Baltimore County, MD Time of Your LIfe, 5 Aug 2020

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From YouTube: COVID-19--Safeguarding Your Health!

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Gregory Branch, MD,
Director, Health and Human Services
Baltimore County Health Officer

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(Upbeat music).

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Welcome to the time of your life with the baltimore county department of aging., I'm your host ethel rasmussen..

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This show is all about sharing resources for living your best, life, and dedicated to keeping you well informed about the programs and services that are designed,, especially for you..

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You can also connect with bcda through the agencies, multiple media platforms that include our website, facebook,.

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The time of your life, digest,, instagram,, flickr,, map,,.

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As well as an abundance of printed resources., connections to bcdas are stronger than ever, so,. Please take advantage of the many options that are available., so much has changed since the advent of covid-19.

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Bcda senior centers are currently closed,, but exciting. Virtual programming continues in our 20 senior centers. stay tuned to learn about an exciting selection of programs which are available from the comfort of your own home.

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With us today is kathleen young, director of the seven oaks senior center.

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kathleen, will wow you with wonderful programming at your fingertips through bcda's virtual online programming.

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The show continues with rebecca ebert, director of the ateaze senior center..

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Becky's segment explains an easy video communication platform called zoom.

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Zoom will allow you, our viewing audience, to participate in the many programs at bcda's.

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20 senior centers., the show concludes with debbie orlove, community business liaison at the baltimore county department of aging.

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debbie closes the show with information about the many options baltimore county senior centers offer daily.

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For lifelong learning,, recreation, health promotion, planning, and fitness.

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covid-19 has affected everyone. Worldwide.

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We are so fortunate to welcome dr. gregory branch,.

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County health, officer, and director of the department of health and human services.

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At baltimore, county government., dr. branch starts the show by sharing information about.

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Safeguarding your health during this time of covid-19.

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Dr. branch, welcome to the show.

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And thank you so much for giving me the opportunity.

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To come, speak to your audience about this unprecedented pandemic.

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Could you briefly share information about covid-19,.

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Such as the illness, itself, and how the disease is spread?.

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First thing, I think your viewers should know is that,.

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Covid-19 is real,, it's here, and it is deadly.

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We're learning more about this highly contagious disease every day..

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What we need to know is that there is no vaccine yet.

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There's no major treatments, and there is no cure.

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It's spread through respiratory droplets, and because it's such a new virus,, there is no what we call, herd immunity,.

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Where everybody can protect one another.

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symptoms include things like coughing,, sneezing,, fever,,.

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Body aches, (mumbles), loss of smell and taste,.

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And troubled breathing., but what we know is that,. You can have the virus.

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And transmit it to others, and not show any of those symptoms,.

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Dr. branch,, what are your recommendations to minimize.

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The risk of being infected?.

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There are some effective ways where you can.

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Slow, the spread. and so,, I always say,. If you wear your face, coverings,.

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Especially in public, keep at least six feet.

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Between you and others,, wash your hands frequently,.

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And stay home if you are sick.

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Can you talk about populations who have a higher risk factor for complications related to covid.

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Than the general public, and what actions they can take?.

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So, persons who are over the age of 60 are at higher risk.

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People who have existing chronic health conditions,.

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People who live in what we call, congregate care, facilities,.

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Like in a shelter., we do know that african americans have a higher risk.

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Of being able to contact the disease just because of the chronic issues, chronic healthcare issues that they may have.

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and our current data does show that,.

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Latinos have a three times higher rate.

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Of getting the covid virus than any other races or ethnicities.

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And that's basically because sometimes they are unable to shelter-in-place,.

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Cannot work remotely.?

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They live in like,, a multigenerational households.

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They seek medical treatment, last, and some have immigration status, related concerns.

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And then, there are some language barriers.

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Now,, dr. branch out of an abundance of caution, bcda has kept our 20 senior centers closed.

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Can you explain why this decision was important to safeguard public health?.

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So,, as I mentioned, earlier, persons over the age of 60.

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Were identified very early as a big vulnerable.

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Group as it relates to the disease.

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so,, while we know how vitally important and central.

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The centers are in the lives of our seniors,.

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Keeping them open threatens the health and the wellbeing.

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Of those who utilize them. so, talking with the county, executive,.

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Talking with the office of aging director,, laura riley,.

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My recommendation as a health officer was that,.

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We have to make the prudent decision to close the centers for now., but I am proud that you guys do continue to offer.

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Certain services during the closure, and 'cause, we understand that these services provided at the center, are critical for seniors, and we wanted to make sure that these services were not interrupted..

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And it also ties to the governor's order for the state, correct?.

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Exactly, exactly.

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So, contact tracing is critical to the control of outbreaks..

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Can you share information about the value of contact tracing, and what to expect? If you are contacted?.

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So, contact tracing is something that's not new..

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We've been using this tool for years to investigate diseases, and how they work.

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So,, when someone tests positive for an infectious disease,.

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What we do, is, our contact traces reach out to everyone.

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That was in close contact with that infected individual.

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And then, we try to let that person who was in contact.

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With the infected individual,, we probably let them know that they need to be on quarantine, as extraordinarily important,, because we want to put those people on quarantine before they developed any symptoms,.

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And before they could transmit it to anyone, else.

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If we're able to do that,, we can then cut down on the.

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Number of people who would potentially get the covid-19 virus.

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That would be wonderful. unfortunately,. We hear information about scams related to covid such as, cures and special vitamins to prevent the disease.

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Can you share what you're hearing about the claims?.

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Well,, I will say the fact that when our contact tries to calling,.

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Please know that if you can,, please pick the phone up,.

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And also know that we would never ask for.

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Credit card information,: we would never ask for your social security information,, your immigration status., we're, never gonna ask you to buy any products that either my guide at all,. We're gonna talk to you specifically about the covid-19 virus and your contacts.

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Excellent., dr. branch,, thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to be on the show.

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It's my pleasure, and thank you for inviting me.

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For more information about covid-19,, please call the baltimore county health department's covid-19 hotline at 410-887-3816.

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From 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week.

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We're gonna take a short break,, but first I'd like to thank geresbeck's food market in middle river, and rite aid,, both baltimore county and city locations for serving as bcda's community partner.

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To support the distribution of community resources, 2020.

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Community resources, bcda's annual regional publication.

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Printed in partnership with the baltimore city, and the baltimore county commission on disabilities., I'd like to thank med kai for sharing information about the publication to their membership as well..

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Please pick up your copy today.

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to learn more about community resources,. Please call map at 410-887-2594.

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(Bright music).