CDC COVID-19 Advise And Report – March 15th, 2020

As of this morning, there have been more than 2000 cases and 50 deaths from 49 states and the District of Columbia.  Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the CDC talks about what you should do if you have symptoms.  She says a lot of what’s happening depends on your local situation, and to please pay attention to what’s happening in your area.

Listen:

• mediaBrew Media Player: ( 6 Min. mp3)
• Default Device Player: ( 6 Min. mp3)

Dr. Messonier goes on to say that if you are young and healthy, you might only get minor symptoms, and it shouldn’t be necessary to get tested.  The majority of people are expected to make full recoveries with only minor illness.  You should be able to ride the illness out from home.

If you are older or have underlying illnesses, call you health care provider so they can give you specific advise for what you should do.  But of course if you have an emergency or life threatening illness, call 911.

Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director of Infectious Diseases at CDC advises to wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.  Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, never your hands.  Avoid contact with people who are sick, and clean and disinfect surfaces in your home like counters or doorknobs to remove germs.

Have a plan for if you get sick.  Know who will take care of you if your care giver gets sick.  Pay attention to what is happening in your local area.  Stay home as much as possible and avoid crowds.

Top 10 Things You Can Do If You Think You Have Coronavirus or COVID-19

1. Stay home
2. Monitor your symptoms, if they worsen, call your health care providor
3. Rest and stay hydrated
4. If you have a medical appointment, call ahead and tell them that you may have COVID-19
5. If your symptoms are severe, call 911
6. Cover your coughs and sneezes
7. Wash your hands often
8. Stay away from others in your home, use a separate bathroom
9. Avoid sharing personal items
10. Clean all surfaces that are used often

The virus that causes coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is thought to spread from person to person.  It’s mainly spread through respiratory droplets, produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  These droplets can spead to the mouth, nose, or hands or can possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

For the latest resources and more information, visit cdc.gov/covid19.