“Doing nothing is no longer an option as we must protect our healthcare workers, both at hospital and long-term care facilities, and our first responders during this health crisis,” said Bogen. “People are doing well in structured settings, but we continue to see more and more cases as a result of unmonitored, private social gatherings. Just because you are gathering outdoors, or with people you know, doesn’t mean that you’re not at risk for COVID. Even outdoors or with those you know, people need to remain six feet apart and should be masked. Whether in someone’s backyard, or at a public space, the guidelines remain the same. We’ve become complacent in recent months, and the number of cases clearly shows that. We are actively considering what options are available to the Health Department to limit this spread.”