How Can I Lower My Risk of Getting COVID-19?

COVID-19 has been the talk of the country since it first began affecting large swathes of Americans in late February and early March. As of June 1, more than 1.5 million Americans had been diagnosed, including nearly 30,000 North Carolinians alone.

But while we know the condition is strikingly common, most of us don’t have a good understanding of the virus. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Indian Trail is taking a few minutes today to share the facts.

What Is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new type of the coronavirus. What is the coronavirus, you might wonder? It’s a common type of virus that causes an infection in the nose, sinuses or upper respiratory system. You may be most familiar with one type—the common cold.

The COVID-19 virus spreads through airborne particles. That means it can move from one person to another when an infected person sneezes, coughs or even breathes, releasing particles into the air. This can happen even if the person is asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic and doesn’t know he or she is sick.

Symptoms of COVID-19

  • 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

What Can I Do to Protect My Health?

Over the last few months, there has been some seemingly contradictory information out there, making it hard to make heads or tails of the details. But as the virus has progressed, healthcare experts have landed on some specific ways to halt its spread.

Your best defense is still to remain in your home as much as possible and avoid close contact with others. But if you’re spending more time outside your home, you will want to take precautions recommended by the CDC.

Other Ways to Reduce Risk

  • Stay six feet away from others while outside the home.
  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds at a time.
  • Disinfect commonly touched surfaces and objects often.
  • If age 2 or older, wear a cloth face covering in public.
  • Avoid contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms.

If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, we are offering COVID-19 testing at other locations. Visit the AFC Urgent Care North Carolina website to learn more or to schedule a testing appointment.