If you suspect that you may have Coronavirus, here's what you should do.

With Colorado still grappling with the spread of COVID-19, this is the time to be even more aware of its symptoms. OCN got in touch with a local urgent care center, OnPoint, to learn about the best way to handle this unsteady situation. 

The first thing the professionals at OnPoint told us to do, "If you think you may have Coronavirus, CALL BEFORE COMING IN." to prevent possible exposure to others, particularly children, elderly, pregnant women, and potentially immunocompromised individuals, you need to stay at home and call your healthcare provider. OnPoint and other healthcare centers have established procedures that will guide you over the phone to get the safest and most appropriate help for your condition. “We encourage our patients to start with a virtual telehealth visit with our provider to keep from spreading the virus,” says Annette Smith, Director of Operations for OnPoint.  “If the patient needs to be tested, we can perform a hybrid visit where the patient sees the provider virtually, then drives to the clinic where a staff member will go out to the patient’s car to collect the sample.  We are also able to facilitate IgG testing which checks the patient’s blood for the presence of antibodies to coronavirus.”

As we have stated in previous articles on OCN, the symptoms of Coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Complications from Coronavirus can lead to pneumonia, organ failure, and even death. Be a responsible citizen and do your part in not spreading germs by:

• Washing your hands
• Keeping your hands away from your face
• Staying home if sick
• Covering your cough or sneeze
• Cleaning all surfaces that are frequently touched such as remotes, cell phones, steering wheels, and keyboards 

If you have been traveling in areas with a presence of coronavirus, do yourself and the public a favor by not going anywhere for up to two weeks and monitor your symptoms. As we mentioned before, call your healthcare provider and they will advise you on the next steps to take to prevent further exposure. 

Think you may have been exposed to Coronavirus? Call OnPoint Urgent Care at 303-979-7200.