As concerns regarding the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 arise in our community, we want to keep you informed. We want to empower you to protect yourself, your family, and to prevent the spread of the virus. Remember that we are here to assist you! Please feel free to contact our office with questions or concerns so that we can help you seek the most appropriate care. Additionally, we will strive to update our Crowley Primary Care webpage and Facebook page with pertinent information as it becomes available.
The best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to be diligent in basic hygiene practices:
· Remember to wash your hands regularly! Spend about 20-30 seconds rubbing your hands with soap (a helpful hint is to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice), before rinsing.
· Make a very deliberate effort not to touch your mouth, nose or eyes or any area of your face, as they present points of entry for the virus.
· Avoid close contact with someone who is sick (close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for 3 minutes or more.)
We are most concerned for patients who have traveled to locations where the virus is more active. At the current time, the countries of most concern are located in China and Europe. However, we anticipate there being more community spread in the very near future. We advise that people in the highest risk categories should take extra precautions to protect themselves. Those in the highest risk groups include people over the age of 65, those with heart and lung diseases, and those who are immunocompromised.
As various countries around the world respond to the severity of the illness, you can anticipate some changes to your daily life. Some employers may be advising people to work from home when possible. We are not currently recommending quarantining yourself unless you have been in contact with a known case of coronavirus or if you have traveled to a known area with high levels of coronavirus within the past two weeks. As always, at this time of year, we are at the height of “regular” flu season, so we would recommend avoiding public places, when possible. Routine screening for coronavirus is also not recommended, unless a patient has symptoms (high fever, shortness of breath and cough) and meet travel or contact criteria set by the CDC.
The best source of information as things continue to develop will be the CDC and your local health department. Good preparation should include making sure that you have a 30 day supply of your medications and that you are prepared for a long stay at home (about 14 days), if a quarantine should become implemented in our area.
Be sure to keep up routine health practices, such as staying hydrated, sleeping well and eating a balanced diet in order to keep your immune system healthy.
You can find more information on our webpage about the Coronavirus, https://www.crowleyprimarycare.com/coronavirus.
Drs. Aertker, Cannon, Ronkartz and Walker
Crowley Primary Care
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