What you need to know about COVID-19

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What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an aggressive strain of the coronavirus that causes respiratory illness. According to the CDC’s website, the virus emerged in Wuhan, China, likely from and animal source and is now spreading from person to person.

How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 is mainly spread by liquid being purged from a person’s respiratory system, i.e. coughing within close contact of another person. It is a possibility that the virus can be contracted by touching infected surfaces and then touching your face as well.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of the virus are fever, cough, shortness of breath and persistent pain or pressure in the chest. Some have said that the symptoms closely resemble that of the flu. 

What is the worst case scenario for a person that contracts this virus?

Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 have experienced severe complications that include pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure and death. 

What you can do to protect yourself and your community from the spread:

Although Amarillo city officials have suggested moderate social distancing, according to epidemic models created by several entities, this will not be enough to keep hospitals from overcrowding. Extreme social distancing is the only model that has been represented to keep the virus contained enough to prevent overcrowding in hospitals or a shortage in availability of respiratory ventillators. 

It is suggested by the CDC to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your face, and to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If using hand sanitizer, find one that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. The CDC also suggests that people stay home and wear a face mask if they are sick, to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and to disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces. 

Is there a treatment or vaccine?

There is no particular medicine to prevent or treat the COVID-19 virus. Some people have needed respiratory ventillators to help them breathe. Those with mild symptoms are being asked to stay at home until they have recovered and are being asked to rest, keep warm, drink plenty of liquids and to use humidifiers to ease cough and sore throats.

There is currently no vaccine available to the public. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating an investigational vaccine to protect against COVID-19 was injected into the first person on March 16. Participants in the testing of this vaccine will be closely monitored. If it works, and if proper procedures are followed, it is estimated that the vaccine will not be available to the public for an estimated 14-18 months. 

How to clean with COVID-19 in mind (According to the CDC):

• Clean dirty surfaces and objects with soap and water prior to disinfecting.

• Diluted household bleach solutions and alcohol solutions with at least 70 percent alcohol will be the most effective. To prepare a bleach solution, add 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach per gallon of water.

• Do not shake dirty laundry to minimize the risk of dispersing the virus into the air. 

• Wear gloves while cleaning and wash your hands after. 

• Key times to wash your hands would be after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing; after using the restroom; before eating or preparing food; after contact with animals or pets; and before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance. 

For peace of mind: your local healthcare providers are taking all necessary precautions in an effort to keep the public safe

“All emergency room workers have to wear goggles, gloves and two masks all day long as personal protective equipment- just extra precautions to protect people and to protect ourselves,” says a Respiratory Care Practitioner, Amber Keelin, in Amarillo.

In addition, healthcare providers are being urged by the CDC to reschedule elective and non-urgent admissions, delay all elective ambulatory provider visits, delaying elective surgical and procedural cases and postponing routine dental and eyecare visits.

PRMC has implemented limited visitation for patients and waiting room capacities to prevent a possible spreading of the virus, along with many other healthcare providers in the area. 

For more information about COVID-19 and to monitor the spread, keep up with The Pampa News or you can go online to www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

All information for this article was pulled from the CDC’s website: www.cdc.gov; from the United States Department of Health and Human Services website: www.hhs.gov; interviews with local healthcare professionals and a press release provided to The Pampa News by PRMC.