Menu
|
Menu
COVID-19 Information & Prevention
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you feel sick, please contact us and ask to speak with Dr. Sleep.
We can help determine who should be seen and who should stay home.
Long Beach Health and Human Services has made testing for COVID-19 exposure/infection available with a physician’s order, to patients who are experiencing symptoms of viral infection.
Those over 65 years of age with underlying health conditions are given priority.
However, symptomatic individuals who do not meet that criteria can also be tested. Again, this is for persons with symptoms.
If you have symptoms, contact us and after a discussion about your symptoms, we will send an order to Long Beach Public Health who will then contact you with the time and place of testing.
UC Irvine Health also has a referral resource for testing.
Patients can call a triage team to determine if the testing criteria are met and then be scheduled for a viral infection swab test.
Looking for past exposure and recovery, we can now draw blood for the testing of the antibody to COVID-19 in our office via Quest Laboratories.
There are other testing sites and companies that claim antibody testing but we are skeptical of these claims. The reliability and accuracy of some of these tests is questionable.
Through Dr. Sleep’s many years of experience, she has become confident in Quest Labs’ professionalism and scientific methods.
As a general rule, please remember to stay inside whenever possible and always wear a mask and practice social distancing.
We hope this information helps to answer some of the questions about what has become such a huge adjustment in all of our everyday lives.
IF YOU EXPERIENCE SIGNS OF INFECTION
Coronavirus symptoms
Mild COVID-19 cases:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest Pain
- Pneumonia
If you’re exhibiting the 3 primary symptoms – fever, cough and shortness of breath – call our office first.
Pain in the chest typically warrants an emergency department visit, no matter the illness in question.
The same goes for progressive or sudden onset of shortness of breath or any sudden change in mental functioning.
However, fever and cough, may be managed at home with a call to our office.
COVID-19 doesn’t have a cure yet, just relief from symptoms.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
The best way to avoid it is to practice everyday prevention measures: Wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer and stay away from sick people.
This disease is transmitted by respiratory droplets. If droplets from a sneeze or cough land in your mouth or nose, or if you inhale those droplets, the disease may be transmitted from one person to the next.
Staying 6 feet away from a person (social distancing), minimizes the possibility of that happening.
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose. If you do need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover it.
Wearing a protective face mask and gloves also greatly reduces the risk of catching or spreading the virus.
If you are other or if you have pre-existing medical conditions, you’re at higher risk.
Adhering to these preventive measures is very important to avoid becoming ill, and if you are already sick, following these measures prevents you from spreading the disease.
CONTACT US
If you’re exhibiting the 3 primary symptoms – fever, cough and shortness of breath – call our office immediately.