McHenry Physical Therapy COVID-19 Update

If you’ve been watching the news, you’re probably already aware that  confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States and in Illinois itself, are growing. As a precautionary measure, we’d like to offer some recommendations and information about coronavirus as it relates to your care. Please read through the following FAQ from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Am I at risk?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offered the following information:

• People in communities with a growing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases are at an elevated and risk is increasing.
• Like other viruses, COVID-19 cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds; exposure to the disease itself is the greatest risk factor associated with contracting it.
• Social distancing is recommended to reduce risk

How Do I Protect Myself and Others?

Know how it spreads

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Everyone Should…

Wash your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• It’s especially important to wash:
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • Before touching your face
  • After using the restroom
  • After leaving a public place
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After handling your mask
  • After changing a diaper
  • After caring for someone sick
  • After touching animals or pets
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

• Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.

Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others

• You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
• The mask is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
• Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
  • Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

Cover Coughs and Sneezes

• Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and Disinfect

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
• Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectantsexternal icon will work.

Monitor Your Health Daily

• Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
• Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
  • Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
• Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

What are the Symptoms?

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, as a courtesy to your therapist, our clinic staff, and your fellow patients, please do not come into the clinic at this time. Please reschedule your appointment for at least 14 days.

We are also currently limiting visits to the clinic for patients that are at high risk and are following health screening recommendations.

What We are Doing to Protect You

We are currently cleaning and disinfecting between each patient, as well as allowing an extra 15 minutes in between each patient, in order to make sure that the number of people in the clinic at one time is limited. Red Rock Physical Therapy offers one-on-one care, in a private treatment room. Everyone entering the clinic, as well as the therapists, are wearing a mask at all times. We do a daily temperature and symptom check of each therapist, as well as each patient coming in to the clinic. We have taken an extra step and are using the BlueAir Pro Air Purifier in each treatment area, to reduce the number of harmful particles in the air.

Wishing you good health,

The Red Rock Team