According to the CDC, while anyone can contract the virus, certain individuals face a much higher probability of developing severe illness or complications. Those who are most at risk from COVID-19 include:

• Older Adults: The risk increases significantly with age, particularly for individuals aged 65 and older.
• Individuals with Underlying Medical Conditions: People of any age with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung diseases (like COPD or moderate-to-severe asthma), obesity, or kidney disease.
• Immunocompromised Individuals: Those with weakened immune systems due to cancer treatments, organ transplants, or immune-suppressing medications.

If you or a loved one fall into any of these high-risk categories and begin showing symptoms, early evaluation is essential. The medical team at AM/PM Urgent Care with Englewood Health is available daily for evaluation, diagnostic testing, and to discuss appropriate antiviral treatment plans.

Preventing transmission is essential to protecting your family and our community. To best avoid spreading the virus to others, you should practice these everyday preventive actions:

• Stay Home When Sick: Isolate yourself from others if you develop symptoms or test positive, except to get medical care.
• Wear a Mask: Use a high-quality, well-fitting mask when you must be around others indoors or if you have had a known exposure.
• Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Always use a tissue or the inside of your elbow, and immediately wash your hands afterward.

If you think you have been exposed or need an official diagnosis to safely return to work or school, the team at AM/PM Urgent Care with Englewood Health is here to provide fast testing and medical guidance.

Protecting yourself from respiratory illnesses involves a combination of everyday healthy habits and up-to-date clinical defenses. To safely protect yourself from COVID-19, medical experts recommend implementing these core prevention strategies:

• Stay Up to Date with Vaccines: Receiving the updated seasonal COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective way to lower your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications.
• Practice Good Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Improve Indoor Air Quality: Increase ventilation in indoor spaces by opening windows, utilizing HEPA air purifiers, or gathering outdoors when possible.
• Mask in High-Risk Settings: Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask (such as a KN95 or N95) when spending time in crowded or poorly ventilated public indoor areas.

If you develop symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive, acting quickly is key. The medical team at AM/PM Urgent Care with Englewood Health is available daily for rapid diagnostic testing, medical evaluations, and early antiviral treatment consultations.

There is only one FDA-approved antiviral drug – Remdesivir – to treat adults and children over the age of 12. There are currently trials underway to test the safety and efficacy of other antiviral drugs as well as corticosteroid dexamethasone for the treatment of COVID-19.

Patients that have been diagnosed with COVID-19 have been found to exhibit many of the same symptoms of other respiratory illnesses. These symptoms include mild to severe fever, cough, and shortness of breath which typically begins anywhere from a day or two all the way up to 14 days after initial exposure. Many of the patients that have had severe complications from the virus also have pneumonia in both lungs.

If you are experiencing symptoms, the CDC recommends calling or visiting your local healthcare provider for advice to avoid spreading germs to others.

If you develop severe warning signs such as pain or pressure in the chest, disorientation or confusion, a blue tint in your face or lips, or difficulty breathing or shortness of breath – get medical attention immediately.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is believed to have emerged from an animal source, but is now being spread from person to person. It is thought to be primarily spread through close contact with another person carrying the infection through respiratory droplets produced through sneezing or coughing. It is also likely that people can get the coronavirus by touching surfaces that have the virus on it and then touching their mouths, nose, or eyes. To learn more about the transmission of COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website.