The Coronavirus and the Flu: Vital Information You Need to Stay Safe

When it comes to the coronavirus, there is a difference between panic and preparation.

At Brunswick Cove, we are prepared.

There have been no cases of COVID-19 at Brunswick Cove.

We are continuing our daily diligence to ensure the safety of our residents and employees.

Everything we do is centered around the safety of your loved one.

For These Reasons, We Have Restricted Visitation at Brunswick Cove

We do this in an effort to protect our wonderful residents. We also have restricted visitors to comply with guidelines from the state of North Carolina and the Centers for Disease Control.

We ask, for the safety of our residents, that volunteers, guests and family members not visit until further notice.

We understand that this is difficult. There is a lot of panic concerning COVID-19 and how it is affecting every aspect of our lives. We know this is a challenging time for you and your family members.

We do encourage phone calls, mail and any online communication.

Remember, we do this only out of concern for the welfare and safety of our residents. We know that you and your loved ones have trusted us to provide the best level of care. At this point, that means restricting visitation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at 910.371.9894.

We know you likely have several questions about the coronavirus, so we’ve compiled some educational material you’ll find useful.

Information You Need About COVID-19

This public health issue is incredibly important. Therefore, we wanted to provide vital information to help you stay safe. We’ll also show you how to prevent the spread of these potentially serious viruses.

How to Stay Safe

The good news? Using common sense can keep you safe.

This means washing your hands thoroughly and often—especially after you’ve been in contact with someone who may be sick.

What do we mean by washing your hands thoroughly? Use soap and warm water, and wash for at least 20 seconds.

You should also wash your hands if you’ve been in contact with items that are frequently touched–for example, doorknobs, gas pumps and television remotes.

Other common sense guidelines are:

  • If you’ve not washed your hands, don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • If possible, avoid being in close contact with those who are sick.
  • Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
  • Use a tissue if you cough or sneeze, and then immediately dispose of that tissue.
  • Thoroughly clean areas that are frequently touched.

We also encourage everyone to follow the guidelines from the state’s department of health.

COVID-19 vs. The Flu

Both of these illnesses have the potential to be very serious, especially among the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Those with other medical complications, such as diabetes or COPD are also at risk.

Similarities Between COVID-19 and the Flu

Symptoms

According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, both of these are respiratory illnesses, and in some cases, they can exhibit the same symptoms. These symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Body aches
  • Fatigue

Sometimes, they can also cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Transmission

You can spread the flu when you sneeze or cough. This is because the virus travels on water droplets in the air. In addition, it’s possible to spread these before you show any symptoms.

Scientists are still learning about COVID-19, but thus far, they believe it spreads in the same way. Differences Between COVID-19 and the Flu.

Vaccines

While a vaccine is available for the flu, officials are still working to develop one for COVID-19. When a vaccine is developed, it is not clear when it will be made available.

However, the good news is most common sense precautions, such as washing your hands and maintaining social distance, can prevent you from catching COVID-19.

Reliable Resources for More Information

In many cases, the internet is not your friend—there is simply a lot of misinformation out there about COVID-19. Social media and other sources have advice that can be confusing at best and dangerous at worst.

Remember: just because you saw it on Facebook or a friend told you about it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true.

That’s why we want to be sure you know where to turn to for reliable information. Following are some websites that will be incredibly helpful:

You may also find it useful to look at information from “official” large healthcare organizations such as the Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 page and the similar page at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

You should also pay attention to any visitation restrictions at your local hospital because you could unknowingly spread the disease to someone who is in poor health, causing them to have serious complications.

Everything We Do Is Centered Around the Safety of Your Loved One

Like all health care workers throughout the country, we are monitoring the situation closely.

We want you to rest assured that we are doing everything to provide the best care for your loved one and to keep COVID-19 from coming to Brunswick Cove.

We also want to encourage you to wash your hands and follow all health department guidelines.

Together, we will get through this challenging time.