Protecting Yourself Against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) COVID-19 Information for Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Made for Those Living and/or Working in Georgia Published: November 2020 What is COVID-19 and How Does it Spread? Coronaviruses are a large group of different viruses. The new coronavirus, COVID-19, is easily spread from person to person and can cause serious medical problems for some people. The virus spreads in the air when a person sneezes, coughs, shakes hands, or gets close to another person. Sometimes, a person who does not look or feel sick may have the virus and share it with others. This is why it is important for everyone to practice prevention, not just those who are sick. How Can You Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19? When possible, it is best to practice multiple prevention strategies to protect you and your family from COVID-19. This is known as "layered protection." Wear a face covering or mask Wash your hands Engage in safe housing and transportation Social distance Clean and sanitize surfaces Practicing all of these activities together will keep you the safest Wear a Face Covering or Mask Wear a face covering or a mask when outside if you are near other people. If you are unable to wear a face mask for any reason, or if you are taking a water break or food break, you should practice social distancing. Social distancing is important at all times but especially important when you are not wearing a mask. Cloth face coverings should: Fit snugly but allow for comfortable breathing Be secured with ties or ear loops Include multiple layers of fabric Be washable Do not touch the outside of your mask or face covering after you wear it. The virus may be on it. Take it off with the loops or ties. Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. It is best to have two or more cloth face coverings available. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/aboutface-coverings.html Cloth face coverings are preferred by CDC. If using disposable masks, they should be removed and discarded if soiled, damaged, or hard to breathe through. They should be discarded and a new disposable mask used the next day. Social Distance Social distancing means that you should stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from other people. In areas where social distancing may not be maintained, for example in packing houses, consider adding partitions or creating barriers between employees using available materials. 6 FT 2 M Try to stay 6 feet Avoid physical Go to public from other people contact such as places only when when working, shaking hands necessary and where you live, and or hugging avoid large crowds. T in public places. other people. How long is 6 feet (2 meters)? Two (2) blueberry bushes Every other field row The width of a 15-passenger van Wash Your Hands Washing your hands often is the best way to stay healthy. Wash with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds. Quick Tip Sing "Happy Birthday" twice as an easy way to remember how long you should wash your hands. 20 Sec. Hand sanitizer is not a replacement for washing hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands with an adequate amount of sanitizer. Your hands should be wet with sanitizer. Rub them together until they are dry. You should not dry your hands off on clothing or a towel. Do not touch your face after washing your hands. Clean and Sanitize Clean and disinfect surfaces often. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of recommended disinfectants that are effective against COVID-19. See their list for examples of specific brands you may use below: www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-againstsars-cov-2-covid-19 If surface is visibly dirty, clean with soap and water first. Apply sanitizer for the recommended amount of time. This is known as the "contact time." If you are wearing disposable gloves, throw them away after cleaning with them. If you are using reusable gloves, make sure to use the same gloves each time and only for COVID-19 cleaning. Take special care to sanitize the following items regularly. Cell phones Tools and equipment Frequently touched surfaces Door handles, light switches... Remote controls Furniture Bathroom surfaces Examples of cleaning products you can use: Bleach Wait 10 minutes before wiping off a surface Disinfectant Spray Wait 2 minutes before wiping off a surface All Purpose Cleaner Wait 3 minutes before wiping off a surface Engage in Safe Housing If you are sleeping in a shared space such as in barracks or in an apartment/home, sleep head to toe. Curtain for extra protection Try to stay 6 feet (2 meters) away from everyone around you. If you are unable to keep 6 feet distance between you and the person next to you, hang a curtain, sheet, or blanket between you for extra protection. When in common areas such as the kitchen or living room, keep 6 ft away and wear a face covering or mask. Even while cooking or eating together outside, playing games, or spending time outside of work, practice social distancing. If you are sleeping in a hotel, ask your farm manager or the hotel manager what rules or policies they have in place to keep you protected from COVID-19. If there is a gym, or other hotel-specific shared space, practice social distancing and wear a face covering. In areas where face masks may be difficult to wear, like a pool, social distancing is even more important and should be strictly followed. Engage in Safe Transportation When carpooling to work or going out in public: Try to limit the number of people in the vehicle Wear your face mask Cover your coughs and sneezes Ride with the same coworkers every day Clean and disinfect surfaces often If possible, try to skip a row between seats Open windows or vents for fresh air, if weather permits Aerial view What are the Symptoms of COVID-19? The virus affects people in many different ways. Some people do not feel sick. Some people feel very sick and need to go to the hospital. COVID-19 symptoms may start 214 days after coming into contact with the virus: Headache Fever*, Chills Or Shaking Sore Throat Loss Of Taste Or Smell Cough** Muscle Pain Difficulty Breathing Older adults and people who have other medical problems, like diabetes and heart or lung disease, may get even sicker if they get the virus. If you have trouble breathing, pain or pressure in your chest, your lips or face look blue, confusion, or have trouble waking up and getting out of bed, call 911. These are signs of a medical emergency. This list does not contain all possible symptoms of COVID-19. To see the most up-to-date list of known symptoms please visit the Symptoms of Coronavirus CDC page at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html *If your temperature is 100.4F/38C or higher, you have a fever. **Do not cough into your hand. Cover your mouth with your elbow. What Should You Do if You Feel Sick? Stay home and do not leave except to get medical care until you have completed your isolation according to DPH guidance. Follow guidance from your health care provider. If you live at home, separate yourself from other people and pets. Don't share the bathroom. If you live in shared housing, separate yourself from other workers. Get rest, stay hydrated and check your temperature. 20 SEC Wash your hands often. Wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces every day. Do not share personal items with other people. Wash with soap and hot water after using them. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing, your lips or face look blue, or you have pain or pressure in your chest. Most people with COVID-19 recover without medical care. For specific isolation guidelines, please see the Georgia Department of Public Health's web page below: dph.georgia.gov/isolation-contact Coping With Stress COVID-19 may cause extra stress, worry, and sadness. This is normal. Here are some ways to cope with stress: Do something you enjoy like dance or take a walk Listen to music Talk with friends and family Take deep breaths, stretch, meditate or pray Eat well-balanced meals and drink lots of water Rest Talk to your doctor or counselor Depression happens when sadness lasts more than two weeks and starts to affect other parts of your life. A person who is depressed may notice: Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy Change in weight from eating more or less than usual Feeling irritable or exhausted Sleeping more or less than usual Pain that won't go away and isn't from a medical problem Feeling very guilty or worthless Trouble remembering or concentrating If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or call 911 You may also call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL): 800-715-4225 Resources Information on Testing Testing for COVID-19 is free of charge at your local health department and at other locations, regardless of symptoms. Your results should come back in 27 days. You do not need identification to receive a COVID-19 test. Where Can I Get Tested? Your local Health Department will test you for free, but you should make an appointment. You can find phone numbers or instructions for scheduling online at: dph.georgia.gov/covidtesting There may be pharmacies or drive-thru testing sites in your area. Please ask about cost before making an appointment. If you do not have internet access, you can call 866-PUB-HLTH for additional assistance and information about COVID-19. Se habla espaol. For more information on COVID-19 and additional guidelines, please see the websites below Georgia Department of Public Health: dph.georgia.gov/farmworkerhealth Georgia Department of Agriculture: agr.georgia.gov/COVID-19.aspx Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association: gfvga.org The information in this booklet is based on current Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. These recommendations may change as scientists learn more about COVID-19. Visit www.cdc.gov/COVID19 for more information.