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Covid-19 Helpful Links

 

 

Covid-19 Updates

 

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19. This list does not include all possible symptoms:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
 

CHOA has published their Pediatric Assessment Tool which parents can use to see if their child needs to self-quarantine or access services. It is available at www.choa.org/assessment. 

Children's COVID-19 hotline, 404-785-7955, open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.

COVID TESTING RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. If your child needs a routine COVID-19 test to participate in camp, after school activities, or for some other reason, please find a Testing location by following the highlighted link above.

  2. If your child has had a known exposure* to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic (has no symptoms) the best time to take a covid test would be 5 days after the known exposure.

  3. If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 but does not need to be seen by a doctor, we recommend you treat the symptoms at home.  The recommended time to test for COVID-19 is at least 3 days after symptoms first start for the most accurate results.

  4. If your child is sick and you have concerns, please contact our office for an appointment.  Depending on the symptoms and severity of illness we will recommend a telehealth appointment or an in-office visit.

  5. If you have more questions regarding COVID-19 or testing, please contact our office to schedule a telehealth appointment with one of our doctors.

*A known exposure is defined as being within 6 ft of a person who has tested positive to Covid-19 for more than 15 TOTAL minutes. This means that a child may have been around this person for 5 minutes, then 7 minutes, then 3 minutes. 

 

Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after.

Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.  For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitting mask will minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have COVID-19. Both updates come as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the U.S. and reflects the current science on when and for how long a person is maximally infectious. These recommendations do not supersede state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, nor do they apply to healthcare workers for whom CDC has updated guidance.

For the most up to date information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html

 

WHAT WE ARE DOING AT PANA TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE

 

  • Appointments are staggered to minimize wait times and facilitate appropriate social distancing.

  • We have telemedicine appointments available so your child can receive treatment without the need for an office visit. (Please note not all conditions are suitable for this type of appointment).

  • We require ALL visitors over the age of 2 years to wear a facemask AT ALL TIMES during their visit to our office.  The CDC updated its mask wearing guidance for the community on 2/25/2022  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html  however PANA continues to require the use of a face mask in the office to keep our immunocompromised and unvaccinated children safe.  

  • We ask only 1 caregiver accompanies your child to an office visit to minimize any potential exposure.

  • Our staff continue to wear a protective face mask and other items of personal protective equipment as needed during all patient encounters.

  • Children that have any potential Covid-19 symptoms are being isolated on arrival. Our staff are equipped with appropriate disposable protective equipment per the CDC recommendations.

 

TELEMEDICINE VISITS:

For your convenience and safety, we do have the option of offering you a Telemedicine appointment for selected office visits and Med Checks.  During the telemedicine visit with your physician/nurse practitioner, you may be asked to bring the child into the office for further evaluation.

The following symptoms may require an office visit for further physical evaluation.

  • Severe cough
  • Ear pain
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Respiratory distress
  • Asthmatic symptoms

Your wellness is our number one priority and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that your family remains healthy.

*Covid-19 has been linked to cardiac myopathy in a few pediatric patients that had Covid symptoms of varying severity. For this reason, children who have had Covid-19 with ANY fever OR had other symptoms for more than 3 days need to be evaluated by their provider in the office, typically 14 days after the start of the illness.