Officials with the City of Paris held a special meeting on Mar. 16, to address the current COVID-19 pandemic that has many locals worried.
Mayor Steve Clifford alongside, Lamar County officials, Paris City department heads, local doctors, local health department officials, and Lamar County Emergency Management all took the time to answer and ask questions that they felt were relevant to locals for updated information.
Mayor Clifford has this morning released an official statement on what proactive measures the city is taking with regards to containing any possible spread of the Coronavirus.
There will also be a link provided on the City’s website page sometime today for locals to go back and watch the proceedings that took place.
Below is the official statement from officials:
The City of Paris, Lamar County, and members of the local medical community have come together to assure the citizens of Paris and Lamar County that we are working together and are prepared to deal with any local outbreak of the novel coronavirus. As of today (3/16/2020), there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in our community.
Paris emergency service personnel are following special protocols designed to protect the community while still providing necessary services. We are in daily contact with state officials and receive the latest information concerning the virus.
Local medical personnel at Paris Regional Medical Center, the Paris-Lamar County Health District, private clinics, and other local providers are coordinating their efforts to detect, report, and address any virus cases which may arise.
One of the key components in successfully fighting the virus is the community itself. Everyone should practice the following steps:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid skin to skin contact such as shaking hands.
- Avoid any close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- With a tissue or your elbow, cover your cough or sneeze. Throw your tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects including cell phones.
- Avoid groups of 10 people or more.
- It is recommended to not visit elderly people and people with preexisting medical conditions in person. Consider alternative methods such as Skype, FaceTime, and telephone.
- Expect to be screened when entering any medical facility.
- Expect new guidelines for visiting people in hospitals and in nursing homes.
- Consider home delivery options as opposed to in person shopping.
- Be aware of new restrictions on travel as the situation changes.
- If you are concerned that you may have COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider for instructions BEFORE coming in. If you do not have a health care provider, contact the Paris Lamar County Health District at 903-785-4561.
- We concur with the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America. A link to these guidelines can be found on the City of Paris Website.
With the general public’s help, we can avoid a large scale outbreak of the virus and prevent any chance of overwhelming our local medical capabilities.
In addition, we ask that the public not repeat or share unsubstantiated claims on social media. Instead, wait for official announcements and reports from the agencies involved in controlling the virus.
Working together, the people of Paris and Lamar County can minimize this threat to our community and bounce back stronger than ever before.
