Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ
What is the Corona Virus?Your Family Medical recognizes that there are many questions about the Coronavirus, COVID-19, its impact, and what it means for you, your family, and our community. The Frequently Asked Questions below is provided to help answer basic questions about the virus, to share steps for keeping you healthy, and to provide guidance if you feel that you have potential symptoms or exposure.
The 2019 Coronavirus comes from a large family of viruses that are a common cause of mild upper respiratory infections. The CDC advises that most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing any special treatment however this new virus has resulted in cases of severe illnesses and deaths. To learn more about COVID-19, the CDC web site is a reliable source of updated information. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Steps to Prevent Illness
There is currently no vaccine to prevent Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
- Maintain at least 6 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
- Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- While each patient varies, most patients report symptoms of fever, dry cough, sore throat, and/or shortness of breath. If you are sick or suspect that you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, please contact our office via phone for health care recommendations. This will help ensure you receive the best possible care and help minimize the spread of infection.
- Older adults and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, cancer, or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
- At this time, the CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
What to do if you develop symptoms or feel you have been exposed to COVID-19
- If you are sick or suspect that you are infected with the virus that causes COVID, please contact our office via phone for care recommendations. This will help ensure you receive the best possible care and help minimize the spread of infection.
- If you have traveled or have been in close contact with someone who has recently traveled or been diagnosed with COVID-19, please call the office for a discussion with a provider as to how to proceed.
- Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home as much as possible.
- Avoid public areas: Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
- Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home.
- Limit contact with pets & animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
- Clean and disinfect items and surfaces that are touched frequently.
If you have further questions or concerns the following from Harvard Health Publishing is an excellent reference: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center
Links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding coronavirus:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
and the World Health Organization regarding coronavirus:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Please feel free to call our office to inquire about ways to maximize the health of your immune system during this time. We are here to help you!
