North, GA – The Fourth of July is a wonderful time for families and friends to gather for fun, festivities, and celebrations. But this year, COVID-19 is still transmitting in our communities, so it is best to stay close to the people you are with every day. But if you do celebrate with others, please keep in mind key public health precautions, with the most important one being that if you have possible symptoms of COVID-19 or have been around someone over the past 14 days who has recently tested positive for the virus, stay home, protecting yourself and others, and report it to your doctor or a healthcare provider.

Here is a link to the Georgia Department of Public Health website that includes the Georgia COVID-19 Hotline and a list of COVID-19 symptoms: https://dph.georgia.gov/.

This year for the Fourth, do not host or attend gatherings of large groups of people or share food or beverage items, and it is preferable that events are outdoors.

Additionally, be sure to take each of these protective measures:

• • Wear a cloth face covering or mask
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
  • Maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet
  • Avoid physical contact with others by not giving hugs, handshakes, high fives or fist bumps
  • Keep surfaces and frequently used objects disinfected
  • Have an emergency kit handy that includes protective items such as face coverings, tissues, hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, disinfectant wipes, etc.
  • Be mindful of people who are at high risk for becoming infected and have underlying medical conditions that could cause them to become more seriously ill with COVID-19

Also, be sure to get FREE COVID-19 Testing at one of our public health testing sites throughout North Georgia by calling 1-888-881-1474.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and testing, log onto the North Georgia Health District website at bit.ly/COVID19-Updates-NorthGA.