By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
As Ellis County waited Thursday for more information on the governor's mask mandate, Jason Kennedy, Ellis County public health officer, answered questions about wearing masks and testing in Ellis County.
Kennedy said by far the best way to limit the spread of COVID-19 is social distancing and staying home if you are sick.
Studies have indicated wearing masks stems the tide of spread of the illness where high viral loads are present, such as hospitals or in a private residence in which another person is infected.
However, Kennedy said the studies don't show 100 precent either way if masks will prevent community spread.
He acknowledged wearing masks has become a hot-button issue across the nation.
Should I wear a mask?
He tried to dispell some myths regarding masks. He said they are not harmful.
"If you cannot maintain social distancing, and you must have close contact, wear a mask," Kennedy said. "CDC and KDHE recommend the use of a mask if you cannot maintain social distancing. That is not a politically driven statement. That is a statement from KDHE and CDC for at least the last couple of months."
Wearing a mask does not decrease your oxygen levels, and they can be worn for an extended period without any harm, Kennedy said.
They should be cleaned on a regular basis, he said.
Can I catch the virus at the grocery store?
Masks are meant to decrease the transfer of droplets, which can transmit the virus when individuals are in close contact.
The most likely means of transmitting COVID-19 is through person-to-person contact through droplets in the air over an extended period of time (10 minutes or more).
Kennedy said it is unlikely that you would contract the virus from someone you might pass on the street or in the grocery store. However, it is possible for you to contract the virus from talking to a friend in the parking lot of the grocery store for 15 minutes.
The longer that you are exposed to a person with the virus, the more likely you are to receive the viral load necessary to be infected, Kennedy said.
Can I get the virus from touching a counter?
The risk of transmission from a surface is extremely low, but not zero, Kennedy said. However, Kennedy still advised businesses and residents to disinfect frequently touched surfaces and regularly wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
He discouraged wearing gloves for most daily activities, because if the virus is on a surface, it can be transferred from surface to surface via the gloves.
Can you spread the virus if you do not have symptoms?
You can spread the virus if you have not started to show symptoms or you are asymptomatic and never show symptoms, Kennedy said.
Kennedy emphasized if you feel sick or have tested positive for the virus, you should have contact with no one. Stay home.
What kind of mask should I wear?
Because of limited supplies, N-95 masks are still being recommended only for health care settings. The KDHE and CDC are recommending cloth or disposable masks be worn in public when social distancing can't be achieved.
Kennedy said cloth masks with higher thread counts or multiple layers are better at stopping the particles that spread the virus.
Regardless of the governor's order or the decision of County Board of Public Health, local businesses can still require masks within their businesses, Kennedy said.
Kennedy said even if not all businesses choose to follow best practices, those that do make a differnce.
"Every single one of you making decisions right now to protect you, to protect someone you care for, to protect your patrons, your employees, any little decision that we make individually leads to an impact," he said.
He added, "If you are [social distancing] and someone else isn't, that is still contacts that you are breaking."
Kennedy encouraged businesses or organizations if they had questions on best practices to check the KDHE website or call the health department.
The County Board of Health, which is comprised of the three county commission members, were scheduled to vote late Thursday afternoon about mask enforcement. Enforcement of the order in the county would be up to the sheriff's office, Kennedy said.
"I don't view this mandate as a political statement," Kennedy said. "This is something that should be based in medical knowledge that should be based in fact and should be based in what is right for the individual."
At the beginning of Kennedy's press conference, he reminded the public that anything that he said today could change tomorrow. The situation is evolving.
The best sources of information are kdheks.gov and CDC.gov and listening to public health officials and medical professionals.
Ellis County infection rates still low
Kennedy also updated the community on local testing and infection rates.
He said the infection rate and community spread in Ellis County continues to be low.
Ellis County reported two new cases Wednesday for a total of 25 cases in six months. There have been no deaths in the county.
Positives as percent of tests have also been low (1 percent). The state rate is 8 percent.
Kennedy said those who have contracted the virus have had less severe symptoms as time has progressed and had shorter duration of symptoms.
He said there has also been very little person-to-person transmission within the county.
The transmission rate from person-to-person in Ellis County has been less than one, Kennedy said. People have been contracting the illness from people outside of the county instead of community spread.
"I think it is because people have done their job," he said. "They've stayed home. They have maintained social distancing. They have done what they can to mitigate that risk."
However, that transmission rate can increase or decrease, he said.
Kennedy urged Ellis County residents to continue to take precautions.