COVID-19 Precautions at Digestive Health Specialists
March 11, 2020
If you have symptoms and answer yes to these questions, call your doctor before showing up.
Do you have a fever greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees?Do you have symptoms of a respiratory infection such as cough or sore throat?Have you traveled within the last 14 days to an affected geographic area?Have you been in contact with someone known or suspected to have COVID-19?
This will allow staff to prepare for you while limiting your interaction with other patients and visitors. If needed, we can reschedule your appointment until you are fully recovered.
The CDC and ADPH recommend adhering to flu precautions to avoid the coronavirus, which include:
- Frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds
- Covering coughs, to avoid spreading germs
- A flu shot, for those who have not had one
- Staying home if you are sick
- Calling your healthcare provider if you develop flu-like symptoms
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to be transmitted from person-to-person spread, including:
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects
It is possible that individuals may contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
People are most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before individuals show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not believed to be the main way the virus spreads.
How easily does the virus spread?
How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained.The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.