If you have traveled to/from these countries within the past 30 days, or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 and have a fever or respiratory illness (cough or shortness of breath), call your doctor’s office or local public health department for further direction.
General statement from Forest Park Church of Christ
With the continuing spread of COVID-19 (#coronavirus) within the U.S., our health system is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health authorities, to care for affected individuals while taking steps to limit person-to-person spread within our communities. We will share resources and updates on this page as the situation develops.
Information about COVID-19
COVID-19 is believed to spread in similar ways as the common cold, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. A health care provider can give you instructions for seeking care, including options for testing, while minimizing the risk of exposing others.
Across the world, new cases of COVID-19 are being reported, and some parts of the country have declared a state of emergency. However, according to the CDC and other authorities, for most people in the U.S. the risk of exposure remains low. We continue to follow established infection prevention protocols and remain prepared to care for patients. We have protocols in place, including training our staff and practicing for these scenarios, and for how we work with infection control and prevention teams, the CDC, and public health authorities. We are monitoring this issue closely and taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our patients, caregivers, visitors and community.
How to protect yourself
You can protect yourself from COVID-19 infection the same ways you protect against the common cold or seasonal flu.
- Sanitize your hands often for at least 20 seconds each time. Alcohol gel works well in most situations (like after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose), but handwashing with soap and water should be performed after going to the bathroom, before eating, or when your hands are visibly soiled.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash (putting a tissue on a table contaminates the surface of the table with germs).
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Routinely disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, using a cleaning spray or wipe.
- Avoid travel to high-risk countries. We are discouraging non-essential travel to or through any of the countries for which the CDC has issued a level 2 or 3 travel health notice.
- Take extra precautions to reduce the likelihood of exposure, if you are at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
If you feel sick
Use home quarantine or home isolation:
- Stay home if you believe you have been exposed to the virus, even if you are not showing any symptoms.
- If you have traveled to a country on the CDC list of level 2 or 3 travel health notices and feel ill, call your health care provider or schedule a Virtual Visit first and before coming into the doctor’s office or emergency department.
- Avoid coming to the emergency department, unless you have a health emergency and/or you have been advised by your health care provider to do so. This helps prevent the risk of spreading COVID-19 infection.
- Stay home when you are sick, especially if you have respiratory illness symptoms. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to a COVID-19 infection. Whether you have seasonal flu, the common cold, or something else, it’s important you stay away from others when sick.
- Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home as much as possible while you are sick.
- Monitor yourself for fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
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Symptoms to monitor
Stay informed
The CDC has the most current information about the virus, including everything you need to know about how the virus spreads, how it’s treated, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you get sick. Stay on top of the latest by visiting the CDC website, which is being updated frequently.
You can also learn how your state’s department of public health is responding to the situation by visiting the website for the state where you live:
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