Keeping Your Family Safe & Healthy During COVID-19
We know that many of our medical patients, and their family members, are managing chronic health conditions. We also know that COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) can be especially concerning under these circumstances.
While there is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19, and widespread testing availability is still in development, there are things you can do to help minimize the risk to yourself and those around you:
Follow proper hand washing protocols, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds (younger children can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice as they’re washing, to ensure the right amount of time). Hands should be washed after you have been in a public place and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in your home, such as tables, counters, door knobs, light switches, drawer pulls, desks, toilets, faucets, and telephones.
Where possible, avoid touching frequent-contact surfaces in public places. Examples include door handles, hand rails, and elevator buttons, as well as shaking hands with others. The CDC recommends using your sleeve or a tissue if you must touch these surfaces.
Keep in contact with leaders and organizers of any groups or activities in which your family participates, so that you are aware of any status updates they may report.
Ensure you have an adequate supply of any medications, as well as basic household items and food, in case you or your doctor feel you need to avoid going out altogether.
Please remember, also, that those at the highest risk for COVID-19 are elderly persons, as well as those with compromised immune systems. We want to emphasize that the vast majority of conditions we treat do not put your child into a higher risk category for COVID-19.
If you have specific concerns about a family member’s health conditions, or if someone in your family exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 (typically a fever with cough and shortness of breath), we encourage you to contact your primary care provider for advice and instruction.
We look forward to continuing to support your child’s health and to seeing you at their next appointment here at Parker Place!