Officials with the Washoe County Senior Center say they are not making any drastic changes to make sure people are safe at the senior center. Older people are at a higher risk to die from coronavirus. Washoe County is considered low risk for the spread of the illness, so the focus is getting information out to the people who go visit the facility.
"Make sure we don't spread panic, keep them prepared, take extra precaution to wash your hands, keep your distance from people, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, check you temperature and know if you have symptoms or not before you come into the senior center," Chris Ciarlo, Washoe County Human Services Agency Spokesman said.
Information about COVID-19 is posted on the front doors of the building and on bulletin boards throughout the senior center. Seniors who come to the facility to socialize and get something to eat say they are not worried about getting the disease.
"Not really," Sherrill Smith, Reno resident said. "The Lord takes care of me so I figure if I'm meant to have it, I'll have it. If I'm not, I'm not."
Others say they are listening to instructions when it comes to hygiene and prevention.
"I take 3,000 units of Vitamin C, twice a day," Greg Clurman, Reno resident said. "I take echinacea, I take two hot showers a day. I wash my hands about three times, maybe five times a day."
Ciarlo says seniors are taking responsibility for themselves. If they do not feel comfortable being around other people or that are worried about the spread of the virus, they are staying home.
"Dozens will come through the senior center every single day, and as you can notice here today, it's pretty quiet," Ciarlo said.
Ciarlo says coronavirus is what people are talking about now, but staff is handling it the same way they would for cold and flu season. Cleaning the building is also critical to kill germs.
"All of our Washoe County public facilities are disinfected and cleaned, daily," Ciarlo said. "That process continues, of course."
The senior center is following guidance from the Washoe County Health District. If something changes and it says to make some changes, Ciarlo says they will act.
More than 1,100 Washoe County seniors are part of the Meals on Wheels program, which serves more than 430,000 meals each year. That program is moving forward as usual. The only difference is recipients get an informational sheet regarding coronavirus with their meal. Officials are also being proactive before serving the clients.
"We are not taking temperatures," Ciarlo said. "We are basically just asking folks before we go deliver a meal if they are safe, if they are okay and if they're sick. If they are sick, then we will have to adjust."
An important part of keeping seniors healthy is making sure the staff and servers are in good health. Especially, since so many seniors have meals at the senior center.
"Our servers are all up to date on all of their food handlers permits," Ciarlo said. "They know the extra precautions you need to take when handling food so I think everybody's just taking extra precaution during this time."
Smith says she is taking those precautions and she hopes the pandemic ends soon.
"I'm hoping it all goes away so that everybody can get back to normal," Smith said. "Not just here. All over the world."
Unless that happens or things get worse, Washoe County plans on operating as usual, cautiously.
