The Marion County Public Health Department is easing back into normal operations after the last 15 months were spent almost exclusively dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. While case counts have significantly tapered off, especially in Marion County, Director Kim Dorn says that general illness prevention measures should still be taken.

“It’s unlikely to ever go away, so we have to learn how to live with it. We know who’s most vulnerable, people who are 65 and older with health concerns. People who are 85 and older are the ones we really need to protect. Some of the practices we established during this will continue. Stay home when you’re sick. We at Public Health have said that forever. Some of the best things we can do for disease prevention is wash your hands, cover your cough, get enough rest, all those things Grandma told you.”

The department is wrapping up its own COVID-19 vaccine clinics this month. Dorn encourages anyone who hasn’t received a vaccine to do so through their pharmacy. Learn more about Marion County Public Health’s response to COVID-19 on Monday’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.