I’m extremely grateful that I only lost smell and taste when I got COVID-19, but I know people who had trouble breathing for weeks. We can also endanger our friends or family members when we are sick. For example, my father is diabetic, and I had to make a sacrifice to not see my family for nearly three months. My story is a warning for young people: You can still face long-term consequences and side effects even if you don’t get severely sick with COVID-19. Please be safe and be smart. Continue to wear your masks, wash your hands, and avoid hanging out in big groups.

In the October 23, 2020 amended public health order (in effect on Saturday, October 24, 2020), Summit Public Health used a “scalpel”, rather than a “sledgehammer”, to enact specific, targeted, and strategic measures in order to best address the behaviors, which have been shown to increase the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Summit Public Health is doing this now so the State is not forced to impose more restrictive measures to address rising cases. We have been given an opportunity to change course, and this spring we showed that we could do it.

Below is a breakdown of the why’s, what’s, and how’s of these amended public health orders with lots of helpful links.