General Information about Coronavirus (COVID-19):

Symptoms:

• The coronavirus can cause a respiratory illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
• The most common symptoms are: cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
• Other symptoms may include: body aches, chills, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, runny nose, and sore throat

Exposure Risk Factors:

• Exposure to a person who has been diagnosed (laboratory confirmed) with coronavirus.
• International travel and domestic travel from an area with recent local transmission of coronavirus. More information can be find at CDC website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
• The US Centers for Disease Control has the most current information.

How the Virus Spreads:

• The virus likely spreads through respiratory droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes. This is how most respiratory viruses spread.
• The current large numbers of cases are believed to be spread from human to human.

How to Protect Yourself from Getting Sick:

• Avoid close contact with people known to have this new Coronavirus infection.
• Stay at home if possible. Avoid large gathering and crowd. Avoid international travel, and domestic travel to high-risk area.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective (above 60%).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Do not share eating utensils (examples: spoon, fork).
• Cover your cough! Sneeze into your elbow! If you have a runny nose, wear a mask so that you don’t spread the infection to protect your family, friends, and co-workers.
• When you greet your friends and family, avoid close contact. Try to stay six feet away from other people when possible. Use safe greetings such as a wave or nod instead of shaking hands or hugging.
• Not recommended - using a face mask if you are healthy and just trying to avoid getting infected. It actually doesn’t work. Washing your hands regularly is far more important.

For the latest local information, click here.

Travel Advice:
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a website with the latest recommendations regarding travel and your health.

Rumors You May Hear That Are NOT True:

The following examples of activities do not cause or increase you risk of getting Coronavirus

• Eating at a Chinese restaurant.
• Walking by a person who has coronavirus
• Living in a community where there is one or more confirmed cases of coronavirus.
• Being "from" the same school, church, workplace or building as a person with coronavirus
  “My child/family knows someone from one of the schools affected?"
• Having close contact with a person who was exposed to coronavirus more than 14 days ago and never developed any symptoms.

If You are Sick with Fever, Cough, or Flu-like Symptoms:

• Isolate yourself at home (example: stay in a bedroom)
• Do not allow any visitors
• Do not go to work or school
• Do not go to church, child care centers, shopping, or other public places.
• Do not shake hands.
• Avoid close contact with others (hugging, kissing).

For All Fevers:

• Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Dress in 1 layer of lightweight clothing and sleep with 1 light blanket.
• For fevers less than 101° F (38.3° C), fever medicines are usually not needed.

If You Need to Cover Your Mouth and Nose - Wear a Mask:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue (e.g., Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towel) or wash cloth
• Ask for a mask to wear over your mouth and nose.

Call the Clinic Right Away If:

• Breathing difficulty develops (it is hard to breath)
• You become worse
• You have further questions