The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services is canceling a series of events planned though the Office on Aging and Disabilities during the month of March and the First Wednesday Senior Luncheon scheduled for April 1st. In addition to the programming, SCOOT trips to the Christiana Mall on Tuesday morning have been suspended through March as well as the New Castle Farmers Market trip scheduled for March 27th.

Due to recommendations we have received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advising persons that are considered high risk for contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19) to avoid crowds and large gatherings, we are canceling social activities and elective programs. Persons at high risk for COVID-19 include individuals over the age of 60 and/or those with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. We feel that it is in the best interest of our residents that we cancel these events we will continue to update you on future activities as additional information and guidance is made available to us. Thank you for your understanding.

List of Cancellations

The following event has been canceled:

First Wednesday Luncheon

• Wednesday, April 1^st – First Wednesday Luncheon

The following Nutrition Program has been canceled:

Congregate Nutrition Program at Pittsgrove Senior Center

• Tuesday, March 17^th
• Wednesday, March 18^th
• Thursday, March 19^th
• Tuesday, March 24^th
• Wednesday, March 25^th
• Thursday, March 26^th

The following classes have been postponed:

Tai Chi for Arthritis Classes

• Thursday, March 12th – 11 am at Friends Village in Woodstown
• Thursday, March 12th – 1 pm at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center
• Thursday, March 19th – 11 am at Friends Village in Woodstown
• Thursday, March 19th – 1 pm at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center
• Thursday, March 26th – 11 am at Friends Village in Woodstown
• Thursday, March 26th – 1 pm at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center

MOVE Exercise Classes

• Tuesday, March 17th – 10:30 am at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center
• Thursday, March 19th – 10:30 am at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center
• Tuesday, March 24th – 10:30 am at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center
• Thursday, March 26th – 10:30 am at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center
• Tuesday, March 31th – 10:30 am at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center

The following presentations have been postponed:

Legal Talks

• Tuesday, March 24th – 10 am at Penns Grove Housing Authority
• Friday, March 27th – 10 am at Salem Housing Authority

The following transportation has been suspended:

• SCOOT trips to the Christiana Mall on Tuesday mornings through March
• SCOOT trip to the New Castle Farmers Market scheduled for March 27th

The follow meetings have been postponed:

• Transportation Advisory Council Meeting – Monday, March 16^th 4:30 pm
• Office on Aging Advisory Council Meeting – Tuesday, March 17^th 1:00 pm

About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

What is coronavirus?

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They are estimated to cause about a third of all cases of the common cold.
• The most common forms can cause mild to moderate illness in people, while other forms circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats.

What is COVID-19?

• COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before.
• COVID-19 is not caused by the same coronavirus that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012. However, it is in the same family of viruses.
• Because this is a new virus, there are still things we do not know, such as how severe the illness can be, how it is transmitted between people, and other specifics of the virus. More information will be provided when it is available.

What was the source of this outbreak?

• Public health officials and partners are working hard to identify the source of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China, reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting the virus likely emerged from an animal source.
• SARS, another coronavirus that emerged, came from civet cats, while MERS, another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from camels. Officials are trying to determine if something similar happened with COVID-19.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

• According to CDC, patients with confirmed COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
• Some patients have had other symptoms including muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or diarrhea.
• Based on other coronaviruses, the CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure.
• Symptoms are similar to other respiratory illnesses that are circulating, such as influenza, so experiencing these symptoms alone does not necessarily mean you need to be tested for COVID-19. Additional criteria will help your health care provider decide if you should be tested, such as:
  • If you have history of recent travel (within past 14 days) from an affected geographic area. Affected geographic areas currently include China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea (continue to check CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel for updated affected geographic areas).
  • If you had close contact with any confirmed person within the past 14 days of symptom onset.
  • If you are hospitalized acute respiratory illness or pneumonia without another explanation (e.g., influenza)

How does COVID-19 spread?

• This virus is thought to have emerged from an animal source but is now able to spread from person-to-person.
• It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person.
• Patients who have been identified with COVID-19 in the United States have traveled to an area in China where the virus is circulating or have had contact with a known case.

Take the same precautions recommended for avoiding colds and flu:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough.

What to do if you suspect you have COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

• Stay home except to get medical care
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Avoid sharing personal household items
• Wash your hands often
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day
• This document has a list of products that are effective in killing COVID-19:https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-Products-List.pdf
• Monitor your symptoms

Additional information is available at: https://health.salemcountynj.gov/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/