Pine Island COVID-19 Task Force meets
On Monday, March 23, the Pine Island COVID-19 Task Force held its first online meeting to determine which resources should be employed in the face of the current pandemic. Local R.N. Isabel Francis appropriated the group and meeting in an effort to publicize valid information to the local public regarding where to locate necessities, such as supplies, testing and information, on aspects of transmission.
The overall objectives of the first Task Force meeting were to establish goals and place a head of each branch of the Task Force, with possible sub-groups in the near future.
“I started this group,” said Francis, “because I was hoping we could get together as a community and mobilize in order to make sure that we disseminate information in a timely fashion in order to reach our various populations, which may be isolated or disadvantaged.”
In addition to Francis, the medical community is represented by epidemiologist and infectious disease modeler Dr. Jim Koopman, and Mary Lewis Sheehan, a retired clinical specialist and psychiatric nurse. Eric McCrea, pastor of Pine Island United Methodist Church, agreed to take the leadership position of the Task Force. Other members in attendance at the first meeting included Tricia Botty of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and Steven Hook, principal of Pine Island Elementary.
Among the most important priorities, according to Koopman, is testing for the coronavirus and correct information on the aspects of transmission. He identifies two modes of aerosol transmissions, which are small particles that come from the deep part of the lung, and stay in the air for very long periods of time, and droplet transmissions, which vary in size, length and time in which they remain.
He distinguishes the major condition for droplet transmission as fomite transmission, which occurs when viruses or bacteria that remain on surfaces cause infections. This is as opposed to diseases being transmitted from person to person, in the air or in another manner.
Francis emphasized education through accurate information as a key factor in preventing the spread of the virus on Pine Island, which she identifies as one of the main objectives of the Task Force. McCrea explained that necessities, such as getting food to families who have become under or unemployed as a result of the pandemic, is another Task Force objective he would be interested in accomplishing.
“When I heard about this group,” said McCrea, “I thought one of the things I would be interested in seeing is how we could coordinate our efforts and get resources to people who are going to be suffering.”
Botty talked about utilizing the Southwest Florida Community Foundation as a resource, though, she adds, that they are not a basis of information for the coronavirus.
“When it comes to healthcare related issues,” said Botty, “we are allowing the local health affiliates to be a basis for CDC regulations, as well as state and local elected officials. The Community Foundation is a resource of tools for the community at large – for individuals who are moving to remote work, for our non-profit partners and people whom we fund. We are working with our board to try to assess current needs in order to find out how we can best help the entire community.”
Francis named the objective of the Task Force as coordinating the flow of information and resources regarding COVID-19 to the residents of Pine Island. The importance of reaching various populations, including those who may not speak English, with information and effectiveness of social distancing, was a matter of great concern along with the possibility of creating a subgroup for communication with immigrants. Francis pointed out that making resources available to anyone in the community who needs them might be best carried out by the church. While McCrea agreed that while the church is already in place, he emphasizes that it cannot act alone.
Three areas of importance on which the group agreed to focus are:
– Information on COVID-19 testing
– Distributing culturally appropriate information
– Making resources available to the community