Category: Health

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment announced there is evidence of person-to-person spread of COVID-19, meaning six out of the 11 cases in the county were acquired locally and not through travel. So what now?

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System and Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Control and Prevention at The University of Kansas Health System, say the emphasis is shifting from containment to mitigation.

That means they are trying to stop the spread of the virus from one person to another in the community, Dr. Hawkinson said, to minimize the number of people who will need intensive care.

The majority of the COVID-19 infections are mild and won’t require medical care, according to the doctors. Eighty percent of people will be able to manage their symptoms at home with fever reducers like Tylenol, plus fluids and rest, according to health officials.
Those who feel their symptoms are worsening, such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, may call their doctors, he said.

Dr. Hawkinson described the symptoms that would require you to call your doctor. Those who feel their symptoms are worsening, such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, may call their doctors, he said.

It’s important not to just show up unannounced at the doctor’s office or emergency department, according to Dr. Hawkinson. Call ahead so you can be shown into an area away from others, and can be evaluated and treated.

They remind us that it’s a small percentage of those infected who develop severe disease, those 70 and older and those with existing health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease and other compromising diseases.

The doctors said social distancing takes commitment, but the best thing you can do is wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and stay home and stay safe.

• Information from University of Kansas Health Systems
  To see a video of the doctors’ discussion, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IyO5qwF3og.

The Unified Government has a COVID-19 website at Wycokck.org/COVID-19.

KDHE has a website for more information on COVID-19, at https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.

The CDC also has a COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.

According to a combined statement from medical officers of the Unified Government, Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri, residents should not visit the emergency rooms of hospitals for mild illness.

Anyone with mild symptoms of fever and cough should self-isolate at home and away from family members for at least seven days after symptoms started or for 72 hours after all symptoms are gone, according to the statement.

Anyone with more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath along with fever and cough, should call their health care provider, according to the statement. Individuals who have mild symptoms should not expect to be tested at this time, according to officials.

Testing is prioritized to the sickest patients, who are seriously ill and require admission to the hospital, the officials stated. Excessive testing of patients with minor symptoms could put too much strain on laboratories and hospital resources, according to the statement.

Since there is no treatment currently for COVID-19, unless critically ill requiring hospitalization, testing patients with mild illness is a lower priority, according to the statement.

Residents have a role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to health officials. Because individuals can spread the disease before they develop symptoms, limiting the number of interactions with other people will result in a decrease in the transmission of the coronavirus, according to the statement.

The Unified Government has a COVID-19 website at Wycokck.org/COVID-19.

KDHE has a website for more information on COVID-19, at https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.

The CDC also has a COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.