COVID-19 Information for the Community

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020, with all 50 states and U.S. territories now reporting cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with COVID-19 have a variety of symptoms ranging from mild reactions to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with the following symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* get medical attention immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

* This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Some of the things we're doing to keep patients and team members safe include:

• Conducting point of entry symptom and temperature screenings for staff and patients
• Revised visiting policy to restrict visitors
• For visitors who are permitted in select circumstances, they also undergo point of entry screening and are required to wear masks
• Rearranged waiting areas to create appropriate social distance
• All team members wear a mask for every patient interaction, and participate in daily symptom and temperature checks

Inova’s care for patients with COVID-19 is based on recommendations from experts in leading public health organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your experience in our hospital today may be different than a previous one. For example, your food will be delivered on a disposable tray and we may measure how much liquid you drink. We’d like to tell you a bit more about your stay. Read more in the attachment below.

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• Infection prevention for any illness begins with good personal hygiene practices including hand washing (20 seconds with soap and water), disinfecting work and food preparation surfaces, minimizing touching your face and avoiding close proximity with anyone who is ill or exhibiting symptoms.
• Stay home as much as possible. Avoid crowded public places.
• If you must go out, wear a cloth face-covering or mask and keep a 6-foot distance between yourself and others to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
• Remember, even people with no symptoms can carry COVID-19 and transmit it to other people.
• Acknowledge people verbally instead of shaking hands or hugging.
• Use gloves or a tissue when opening doors, pressing elevator buttons, etc. and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer immediately afterwards.

Watch the video: How to make a simple face covering at home

• Individuals who are sick with respiratory symptoms should stay home. If you must leave home for any reason, including to receive medical care, wear a cloth face-covering or mask and always cover coughs and sneezes. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading illness to others. A cloth face-covering or mask will help prevent an ill person from spreading the virus and even if you do not have symptoms, you could be infected and spreading the virus without knowing it.
• Create an emergency plan of action. Develop a household plan to ensure preparedness based on your daily needs and routine, including food and supplies, care arrangements for children, elders and pets, and ensure that you have enough critical prescription medications.

When in public, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of cloth face-coverings or masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19. If you do not have a facemask you can easily make one from a piece of cloth and two rubber bands (see video).

The CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel, both within the United States and to other countries.

COVID-19 has been reported in all 50 states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. For more travel guidelines, check the CDC website.

Do not travel if you are sick, or travel with someone who is sick.

The CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible, and practice social distancing at all times, especially if you are at higher risk of severe illness.

If you need to go out to meet your basic household needs (such as banking, or buying groceries and medicine), follow these tips:

• Stay home if sick.
• Order online and/or use curbside pickup.
• Protect yourself in public. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face-covering or mask.
• If you can, shop early in the day or later at night, when stores may be less crowded.
• Disinfect your shopping cart with disinfecting wipes if available.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• If you must use money, handle a card or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
• Wash and/or sanitize your hands after leaving the store.

Inova Urgent Care Centers at Dulles South, North Arlington, Tysons, and Inova Primary Care – Old Town currently function as Respiratory Illness Clinics to evaluate all patients with respiratory illness symptoms. These clinics collect samples via physician ordered vehicle-side appointments for COVID-19 testing. Vehicle-side appointments are only for those individuals who have already been screened by their primary care physician, meet criteria and have a written physician order for the COVID-19 test. Patients who do not have a written order or do not meet criteria are directed to a Respiratory Illness Clinic at one of our designated urgent care centers or to make an appointment for an evaluation at the Inova Primary Care – Old Town (Alexandria) clinic for screening of symptoms and potential testing for COVID-19.

The Tysons clinic is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Dulles South and North Arlington clinics are open Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Old Town clinic is open Monday – Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are required at the Old Town location.

For more information please reference Inova Respiratory Illness Clinics.

If it is not an emergency please seek advice from your regular healthcare provider to determine if medical evaluation is needed.

If you do not have a regular healthcare provider, visit one of Inova’s Respiratory Illness Clinics or call 855-464-3627 to schedule an in-person or virtual visit with a primary care physician.

As always, if you develop symptoms of a respiratory infection, you should:

• Be aware of ways to manage respiratory symptoms
• Seek advice from your regular healthcare provider to determine if a medical evaluation is needed.
• Contact a local urgent care center or emergency department if you feel it is an emergency and you cannot wait. Ask for instructions regarding accessing the care site.
• Inform the operator of your COVID-19 concern if you call 911.
• Practice “social distancing” by avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others when possible.
• Put on a cloth face-covering or mask or cloth face covering before leaving your home. If you do not have one, you can easily make one from a piece of cloth and two rubber bands. (Watch video)

Yes, please call your doctor for their procedures on testing for COVID-19. Doctors can refer their screened patients to any Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic for testing. When arriving for testing at any Inova care site, individuals are screened for symptoms by an Inova provider, and a COVID-19 test is conducted if clinical criteria are met.

At this time, Inova tests patients who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and asymptomatic patients for specific indications such as before elective surgeries and procedures. Due to an ongoing national shortage of testing supplies, Inova is only able to provide testing for individuals in these categories, and is not able to provide tests in populations such as asymptomatic individuals seeking a COVID-19 test after an exposure, for return to school or work, travel, etc. Inova is continuously reviewing testing criteria provided by the CDC and Virginia Department of Health. We will reevaluate our ability to assist the community in this capacity if resources become available in the future.

A patient receives COVID-19 testing after being clinically evaluated by an Inova medical team member to determine if the patient should receive either a standard test (24 to 36 hour turnaround) or a rapid response test (expected 2-hour turnaround time; not available in outpatient settings).

If you require COVID-19 testing, the self-pay cost is $128 for a standard test and $225 for a rapid response test. If you have medical insurance, testing is covered at no charge.

Yes. All members of Northern Virginia’s culturally diverse communities are welcome at the Inova Cares Clinics for Families (ICCF) located in Alexandria (4700 King St.), Annandale (7617 Little River Tpk.), Manassas (8051 Sudley Rd.), and Sterling (46440 Benedict Dr.).

Inova Cares Clinics provide primary care services for patients who qualify for Medicaid, FAMIS or Inova’s Financial Assistance Program, and the uninsured. Inova assists patients who qualify for Medicaid with the enrollment application process. Financial assistance/charity care options will be explored for patients who do not qualify for Medicaid.

COVID-19 Services for Medicaid / Uninsured Patients

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Yes. Here's why:

• All visitors entering an Inova care site undergo a symptoms screening.
• At the point of entry to any Inova care site, all visitors are required to wear a cloth face-covering or mask at all times. Masks with vents/valves are not permitted; an Inova mask will be provided.
• Family members or friends are not allowed to wait in lobbies or common areas such as banks, cafeterias, chapels, food courts or any other area within the care site.

Yes, it is. Here's why:

• Inova has implemented additional procedures at all care sites, based on the CDC guidelines, to protect the safety of our patients, team members and community.
• Delaying the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a potential emergency condition can put you at greater risk – especially if you have symptoms of a stroke or heart attack.

Read more and see ER locations

Yes. Inova offers medical appointments via video and telephone to safely connect you with your provider (physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) from your home. A video or telephone appointment allows you to get your care without having to go to an Inova healthcare site.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRTUAL VISITS

Inova has a long history of protecting patients from harm and infection. We are nationally recognized for our commitment to quality and safety, and we continue to review, revise and implement all infection prevention and control measures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state/local health agencies to provide the safest care.

• All clinical care providers wear a surgical mask when caring for patients.
• All Inova team members participate in twice daily symptom and temperature checks.
• Clinical care providers use social distancing and technology to help minimize close contact.
• We screen all patients and visitors at registration/check-in or by phone prior to their entry at our care sites.
• Potential COVID-19 patients are given face masks and placed into isolation immediately.
• In addition, we require every patient and visitor to wear a cloth face-covering or mask while they are in any Inova care site.
• Patients with infectious diseases remain isolated in their room at all times. Treatment comes to them.
• Equipment used to care for these patients is not shared with any other patient.

Our team members treat respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases every day while keeping our patients, visitors and themselves safe.

Inova encourages social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

We limit visitors to provide the highest level of safety for our patients, team members and community. We encourage video meetings between patients and loved ones.

Our visitation guidance remains in effect until further notice. Please reference these links for our current visitation policies:

Inova’s Visitation Policy

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS: WOMEN’S AND CHILDBIRTH SERVICES AT ALL INOVA HOSPITALS

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS: INOVA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

The CDC recommends that anyone with possible or confirmed COVID-19 follow these self-care steps:

• Stay home except to get medical care.
• Monitor symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your primary healthcare provider immediately.
• Get rest and stay hydrated.
• If you have a medical appointment, notify your healthcare provider ahead of time that you have or may have COVID-19.
• Stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. If possible, use a separate bathroom. If you must be around others, wear a facemask.

Summer has always been a challenging time for the community blood supply, due to high school summer holidays and family vacations — but this year, COVID-19 has presented us with a new set of challenges. As restrictions are cautiously lifted, and elective surgeries have successfully restarted at Inova, the blood supply has been impacted by increased need. Some blood types are critically low, and Inova Blood Donor Services needs the help of the community to donate blood now and to encourage other members of the community to donate as well.

It is imperative now more than ever to have a steady blood supply available to support our patients. Inova Blood Donor Services provides life-saving blood to three Trauma Centers, including the Level-One ER at Inova Fairfax Hospital and two other Northern Virginia Trauma Centers.

Sign up to donate blood

The need for blood never stops, and there is no substitute for human blood when it is needed for a patient.

It is safe to donate blood. Inova Blood Donor Services has implemented several new safety measures in response to COVID-19 to provide a safe donation experience for blood donors who visit their local donor center. Generous donors are needed now to ensure we can continue to provide an adequate and safe blood supply for our community’s patients. Each donation can save up to three lives, and takes less than an hour to donate.

Make your appointment or ask questions about your eligibility to donate by calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372) or visiting inovablood.org.

Photo ID Required. Please allow one hour for your blood donation. Face masks are required – for both donors and Inova team members.

Inova Blood Donor Services is collecting blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19. The procedure is called “convalescent plasma donation.”

The liquid part of the blood (the plasma) is used to treat some of our sickest COVID-19 patients as the antibodies developed by those who have recovered may assist in the recovery of those still battling COVID-19 at Inova hospitals and other community hospitals.

Learn more at inovablood.org/covid19plasma

Community members can support Inova’s Emergency Preparedness Fund, host their own fundraising website, donate supplies, share a note of gratitude or support, donate meals, give blood or give plasma for a research study (see plasma donation above).

Medical professionals can also apply for special paid positions to help our teams care for patients at Inova during the COVID-19 crisis. (Learn more)

You can learn more about these initiatives on the Inova Foundation website.