Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that spreads mostly from person to person. It is suspected that it originally came from an animal source, however it is now a disease of people. Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe respiratory diseases. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China in December of 2019.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
While scientists and drug companies are working to develop and test treatments and vaccines, at this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it.
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. The CDC and WHO warn people to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
The CDC has compiled everything you need to know about COVID-19 into a single-page PDF.
With the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the rise worldwide, it is important for Martin County residents create their own preparedness plans. Creating a household plan can help protect the health of you and your family in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in our community.
Use this CDC checklist to help you take steps to plan and protect the health of you and your family:
Practice everyday preventive actions now.
HSTC urges you to include your pets in your household preparedness plans, in the event Martin County is impacted by the virus that causes COVID-19. In addition to preparations typically recommended for any natural disaster threat, individuals with pets should identify family members or friends to care for pets if someone in the household comes ill and is hospitalized.
Make a preparedness plan for your pets:
HSTC SHELTER UPDATES AND REOPENING
FACILITIES: The shelter is open 7 days a week. We have returned to normal hours of operation: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 4
pm. HSTC remains closed to foot traffic and entry will only be permitted for those with a confirmed appointment. This includes adoptions, owner surrender intake, and owner requested
euthanasia. Night Drop Off will continue to be closed until further notice. Face masks are required for employees, volunteers, and visitors.
ADOPTIONS: Our adoption center continues to operate via appointment only, but we have increased the number of appointments available each day to accommodate more
requests. Please visit our online pet database to view all animals currently available first, and then call (772)
223-8822 to schedule an appointment.
WELLNESS CLINIC: Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) and the Public Spay/Neuter Program both continue to operate. Please e-mail us to coordinate TNVR efforts for free-roaming cats in your community. To schedule an appointment for spay/neuter, please
call the shelter at (772) 223-8822.
THRIFT STORES: Our stores have resumed operating 7 days a week, from 10 am to 5 pm. Our delivery truck has also resumed home visits to pick up large donations. Please call
Central Thrift at (772) 286-6909 to schedule your donation pick up appointment. Mobile adoptions at the thrift stores remain closed. We continue to adhere to a maximum occupancy of 25
people in the store at one time, including staff and volunteers. Parents of small children can bring only one child into the store. Customers, volunteers and employees must wear masks.
If you do not have a mask, masks will be available for purchase.
Dressing rooms and the public restroom also remain closed. Directional arrows are in place to direct foot traffic while Plexiglas remains at each checkout station. Social
distancing in the checkout lines, hand sanitizer stations, and constant cleaning around the store will continue to take place to ensure safety of our employees, volunteers, and customers.
RECEIVING: Our receiving center continues to operate via appointment only, which may be scheduled by calling (772) 223-8822.
VOLUNTEERS: We are increasing shifts throughout our departments for volunteers. Please reach out to Sarah Fisher for scheduling. We are also reinstating new volunteer
orientations in small groups. Learn more here.
HUMANE EDUCATION: Normal activities for Pet Therapy remain suspended, however safe and socially distanced visits continue to be coordinated with individual facilities.
Obedience classes have restarted for groups of six people and less. You can see our class schedule here.
We thank you again for your continued patience and flexibility as we try to do what's best for our animals and for our community. We will continue to assess the safety of our employees,
volunteers, and visitors as updates develop.
For any questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the FL DOH COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
Humane Society of the Treasure Coast
4100 SW Leighton Farm Ave
Palm City, Florida 34990
Main Line: (772) 223-8822
Fax: (772) 220-3610
admin@hstc1.org
Central Thrift Store:
2585 SE Federal Hwy., Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 286-6909
North Thrift Store:
1099 NW 21st St., Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 232-4887
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