Moving Forward as a Community

A Message from the Downeast COVID-19 Task Force

Moving Forward as a Community ~ COVID-19 Guidance for Individuals and Businesses 

COVID-19 illness is currently ebbing in our community, public health policies are shifting, and it is critical to balance loosening of restrictions with effective approaches to keeping our community safe.

Here are key ways that you as a community member can continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19 to keep yourselves, your loved ones, and our community safe. 

1.     Be up to date on your vaccines. 

a.     Make sure you’ve had your first full round: 2 shots for Moderna or Pfizer and 1 shot for Johnson & Johnson (J&J). If you get your first shot today, you’ll have some protection after about a week. The CDC recommends Moderna or Pfizer over J&J.

b.     Make sure you are boosted when it is time (5 months after your last Moderna or Pfizer shot, or 2 months after your J&J shot). Protection from being boosted starts right after getting the booster dose. Boosters are recommended for all people ages 12 and over. Moderna or Pfizer are recommended for all, including those who received J&J for their first round.

2.     Mask in indoor public spaces to protect yourself and those around you if: a) that space requests masking, b) your health is compromised, c) you connect regularly with those who are vulnerable; or d) you choose to be as safe as possible. Be supportive of those who choose to mask, and those who choose not to. When you wear a mask, make sure it has a good fit. Medical-grade masks provide the best protection.

3.     Check in with the places you shop if you are looking for increased protection. If masks are not required, you can ask for curbside pickup, or ask for certain times with masks required.

4.     Choose thoughtfully when you gather. Being in crowded places increases your risk.

5.     Take a COVID-19 test if you are gathering outside your household with vulnerable people. This gives you valuable information to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

6.     If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t host or attend a gathering.

7.     Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

8.     If you are pregnant or otherwise at increased risk, seek immediate testing and treatment if you become ill.

Here are key ways that you as a business can continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19, to keep your employees, their families, your customers, and our community safe. 

1.     Encourage or require employees to be vaccinated and boosted (see details on vaccines above).

2.     Consider requiring your employees to be masked. Unmasked employees increase your risk of multiple staff absences, exacerbating labor shortages and harming your business.

3.     Consider offering and publicizing specific times and/or areas where universal masking is required. This can protect those in our community who are more vulnerable by giving them more protective times to engage with your business.

4.     Offer curbside pickup.

5.     Ensure indoor spaces do not get crowded. Allow for physical distancing among customers as well as employees.

6.     Offer hand sanitizer in easily accessible places.

7.     Ensure employees can stay home if unwell.

8.     Maximize ventilation with outside, HEPA filtered, or UV treated air.