|
 Most importantly, the public is asked to remember that Memorial
Health emergency departments are not testing sites for people who
have mild symptoms of COVID-19 or who need testing to meet
return-to-work or return-to-school status requirements.
“However, if you experience a health emergency or serious COVID-19
symptoms, like severe shortness of breath, go to your local
emergency department immediately,” said Dr. Rajesh Govindaiah,
senior vice president and chief physician executive of Memorial
Health.
Memorial Health is a Springfield-based health care organization with
hospitals and care facilities in Springfield, Decatur, Jacksonville,
Lincoln and Taylorville.
Govindaiah offered advice to people experiencing mild COVID-19
symptoms, such as a head cold:
“Act as if you have a COVID-19 infection,” he said. “Wear a
medical-grade mask and isolate from family and friends for at least
five days. Use local pharmacies, county health departments, COVID-19
pop-up testing sites or the University of Illinois-Springfield
Shield program for testing.”
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Many local pharmacies also offer both in-person and at-home testing options.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19, but are not showing symptoms or have minor
symptoms, take infection prevention precautions. Wait three to five days from
your date of exposure to test for accurate results. It is possible to test too
early and receive a false negative, Govindaiah said.
For information on COVID-19 testing, visit memorial.health/covid-19-information.
Patients seeking information about monoclonal antibody therapy (also called
monoclonal antibody infusion treatment) – a treatment that helps prevent severe
symptoms from developing in high-risk patients who have tested positive for
COVID-19 – should first check with their primary care physician to learn if they
qualify for the treatment.
[Michael Leathers] |
