TULSA, OK – [July 1, 2020] \u2013 The 4th of July is a day to celebrate Uncle Sam, enjoy the summer weather and spend time with family and friends. Independence Day during a global pandemic is also a time for enhanced health and safety precautions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny time you have a gathering of people, there is an increased risk of spreading COVID-19,\u201d said Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Dr. Bruce Dart. \u201cWe understand many people are going to gather in large groups this weekend, so we are issuing the following recommendations to do so as safely as possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Keep these public health precautions in mind as you plan your 4th of July celebration safely.<\/p>\n
Remind guests to stay home if they are sick<\/p>\n
Remind invited guests to stay home if they have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days or are showing\u00a0COVID-19 symptoms.
\nAnyone who has had\u00a0close contact\u00a0with a person who has COVID-19 should also stay home and monitor their health. Invited guests who live with those at higher risk should also consider the potential risk to their loved ones.
\nConsider keeping a list of guests who attended for potential future\u00a0contract tracing\u00a0needs.<\/p>\n
Encourage social distancing<\/p>\n
Host your gathering outdoors, when possible. If this is not feasible, make sure the room or space is well-ventilated (for example, open a window).
\nArrange tables and chairs to allow for social distancing. People from the same household can be in groups together and don\u2019t need to be 6 feet apart \u2013 just 6 feet away from other families.
\nIf planning activities for adults and\/or kids, consider those where social distancing can be maintained, like sidewalk chalk art or frisbee.
\nWhen guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don\u2019t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet them.<\/p>\n
Wear cloth face coverings<\/p>\n
Wear\u00a0cloth face coverings\u00a0when less than 6 feet apart from people or indoors.
\nConsider providing face coverings for guests or asking them to bring their own.<\/p>\n
Clean hands often<\/p>\n
Consider providing hand sanitizer in addition to clearly marked hand washing areas.
\nWash your hands\u00a0for at least 20 seconds when entering and exiting social gatherings. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
\nMake sure there is adequate soap or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol available in the restrooms and encourage guests not to form a line at the door. Consider also providing cleaning supplies that allow guests to wipe down surfaces before they leave.
\nRemind guests to wash their hands before serving or eating food.
\nUse single-use hand towels or paper towels for drying hands so guests do not share a towel.<\/p>\n
Limit the number of people handling or serving food<\/p>\n
Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks.
\nLimit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or around the grill, if possible.
\nIf serving any food, consider identifying one person to serve all food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils.
\nUse single-use options or identify one person to serve sharable items, like salad dressings, food containers, and condiments, so that multiple people are not handling the items.<\/p>\n
Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items<\/p>\n
Use touchless garbage cans or pails.
\nUse gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash.\u00a0Wash hands\u00a0after removing gloves.
\nClean and disinfect\u00a0commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible.
\nIf you choose to use any shared items that are reusable (e.g., seating covers, tablecloths, linen napkins), wash, clean, and sanitize them after the event.<\/p>\n
The Tulsa Health Department encourages Tulsa County residents who choose to go to any gathering or setting where people are in close contact with one another to take precautions such as wearing a mask, practice social distancing and frequently wash hands. Those who have attended a large indoor or outdoor gathering should monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days after the event and seek testing within 5-7 days while continuing to monitor symptoms, social distance, wash hands and wear a face covering in public.
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\nThe Tulsa Health Department is one of many sites in Tulsa County to offer COVID-19 testing. All local health care systems offer testing and there are additional sites listed on our website: www.tulsa-health.org\/COVID19#testing.<\/p>\n
The Tulsa Health Department will be closed on Friday in observance of Independence Day. The COVID-19 phone bank and testing appointments will be closed as well. Epidemiological investigations, including case notification and contact tracing, will continue to rapidly respond to confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community.<\/p>\n
Additional Independence Day safety measures, including fireworks safety, food safety and mosquito prevention tips can be found on the\u00a0Tulsa Health Department’s Wellness for Life Blog.<\/p>\n
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TULSA, OK – [July 1, 2020] \u2013 The 4th of July is a day to celebrate Uncle Sam, enjoy the summer weather and spend time with family and friends. Independence Day during a global pandemic is also a time for enhanced health and safety precautions. \u201cAny time you have a gathering of people, there is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7462,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n