Lawrence County Family Clinic P.A.

In March 2020, our world changed. A novel coronavirus, called COVID-19, swept across the globe. It caused chaos, confusion, illness, and death. In America alone, over 700,000 people have died as a result. This page is for our patients to keep them up to date on the latest in COVID-19 symptoms, what to do if you become infected, and where to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• This list does not include all possible symptoms.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

What to Do If You Are Sick

1. Get tested

Wear a well-fitting mask to reduce possible spread of the virus.

2. Stay home except to get medical care

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care.

3. Separate yourself from other people

As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom.

4. Contact tracing

Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive.

5. Monitor your symptoms

6. Call ahead before visiting your doctor

            Use our Doxy.me telehealth program!



Quarantine and Isolation

If you were exposed

Quarantine and stay away from others when you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

            A close contact is someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a                       cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

If you are sick or test positive

Isolate when you are sick or when you have COVID-19, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Who does not need to quarantine?

• If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine.
• You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• You had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (meaning you tested positive using a viral test).

You will hear quarantine and isolation used often and sometimes interchangeably. One useful way to remember is “I isolate if I am positive or suspected positive of the COVID-19 virus”.

As our country continues to wrestle with the COVID-19 pandemic, our local, state, and national protocols will continue to adapt. In addition, our small businesses will continue to adjust to COVID-19 case numbers in our area. Talk to your boss, human resource manager, or give us a call, if you need guidance on what to do if you become exposed or test positive for COVID-19 and need to determine your best steps for quarantine or isolation.

Taking care of yourself:

Wear a Mask to Protect Yourself and Others

• Masking is a critical public health tool and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask.
• Wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.
• Wearing a well-fitted mask along with vaccination, self-testing, and physical distancing, helps protect you and others by reducing the chance of spreading COVID-19.

How to Get an At-Home COVID-19 Test

• Order free tests at COVIDtests.gov. Free tests are also available through most local health departments.

                   COVIDtests.gov

• Buy tests online or in pharmacies and retail stores. Private health insurance may reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests. Visit FDA’s website for a list of authorized tests.

FDA's website