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COVID-19 Safety Resources

With coronavirus deaths now topping 600,000 in the U.S. and cases once again on the rise due to highly infectious variants and slowing vaccination rates, it’s clear COVID is not done with us yet.

In the first year of the pandemic, we observed that willingness to learn helped individuals and organizations adapt. We were all presented with a high-stakes opportunity to rethink the fundamentals of how we work, live, and connect with others, and those who found flexibility to bend with fierce winds of change had a distinct advantage.

Now, as we close in on the two-year mark, we’re seeing the importance of finding sustainability and resilience. Acute crises require a sprint while longer periods of upheaval are more like a marathon. There are certainly similarities, but to approach the two in exactly the same way is a recipe for disaster.

Read on for a curated selection of Hile Group’s favorite articles and resources and connect with us to learn more about how to equip yourself and your business with the skills needed to survive and thrive in the COVID and post-COVID world.

How are you keeping yourself, your family, and your community healthy and safe?

Track your risk of getting COVID-19 down to the county level with this interactive map from the New York Times or this one from the CDC.

 

Wear your mask(s)! Since the discovery of coronavirus variants which are up to 70% more transmissible, public health experts are urging everyone to continue wearing masks indoors (even if vaccinated!) and especially in public places and in areas of substantial or high transmission.

 

 

Get vaccinated! Data shows that the COVID vaccines work to prevent serious symptoms and reduce transmission of most coronavirus variants. And they work–recent coverage of breakthrough cases notwithstanding, breakthroughs represent less than 0.8% of fully vaccinated people. Browse FAQs about all COVID vaccines from the CDC and text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find vaccine locations near you.

Get tested any time you experience a potential exposure. If you’re unsure of testing locations in your area, check out the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services’ COVID test locator.
Make time to look after your mental health. Check out free meditation resources from popular mindfulness apps like CalmHeadspace, and Ten Percent Happier.
Our daily screen time has increased substantially in COVID work environments. Follow these helpful hints for easing eyestrain on days full of Skype, Zoom, Teams, etc.

Where are you getting your information?

Rely on institutions you trust. We like the weekly situation reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and this real-time dashboard from researchers at Johns Hopkins.
Media outlets including the Wall Street JournalNew York TimesWashington PostLA TimesChicago TribuneUSA Today, and more have made their COVID reporting available to the public for free.

What can you do to support your local community?

Eat local. If you’re in Bloomington-Normal, consider ordering curbside coffee from the Coffee Hound, elevated brunch from Lexington Social, pizza from Lucca or Flingers (depending on how you like it), and dumplings from Seoul Mama.
Invest in small businesses. Cheer up a friend or family member with flowers from Casey’s Garden Shop, stock up on fresh produce at an outdoor farmer’s market like Bloomington’s, prep for distanced exercise with gear from your favorite bike shop (we love Vitesse), or join a Zoom yoga class from Main St. Yoga.
Volunteer. Places of worship, local political parties, and municipal governments are running wellness check phone banks, delivering meals to healthcare workers and families in need, and more.