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Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: vacant, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Katherine Rakow, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith Tuesday August 18, 2020 Together Our Actions Can Help Save 66,000 Lives! The COVID-19 pandemic is now the third leading cause of death in the country, ahead of accidents, injuries, lung disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many, many other causes. Heart disease and cancer are the first and second leading causes of death. The coronavirus has caused more than 173,000 deaths in the USA, and in recent weeks has killed more than 1,000 people per day. Recently, Americans were eight times more likely to get killed by COVID than were Europeans. Young people, including children, are making up an increasing proportion of the new cases. How many people are expected to die in the days to come? Using more than several dozen models, the CDC projects that 180,000 to 200,000 people will die in the USA by Labor Day. The University of Public Health Brief Richard O. Johnson, M.D., MPH Nichole Williamson Public Health Officer HHS Director Office: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 249 Office: [PHONE REDACTED] e-mail: [EMAIL REDACTED] 24/7/365 Emergency Contact Number Dispatch: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 330 Warm Line: [PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: vacant, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Katherine Rakow, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith Washington predicts that almost 300,000 people will die of the virus by December 1st. That is the bad news, But the good news is that their projection is based on 50% of Americans wearing face coverings. If 95% of us wore masks, the number of deaths would be cut by 66,000! Each of us needs to ask ourselves the following questions: - When you are in a vehicle, do you wear a seatbelt? - If you are a firefighter, do you wear turnouts and a helmet and sometimes an SCBA? - If you are law enforcement personnel, have you ever worn a Kevlar bulletproof vest? - When you go kayaking, do you wear a life jacket? These actions are all about reducing risk. In this country you do have the freedom and a right not to do those things, but there are consequences – both to yourself, and to your family, community and co-workers. I have a problem with your right when it infringes on the rights of others to stay safe and healthy. Each of us has multiple roles. At work, it may be employee, employer, deputy, firefighter, medic, manager, mechanic, or a million more. After work, it might be father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, partner, parent, grandparent, and so on. Ask yourself: - Who do you go home to? - Who do you work with? - Who do you party with? If you were exposed to COVID-19 and became infected, who else would be affected – in your home, your community, and your place of work? How would you feel if one or more of them became one of the 66,000 deaths that could have been prevented, and you were the source? Yes, you have a right not to wear a mask, but you have a greater responsibility to yourself, your family, your co-workers, and your community – to do the simple thing. No one is exempt! Take The Simple Action - Wear That Mask!! Protect Others! If you want to chat about this, I invite you to call our Warm Line: [PHONE REDACTED]