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Here in Tioga County, PA, we have been very blessed from the very beginning of the COVID 19 Pandemic as it began to sweep across the world and then enter the United States. The Tioga County PA COVID 19 Task Force has been on the forefront giving us information and direction as we felt the impact of the news of this virus. Our numbers of COVID cases in our county were so low we were one of the first counties in the state of PA to go to green permitting us to return to some normalcy.

Sara and Julianna Vogt, residents of Tioga County and members of the Movin’ Together team traveled outside of the state to attend a family gathering of about thirty people. Four days after the event while still away visiting family Sara received a call telling her that someone at the event tested positive for COVID. Sara was grateful for the call because knowing the truth about the situation alerted her and other members of her family that attended the event to go for testing. The weekend after the event three members of Sara’s family who were with them tested positive for COVID. Julianna and Sara were also tested at that time and their tests came back negative.

Many of Sara’s friends during this challenging time were praying for them so it was comforting for Sara to know that she was not alone in this battle. During this time God also encouraged Sara through Scripture in Isaiah 54:17, No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. Sara thought through this word that this virus is like a weapon harming people all over the world.

Though Julianna and Sara’s test results were negative returning to Wellsboro at that time was not an option for them. Sara called the head of the Tioga County PA COVID 19 Task Force James Nobles for information and counsel. He recommended that they quarantine for the next fourteen days where they were so that they did not bring COVID 19 back to their family and community in case they became positive. Sara called a friend who had a home in the area that was empty to see if she and Julianna could stay there for the 14 days. They said yes, it was available. Sara was very thankful to God for His provision and the love her friends showed them. They enjoyed their time together and ended up doing some gardening for their friends to pass the time. After the fourteen days passed Julianna and Sara were tested again and thankfully they were both negative and gladly returned home!

Members of Sara’s family who had COVID after the event were quite ill at the onset but all of them are recovering at this time. Watching her family’s struggle with this virus heightened Sara’s desire to continue to protect herself and others from contracting COVID 19.

The tools in Movin’ Together don’t guarantee that you will not get ill but they will give you an advantage when dealing with life’s health issues. Our tools of sleep, exercise, hydration, breakfast, thankfulness, giving, and prayer if used regularly will help to strengthen our immune systems!

Speaking of tools, there is one that we are recommending for us out of love to use during this pandemic. Medical experts now urge us to wear masks to decrease the risk of getting or spreading COVID 19. Even people who are asymptomatic (or who have no symptoms) can be infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others. If you wear a cloth face mask, you can protect others from exposure to your droplets and reduce your own exposure to other people’s respiratory droplets. Yes, face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, help slow the spread of the virus.

This is not a political issue – it is a health issue – the virus is real …

During this broadcast, Sara spoke with her good friend Christine of Christine A Moore Millinery about the use of masks and why it is an act of loving others. Christine says, “It is the accessory that we always needed and we need it especially now. I think it will be good in the wintertime to keep our faces warm, but in the meantime, we want to be loving and respectful to other people and to be polite.

Christine views Tioga County as her second home having a camp here that she visits quite often. She is respectful when staying here because she considers this her community as well as her New York City community.

Christine made Sara a mask before she left for her family event which Sara used while she was away. Christine made two more Movin’ Together masks for us to giveaway. To enter, comment on the giveaway post on Facebook or email sara@thehomepagenetwork.com one of the benefits of wearing a mask.

Let’s keep our numbers down and allow our businesses to stay open and activities to resume. Let’s be there for one another, be kind and courageous, and keep Movin’ Together.

For more information about wearing a face mask please check out this article from UPMC.

https://share.upmc.com/2020/07/myths-and-facts-about-facemasks/