Castle Rock COVID-19 FAQs at AFC Urgent Care

To make it as safe as possible for our patients… If a patient has a known exposure to COVID-19 and becomes symptomatic it is the CDC recommendation as well as the Colorado Public Health Department that they be referred to the emergency department because they have access to the quickest testing.  The reality is… we likely won’t see many of these because the health department should already know about them and should be tracking them. It is AFC policy that we follow CDC guidelines for these patients.

Please call the state hotline for immediate help: (303) 389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911

AFC Urgent Care Castle Rock is committed to helping patients learn how to stay safe from coronavirus!

The nCoV-2019 Coronavirus is one of the most dangerous global health crises in 2020. The United States as well as other major countries have declared local pandemics with a likely progression to state of emergencies.  Patients must make sure to follow trusted healthcare organizations including the  Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local healthcare officials including the Colorado Department of Public Health. 

AFC Urgent Care Castle Rock is here to organize and provide you with the best sources of information from authoritative healthcare agencies as well as frequent major media updates. Misinformation from unverified social media sources can cause patients to panic or participate in ineffective prevention methods. Use the following modules and links to learn more!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about Coronavirus:

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a type of  virus that impacts a patient’s upper respiratory system. Public health officials and the Centers for disease control name the strain detected in Wuhan, China as “2019-nCoV." According to the CDC, coronaviruses are “a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS, SARS, and now with 2019-nCoV."

A coronavirus is a special virus that spreads within a certain species of animal, which can cause significant respiratory trouble and incredibly harmful results within the same species. nCoV-2019 is an especially rare case of a coronavirus spreading from a foreign animal species to humans. 

Symptoms of the cornoavirus begin as any onset acute illness with coughing, sneezing, sinus pain, and congestion. However, patients with the virus soon develop extreme difficulty breathing and fatal respiratory symptoms. 

How did Coronavirus spread from Wuhan, China?

nCoV-2019 was discovered  in Wuhan, China, where several patients became infected after the virus spread from an animal reservoir in the county. Some patients were linked to the virus after buying goods and interacting with contaminated foods in a live animal market. 

However, international public health agencies have determined that the virus is primarily spread from person-to-person interaction, which has caused a devastating number of cases. In fact, recent news outlets report over 1000 deaths and 43,000 worldwide are infected with the virus. (This number may be climbing at the time of this report)

International travelers coming back to their home countries (U.S, United Kingdom, etc.)  from Wuhan have been quarantined while cruise ships near main port cities have been stalled due to potential virus risks. 

Currently, multiple cases of the coronavirus have been discovered in the United States.

The CDC and other government agencies are investigating a total of 1 million + potential cases in the U.S. Patients that are exposed to the virus are under quarantine and have not been allowed back into local communities. 

Every U.S state currently has the coronavirus and is managing testing access as well as infection control procedures. If you have traveled domestically in the U.S, make sure to contact your state health official immediately. 

Is the coronavirus in Colorado? Castle Rock and Centennial as well?

Currently, the state of Colorado explains that there are several thousand cases of COVID-19 in the US. However, the state recommends that patients should stay prepared in the event that the virus spreads due to international travel or domestic spread from other states. Here is what the state is doing to prevent the virus: 

• “Testing for COVID-19 at the state lab  seven days a week.
• Providing information about the disease and how to report suspected cases to local health departments and health care providers in Colorado.
• Coordinating with local public health agencies to determine the need for monitoring, quarantine, or other restriction of movement and activities for individuals with travel history to foreign countries where community spread is prevalent.
• Ensuring  health care providers know how to safely manage and collect specimens from people with possible COVID-19 infection and supporting hospitals and local public health labs in collecting and transporting those specimens.
• Working with local public health agencies, community health care providers, suppliers/distributors, as well as federal partners, to identify and mitigate potential shortages of supplies, medications, and personal protective equipment that would likely be used in the event of an outbreak in Colorado." 

Make sure that you follow CDC updates and local news organizations to learn if, and when, the coronavirus spreads to your local town or the state in general. 

Public health officials want to make it clear to patients that Routine hygiene and general disease prevention are crucial to lowering your risk of getting a coronavirus infection. In fact, Colorado’s Public Health Department outlined the key prevention methods which are similar to avoiding a case of the flu or common cold. Here are a few more specific prevention strategies for patients: 

“As with other respiratory viruses, we recommend people protect themselves and others by practicing everyday actions:

• Clean hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Get an annual flu vaccine if you have not had one."

If patients have any other questions about coronavirus prevention, then please call a local healthcare provider to learn the facts about coronavirus and disease safety!