Covid-19 Safety Precautions From a Doctor

I received the following message from my doctor's office, St. Joseph's Internal Medicine regarding the Covid-19, the Coronavirus, Monday night, March 9th. Seems like this advice should be shared. Education beats fear and rumors

IF YOU ARE SICK, CALL YOUR PROVIDER BEFORE COMING IN FOR A VISIT TO ANY HEALTHCARE FACILITY. THEY WILL DETERMINE THE BEST SETTING FOR YOUR CARE.

If you are sick AND have traveled to an impacted area, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19, call your primary care provider BEFORE going to any healthcare facility. This will help the healthcare provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Your health and safety is our highest priority. We are closely monitoring the international spread of Coronavirus, also called COVID-19, and are preparing for the possibility of the virus in our community.

Individuals with COVID-19 may have mild to severe respiratory illness, including symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some people, usually the elderly or immunocompromised, may experience more severe complications, such as pneumonia.

What can I do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

You can take basic precautions and practice good prevention practices, including:

- Stay home and avoid travel if you feel sick. Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick or have flu-like symptoms.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

- Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue. Then, discard the tissue in the trash.

- Clean and disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces with a household cleaning spray or wipe.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

REMEMBER, CALL YOUR PROVIDER BEFORE COMING IN FOR A VISIT IF YOU ARE SICK

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC's website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html where you can find many resources and recommendations.