What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Seek medical advice if you have traveled to China in the past 14 days and feel sick. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

You can visit the CDC website for more information. Click here for a Coronavirus fact sheet. 

Well, the weather is a lot more spring-like that it was a few days ago with our dusting of snow. However, that does not mean that flu season is over – in fact, we are seeing a lot of cases. St David’s is reporting that this season’s flu – both strains A and B – is more widespread compared to last year (story here).

There are some practical steps you can take regarding the flu:

• Wash your hands, and make sure surfaces are disinfected.
• Get immunized – it is not too late.
• Drink water – water can help strengthen your immune system, keeping the flu at bay (from webmd.com).
• If you get symptoms – the CDC now recommends anti-virals for many patients. Contact our office quickly if you get symptoms – as the sooner you take these, the more effective they are.

Some people have asked about the effectiveness of surgical masks to prevent the flu and other viruses. The answer is “Maybe”, and they certainly don’t hurt. However, they are not 100% effective. If you are sick, they can help prevent you from infecting other family members.

Did you know?

The legend of St. Valentine has two popular theories.

1) Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

2) An imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl, possibly his jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.

Make today amazing for loved ones around you by loving yourself first. ♥