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Stay Informed: COVID-19 and the Vaccine

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT COVID-19?

SARS-Cov-2 or COVID-19 is a virus that causes illness and is primarily spread between people. SARS-Cov-2 is the scientific name of the virus, while “coronavirus” refers to the shape of the virus molecules and is used to describe a category of viruses. COVID-19 symptoms are varied and the severity can range from mild to severe conditions requiring hospital treatment.

People are infected by coming into contact with droplets containing the virus. These droplets are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. They can also be left on surfaces if an infected person touches their face and does not wash their hands.

Steps you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

  • Wearing a face mask in public
  • Carrying hand sanitizer to disinfect your hands on the go
  • Thoroughly washing hands with soap for 20 seconds when possible
  • Maintain six feet of physical distance between yourself and others when possible
  • Only leave home for work and essential trips

If you believe you may have been infected, it is very important that you reduce your risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Do not come to work if you feel ill. Notify your supervisor immediately.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

Several vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed and tested. Some of these vaccines are being made available to essential workers in the United States right now.

  • The Moderna vaccine will soon be available to staff as part of priority access for front line workers.
  • Employees will receive an email from the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) to schedule a vaccine appointment once distribution begins.
  • Priority status will not be lost if employees decide to wait to take the vaccine. Simply save the email from the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) until you are ready to schedule. If you wish to decline the vaccine, simply ignore the VAMS email.

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RESOURCES

What To Do if You Get Sick – English Version
What To Do if You Get Sick – Spanish Version
What To Do if You Get Sick – Amharic Version

For more information about COVID-19 cases and measures in Virginia, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/.

To learn more about how you and your phone can join the fight against COVID-19 with Virginia’s COVIDWISE app, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covidwise/.