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COVID-19 Basics
As the world copes with the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we know that you have a lot of questions about what it means for you and the people you care about. At Stanford Medicine, our highest priority is the safety of our patients, health care workers and our community. We will continue to update our guidelines, information, and processes to respond to this evolving situation.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov
https://www.who.int
Each of us has an important role to play in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible and able to do so. Once you are vaccinated, help stop the spread of infection to others by washing your hands, keeping your distance, and following local mask guidelines.
Written and directed by Maya Adam MD, Faculty Lead for the Global Child Health Media Initiative. Special thanks: Matt Torode (animation), Brandon Liew (sound design), Stuart Forrest, Russ Haan, Till Bärnighausen, Shannon McMahon, Bonnie Maldonado, Simiao Chen, Sebastian Forster, Ann Doerr, and Jennifer Gates.
Recommendations regarding mask-wearing vary by country. For these reasons, some of our main characters are not shown wearing masks for the entirety of this film. Please follow the guidance of your local public health agencies with regard to mask-wearing for children and adults.
In the meantime, continue to wash your hands, keep your distance and get a flu shot.
Written and directed by Maya Adam MD, Faculty Lead for the Global Child Health Media Initiative. Animations by Matt Torode. Special Contributions: Jennifer Gates, Marsha Griffin, Kelly Moore, Yvonne A. Maldonado, Amy Pisani, Till Bärnighausen, Arvind Singhal and Ann Doerr.
Note from Stanford Medicine as of October 13, 2020: Recommendations regarding mask-wearing vary by country. For these reasons, our main characters are not shown wearing masks for the entirety of this film. Please follow the guidance of your local public health agencies with regard to mask-wearing for children and adults.
This stress affects people in different ways. Take a moment to notice and accept your feelings. These are normal reactions to an abnormal situation.
Avoid coping strategies that will make you feel worse and instead use strategies like talking about your experience, spending time with loved ones, getting your news from reliable sources and taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Remember, you are not alone. If there is violence in your home or if you are thinking of hurting yourself or others, talk to a trusted friend, family member or counselor or call your local emergency hotlines. There is help in your community.
The video "Coping With Stress During COVID-19", developed by Digital MEdIC, explores pandemic stress people and how to cope with it.
See more COVID-19 resources at https://digitalmedic.stanford.edu/our-work/covid-19-resources/
Scientists are encouraging everyone to wear masks to control the spread of COVID-19. For additional info, Stanford Medicine experts discuss evidence that informed the World Health Organization’s recommendations and explain how you can help flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections: https://stan.md/2C6VrkI
This video was created for Stanford Medicine by Maya Adam
Animation: Matt Torode
Special Thanks: Russ Haan, Jennifer Gates, Marsha Griffin, Ryan Matlow, Amy Price and Yvonne A. Maldonado
PROTECTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM COVID-19
The CDC recommends these general practices to help prevent spreading viruses:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Wearing a mask can help prevent those who are infected from spreading the virus and offers some protection to the person wearing it. Some public health experts recommend all people wear masks when in public. The CDC recommends the wearing of cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.
Effective April 3, all health care workers, staff, visitors, and patients will be provided with and asked to wear a procedure mask at designated entrance points.
The CDC recommends that people who are actively sick with COVID-19 stay away from others as much as possible. That means separating yourself from others in your home and using a separate bathroom, if possible.
You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis. If you must be around other people, even at home, you should wear a covering over your nose and mouth.
You should remain isolated until there is no longer a chance you can infect others. The length of time you may be considered actively sick can vary by case, so a decision about leaving isolation should be made in consultation with your doctor.
People who are mildly ill and think they might have COVID-19 can isolate themselves from others at home during their illness. If you feel sick with fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, contact a primary care provider, who will assess your symptoms and exposure to determine if a COVID-19 test is appropriate.
Stanford Health Care is offering same-day Primary Care appointments.
Being quarantined means being separated from people who have been exposed to COVID-19 but who have not had symptoms for the length of the incubation period of the disease. For COVID-19 that period is 14 days from the last date of exposure. Someone who has been released from quarantine is not considered a risk for spreading, according to the CDC.
WHAT IS COVID-19 AND HOW DOES IT SPREAD?
Coronaviruses are members of the coronavirus family of viruses — one of the many families that include viruses able to infect people and animals. Seven members of the coronavirus family can make people ill, one of which is the new coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Certain coronaviruses infect animals, though we do not have evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19. In humans, coronaviruses are a cause of the common cold as well as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which can be fatal.
COVID-19 refers to the human infection caused by the new coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2. While symptoms of many human coronavirus infections are mild, COVID-19 infection symptoms can be serious, leading to pneumonia and in some cases death. COVID-19 is caused by a new virus strain that is believed to have originated around the city of Wuhan, China, and began spreading among people in late 2019.
It is rare for an animal coronavirus to spread from animals to people, and from people to each other. However, this was the case with both SARS and MERS, and scientists suspect this is what is happening with COVID-19.
Officials are still learning about how COVID-19 spreads, but the CDC believes it spreads between people in three ways:
- From close contact with people who have it.
- From respiratory droplets that become airborne when someone, who is infected, sneezes or coughs nearby.
- From touching our mouths, noses or eyes after touching a surface that has the virus on it.
Researchers are still learning about how easily COVID-19 is transmitted, how severely it will impact communities, and whether seasonal weather changes impact its spread. Some viruses, such as the common cold and flu, spread more during cold months, but it’s unclear whether COVID-19 will behave in the same way.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website is continually updated with information about COVID-19 and includes tips and information about many aspects, including how it spreads, how to stay healthy, whether you should or can travel, and more. Visit the site at this link or copy and paste this URL in your browser: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
Stanford Medicine also has a COVID-19 page dedicated to the latest information and developments.
SYMPTOMS & TESTING
Symptoms of COVID-19 include mild to severe respiratory illness with sore throat, cough, fever and, for more severe cases, difficulty breathing. Read more about COVID-19 symptoms.
Stanford Medicine offers testing at drive-through sites across the Bay Area. We offer testing options for both the public and current Stanford patients. Choose the most appropriate location based your needs.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please make a video visit primary care appointment. Your doctor will then determine if you need to get tested for COVID-19.
How to Make a Primary Care Video Visit
or, call Stanford Primary Care at 650-498-9000
Available on:
Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
If you feel sick with fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, contact a primary care provider, who will assess your symptoms and exposure to determine if a COVID-19 test is appropriate.
If you are having a medical emergency, seek emergency care.
The CDC website has additional FAQs on the topics of Travel, Pregnant Women and COVID-19, and COVID-19 and animals.
This page includes information from CDC.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#
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