COVID-19 tips & resources

At Dignity Health Medical Foundation, our providers are closely monitoring all developments with COVID-19. We’re in contact with local and state health officials, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and we’re following the latest guidelines. Please know that the safety of our patients, employees, physicians and community is our top priority.

If You Feel Sick - Call Your Doctor.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, dry cough, and/or the shortness of breath associated with respiratory illness, and other flu-like symptoms. Sinus congestion or pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea are unlikely to be associated with COVID-19.

Call your primary care doctor if you experience symptoms and believe you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19.

If you need to go to the hospital because you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or get to a hospital immediately.

If you have symptoms that are difficult to manage, but not that serious, call your primary care doctor or seek urgent care.

If you have symptoms that seem like a common cold, but aren’t that serious, isolate yourself, treat it at home, and try not to share the infection with others.

Who Should Be Tested For COVID-19?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19:

"If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or you are a resident in a community where there is ongoing spread of COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID-19, call your primary care doctor and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure. They will decide whether you need to be tested, but keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill may be able to isolate and care for themselves at home."

Tests are primarily be for hospitalized or severely ill patients. Older people (over 60) and individuals with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer — conditions that put them at much higher risk from COVID-19 — are also a priority for testing. Our doctors are working with local health officials on COVID-19 testing. Right now, only people experiencing symptoms are recommended for testing. In most cases, testing can be done at no cost.

3 Tips for Coronavirus prevention

Many of us are worried about the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. However, there are things you can do that might help prevent yourself, your family and friends, as all those around you from getting sick.

Sneeze and cough into your elbow

This helps limit the spread of droplets in the air. When you cough or sneeze into your elbow you are unlikely to touch that area and transmit germs to others.

Wash your hands for 20 seconds each time

Spending a few extra seconds at the sink with soap and water can help eliminate the spread of germs. Make sure the soap covers all portions of the hands, including in between the fingers and on your palms, and wash for 20 seconds. Here’s an idea: sing Happy Birthday in your head since that takes roughly 20 seconds. Rinse your hand thoroughly and use a paper towel to turn the faucet off.

Don’t wear a mask if you’re not sick

Regular paper masks may help protect others but only when you're sick. Why? Because when you cough, the droplets and infectious material get stopped by the mask.

The thicker, tighter-fitting masks that health professionals wear are one of their defenses against treating sick people. But it is not recommended that the general public wear these masks in everyday life.