Do you have a cough, a fever or shortness of breath? Are you worried that you may have COVID-19? Our medical team at NCH Healthcare System recommends the following:
Stay home and call your doctor.
Reduce your risk of catching or spreading the virus by staying home even if your symptoms are mild. Avoid work, school, public places and public transportation. If you feel like you need medical care, call and talk through your symptoms with one of our physicians or nursing team before visiting a medical facility.
Expect us to ask a list of questions to help determine risk, including:
- Have you had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?
- Do you have a fever, a cough or difficulty breathing?
- Has a public health official stated that you were potentially exposed to COVID-19?
Based on your answers to these questions, your we will specify instructions over the phone. Depending on your risk for COVID-19, we may recommend that you:
- Call back if you develop a fever or respiratory symptoms.
- Stay home and await further instructions.
- Report to a designated medical care facility for evaluation and treatment.
Practice hand and respiratory hygiene.
If it is determined that you need to travel to a facility for care, wear a mask to minimize risk to others. Also, take steps to deter the spread or risk of infection:
- Routinely wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose, coughing or using the bathroom, and before preparing or eating food.
- Cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow or use a tissue and throw it away immediately afterward.
- Regularly disinfect often-touched surfaces such as doors and doorknobs, cabinet handles, bathroom hardware, tabletops, phones, tablets and keyboards.
The possibility of having COVID-19 is not something to take lightly but taking the necessary safety precautions can help minimize the spread of the virus in the community.
For more information about COVID-19 and how to help prevent the spread of the virus, visit our nchmd.org/covid-19.
