COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The spread of COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, is rapidly evolving and is being studied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and other health organizations.
Risk Factors
- Travel-related Risk: The greatest risk of infection is for people living in or who have traveled within high-risk countries or communities where spread is occurring.
- Healthcare Workers: Healthcare workers and close contacts of people who are infected with the virus are at an increased risk.
- Community Spread: There are some instances in which a patient’s exposure is unknown and cannot be traced to relevant travel history or contact with another known patient.
- Suppressed Immune Systems: People with compromised immune systems, including many cancer patients, are more susceptible to viruses, including COVID-19. Some cancer therapies, such as targeted drugs, steroids, as well as some cancer types, like blood cancers, can result in a weakened immune system.
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear from two to 14 days after exposure. The CDC recommends that patients showing signs and symptoms be isolated to prevent infecting others with the virus for a period of 14 days.
If a person experiences any of the following symptoms, especially fever, cough, or shortness of breath, he or she should consult a physician.
- Fever
- Cough or sore throat
Prevention
Common-sense steps can help prevent spread of COVID-19:
- Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds and frequently. If soap and water are unavailable, use alcohol-based hand rub.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Throw tissues in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Stay home if you are not feeling well.
- Avoid large crowds while receiving therapy.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces with household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Call Texas Oncology first if you have questions or concerns.
All patients and visitors are asked to wear a mask or face covering in Texas Oncology clinics. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public when social distancing is hard to maintain.