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Fayette Health Commissioner Says Coronavirus Projections Difficult

The “Stay Home-Stay Healthy” mantra adopted by health and government officials is regarded as a key step to prevent the spread of coronavirus.  The head of Lexington’s health department says there is still room for venturing outside.

Fayette County Health Commissioner Kraig Humbaugh said the most important health related message right now is keeping a safe physical distance between each other.  While separation is recommended for both indoors and out, Humbaugh noted the risk of transmission is greater inside.  With abundant spring weather, the former state epidemiologist said getting out, without grouping, is beneficial. “Physically separated by at least six feet, but go walking, hiking, biking all those kinds of things and enjoy the outdoors when many people have been inside for so long,” said Humbaugh.

Humbaugh said predicting future health consequences of coronavirus is extremely difficult. He explained the disease impact is quite different from seasonal flu.  So that means predicting whether the upcoming summer months will mean a slow-down in COVID-19 activity is hard to do. “But, this particularly virus we believe that no-one worldwide has immunity to it and so, based on that, we may not see fewer cases as the weather warms up in the summer months,” Humbaugh said.

But, Humbaugh added it could also behave similar to the H1-N1 pandemic flu did ten years ago with a quieting down during the summer. 

Here's more with Dr. Kraig Humbaugh of the Fayette County Health Department:

4KRAIGW.mp3

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