Physical Distancing

MARCH 23, 2020: Governor Kate Brown issued "Stay Home, Save Lives,"→ ordering Oregonians to stay at home, closing specified retail businesses, requiring physical distancing measures for other public and private facilities, and imposing requirements for outdoor areas and licensed child care facilities.

---

Physical distancing means keeping at least six feet of distance from other people as much as possible. All K-12 schools in Oregon are closed through the end of the year. 

Parents with children and teenagers: We need our youth to take this order seriously. Please make sure they understand and comply with it.

Stay connected: Even though we are asking people to keep physical distance from each other, we want to encourage you to stay socially connected. We know this is difficult! Some ideas:

• Use FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Zoom and other technology to connect with people over the internet.
• Call your grandparents on the phone or through video chat.
• Visit elderly neighbors and talk to them through a door or window. Ask them if they need groceries or any other assistance you might be able to give.
• Make videos that show how you are creatively social distancing and share them on your social media feeds.

Families with children: Here are some ideas for keeping children engaged.

• Send cards to people they love.
• Try a new hobby.
• Deliver essential items to neighbors.
• Play!
• Replace media exposure with games, hobbies and walks outside.
• Ask your child -- they have great ideas!

Additional resources for families with children:

• Libraries→ are closed, but they still have online resources: E-books, audiobooks, streaming media, and digital resources available 24/7 online with a library card.
• GoNoodle→ helps kids be more active while doing the things they love with engaging movement and mindfulness videos.
• Khan Academy Kids→ have released daily schedules to help provide families with ideas and structure during school closures.
• Games and science experiments→
• Connect to nature and animals→
• VROOM has over 1,000 brain-building activities for infants and preschoolers

Ask for help: We know this situation is causing stress and anxiety for many people. The Columbia County Crisis Line is available 24/7 503-397-5211 or 1-866-866-1426. You are not alone!

Share your ideas! We want to see and hear about how you are staying connected while practicing physical distancing. Please send your photos and captions to Goodnews@columbiacountyor.gov if you'd like to be considered for a post on our Columbia County Facebook page. Please make sure everyone in the photo is OK with a public post.