Tips for staying healthy offered

TOP PHOTO:  Cumberland Gap Medical is at the corner of Central and Cumberland in La Follette.

APRN Amanda Brown of Cumberland Gap Medical offers the latest information on the Coronavirus and how to keep you and your family safe from it.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Changes and adjustments are being made around our community as it prepares to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.  The first case in Campbell County was verified on Friday.Beginning this morning, Cumberland Gap Medical will call patients before they come to the office.  Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Amanda Brown said, “This will help us know their status before arriving.  We’ll be checking temperatures when they enter our clinic, and if a patient is sickly, we’ll come out to their car and see them.” The staff at Cumberland Gap Medical sanitizes each exam room after every patient and also sanitizes the lobby.  Seeing a patient in their car will also help, according to Brown.

Brown was part of a Tennessee Department of Health WebEx  on Friday learning the latest on the virus and procedures.  She said, “They advised providers to continue with their standard precautions and to use a mask when seeing patients.  In the case of treating a possible Coronavirus patient, we’ll also be wearing goggles and gloves.”

“We were advised that the state health department is expecting hundreds of new cases in the near future.  The symptoms we are looking for; a fever, cough and shortness of breath and if that person has been exposed to someone confirmed to have Coronavirus,” said Brown.

Brown points out that with allergy season about to start, lots of people will be dealing with some sort of respiratory issues.  In the near future, she notes, “Depending on symptoms, we’ll test patients first for strep and the flu, and if there’s a positive reading we’ll stop there.  If not, we’ll test for the Coronavirus if the patient has been exposed to a confirmed case.”

Probably by Wednesday, Brown expects to have everything in place to be able to test for the Coronavirus.  Test results take three to five days through a commercial lab.  “If someone is really sick, Brown says,  we’ll work with the health department to have results back in a day or two.”  She cautions anyone who suspects they have the virus to self quarantine until they can get tested.

The situation is fluid.  Brown said, “Details are changing quickly.  Something we may say today may change by tomorrow.”  At last count, she said, “Tests across Tennessee total 174 with 39 coming back positive for the Coronavirus.  Thirty-one of those are in Davidson and Williamson counties with one here in Campbell County.”

Keys to keeping yourself safe include social distancing; six-feet distance.  This reduces the risk of sick people coming in contact with well people.  Brown emphasizes no hugs and no handshakes and said, “the virus can spread even when people appear well around you.”  She emphasizes to wash your hands often, before entering a building and prior to eating as well as keeping your hands away from your face; eyes and mouth especially.  This is especially necessary for the elderly and those suffering from respiratory, cardiovascular and diabetes.

“Unless you have severe symptoms just stay at home, because 80 percent of those infected with the virus will just have mild symptoms,” said Brown.  She advises to drink plenty of liquids and take Tylenol or ibuprofen.

Cumberland Gap Medical, at the corner of Central and Cumberland, opens at 8 am, and the telephone number is 423.201-9799.  Brown states that there is so much misinformation, and that you need to rely on reputable sources for your information like https://www.tn.gov/health.html, https://www.cdc.gov/ and https://www.who.int/ .

Aside from all the lifestyle changes for us, Brown said, “This is not the time to panic.  It’s a time for us to come together and to help one another.”  She encourages you to reach out to your friends, family and neighbors to see if they need anything.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/16/2020-6AM)