What You Should Know About Coronavirus

With the increasing concern of COVID-19 in our communities, Vera’s first and foremost concern is for the health and safety of our patients and our people.

We want you to know what you can do to prepare for the coronavirus at home and if you need to visit a care center.

What you should know

• COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China. It is now being spread from person to person in multiple locations across the U.S.
• Health experts are still learning the details. Currently it is thought to spread:
• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Personal precautions

Here are a few tips to help prevent infection:

• Wash your hands often with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer.
• Cough into your elbow. Cover your mouth and nose with flexed arm or tissue when coughing and sneezing. Clean hands with hand sanitizer or wash hands thoroughly after.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect high touch areas such as desks, doorknobs, keyboards, phones, etc.
• Please do not use a mask if you are not sick. Masks don’t protect healthy people from getting sick. They help keep sick people from spreading illness to others if they cough or sneeze.

Medical care

• If you are sick and have a fever, or signs of cough/flu/pneumonia, shortness of breath, or other respiratory conditions please stay home from work or school.
• Call your primary care provider before traveling to a care center to understand the appropriate plan of care if you know you have been exposed to somebody with the COVID-19 virus or if you have a fever above 100.4 associated with a cough.
• Consider a telephone visit for simple illness if possible.
• If you arrive at a care center with respiratory symptoms, ask for a mask to wear.

More information and resources

• For all that you need to know, including travel advisories: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html
• For specific questions, see the CDC’s FAQ section: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
• For information about COVID-19 in your state, search your state’s health department, which works with the CDC to monitor and implement all recommendations: www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html