COVID-19 continues to have an enormous impact on our lives and our communities. It’s a highly infectious respiratory disease, and everyone must do their part to keep those numbers down.
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell? If you’re in Covington, LA, and the answer is yes, it’s a good idea to get checked out at your local LCMC Health Urgent Care. Our trusted providers can diagnose your condition and recommend treatment fast. We also provide rapid COVID-19 testing for those who qualify.
But, if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms, you can do plenty of things to stay safe. Learn more about the spread of COVID-19 and take action to protect yourself and your community.
How COVID-19 Spreads
COVID-19 mainly infects through contact with respiratory droplets. And it can be spread from people whether they are showing symptoms or not. This means coughing, sneezing, talking, and even breathing can transmit the virus.
But that isn’t the only way COVID-19 spreads. Airborne transmission can also occur in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. And contact with contaminated surfaces can result in infection as well. Infection is less common through these methods. But taking precautions can help you protect yourself better in each situation. Here are a few ways to keep safe.
Social Distancing
According to the CDC, social distancing is still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Minimizing face-to-face contact with others makes it harder for the virus to spread. This means staying six feet apart from others. And it’s still important even when everyone is wearing their masks.
Make Sure to Wear Your Mask
Most of us now know that masks are an excellent way to slow the spread. But you need to make sure you’re wearing a mask that offers proper protection. And wearing it correctly is key.
Masks with at least two layers of material offer more safety. If you blow hard through your mask and feel breath on the other side, it won’t be very effective. Masks must also be washed regularly to protect against bacteria and viruses. Make sure your mask fits your face well before using it. It needs to fully cover your mouth and nose when you’re around others.
But masks aren’t recommended for children under two years of age. And they also aren’t recommended for those with breathing problems. Children and adults in those categories need to limit their social interaction. This means staying away from potentially infected people as much as possible.
Wash Your Hands Often
Regular hand washing is one of the best ways to keep yourself safe from COVID-19 and many other diseases. If you’ve been out in public, you will definitely want to wash up when you get home. And, as hard as it can sometimes feel, avoid touching your face until your hands are clean. There’s a chance to spread the virus any time you sneeze, cough, blow your nose, or handle your face mask. So regular hand washing is a must.
The CDC recommends washing your hands for at least 20 seconds in warm water. This should give you enough time to scrub off those germs. Singing Happy Birthday twice or going through your ABCs is usually enough. Just make sure you aren’t singing out loud, because singing is another way for the virus to spread.
Looking for Urgent Care in Covington, LA? Let Us Help You
LCMC Health Urgent Care specializes in treating minor injuries and illnesses. If you’re experiencing mild symptoms in Covington, LA, it’s time to visit an urgent care clinic. Give us a call at 985-888-1117. We’re open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. And we’re also available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. You can check-in online, schedule a virtual visit, or walk into our clinic. We will give you an examination and provide you with the care you need, close to home.