With all the new information and new guidelines that have been sent out recently, we wanted to gather everything together in an update for you.
Our Plan:
Our office is doing everything in our power to make sure that we protect you and your families while still being able to be your medical home. We have laid out the quick facts about the changes in our office below and on our site. Please call our office at 540-349-3225 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions or concerns.
- Scheduled Telemedicine calls are now available and covered by most insurances!
- Immunization visits are critical and still being scheduled like normal for children up to 18 months old.
- In-person appointments are limited to one healthy guardian and one patient to follow sade social distancing guidelines.
For more details visit our COVID-19 Precautions FAQ page here.
Virginia News:
The Commonwealth of Virginia is now under a “Stay at Home” or a “Shelter in Place” order. This means that unless you are an essential worker or are going to the grocery store, you must stay home. Walks around your neighborhood or going outside in your yard are, of course, okay. As long as you are maintaining the 6-feet required from the social distancing guidelines with anyone who you are not currently quarantining with.
As of April 5th, Fauquier, Virginia, only has 11 cases of confirmed COVID-19. We can do our part to help keep this number down by following the Stay at Home order.
The Piedmont Urgent Care is now doing drive-through testing by appointment and doctor’s order. Criteria for private lab testing includes anybody with a fever, or lower respiratory illness, or by judgement of the provider. The criteria for State clinical lab testing still requires fever, cough, lower respiratory illness, and exposure to an at-risk individual. Please call us to help set up the appointment and to receive the order for testing if it’s needed.
The CDC Recommends:
Other than staying home unless absolutely necessary, the second most important thing you can do to help our healthcare system and communities is not to purchase masks, gloves, or hand sanitizer if you are not a confirmed case of COVID-19. The CDC recommends following everyday preventative care steps like washing your hands, covering your cough with an elbow, and staying home instead. Nurses, doctors, dentists, janitorial staff, and everyone in-between working in the healthcare field need to have access to life-saving Personal Protection Equipment or PPE. If you are not ill, you do not need them. If you wish to wear something over your face for protection, a bandana or scarf would be a great option to wear when going to the grocery store.
Daily Life and Coping:
The CDC has recommended a household checklist to have prepared in case of an emergency.
- Stay up-to-date with information about local COVID-19 activity and recommendations from your local public health officials.
- If you have elderly or at-risk neighbors, call and see what their plans are and how they are doing.
- Make an emergency contact list, including family, friends, neighbors, and healthcare providers, to have on the fridge or prominent place just in case.
- Prepare for a possible illness by deciding what room of the house you will use to keep sick family members away from others.
- Follow the everyday preventative steps we laid out in our blog here.
For more information on the CDC’s household checklist visit their site here.
How to Handle Stress:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing the news about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting, and is not necessary to stay informed.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, go on walks, and eat as healthy as possible. Getting plenty of exercise and sleep during this time will also help lower your stress levels.
- Make time for you and your family to relax and do individual or group activities you enjoy.
- Stay connected with your friends and family. Video, calling, and texting are great ways to stay in touch with all the important people in your life without leaving your house. Talking to someone you trust about your worries and feelings will help you relax!
For parents, this may be an extremely stressful time for your young children, especially if they do not understand what is happening. Make sure you are taking time for yourself too.
For more information about stress and mental health for you and your children visit the CDC’s site here.
We know this is a new and challenging time for all of us, and we want to thank you all for your continued support and effort in helping keep our families and communities safe. If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to speak to your Provider about the current situation, please, don’t hesitate to call us at 540-349-3225.