Latinos suffer high rates of illness, hospitalizations, and death brought by COVID-19.
As Latinos, we are resilient. But part of our resiliency requires action, especially with the emergence of new COVID-19 vaccines.
Our team at Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio created this “Juntos, We Can Stop COVID-19” campaign in English and Spanish to help you─juntos/together─do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19. From skipping get-togethers with la familia to wearing a mask and physical distancing, we can reduce the spread of this raging virus.
And we can get the COVID-19 vaccine, when available!
Take these actions today:
Understand we’re all in this together─juntos.
When a new virus strikes, like COVID-19, misinformation can spread quickly.
But we know coronavirus is killing people, particularly Latinos and those with preexisting health problems. The virus is straining hospitals, families, and economic systems.
We also know that infection prevention measures work. Latinos can immediately change some habits and interactions to slow the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask and care for it properly; avoid public places, or at least get together safely, familia; know what to do if you’re exposed; and get the COVID-19 vaccine once its available.
A life with a little inconvenience is still a life worth living.
READ MORE: Full Campaign Summary (PDF)
SHARE IN ENGLISH: Here are the key actions every Latino can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19! #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/juntosstopcovid
SHARE IN SPANISH: Estas son las acciones principales que cada latino puede emprender para evitar la propagación del COVID-19. #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/covidespanol
1. Wear a face mask─and care for it properly.
When you wear a mask, you protect your familia, friends, and others from getting sick.
Masks are scientifically proven to limit the spread of coronaviruses by catching the tiny water droplets we all make when we breathe, talk, or cough. Those droplets are tiny. But they carry the coronavirus, which can land on someone else’s mouth, nose, or eyes.
Of course, it is important you wear a mask properly, over both your nose and mouth (not touching the outside of the mask or your face, but by removing it by untying it or lifting off the ear loops). Also, keep it dry while using, and wash it daily.
My mask protects you and your familia, from the niños to the abuelos. Your mask protects me and my familia. And we can’t just wear a mask in public. We have to wear a mask even with family or friends. The more community participation in wearing a mask and caring for it properly, the greater the benefit for all.
READ MORE: English Fact Sheet | Spanish Fact Sheet
SHARE IN ENGLISH: I wear my mask and wash it every day because I care about you, I care about your family and mine, and I care about my community. #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/juntosstopcovid
SHARE IN SPANISH: Yo uso mi mascarilla y la lavo cada día porque me preocupo por usted, por mi familia y la suya, y por mi comunidad. #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/covidespanol
2. Avoid public places, or at least get together safely, familia.
Quarantine fatigue is real.
But the surest way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home. Avoid public places and indoor get-togethers as much as possible. This includes restaurants, movie theaters, and amusement parks, as well as cookouts/carne asadas, birthday celebrations, baby showers, and dinners with family and friends who don’t live with you.
When going to work or essential destinations, follow key infection prevention measures: wear a mask, wash your hands regularly, and maintain 6 feet physical distance between others, even family and friends.
If you are going to get together with people outside your household, the best way to reduce risk is to establish a small “quarantine group” with family/friends from one or two other households and follow the safety tips above. Remember to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
READ MORE: English Fact Sheet | Spanish Fact Sheet
SHARE IN ENGLISH: Mi familia means so much to me. The least I can do now is stay home or avoid hanging out with people who don’t respect our desire to wear face masks and distance. #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/juntosstopcovid
SHARE IN SPANISH: Mi familia significa mucho para mí. Lo menos que puedo hacer ahora es quedarme en casa o evitar reunirme con gente que no respeta nuestro deseo de usar mascarillas y mantener 6 pies de distancia. #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/covidespanol
3. Know what to do if you’re exposed, or test positive.
You may get a call from a public health worker, familia, or friend that someone you recently came in contact with tested positive for COVID-19. They may have exposed you.
Exposure is contact within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for 15 minutes. It also is providing care to someone who is infected.
If you are exposed, you are at potential risk for developing and spreading the infection for 14 days after the exposure.
Stay home for 14 days. Do not go to work, school, or public places or gatherings. You should also: avoid contact with or sharing items with household members; clean/disinfect phones, counters, doorknobs, etc.; wear a mask and stay physically distant for essential trips; and monitor twice daily for symptoms (fever, chills, cough, breathing difficulty, loss of taste/smell, etc.).
Anyone who develops symptoms should get tested immediately and follow a provider’s orders.
READ MORE: English Fact Sheet | Spanish Fact Sheet
SHARE IN ENGLISH: From the niños to the abuelos, anyone can be exposed to COVID-19. Here is what to do if exposed! #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/juntosstopcovid
SHARE IN SPANISH: De niños a abuelos, todos pueden quedar expuestos al COVID-19. Esto es lo que hay que hacer si estuvo expuesto. #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/covidespanol
4. Get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you!
A vaccine is an important final step in stopping COVID-19 once and for all.
Vaccines provide a safe way to build protection against diseases like COVID-19. Vaccination helps our bodies build immunity, preventing us from getting severe illness or death.
On Dec. 11, 2020, the FDA granted an “emergency use authorization” for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, a two-dose vaccine spaced several weeks apart for people 16 and older.
The United States joined Mexico, United Kingdom, Bahrain, and Canada in authorizing this vaccine, which was shown 94.6% effective in preventing COVID-19 overall. Vaccine roll-out began in February 2021.
As of July 2021, three vaccines — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson — continue to be distributed across the country after receiving emergency use authorization from the FDA.
FDA’s emergency use authorization means the agency has determined that the benefits of the product outweigh the known risks for the intended use.
What else should you know?
READ MORE: English Fact Sheet | Spanish Fact Sheet
SHARE IN ENGLISH: A COVID-19 vaccine has (finally) arrived. What is it? Why should you get it? When will you get it? We have answers! #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/juntosstopcovid
SHARE IN SPANISH: Ha llegado (finalmente) una vacuna para combatir el COVID-19. ¿Qué es? ¿Por qué debería conseguirlo? ¿Cuándo lo conseguirás? ¡Tenemos respuestas! #JuntosStopCovid salud.to/covidespanol
Acknowledgements
Salud America!, a national Latino health equity organization based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, created and launched the #JuntosStopCovid campaign in September 2020, with a new vaccine component in December 2020.
The program creates culturally relevant and research-based stories, videos, and tools to inspire people to start and support healthy changes to improve health equity for Latinos and all people.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides program support.
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