Coronavirus Resources for St. Louis

Introduction

With the recent Coronavirus pandemic, many in our St. Louis and Kirkwood community are concerned. In addition to what we are doing to limit the spread, we have also compiled a list of resources for you on the topic. Please check back for updates.

Coronavirus Facts

Most people (about 80%) recover from the illness without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. 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.

To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care. Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials.

Most common Coronavirus symptoms

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Pneumonia
• Difficulty breathing

How to Protect Yourself (from the WHO)

Wash your hands frequently

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.

World Health Organization video on hand washing https://youtu.be/3PmVJQUCm4E

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 3 feet 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 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.

What to do if you have symptoms - CDC Recommendations

1. Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
2. Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Avoid public areas and public transportation.
3. Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
4. Wear a facemask if you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.

National/International Coronavirus resources & citations

1. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control on COVID-19 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
2. World Health Organization on Coronavirus https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

What our office is doing

Our office currently monitoring guidelines for healthcare professionals and will make sure to follow best practices when it comes to infection control. These include:

• Increased freequency of surface sanitzation
• Increased frequency of hand washing by all employees (including Audiologists) at Greentree Hearing & Audiology
• A no-symptom policy on attendance. All employees, including hearing care providers, are required to stay home if they feel ill.

Local Resources

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Coronavirus https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/

University of Missouri COVID-19 updates https://mualert.missouri.edu/coronavirus/

St. Louis Public Radio on the Coronavirus https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/your-questions-about-coronavirus-st-louis-region-answered#stream/0

St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Coronavirus https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/live-stl-area-coronavirus-updates-march-here-s-what-we/article_b8c453ef-5072-550a-96ca-d276b5f25da0.html

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