1129 Heatherstone Dr
Fredericksburg, VA 22407Mon - Fri 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Closed for lunch 12pm-1pm; on Thurs. 12pm-1:30pm; Sat. & Sun. - Closed
By fchcclinic • March 16, 2020 • Comments Off on COVID-19 Guidance
COVID-19 comes from a strain of virus called “Corona Virus.” Corona virus is very common, and usually causes people to have colds or pink eye. The strain of corona virus that causes COVID-19 makes people much sicker than the usual corona virus. This is especially true of older adults who have other medical problems, especially heart or lung problems. COVID-19 spreads very easily, and can cause severe deadly infection in even low risk people. Although there have been many experimental treatments for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, so far none have been proven to be safe and effective, with the exception of Remdesivir which helps the sickest hospitalized patients. Our best protection against COVID-19 while we wait for a vaccine to be developed is practicing social distancing, wearing masks to prevent asymptomatic spread, and practicing good hygiene washing and sanitizing often.
IF YOU FEEL SHORT OF BREATH OR VERY ILL GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. If you have a fever, cough, sore throat, or other signs of a respiratory infection you should get tested for COVID-19. If you have spent more than 15 minutes within six feet of someone with COVID-19 infection you should also be tested, even if you don’t feel sick. Testing should be done with a nose or throat swab that tests for active infection. This can be done through CVS pharmacies (who are partnering with the Health Department) or at many Urgent Care clinics. Testing through blood tests for COVID anti-bodies is NOT recommended, as these tests are not reliable and do not give useful information. A positive test does not mean that you are immune to COVID, and may not even indicate that you have been infected already. Alternatively, you could have an early active infection and the blood test could still be negative.
What to do if have been infected or you think you have been exposed to COVID-19?
If you have symptoms you must stay quarantined at home for at least 10 days, and then can come out of isolation after 10 days if you are feeling better and have not had a fever for at least 24hrs off of medication. If you do not have symptoms, you should stay isolated at home for 14 days from the time of exposure. If symptoms develop, stay home for 10 days from the time you started feeling sick, as noted above. While in home isolation: Drink plenty of water, stay well rested, and eat healthy food so you will get better quicker. Quit smoking if you smoke. Taking medication like Tylenol or ibuprofen can help with fever and make you feel better. Cough medication, decongestants, and nose sprays can help with symptoms. If you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, or other medical problems you should ask the pharmacist or your doctor if it is safe to take these medications.
If you are having trouble breathing you should go to the Emergency Room. Do not go to the ER unless you are having trouble breathing or are so sick that you think you would be admitted (stay overnight) in the hospital. For mild symptoms, we recommend staying at home and using over the counter medications. Antibiotics will not help viral illnesses like COVID, the flu, colds, bronchitis, and even most sinus infections. Seeing a doctor to get a prescription for an antibiotic will not likely make you feel better. For more severe symptoms such as high fever, wheezing, severe sore throat (especially if you are not also coughing), severe sinus pain, or have been sick for over 10 days and not starting to get better you may have a bacterial infection. In these cases we recommend you get tested for COVID-19 first, and then seek care at FCHC or an urgent care. If you come to FCHC, we will ask you to wait in your car in the parking lot during the check in process until we can safely escort you to a room designated for sick patients. As we approach flu-season…GET A FLU SHOT! If you very suddenly have a high fever, chills/aches, cough, sore throat, and headache then you may have the flu. There is medication that can help the flu, but it only helps if taken in the first 48hrs of feeling sick.
Stay at home as much as possible. This is the best way to protect yourself and others from infection.
Wash and sanitize your hands often.
Don’t smoke Avoid close contact with people that may be sick. Eat healthy, get good sleep, and exercise to strengthen your immune system.
Have faith and be at peace; stress and panic will weaken your immune system.
Wear a mask to protect others, as you may be an asymptomatic carrier.
This is a good way to follow Jesus’ command to love your neighbor.
COVID-19 proviene de una cepa de virus llamada “Corona Virus”. El virus de la corona es muy común y generalmente causa que las personas tengan resfriados o conjuntivitis (es la causa más común de conjuntivitis).
La cepa del corona virus que causa COVID-19 enferma a las personas más que el virus corona habitual, similar a la gripe. Esto es especialmente cierto en adultos mayores que tienen otros problemas médicos, especialmente problemas cardíacos o pulmonares. En este momento es incierto si COVID-19 es realmente más mortal que la gripe, pero parece que se está propagando más rápido que la gripe, y no existe un medicamento para curar el coronavirus, a diferencia de la gripe.
Debido a que COVID-19 es causado por un virus, los antibióticos no lo ayudarán a mejorar si lo contrae (al igual que los antibióticos no ayudan con los resfriados, la gripe y la mayoría de las infecciones sinusales (sinusiti) y la bronquitis).
Hay muy pocos kits de prueba disponibles. Fredericksburg Christian Health Center NO tiene kits de prueba. SOLO los hospitales tienen kits de prueba, y solo se les permite usarlos con el permiso del Departamento de Salud. El Departamento de Salud en sí no tiene kits.
Los kits SÓLO deben usarse para pacientes que están ingresados en el hospital y que han viajado recientemente desde China, Corea, Irán o Italia; o ha estado en contacto cercano con alguien que ha dado positivo.
Las pruebas no se realizarán en pacientes con enfermedades leves que no necesitan permanecer en el hospital.
Quédese en casa para no enfermar a otras personas. Espere al menos un par de días después de que desaparezcan todos sus síntomas antes de volver a rodear a las personas.
Beba mucha agua, descanse y coma alimentos saludables para que se mejore más rápido. Deje de fumar, si fuma.
Tomar medicamentos como tylenol o ibuprofeno puede ayudar con la fiebre y hacerte sentir mejor. Los medicamentos para la tos, los descongestionantes y los aerosoles nasales pueden ayudar con los síntomas. Si tiene presión arterial alta, enfermedad renal u otros problemas médicos, debe preguntarle al farmacéutico o al médico si es seguro tomar estos medicamentos.
Si tiene problemas para respirar, debe ir a la sala de emergencias. No vaya a la sala de emergencias a menos que tenga problemas para respirar o esté tan enfermo que piense que podría ingresar (pasar la noche) en el hospital.
Debe consultar a su médico de familia (como el Centro de Salud Cristiano Fredericksburg) si tiene fiebre alta, sibilancias, dolor de garganta muy fuerte (pero no tose), dolor de sinus intenso o ha estado enfermo durante más de 10 días y no ha comenzado a mejorar.
Si de repente tiene fiebre alta, escalofríos / dolores, tos, dolor de garganta y dolor de cabeza, entonces puede tener gripe. Hay medicamentos que pueden ayudar con la gripe, pero solo ayudan si se toman en las primeras 48 horas de sentirse enfermo. El medicamento también es muy costoso si no tiene seguro.
Las instalaciones de atención de urgencia no tienen kits de prueba. FCHC no recomienda acudir a una atención de urgencia, ya que será mucho más costoso para usted y no recibirá una mejor atención de la que recibiría en FCHC. Una atención de urgencia puede tener horarios más convenientes, pero usted pagará más por la visita más el riesgo de pruebas y tratamientos costosos e innecesarios. Si está extremadamente enfermo, vaya a la sala de emergencias.
Lava y desinfecta tus manos con frecuencia.
No fume
Evite el contacto cercano con personas que sabe que dieron positivo por gripe, faringitis estreptocócica, neumonía, COVID-19 y otras enfermedades similares.
Coma sano, duerma bien y haga ejercicio para fortalecer su sistema inmunológico.
Ten fe y mantente en paz; El estrés y el pánico debilitarán su sistema inmunológico.
Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 4:30PM
Closed for lunch: 12 PM – 1 PM; on Thursdays 12 PM – 1:30 PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Phone Hours: 8:30 AM- 12:30 PM and from
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM except on Thursdays when
they are off from 12 PM – 2 PM
Main location:
1129 Heatherstone Dr
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: (540) 785-8500
Fax: 540-785-5328
Email: info@fchc.us
"When did we see you ill or in prison, and come to visit you?" And the king will answer, "I tell you this: anything you did for one of my brothers here, however humble, you did for me."
(Matthew 25:40-41 NEB)
Update Office Hours
Updated office hours will be effective on March 2, 2021. We will be extending our office hours until 6pm, on Tuesday and every other Thursday, starting on March 4, 2021.