With winter near, Johnson County health director urges against lax COVID-19 precautions

With colder weather — and more time indoors — on the horizon, Johnson County health officials are encouraging residents to continue adhering to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines including wearing masks. Photo credit Emma Kate Squires.

COVID-19 rates and metrics continue to trend downward in Johnson County but Johnson County Department of Health and Environment officials continue to caution against lax precautions in schools and encourage vaccinations ahead of the coming winter months.

“When the activity of the virus is this high, the community will impact outbreaks that we see in our schools,” JCDHE Director Samni Areola, PhD, told the board of county commissioners on Thursday. “I see a lot more work to do. The requirements to wear masks, the fact that we are increasing vaccinations, all of those have been very helpful.”