About COVID-19 at AFC Urgent Care Lakewood

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 and was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is part of the coronavirus family, which include common viruses that cause a variety of diseases from head or chest colds to more severe (but rare) diseases.

The word corona means crown and refers to the appearance that coronaviruses get from the spike proteins sticking out of them. These spike proteins are important to the biology of this virus. The spike protein is the part of the virus that attaches to a human cell to infect it, allowing it to replicate inside of the cell and spread to other cells. Some antibodies can protect you from SARS-CoV-2 by targeting these spike proteins.

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How is COVID-19 spread?

It is very contagious and can spread when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth.

What happens when someone is infected with COVID-19?

COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, a flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system.

• Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.
• Some people including those with minor or no symptoms may suffer from post-COVID conditions — or “long COVID”.
• Older adults and people who have certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Can someone be reinfected with COVID-19?

Reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 means a person was infected, recovered, and then later became infected again. After recovering from COVID-19, most individuals will have some protection from repeat infections. However, reinfections do occur after COVID-19. We are still learning more about these reinfections. Ongoing studies of COVID-19 are helping us understand:

• How often reinfections occur
• Who is at higher risk of reinfection
• How soon reinfections take place after a previous infection
• The severity (how serious the infection is) of reinfections compared with initial (the first) infections
• The risk of transmission to others after reinfection

What is a COVID-19 variant?

Check the CDC website for up-to-date information about current Covid variants. As genetic changes to the virus happen over time, the SARS-CoV-2 virus begins to form genetic lineages. Just as a family has a family tree, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be similarly mapped out. Sometimes branches of that tree have different attributes that change how fast the virus spreads, or the severity of illness it causes, or the effectiveness of treatments against it. Scientists call these changes “variants”. They are still SARS-CoV-2 but may act differently.

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Q. Does AFC Urgent Care Lakewood have Swab-N-Go testing?

A. Depending on the situation, budget, or patient preference, we will work with you individually to figure out the best testing solution. AFC Urgent Care in Lakewood, CO offers a quick and convenient Swab-N-Go testing service if you have been exposed to COVID-19, traveling, attending an event, or returning to work/school.

If you have developed any COVID-19 like symptoms, our trusted medical provider will complete a thorough evaluation, in addition to the Covid test, to determine the cause of your health issue.

Q. What types of COVID-19 testing are available at AFC Urgent Care Lakewood?

A. We offer many options to fit the needs and budgets of our patients. You can choose between Rapid Antigen, Rapid RT-PCR, and Rapid NAAT Covid tests as well as antibody testing. Patients that are at risk for a current infection benefit from rapid testing while antibody testing is great to test potential immunity response to the coronavirus.

Q: How long does it take for COVID-19 test results?

A: Results are typically available within 1 hour because COVID-19 tests are processed by our in-house medical laboratory. Your Covid test results can be printed in the clinic or delivered automatically to your secure patient portal.