What can I do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Source: Centers for Disease Control, California Depart of Public Health
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including:
In some cases, COVID-19 can cause more severe respiratory illness.
Source: California Department of Public Health
What if I have symptoms?
If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough or shortness of breath, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed, they should call their health care provider or local health department before seeking care. Contacting them in advance will make sure that people can get the care they need without putting others at risk. Please be sure to tell your health care provider about your travel history. You can also take the following precautionary measures: avoid contact with sick individuals, wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, and get a flu shot.
Source: California Department of Public Health
What is the impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults?
The CDC has identified older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung, or kidney disease at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness. According to the CDC, early data suggest older people are twice as likely to have serious COVID-19 illness.
This is likely because as people age, their immune systems change, making it harder for their body to fight off diseases and infection, and because many older adults are also more likely to have underlying health conditions that make it harder to cope with and recover from illness. Age increases the risk that the respiratory system or lungs will shut down when an older person has COVID-19 disease.
That’s why the CDC is recommending that people at higher risk take the following actions:
What is the Senior Dental Center doing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
CLINIC UPDATE: The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center clinical services are currently closed as of March 16, 2020 and will reopen when it is safe to do so.
The Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center is continually monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and federal, state and local agencies to help ensure the actions we’re taking are in line with the latest CDC recommendations and guidance. We are communicating regularly with our employees and patients to keep them informed and to ensure everyone’s safety.
How can I get more information on COVID-19?
For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
View CDC Video:
Sources:
California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
National Council on Aging:
https://www.ncoa.org/blog/coronavirus-what-older-adults-need-to-know/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=03082020_CoronavirusAdHoc