KENT — Loosened restrictions amid the pandemic concern health officials about the spread of Covid-19 this Labor Day, epidemiologists ask the public to celebrate safely.
“We had quite a spike following the 4th of July in COVID-19, so we are kind of concerned that this Labor Day holiday we will potentially see something similar,” said Brian Hartl with the Kent County Health Department.
Hartl is now spreading awareness before the virus possibly spreads to vulnerable populations. Kent Co. is reporting roughly 40 new cases of the virus each day in comparison to early parts of July which saw about 100 cases each day. And while that number is on the decline, Hartl says the public needs to continue healthy practices.
“I think every time you loosen restrictions, people kind of think that we are back to normal,” said Hartl. “That’s the challenge with this, we want people to partake in these activities, but we don’t want people to forget about the precautions that we have in place to protect ourselves and others against transmission.”
In addition to wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, Hartl suggests a new layer of safety you can implement at holiday gatherings.
“The best practice is to have someone dedicated to serving the food,” Hartl said. “So if you have a potluck and bring the food, maybe have someone who kind of stands behind it and serves people. I know it’s different but that’s the best practice.”
The state of emergency extends through Oct. 1st, which includes the governor’s orders to wear a mask and limit restaurant capacity to fifty percent.
