Kossuth County addresses questions

KOSSUTH COUNTY, Iowa — Alert Iowa, a statewide mass notification and emergency messaging system recently provided guidelines in answering questions surrounding the COVID-19 virus.

Should youth or (you) play sports during the outbreak?

The CDC says that the virus gets spread most frequently among close contacts within abot 6 feet, distance that is hard to create in a team and even individual sports. Transmission of the virus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through contact with contaminated surfaces. However, there is risk of contact exposure with infected surfaces.

In Iowa, the risk of transmission is currently high, and the DCD recommends the cancellation of community gatherings of any size. The coming weeks are critical in limiting the spread of the virus, which is highly contagious. Kossuth County Public Health absolutely urges all organized and spontaneous youth sports activities to stop because it is so critical to do our part to contain this deadly virus.

Medical experts are advising no exercise that involves sharing ball. Sharing a ball right now is off limits, that goes the same for things like sharing dumbbells, sharing weights or sharing the same chin-up bar.

Is outdoor recreation allowed during the outbreak?

The answer is ABSOLUTELY.

Fresh air and exercise are important for physical and mental health, but we need to use caution. Maintaining a safe social distance of six feet from people who aren’t part of your household is key to controlling the spread of COVID-19.