Q. Where is JCHC getting their information?
Kristina Duarte, RN, BSN is the Infection Preventionist at JCHC. She is following the CDC guidelines, the CMS guidelines and the APIC guidelines. These are the best sources for medical professionals in how to prepare for and treat COVID19.
This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available. CDC works 24/7 to protect people’s health. More information about CDC’s response to COVID-19 is available online.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
APIC - Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
We know many of you have questions and concerns about the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 in your community — so we created this page to share facts and information.
Illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. However, it can cause serious illness, so it is important to be informed about how to protect yourself and others.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are...
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath
Some patients may have...
- aches and pains
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- sore throat
- diarrhea
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. About one in every five people who contract it need hospital care. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
If you have upper respiratory symptoms (cough, fever or shortness of breath) and believe you need to be evaluated for COVID-19–please call first before visiting JCHC to determine if you need to visit a specific place for testing.
The virus can spread from person-to-person through small droplets from the nose or mouth when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also be exposed COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 3 feet away from a person who is sick.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.
Illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. About one in every five people who contract it need hospital care. It is therefore quite normal for people to worry about how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect them and their loved ones.
Most coronavirus illnesses are mild with fever and cough. The vast majority of people with COVID-19 do not require hospital care. A much smaller percentage of people get severely ill with lung and breathing problems like pneumonia. People over the age of 60 and people with underlying medical conditions are at the highest risk.
The World Health Organization has more information about how to protect yourself.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen
Illness due to COVID-19 is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. The vast majority of people with COVID-19 infection do not require hospital care. A much smaller percentage of people get severely ill with lung and breathing problems like pneumonia.
People at high risk for complications from COVID-19 are:
- People older than 60 years of age
- People with chronic medical conditions
- People with compromised immune systems
- Those who are pregnant
Is Johnson County Healthcare Center prepared to care for patients with COVID-19?
We have been preparing for the presence of COVID-19 and our teams are ready to safely deliver care. Our facilities are open, and previously scheduled medical appointments are continuing unless otherwise noted from your care provider.
We’re grateful for the staff at all of our hospitals and clinics, who have been working tirelessly to provide the best care possible while following Johnson County Healthcare Center’s guidelines derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Go here for the latest updates
Johnson County Healthcare Center’s commitment to the safety of every staff member within our health system is unwavering. We will take care of patients with COVID-19 following all the appropriate safety policies. That includes following the guidelines from the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Yes. For more information go to the links below.
Who is tested for COVID-19?
Johnson County Healthcare Center follows evidence-based guidelines for testing based on the CDC and other sources. A call to your provider would be the first step to begin the evaluation of your symptoms. From there, we work with both commercial and state labs to facilitate the testing.
If you are having difficulty breathing or a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the JCHC ER.
If you have upper respiratory symptoms – cough, fever or shortness of breath and believe you need to be evaluated for COVID-19 – please call first to determine if you need to visit a specific site for testing.
Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. If you are sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath and in a high-risk group, call your health care provider to discuss whether you should be tested for COVID-19.
People at high risk for complications from COVID-19 are:
- People older than 60
- People with chronic medical conditions
- People with compromised immune systems
- Those who are pregnant
To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from people who are coughing or sneezing.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html
Quarantine is put into place to prevent the possible spread of an infectious disease from someone who may have been exposed to the disease but is not yet sick. When people are quarantined, they are kept separate from others until they are out of the period when they could get sick. During that time, health officials track their health so that if they do develop symptoms, they can get them to a health care provider quickly for evaluation, testing if needed, and care.
When people are in self-quarantine, they have no symptoms, but because there is a possibility that they might have been exposed, they stay away from others in public settings. For 14 days from their last possible exposure, people in self-quarantine cannot go to work, school, or any public places where they could have close contact with others. Public health departments direct them in how to monitor their health so that should they develop symptoms, they can be quickly and safely isolated from all others, including those in their household.
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak. You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 3 feet of distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene.
This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately, and wash your hands.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your health care provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. CDC.GOV
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
You should only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms (especially coughing) or caring for someone who may have COVID-19.
The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue and maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from people who are coughing or sneezing.
Plan now so that you can be ready in case many people are sick and can't go to work or school.
Talk to your friends and neighbors about how you can help each other if people in your households get sick or if your children aren't able to go to school or childcare. Can you drop groceries off on their doorstep? Can you take turns looking after children who aren't sick?
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