RIVERSIDE HEALTH CARE: What You Need to Know About Coronavirus and COVID-19

By Press release submission

Mar 8, 2020

Riverside Health Care issued the following announcement on March 3.

There is much in the news these days about the coronavirus (now named COVID-19).

COVID-19 is a new disease that was first detected in China and has now spread to approximately 70 countries, including the United States. To stay updated on the latest information about COVID-19, including travel restrictions, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.

While COVID-19 is new, preparing for responses to disasters, including potential epidemics and pandemics (e.g., H1N1, Swine Flu, Ebola), is not new for Riverside, where emergency preparedness training is a year-round activity.

Could I have COVID-19?

Should someone be concerned about COVID-19 exposure, they should contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931 for directions about testing and treatment. Individuals should not go to the hospital or physician’s office first, as they risk infecting others.

Older individuals with other health conditions seem to be at higher risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19.

If you have a fever and/or respiratory symptoms and:

Have traveled to mainland China, South Korea, Japan, Iran or Italy, or

Have been in contact with the virus

Please contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931 or visit their website at www.dph.illinois.gov for directions about testing and treatment. Please do not go to the hospital or your physician’s office first, you could risk infecting others.

Again, to stay updated on the latest information regarding COVID-19 including the latest travel restrictions visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.

Precautions

Currently, the actual number of COVID-19 infections in the United States is relatively low. The same precautions you take to avoid the flu will also help prevent the spread of this virus.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper arm.

Clean your hands. Frequent washing helps protect you and others from germs. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread this way.

Original source can be found here.