By now, your newsfeed has been inundated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). We want to take precautionary measures while we continue to learn more about it. Unfortunately the current number of cases are not reflecting the actual total due to the lag of testing kits in the United States.
According to Care Mount Medical, the number of confirmed cases is almost certain to rise in our region over the next several weeks as verified testing becomes more available. As of a couple of days ago, no physician offices had the ability to test. The test could only be completed by NYS and CDC.
The overall risk of serious illness from Covid-19 is low. Most patients will have mild upper respiratory symptoms including a fever, nasal congestion and cough. A minority of patients can develop pneumonia and some will require hospitalization. A small portion of these patients will have a fatal outcome. Those at greatest risk are the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions such as COPD, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Parents-it is natural to worry for your kids, but so far the data appears to show that the majority of children have a mild upper respiratory illness or no illness at all from the virus. Since the illness is predominantly spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet), it is imperative that we all practice proper hygiene.
Prevention
As of now, it is believed the virus cannot be passed onto your pet. However, we do recommend the following:
-Wipe your dogs paws after each visit.
-Wash your hands after using public transportation. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
-Disinfect doorknobs regularly.
-Keep your immune system strong by including vitamins, rest and antioxidants into your daily routine.
-Cover coughs and sneezes with the crook of your arm.
-Teach your children proper hygiene as well.
-Forgo shaking hands with people-they will understand.
-If you have risks based on travel or exposure, you can elect to stay home for 14 days after your exposure. If you become become severely ill, call 911.
How our company is preparing for it:
We are educating our staff on hygiene and distributing disinfectant wipes so they can wipe down doorknobs after their visits. We have also equipped our staff with hand sanitizer.
Small Businesses Affected
Chines businesses are the most affected right now. This is due to fear. Let’s continue to educate ourselves, practice kindness and support small business.
