You’ve seen the name everywhere. You know it’s a worldwide pandemic infecting millions. And you know it’s spreading fast.
But where did it come from? What is our government doing about it? How can I keep myself and my family safe? You’re probably wondering what we plan to do here at Norman Urology Associates.
The No. 1 thing to remember is to stay calm and understand the situation.
The Coronavirus: The Basics
Coronaviruses, or CoV, are a large family of viruses that cause many illnesses from the common cold to more severe diseases that have to do with the respiratory system. The current pandemic, labeled as such from the World Health Organization, is COVID-19, a new strain of the coronavirus that had not been previously discovered.
COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person, which is why practicing social distancing is very important. Social distancing is the practice of purposefully keeping people away from each other to slow the spread of the virus. That’s why events, social gatherings and anything with attendance of over 10 people should be canceled at this time.
Based on pattern, the current virus is particularly fatal to those over the age of 60 with underlying conditions such as weak immune systems, diabetes or heart problems.
Staying Healthy
The common signs of COVID-19 are very similar to the flu, which is why if you have any of the following symptoms, even one, you should go see a doctor. These symptoms are:
Fever.
Cough.
Shortness of breath.
Breathing difficulties.
Fatigue.
This is not a comprehensive list, and some people could experience symptoms that others do not.
Luckily, there are easy ways to keep yourself and others as healthy as possible during this time, such as:
Washing your hands regularly for 20 seconds or more.
Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Practicing social distancing as much as possible.
Avoiding touching your face as much as possible.
Disinfecting your homes and common spaces.
Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest updates about COVID-19.
At Our Office
Here at our office, it’s business as usual, just with a little extra precaution. All doctors are asking for patients to call before coming to any appointments to make sure it’s safe for them to do so.
This is specifically to make sure that a.) people aren’t sick, and b.) they haven’t recently traveled to an area that has a high spread rate. It’s very important to us to keep everyone safe, and the first step in that process is making sure the patients that enter our doors are not a risk or at risk themselves.
If any of our patients would like to bypass the waiting room completely, we understand, and your wishes are important to us.
The first thing you’ll need to do is call our office at (360-9966) and dial extension 599 to speak with someone at check-in. You also can fill out your needed paperwork on the patient portal. There’s a link on our website.
From there we will let you know when you can walk directly in to complete your registration and be seen for your appointment. Because of this, we ask that everyone limit one visitor per patient. Visitors will be required to sit in the waiting room unless the physician allows them to come back to the exam room.
Schedule an Appointment Today
With so much uncertainty happening in the world today, rest assured that the physicians at Norman Urology & Associates are here to help.
With our comprehensive services handling the male reproductive and urinary tract as well as the female urinary tract, you’re in good hands here. Schedule an appointment with us today, and we’d be happy to show you.