Preventing COVID-19

Premier Patient Housing believes it might be an advantage to the Houston population to know the symptoms, when to get tested, and preventative measures to protect yourself from COVID-19. Houston businesses are opening up again, so it is important to stay safe while going back out into the public. Take a look at this information that can help in preventing COVID-19

Symptoms

As Houston gradually opens back up for business, you may find yourself going out to restaurants, sporting events, and even bars. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is a virus that can spread quickly, and even silently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to figure out how to best avoid getting the virus, as well as learning what possible symptoms can be. Here are some current symptoms you may experience if you have contracted COVID-19:

• Sore throat
• Headache
• Body aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of taste and/or smell
• Difficulty breathing
• Cough
• Fever
• Chills

If you experience any of these symptoms and have been out in public, it may be a good idea to get tested. By getting tested, you can prevent others from getting the virus, and you can start your road to recovery.

When to get Tested

After evaluating your symptoms, you should definitely get tested to see if you have the virus. By looking at the news, it can look as though COVID-19 testing is painful and/or scary. Fortunately, there are many ways to get tested for this virus. If you have a primary care doctor in the Houston area (or even a doctor you are currently seeing in the Texas Medical Center), you can go to them for advice on what next steps should be on testing. If you do not have a doctor to go to, many urgent care facilities are offering COVID-19 testing. Also, be alert for free testing in the Houston area. Sometimes there are drive-thru testing sites. Even CVS is doing testing, so make sure to look at all of your options!

Preventing COVID-19

The best way to not get this coronavirus is to take preventative action against the virus. While we have discussed preventative measures that the hospitals are taking, it is also important for you to stay safe by yourself! While information is constantly evolving from the CDC, here is what we know right now:

• It spreads mainly from person-to-person contact.
• It is spread through respiratory droplets from sneezing and coughing.
• Although scientists are working hard, there are no current vaccines for this virus.

By knowing these few things, there are already some obvious protective measures you can take for yourself and for the safety of others. Remember to:

• Wash your hands
• Wear a mask when other people are present
• Avoid close contact with other people (keep 6ft distance if possible)
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Evaluate if you are feeling well enough to go out in public

By doing these easy tasks, you can greatly help to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Are you preventing COVID-19 from spreading? Remember, if you do end up getting the virus, receive medical attention if you need it. You will also need to isolate yourself from others so they do not get the virus from you. Premier Patient Housing wants the best for our guests, so keeping you informed is a great way to help you prevent yourself from getting the virus.