COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. Our number one method for preventing COVID-19 illness is to follow the guidelines set forth by the CDC, the state of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County. The guidelines are changing frequently. We have summarized the best methods for prevention as well as the current testing recommendations below.
HOW TO DECREASE COVID-19 EXPOSURE:
• Wear masks in any public indoor space.
• Wear masks in your home if any family member has been exposed to COVID-19 or is considered high risk.
• Wear masks in any outdoor space in which you cannot maintain a 6 foot distance from others and avoid crowds.
• Practice social distancing when out in public, at the workplace, anywhere you go, and in your home if a family member had a known COVID-19 exposure.
• Limit your trips to only essential places, such as grocery stores and work.
• Limit your visits/travels especially to high risk areas, states with a high COVID-19 rate, indoor spaces where social distancing and mask wearing is not practiced, i.e. bars, indoor restauraunts, and large gatherings.
• Avoid people who are coughing or appear ill.
The above guidance is necessary to help avoid COVID-19 exposure and spread.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE AN EXPOSURE TO A PERSON WHO HAS COVID-19:
Exposure is considered to be contact with either a person who has COVID-19 symptoms or an asymptomatic person who has a positive COVID-19 test anywhere from 2 days prior to onset of symptoms or positive test until their home quarantine is completed.
If your child or any member of your family meets the above criteria they will need to do the following:
• Stay home until 14 days after the last exposure, maintaining social distance, at least 6 feet from others.
• Self-monitor for symptoms, check temperature twice daily, watch for fever of 100.4 F or greater, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms.
• Avoid any contact with people at higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
• Possible testing for COVID-19, 4-7 days after the exposure if testing available or complete a 14-day quarantine where you are symptom free, without testing.
• A negative test does not necessarily mean you do not have COVID-19.
• Call the office to inform us of the positive exposure, to obtain guidance and a prescription and directions for testing.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A SECONDARY EXPOSURE TO COVID-19:
Secondary exposure is when:
• you had contact with a person who does not currently have COVID-19, but this person was exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• you had contact with someone who thinks they may have COVID-19 but has not been diagnosed.
• you had contact with a person who is currently being tested for COVID -19.
If you fit into any of the above categories you will not require immediate testing and should follow the “HOW TO DECREASE COVID EXPOSURE” guidelines listed above. Unfortunately, many of us will have these secondary exposures as COVID-19 cases increase in our communities.
If your circumstances change and the person you were in contact with is diagnosed with COVID-
19 please follow the guidelines above for “WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE AN EXPOSURE TO A PERSON WHO HAS COVID-19.”
COVID-19 TESTING:
• COVID-19 testing is done no sooner than 4-7 days after a known exposure unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 testing is not 100% accurate.
• A negative test does not necessarily mean that you do not have COVID 19.
• You may have to continue to quarantine after a negative COVID-19 test.
• COVID-19 testing is limited and is not available for everyone at the present time.
Please refer to the CDC website for further guidelines and as always please call the office with any questions.