COVID-19 FACT SHEET WITH PHYSICIAN-RECOMMENDED PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

This page was last updated on May 5, 2020.

Overview: The United States is experiencing sustained human-to-human transmission of the novel COVID-19 virus, first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since then, every state in the US has confirmed cases, and new cases are emerging every day. Susceptibility to the virus sub-type may also be significant, as cases may result in two to three additional cases. COVID-19 has significantly altered life in America, as many states have enacted state-wide shut-downs school closures, shut-down restaurants and bars, encouraged home quarantines. Most recently, states have started reopening measures, though public health officials warn of a spike in cases if social distancing measures do not continue.

Follow along with our weekly (and often 2x weekly) medical bulletins for up to date COVID-19 information and physician and evidence-based recommendations with tips on staying safe and healthy.

State by State Restrictions: For information on COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines by public health departments by state, please follow this link.

International Travel Restrictions:  See VIGILINT’s COVID-19 heat map for international travel restrictions and advisories from the CDC and US State Department.

US State of National Emergency: President Trump has enacted restrictions for travel to the United States from foreign nationals in China, Iran, South Korea, and most European countries.

Latest numbers: Global case count has surpassed  3,610,006+ with 252,346+ deaths, and 1,176,338 total recoveries. US case count is up to 1,181,855+ with 69,079 deaths.

Spread: COVID-19 is believed to have an incubation period of 2-14 days; exposed patients may feel normal for up to two weeks. Spread is believed to be from droplets and aerosols from cough, sneezing, and breathing.

Symptoms: Infected individuals may show signs ranging from mild cold symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to severe complications like pneumonia, which can lead to death.

Risk population:

• Individuals in areas where there is a confirmed outbreak
• Healthcare workers in affected regions and hospitals of confirmed cases
• Family members and individuals who come into close contact with infected individuals
• Elderly and those with immunocompromised systems and underlying health conditions in areas where there is a confirmed outbreak
• *The number of pediatric cases worldwide remains low and those cases have all been considered mild (less than 1% of all cases in China are individuals 9 years or younger, and no pediatric cases have been reported in the US) No deaths in this age group. 

Treatment: Currently, there is no vaccine or viable treatment for COVID-19. Trials to evaluate the effectiveness of the first batch of an antiviral therapeutic treatment will begin in April on patients already diagnosed with COVID-19.  Initial timetables show the earliest treatment would be available is in 18 months.

Effective Protective Measures:

HAND WASHING:

Washing hands properly is the most important step to avoid getting sick and preventing the spread of germs.

1. Turn faucet on and off by using a towel (use your elbow if a towel is not present)
2. Wash hands with clean running water and lather with soap by rubbing hands together
3. Scrub for 20 seconds (tip: hum the “happy birthday song” twice)
4. Be sure to lather the soap on all parts of the hand – grease palm with fingertips, twist thumbs, wash back of the hands
5. Rinse hands well and dry off with a towel (preferred) or air dryer
6. Always wash hands after using the restroom and before and after contact with food

If there is no access to a sink and soap, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is effective, although washing hands is preferred. We recommend adding hand sanitizers to high traffic areas (shared and open spaces in the office and home) especially in areas where there are food and beverages present.

SOCIAL DISTANCING:

“Social distancing” measures are intervention techniques public health authorities recommend to stop and slow down the spread of disease.

• It is recommended to maintain 3.3 feet (1 meter) from an individual with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19
• Instead of shaking hands, consider abstaining altogether or do a fist bump! Fist bumps only transfer 1/10 the number of germs that a firm handshake does
• In the workplace or educational environments, consider implementing telework or virtual options to avoid face-to-face interaction
• Consider avoiding large gatherings

 OTHER MEASURES:

• Sick? Stay home and do not return to work or school until you have no sick symptoms for at least 24 hours
• If you are sick, consider wearing a mask to avoid spreading germs to others (masks only work to prevent the spread of germs, not to prevent getting sick)
• Always cover your mouth or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue away
• Ramp up the cleaning and disinfecting schedule, especially around shared areas

There is an overwhelming amount of information from multiple sources surrounding COVID-19. It is important to align internal guidance and external communication with trusted health authorities. VIGILINT is a leading provider of infectious disease consulting services, pandemic mitigation solutions, and real-time strategies on how to best handle COVID-19. Please contact us to learn how we can help your organization prepare for COVID-19.