The weekly COVID-19 News Conference – held Tuesday at 10:00am in the Cherokee County Administration Building included some frank discussion regarding COVID-19 data from the ADPH.

Those who’ve been following the information on the ADPH COVID-19 Surveillance and Data Dashboard may’ve noticed numbers not exactly in line with some reports coming from the Cherokee County EMA Office, and that’s been a bone of contention between the Department of Public Health and local EMA Director Shawn Rogers:

During that meeting, Rogers also addressed the need for the Alabama Department of Public Health to issue accurate information in a timely manner:

Use Healthy Practices to Protect Yourself

The best way to stay healthy is to follow these steps from the CDC:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wear a cloth face covering to cover your mouth and nose when around others as physical distancing is not always possible. People may spread the infection even prior to having symptoms and you could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. Don’t place coverings on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Learn more.

• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away after use. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, computers, phones, keyboards, sinks, toilets, faucets and countertops.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them.  Use detergent, or soap and water, prior to disinfecting. Find full information on how to disinfect here.
• Wear a facemask if you are sick. You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.

This week’s COVID-19 News Conference has also been posted in its entirety on our Facebook page