1. What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus or COVID-19 is a virus that causes mild to severe respiratory illness in humans. The outbreak was initially reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 but has since spread to other countries including the United States.
2. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
These are the symptoms reported by people confirmed to have Coronavirus. For most, you will only experience mild symptoms, 2-14 days after exposure. If you are an older adult or have a preexisting condition, you are at a higher risk for Coronavirus.
3. How does it spread?
This virus spreads mainly from person to person, according to the CDC. Being within 6 feet of infected persons or respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs landing on other non-infected people are the main two ways. It is possible for people also to be infected by touching a contaminated surface then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes but this is not the main form of spread.
The CDC considers COVID-19 to be community spread meaning people are infected in an area including some that are not sure how or where they became infected.
4. What can I do if I think I have the Coronavirus?
If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and you’re experiencing symptoms call your health care provider immediately.
The CDC recommends if you are sick, to help prevent the spread:
- Stay home except to get medical attention and stay isolated until instructed to leave
- Limit contact with people and animals
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor
- Wear a facemask if you are sick
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Wash your hands often
- Do not share household items and wash them well after use
- Disinfect all common surfaces each day
- Stay aware of your symptoms and whether or not they’re worsening
5. What SIMEDHealth services are being affected by this?
All clinics are open for patients in need. Scheduled clinic visits are being reviewed to determine which can be managed via telehealth via computer, telephone, or through our SIMEDHealth Patient Portal. Our facilities are limited to our staff and patients only. Everyone entering our facilities is screened daily with questions and their temperature is taken. Patients with cognitive or disability needs are permitted to have a maximum of one visitor accompany them. All other non-patient visitors are not permitted inside our facilities. All pharmaceutical, DME, and other vendor visitors are prohibited.
6. What SIMEDHealth is doing to protect you:
All non-essential for clinic function employees are being asked to work from home. Any employee newly returned from a flight, cruise, or travel to an area of Coronavirus spread have been requested to self-isolate away from SIMEDHealth facilities for 14 days. Every person prior to entering our buildings is screened for fever and with questions. Those not meeting entry criteria are sent home or evaluated in a "red zone" area outside of the building. After arrival, patients may wait in their vehicles until they are ready to be taken directly back to an exam or procedure room. Areas and items in exam and procedure rooms that come into patients' contact are sanitized between visits.