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 Maricopa County Environmental Services continues to educate operators on personal hygiene practices, such as hand washing, not working when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes; as precautionary measures during this flu season and the coronavirus scare. The virus and the respiratory disease it causes, has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
The level of COVID-19 is considered to be low in Arizona, and Governor Doug Ducey declared a public health emergency for the State of Arizona, as a proactive measure to give state officials more leeway and tools to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
At this time, health authorities are focused concurrently on lessening the spread and impact of this virus. The federal government and the CDC are working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, CDC issued an Interim Guidance for Event Planners, strongly encouraging event organizers and staff to prepare for the possibility of outbreaks in their communities.
Creating an emergency plan for mass gatherings and large community events can help protect you and the health of your event participants and local community.
Everyone can do their part to help in the response to this emerging public health threat:
- Individuals and communities should familiarize themselves with recommendations to protect themselves and their communities from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses like COVID-19
- Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cough or sneeze in your sleeve or cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (use regular approved cleaning and sanitizing solutions)
Current risk assessment:
- For the majority of people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. There is not widespread circulation in most communities in the United States.
- People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure.
- Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring are also at elevated risk of exposure.
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The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in the feces of some patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The amount of virus released from the body (shed) in stool, how long the virus is shed, and whether the virus in stool is infectious are not known.
The risk of transmission of COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person is also unknown. However, the risk is expected to be low based on data from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). There have been no reports of fecal-oral transmission of COVID-19 to date.
There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.
CDC is reviewing all data on COVID-19 transmission as information becomes available. At this time, the risk of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 through sewerage systems is thought to be low. Although transmission of COVID-19 through sewage may be possible, there is no evidence to date that this has occurred. This guidance will be updated as necessary as new evidence is assessed.
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