COVID-19 

COVID-19 has become the top of the news! Meetings are canceled, travel is discouraged, grocery shelves are empty, and schools are closing! Every hour, or several times daily we are seeing or hearing a CDC or Public Health updates. The President has declared a National Emergency. The Financial markets worldwide have taken a major hit!  

The health care services-Hospitals, Clinics, Public Health-have implemented policies and procedures to cope with this health emergency. Preparations and planning will be ongoing as this worldwide health emergency continues in the next weeks or, possibly, months.

 Here in Kern County as of this writing we consider that we are at “low risk” for a major or serious outbreak of illness due to COVID-19. The discussion of whether or not the impact of the illness or mortality rate is as serious as “the flu was last year” or previous outbreaks such as SARS or MERS, is no longer relevant. 

While we believe that to be true we certainly must plan and prepare to deal with the individual, family and public concern with the potential of the Coronavirus situation.

Should you not feel well and experience flu-like symptoms or respiratory distress you are encouraged to use the appointment or walk-in services of the West Side Family Health Care Clinic. Our providers and employees have received specific instructions from the CDC, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Kern County Public Health Department (KCPHD regarding the assessment of patients with the signs and symptoms that are suspicious of Coronavirus (COVID-19)). There are specific testing procedures for COVID-19 through the KCPHD to rule out or confirm COVID-19.

YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS VERY MUCH YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!!

• LIMIT HAND TOUCHING EXCHANGES/CONTACT SURFACES 
• STAY AT HOME IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL; 
• SNEEZE ETIQUETTE (Google CDC) 
• HAND WASHING: Frequent and vigorous 20-30 seconds with soap and clean water;
• USE HAND SANITIZER that is alcohol-based;
• DO NOT EXPOSE YOURSELF TO CROWDS IN CONFINED SPACES UNNECESSARILY;
• BE AWARE OF  CDC FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC  TRAVEL ADVISORIES
• AND; 
• HAVE YOU HAD YOUR FLU VACCINATION THIS YEAR? 

Please use the following link to the CDC website to stay up to date on the Coronavirus worldwide. https://www.cdc.gov/ 

 https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/03/19/to-beat-covid-19-social-distancing-is-a-must/