There are a lot of questions surrounding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Community members are wondering how to stay safe, the symptoms they shouldn’t ignore, and when and where to seek treatment. We spoke with Jeffrey Boord, MD, MPH, Chief Quality & Safety Officer, to gather the answers to your most-pressing concerns surrounding this growing issue.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a virus known as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The illness was first found in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and has since spread to other countries. It can cause fever, cough and trouble breathing.
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses. They can cause more serious illnesses like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The 2019-nCoV is called a novel coronavirus because it's a new type that has not been seen in people before.
How is COVID-19 transmitted?
Viruses like these may spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing and through direct contact.
Screening
Parkview recognizes that many people have concerns and questions about symptoms and their personal risk of or the risk of a loved one contracting COVID-19. Thankfully, the majority of people have minor symptoms and do not require medical care or testing. Individuals with minor symptoms are advised to stay home rather than seek testing or medical care in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to others.
This information has been developed to help you understand when to seek care*.
If you have:
- Cough and/or
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher or
- Traveled to China, South Korea, Italy or Iran, or are concerned that you have been exposed through other contact and
- Do NOT have difficulty breathing
You should:
Stay home with support in isolation. Rest, stay hydrated, use ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed for fever. If you have questions, call your Parkview Physicians Group office or 1-877-PPG-TODAY for a free phone screening. Performing a screening over the phone will allow medical review while limiting exposure to others.
If you have:
- Cough and
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher or
- Traveled to China, South Korea, Italy or Iran or are concerned that you have been exposed through other contact and
- Do NOT have difficulty breathing but have flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, COPD, asthma, are immunocompromised or have concerns to discuss with a nurse
You should:
Call your Parkview Physicians Group office or 1-877-PPG-TODAY for a free phone screening. Performing a screening over the phone will allow medical review while limiting exposure to others. If it’s determined that you need to be seen in person, you will receive instructions on the facility at which to be seen.
If you have:
- Cough and
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher or
- Traveled to China, South Korea, Italy or Iran, or are concerned that you have been exposed through other contact and
- Do have difficulty breathing
You should:
Seek care at an emergency department.
Patients with health concerns unrelated to COVID-19 may wish to utilize telehealth resources to reduce their exposure risk. Parkview Health offers two mobile applications, MyChart and Parkview OnDemand. Patients with an existing MyChart account can login and choose “Talk to a Provider”. Parkview OnDemand is available to patients anywhere in the United States and takes minutes to set up.
Protecting yourself and others
The best way to protect yourself from getting sick is to:
- Avoid areas where there is an outbreak.
- Avoid contact with people who may be infected.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizers with an alcohol level of 60% or greater if soap and water is not available.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes in general, but particularly with unwashed hands.
- Practice social distancing. Avoid large groups in areas where germs could easily be exchanged and exposure is highly likely. If a gathering or event is not entirely necessary, continue postponing or finding another way to connect.
To help avoid spreading the virus to others:
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Use a disinfectant to clean things that you touch often.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- To prevent exposure to others, individuals who are experiencing respiratory symptoms are encouraged to call their healthcare provider prior to arriving at a healthcare facility.
Where can you get the latest information?
Parkview issued a news release on March 9th. You can view the release here.
More information on COVID-19, including answers to frequently asked questions, can be found at cdc.gov/covid19. Information can also be found on the ACDH website or by calling the department’s COVID-19 hotline at 260-449-4499.
The following links will provide you with up-to-date COVID-19 resources:
- CDC
- Indiana State Department of Health
- Allen County Department of Health
- Parkview’s Coronavirus landing page
*Please listen to your body. If you suspect you are in need of immediate care, call 911 or visit the emergency department immediately.
