A face covering is worn on the face and covers the nose and mouth. Face coverings help control entry or exit of particles from the nose or mouth into the air. However, they may not offer complete respiratory or fluid barrier protection. Face coverings are not substitutes for N95 respirators or surgical masks. Some masks are a type of face covering.
In general, a mask mandate means people are required to wear masks in some public settings and/or outdoors when unable to maintain six (6) feet of distance from others. Mandates vary by community or entity. Mandates are typical public health efforts to protect all people from infection when in public or away from home.

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When away from home, spread out… don’t help spread COVID!


Want out of this pandemic? See the information below for more information on safety in social distancing.

Safe Your Space!

Safety in Social Distance

Too close for comfort may be contagious

Keeping a safe distance between self and others can prevent exchange of airborne viral germs. This sacrificial effort can and does save lives during a pandemic. Social distancing includes limiting time meeting in public spaces and/or facility settings, as well as avoiding mass gatherings and crowds. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests at least six (6) feet of distance make a difference. Personal space has never been more important than it is today. Whether in line, in restaurants, at group events, or a family barbecue…if you must go wherever you go, keep a safe distance from others that do not live in your household. 

More gatherings mean more close contact, which means more COVID cases, which prolongs the pandemic. The return to pre-pandemic normal will be delayed without social distancing to help prevent new COVID infections. “Safe your space” if and when possible.

Minimize Handshakes

Handshakes can transfer germs from one person to another. A handshake transfers four times the amount of bacteria than a fist bump does, according to a West Virginia University study. Consider an elbow bump or avoid touching altogether. Sanitize hands between touches!

Wide Spaces at Work

Putting distance between you and coworkers helps to minimize risk of spreading COVID germs. Workspace that allows you to avoid sharing items and/or touching spaces that others may frequently touch helps. Also, use disinfectant to clean all surfaces periodically.

Limit and Space out Guests

COVID goes where people go. The more people there are in one space at the same time, the more likely COVID transmission can occur. Limit the number of guests invited to events to allow for adequate social distancing. Seat guests far apart (at least six feet) as much as possible.

Dine with Distance

As restaurants open to allow more guests, try dining in places that take COVID precautions to ensure safe distancing and wide-open spaces. Restaurants with a “mask until meal” practice have taken efforts to minimize spread by requiring masks unless eating.

Simply put, social distancing means reducing close contact between you and others or staying at least six (6) feet apart. It also means limiting attendance to group gatherings and avoiding activities away from home unless absolutely necessary. If you must interact with others outside of home, "safe your space" by maintaining adequate distance and wearing a mask.
Because viruses can spread via talking, coughing, sneezing, breathing, and close contact, social distancing helps reduce chances of getting or spreading COVID to family, friends, or in your community. If going out is necessary, safe distancing makes public interaction less risky.
In a pandemic, everyone, including those with COVID vaccines, should practice safe distancing. Those at higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19 (65+ years of age; chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD) should especially practice social distancing.
Regulatory officials may make rules and take actions to decrease the spread of airborne diseases. Social distancing measures may restrict when and where people can gather and may limit group sizes or types of events. Businesses may also limit facility capacity.
Based on the infection process and pandemic history, contagious diseases go where people go. Any group gathering or close interaction is an opportunity for infection. It does not mean infection will always occur, but it does mean it is possible. As such, social distancing lessens crowds, lessens contact, and lessens possible spread of COVID.
One thing that has expanded during the pandemic is the potential of technology. While not the same as direct contact, virtual means such as cell phones, text, video conference, web-based learning, and social media are alternative ways to stay connected. We’re not alone when we stay connected.
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Vaccine Vantage Point

Value and validity of COVID vaccines

Our hope for eradicating COVID-19 relies on the value and benefit of COVID vaccines. Vaccines along with masking and social distancing have been important in ending pandemics throughout history. Many communicable diseases of the past are no longer threats because of vaccines. ​​

Vaccines build antibodies that help make people immune to vaccine-specific virus. Immunity works to neutralize or limit the impact of a virus on the body if a person becomes infected. 

After millions of doses, COVID-19 vaccines have been determined safe and effective in increasing immunity against COVID-19 virus. COVID vaccines may not prevent everyone from getting COVID-19, but if a vaccinated individual is infected with COVID-19, chances of survival are greater than for those who are not vaccinated.

More information on the vaccines currently used in the U.S. can be found via the images below.

Vaccines help the body build resistance to certain viruses or other germs. This means a vaccinated person is better prepared to fight off illness and/or is better able to survive should they become infected by a virus. Vaccines protect the recipient by lowering the chance of getting infected or becoming severely ill if exposed to the virus or related germs at a later time.
Vaccines help the body develop immunity to defend against viruses. Imagine the body is a territory to protect. Then imagine a virus as an attacker, and immunity as the body's main guard. Without trained guards, the attacker can enter the body, take over, and cause illness or death. Now consider vaccines as the body's training and preparation. Vaccines give the body a chance to prepare for an attack and create a guard. The guard (immunity) prevents the attacker (virus) from taking over and causing severe illness or death. The defense provided by immunity is developed by vaccines.
Vaccines typically include particles that imitate or act like a specific virus. This helps the body become familiar with the virus and prepare to defend against future attacks. The ability to recognize and defend against viruses after getting a vaccine or having a viral illness is immunity. Immunity is the body's main defense if a virus or other germ tries to attack. Because vaccines build immunity, they help prevent severe illness or death.
The vaccines were developed and authorized much faster than many vaccines in the past. However, because research and development of related technology began years before COVID-19 occurred, much of the process was already underway. Scientists were able to use familiar technology to create the vaccines. Though the COVID vaccines were authorized quicker than past vaccines, the trial process for safety and efficacy was completed as required. With advances in medical technology, future trends may show quicker development of other vaccines and treatments.
First, approval and authorization are not the same. The vaccines were initially authorized for emergency use; they were not immediately approved. In a pandemic, urgent strategies are needed for a safe and quick way to stop the spread. If trial phases prove safety and efficacy of a possible solution (in this case the vaccine) and the benefit of the solution is much greater than any potential risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may provide emergency use authorization. After millions of doses of vaccines were administered over several months, the FDA determined that sufficient safety was established to support approval of some vaccines. Further research has resulted in recommendations for booster vaccines as well.
Throughout history, pandemics have ended due to a combination of both non-pharmaceutical (masks and social distancing) and pharmaceutical (vaccine) measures. If someone is vaccinated, their risk of illness from COVID is greatly reduced. If enough people are vaccinated, the overall risk of COVID transmission will decline to rates that no longer support pandemic status. Also, when greater than 70% of the population is fully vaccinated, herd immunity may be established. Herd immunity typically limits risk of further large outbreaks. Herd immunity also reduces the number of people who are susceptible to infection. Without new people to attack, the virus eventually dies down and the pandemic ends.
COVID-19 is an airborne virus, meaning it travels in the air and can be breathed in and/or breathed out and transmitted between persons. Vaccines do not stop viruses from circulating in the air. However, vaccines provide protection that helps minimize risk of becoming ill or becoming contagious if exposed to virus in the air. There remains a risk of infection and transmission after vaccination, but the risk of severe illness or death is much less than for persons who are not vaccinated. As vaccines may not completely "prevent" COVID, safety measures such as masks help prevent "breakthrough infection".
Vaccines alone may not be enough to end the COVID pandemic. When vaccines are combined with safety measures that prevent breathing in or breathing out virus in air, viruses have little chance to survive. Masks and social distancing remain important as long as "pandemic" status applies. Once we are no longer in a pandemic, masks may no longer be necessary.
While current vaccines were developed prior to the discovery of most COVID-19 variants, the vaccines do provide some underlying protection against variants. Persons who are vaccinated have a greater chance of surviving COVID-19 in any variant form. However, the longer we remain in a pandemic and COVID rates are sustained, the greater the potential to see additional variants.
Variants are basically changes in a virus' form. Think of variants as copies of copies of viruses. As COVID continues to spread, more copies of copies of the virus are made. As more copies are created, newer versions may not look the same as the original version. These ongoing copies cause changes that create variants. Because variants do not look exactly like the initial virus, they may not respond to initial vaccines in the same way. However, there remains some protection with vaccines. Some protection is better than none.

Vaccine Options

COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. currently include three options with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization or approval.
How Vaccines Work
Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine Information

Moderna Vaccine Information
Janssen/Johnson and Johnson Vaccine Information

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Not willing to be vaccinated? Will you commit to one of the other COVID-control measures?

Other COVID-Control Measures

Handwashing and Sanitizing

Unclean hands make it easy to spread germs and cause illness. Germs collect on hands and on items hands touch. Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or with hand sanitizer can help prevent getting or spreading germs to stay healthy. Wash hands often and after touching dirty items, body parts, body substances, animals, or items touched by others. Also wash hands after touching your mask.

Clean Hands Basics
Quarantine and Isolation

Quarantine and isolation prevent spreading illnesses to others while possibly contagious. If you are not near anyone, you cannot infect anyone!  Quarantine should occur when exposed to COVID and before symptoms develop (in case infection has occurred but is not yet obvious). Quarantine 10-14 days if in direct contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Isolation should occur if one or more symptoms develop.  Isolate immediately and up to 14 days (or longer if symptoms continue to exist and positive COVID test results).

Avoid Passing It On
Disinfecting

Cleaning surfaces is a basic way to reduce the presence of germs and help control the spread of COVID. If infectious germs are floating in air, they can land on hard surfaces and items. Though not the major way viruses are spread, contaminated surfaces can be a source of contagion. Use a disinfectant cleaner to wipe down items and surfaces that are frequently touched, shared with others, or visibly dirty.

Keeping Things Clean