The recent outbreak of the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people in just about every corner of the earth.
Sadly, the Central Valley community has been no exception.
Just this week, the city of Fresno “issued a ‘shelter in place’ order for residents to limit the spread of coronavirus,” as reported on by the Fresno Bee. The order is set to last until April 14th, with the possibility of extension.
People have been urged to stay home as much as possible, especially high-risk groups, such as the elderly or folks with existing health problems.
Still, “the order allows residents to leave their homes for essential services, such as grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, picking up medications or going to work if their place of employment is deemed essential,” adds the article.
Here at Canyon Oaks Foot & Ankle, we fully encourage our neighbors to follow local government orders and take every practical measure to stay healthy and free from the coronavirus at the podiatrist.
At the same time, we realize that some healthcare needs cannot wait. If you experience an injury to your foot or rely on ongoing podiatric treatment, our clinics are open and ready to provide the same top-notch patient care as always.
In view of this, we are here with some guidelines on how to stay safe and help others stay safe from Coronavirus at the podiatrist.
Wait in Your Car, Not the Waiting Room
Likely, when you pull into any clinic’s parking lot, the first thing you do is put your car in park, and then go sit in the waiting room, thumbing through magazines until you are called for your appointment.
Under normal circumstances, this is great and we’d applaud you for being early! However, under current circumstances, we recommend staying in your car until it is just a couple of minutes before your appointment is due to start.
The less time we spend in public places where we might have human contact, and the fewer things we touch, the better.
Apply Social Distancing
When it’s time to walk through the clinic doors, or really any time you go out of your home, please take care to respect the new ‘social distancing’ rule.
Try to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others. Of course, on a doctor’s visit, you will have to be within six feet of your physician for an exam, as a reasonable exception.
Stay Home if You’re at High Risk
We want you and the rest of our neighbors in the community to stay safe and healthy. Please do not venture out of your home if you are in the following two groups at a high risk of contracting or spreading the virus.
You may be at high risk of contracting Coronavirus if…
- You are over 60 years old.
- You have pre-existing medical conditions or a compromised immune system.
Should you fall into the above categories, please postpone any non-urgent treatment.
If you feel like you may be just starting to get sick – even if the symptoms are not consistent with Coronavirus 2019 – we kindly ask you to please play it safe and stay home.
You may be at high risk of spreading Coronavirus if…
- You have recently traveled to an infected area.
- You have flu or cold-like symptoms.
Mayo Clinic advises “Contact your doctor or clinic right away if you have COVID-19 symptoms, you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or you live in or have traveled from an area with ongoing community spread of COVID-19 as determined by CDC and WHO.”
Rather than going to the doctor, “Call your doctor ahead to tell him or her about your symptoms and recent travels and possible exposure before you go to your appointment,” adds Mayo Clinic.
Practice Heightened Good Hygiene Methods
Even simple steps toward practicing good hygiene can save lives during this global health crisis. Please take care to do so when you come to your appointment at Canyon Oaks.
Here are 3 good hygiene steps you can take to protect yourself and others:
- Wash your hands. Rub your hands with soap under very warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a back-up.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Rather than using your hand, opt for the inside of your bent elbow or a single-use tissue.
- Frequently disinfect surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to wipe down often-touched surfaces at least twice a day.
Staying Safe from the Coronavirus at the Podiatrist in Fresno, Visalia, & Porterville
The team here at our Canyon Oaks Foot & Ankle clinics is deeply concerned about the health and welfare of the Central Valley community.
Please know we will do our best to serve you and your podiatric care needs, even amidst this pandemic. We ask you to kindly work along with us to promote a clean and healthy environment free from coronavirus at the podiatrist.
For any questions, feel free to contact us.
Please take care and stay safe.
