Coronavirus (COVID-19)
St. Thomas is one of the many sites in Louisiana distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
We are adhering to the LDH guidelines for vaccine distribution, but it is in limited supply.
Please call (504) 529-5558 to inquire about availability.
St. Thomas Community Health Center is dedicated, as always, to the well-being of our patients, staff, and New Orleans community. We are taking precautions and following best practices and procedures to help keep everyone safe from coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you have any of the symptoms or exposure risks below, please call (504) 529-5558 to talk with one of our providers before arriving at a clinic:
- Fever of 100.4° or higher
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Recently traveled
- Have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or is showing the previously listed symptoms.
We encourage patients to keep your appointments, but ask that you come alone if possible. Try not to bring elderly people, people who are pregnant, or people with underlying health conditions (including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or weakened immune system). These precautions can help protect people who may be at the most risk of serious illness and limit the number of people in our clinics.
As part of our strategy to keep all patients safe, we will be screening everyone at the entrances of all our clinics for fever and asking about symptoms. Whether you call us or visit a clinic, please be prepared to answer questions about your symptoms, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, as well as questions about any recent travel and exposure to the virus or others with these symptoms. If you display any of these symptoms, we will likely see you in an isolation room and offer you a face mask to help maintain the safety of our clinics for everyone.
Get Your Prescriptions Delivered FREE
We offer free pharmacy delivery services for all patients. We are urging everyone to avoid crowds and busy commercial areas if possible, especially if you are older (ages 60+) or chronically ill.
Rather than traveling to our offices, please ask for medication delivery from our pharmacy from your current provider.
By calling our clinics before arriving, our providers can talk with you over the phone about whether you can be cared for at home.
Preventative Measures to Remember:
1. If possible, stay home except to get medical care.
People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are often able to isolate at home during their illness. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection, making supportive care at home the best option in many cases. Please call us to speak to a provider for advice before coming to a clinic.
If you are sick with COVID-19, you should restrict activities outside your home if possible, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis. In addition, we urge everyone to avoid crowds and busy commercial areas if possible.
2. Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home.
People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home if you are sick with COVID-19. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Animals: You should restrict contact with pets and any other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. This includes petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, as a precaution, it is recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a face mask.
3. Wear a face mask.
You should wear a face mask when you are around other people (for example, sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a face mask (for example, if it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a face mask if they enter your room.
4. Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
5. Clean your hands often.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; after going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
Soap and water are the best option if your hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
6. Avoid sharing personal household items.
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
7. Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday.
High-touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product, including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation while using the product. Make sure the cleaning agent you use is a disinfectant. We recommend using bleach or Lysol, for example.
8. Monitor your symptoms.
Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (for example, if you experience difficulty breathing) by calling 911.
Before seeking care at a clinic, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a face mask before you enter the facility.
These steps will help our community by keeping other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Looking for more information? Please review the latest information from the government resources provided below.
If you have questions about coronavirus, please contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing dial 211. Or, you can text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is St. Thomas doing differently?
Anyone entering our clinics may be screened at the entrance for a fever. We will be questioning patients about their symptoms and potential exposure as well. If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, you will likely be seen in an isolation room and offered a face mask. We ask you to please call before coming into the clinics if you are showing any of the symptoms.
Should I be worried about COVID-19?
We encourage everyone not to panic, but to take COVID-19 seriously. Please take appropriate precautions, including avoiding crowds and busy commercial areas, especially if you are older or chronically ill. If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, you should call St. Thomas to get medical advice from one of our practitioners.
How does COVID-19 spread?
Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:
- Respiratory droplets produced when coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
What is the treatment for COVID-19?
Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms and learn how to protect those around them.
Who should be tested for COVID-19?
If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please call us to speak with a provider about whether or not you should be tested. We are limited in our ability to test and do not have rapid COVID-19 testing. Test results should take 4–5 days, and we cannot test anyone who does not have a fever greater than 100.4°.
How long should I self-quarantine?
Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The decision to stop home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers as well as state and local health departments.
