An Open Letter to the Community

When I took my oath to practice medicine, I promised to protect my patients from harm and prevent disease where I could. I am committed to using the expertise and knowledge gained over my medical career to help protect you from the wide-ranging and often devastating impacts of COVID-19. I am deeply concerned about the toll of COVID-19 on our community and the consequences of failing to follow basic preventive practices.

Here’s what I’m asking you to do:

• Wear a mask when you are in public places. Masks should cover your nose and mouth.
• Maintain a physical distance of at least six feet when you are near people who do notlive with you.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or with a handsanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Avoid large indoor gathering, especially those where masks and social distancing arenot observed.
• Take care of each other and help those in community most vulnerable to COVID-19.

These simple measures will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, help keep our community open for business, and put us on the path to a return to normalcy.

Our community has a longstanding tradition of looking out for one another, and these times are challenging us to continue to show support, compassion, and grace. I hope you will follow this commonsense advice and do your part to keep us all healthy and safe.

Respectfully,
The Physicians of Shelby Medical Associates