How to Protect Yourself From COVID-19

In these stressful times, COVID-19 prevention is at the forefront of almost everyone’s minds. Whether you have been working outside your home throughout the pandemic, or you’re just now starting to leave the house again, you’re probably wondering what you can do to avoid becoming infected with the virus. We’ve compiled some tips on how to protect yourself from COVID-19, and we hope that they help you remain safe and healthy.

Avoid Exposure to COVID-19

As you’ve probably heard before, when it comes to the seasonal flu, one of the best things you can do to keep yourself healthy is get an annual flu shot. Unfortunately, there’s currently no vaccine for COVID-19, so your main goal should be to avoid exposure to the virus. Because researchers believe that COVID-19 is primarily spread through person-to-person contact, you should:

• Stay at least 6 feet from anyone who doesn’t live in your household, as well as from anyone in your household who’s sick
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth whenever you’re in public or around people who don’t live in your household
• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place
• Frequently use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
• Avoid touching your face as much as possible, especially if you didn’t wash your hands beforehand
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, including doorknobs, light switches, faucets, phones, keyboards, and remote controls

Monitor Yourself for COVID-19 Symptoms

If you start feeling under the weather, you’ll want to pay close attention to your symptoms and note whether they resemble the symptoms of the virus. Based on that information, you’ll know whether you need to obtain testing and treatment for COVID-19. For your reference, COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Throat soreness
• Congestion or runny nose
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• New loss of smell or taste

Keep Yourself Updated on New Developments

As time goes by, researchers will continue releasing new information about COVID-19, whether that includes information about a vaccine, recently discovered symptoms, or anything else. In addition to checking our site for updates, you’ll want to keep an eye out for news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other reputable sources.

Taking Steps to Protect Our Patients From COVID-19

At PhysicianOne Urgent Care, we place the highest priority on keeping our patients and team members safe. We’ve made a number of updates at our urgent care centers to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as:

• Hosting virtual visits through a secure videoconferencing platform
• Installing Plexiglass barriers at our front desks
• Moving waiting room chairs at least 6 feet apart from each other
• Adhering social distancing decals to the waiting room floor
• Encouraging patients to check in online and wait in their cars until it’s time to be seen
• Implementing drive-up testing for patients who are concerned that they might have COVID-19

If you’d like to know more about what you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19, or about the steps we’re taking to prevent transmission of the virus, contact PhysicianOne Urgent Care today.