Feeling Sick?
Comparing symptoms of allergies, cold, strep throat, flu, and COVID-19
VDH-Guidance-for-College-Students-Returning-Home
Mental Health in Children and Youth during COVID-19
Use your phone to fight COVID-19!
Download Virginia’s free COVIDWISE Exposure Notifications App
Overview
- Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19
- Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
- Masks should be worn by people two years and older
- Masks should NOT be worn by children younger than two, people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance
- Do NOT wear masks intended for healthcare workers, for example, N95 respirators
How to Wear Masks
Do wear a mask that
- Covers your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
- Fits snugly against the sides of your face
How to Clean Masks
Masks should be washed regularly. Always remove masks correctly and wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask.
- Include your mask with your regular laundry
- Use regular laundry detergent and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth used to make the mask
- Use the highest heat setting and leave in the dryer until completely dry
Click on the PDF flyers below for information about two Johns Hopkins outpatient convalescent plasma trials that may be of interest. One trial is for post-exposure prophylaxis (i.e., high-risk exposure), while the other is for mild infection.
Early Outpatient COVID-19 Plasma Treatment Research Study
Outpatient COVID-19 Plasma Research Study for Prevention
COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is a public health technique used to identify individuals who have had close contact with someone known to have the virus. Because of the urgent need to notify those that may have been exposed and prevent larger outbreaks, tracers will often use a variety of methods to contact the individual, including calls and text messages.
Scammers follow the headlines and have started impersonating contact tracers. Patrick Webre, Chief of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau recently addressed this scam in an interview with ABC New York’s 7 On Your Side. https://abc7ny.com/7-on-your-side-covid-scams-coronavirus-covid-19/6345390/
Be aware, legitimate contact tracers will not ask for:
- Insurance information
- Bank account information
- Credit card numbers
- Social Security numbers
- or payment
If a caller asks for any of the above, hang up.
Contact tracers will also never reveal the identity of the person who tested positive. They will also be able to provide current local testing locations.
Scammers are also using text messages to impersonate contact tracers. Never click on a link in a text message from an unknown sender, it may install malware onto your device or take you to a phony website designed to collect personal information.
Learn more about contact tracing scams by visiting: https://www.fcc.gov/fear-fuels-covid-19-contact-tracing-scams.
Check with your state’s health department or COVID-19 task force to learn how they are implementing contact tracing and how they plan to contact individuals who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing methods may vary by state.
The FCC’s COVID-19 Consumer Guide has information about coronavirus scams and how you can avoid becoming a victim, along with helpful tips on cell phone hygiene and optimizing your home wireless network, and more.
How to Safely Wear and Take Off a Cloth Face Covering
COVID-19 Testing in the Greater Prince William Area
Hand Sanitizer Recalls
The Business Sector webpage is now live!
Dale City Farmers Market
The Prince William County Economic Development Department has announced that several Dale City Farmers Market food vendors are now doing pickup and delivery for county residents.
PPE Donning/Doffing Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDp1b96r_pE&feature=youtu.be
Face Coverings & Masks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBF7cCmlRuw&feature=youtu.be
Greater Prince William Resources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Launches COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal
- Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), launched a new COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, allowing health care providers who have conducted COVID-19 testing or provided treatment for uninsured COVID-19 individuals on or after February 4, 2020 to submit claims for reimbursement. Providers can access the portal at COVIDUninsuredClaim.HRSA.gov.
- What’s covered: For dates of service or admittance on or after February 4, 2020, providers will be eligible to seek reimbursement for COVID-19 testing and testing-related visits for uninsured individuals, as well as treatment for uninsured individuals with a COVID-19 diagnosis. All claims will be subject to the same timely filing requirements required by Medicare. Reimbursement will be made for: qualifying testing for COVID-19 and treatment services with a primary COVID-19 diagnosis, including the following:
Specimen collection, diagnostic and antibody testing.
Testing-related visits including in the following settings: office, urgent care or emergency room or via telehealth.
Domestic Violence
During these stressful time due to the COVID-19, and people at home, data is suggesting domestic violence is increasing nationally as well as in Virginia and locally.
How to Get Assistance: Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 Support 703-221-4951
For ACTS Domestic Violence Services our staff and volunteers are specifically trained to offer support, provide information, and help with immediate safety planning. https://www.actspwc.org/services/domestic-violence
Virginia Resources
The Virginia Department of Social Services has launched COVID-19 Virginia Resources, a mobile app and website that provides a one-stop switchboard for benefits, resources and programs.
Know Your Rights
HIAS has recently created a Covid-19 Know Your Rights document specifically for immigrants (mostly refugees and asylum seekers). Clients are even more vulnerable now, with many facing job insecurity and concerns about how they will get through this pandemic. We found that many clients were having a hard time deciphering the volume of information from so many sources, so we made it easier to get some critical pieces. We put together a list of questions and answers regarding housing, immigration, safety, employment and healthcare—specifically targeted to immigrant clients. While this information is not completely exhaustive and is likely to change on a day-to-day basis, we hope that it can provide some guidance and assistance for clients.
- Know Your Rights English
- Know Your Rights Spanish
- Know Your Rights Arabic
- Know Your Rights Farsi
- Know Your Rights French
- Know Your Rights Russian
- Know Your Rights Swahili
Health Insurance
On April 11, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), together with the Departments of Labor and the Treasury, issued guidance to ensure Americans with private health insurance have coverage of COVID-19 diagnostic testing and certain other related services, including antibody testing.
- The announcement implements the requirement for group health plans and group and individual health insurance to cover both diagnostic testing and certain related items and services provided during a medical visit with no cost sharing. This includes urgent care visits, emergency room visits, and in-person or telehealth visits to the doctor’s office that result in an order for or administration of a COVID-19 test. CMS
CDC recommendations:
Protect Yourself and Others from COVID-19 When Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities
Clinical Trial (Volunteers Needed)
- NIH has begun a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the investigational antiviral remdesivir in hospitalized adults diagnosed with COVID-19. The trial has enrolled a participant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. The study can be adapted to evaluate additional investigative treatments and to enroll participants at other sites in the U.S. and worldwide.https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-clinical-trial-remdesivir-treat-covid-19-begins
- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The NIH Vaccine Research Center is looking for volunteers who have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection to donate blood for studies on the immune system. NIH VRC will distribute samples to investigators to support the development of new vaccines and other products, to study the immunity to infectious diseases, in laboratory work related to assay development, and for other related medical research. Participants will be compensated for their time and inconvenience. Eligible participants are:
- Ages 18 years or older
- Able and willing to complete the informed consent process
- Willing to provide blood or other biological samples that will be stored for future research
- Able to provide proof of your identity
- For more information visit: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/clinical-trials/covid-19-recovered-specimen-study
Manassas Park residents who are quarantined and those who test positive may contact Randi Knights, Social Services Director, who will coordinate to secure food for them.
Randi.Knights@dss.virginia.gov
Desk: 703-335-8888 Cell: 571-428-3567
Coping with the Stress of COVID-19
Masks
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS)
DMAS was asked about Medicaid Transportation. They are waiving the five-day advance notice for Medicaid transportation. If someone needs care, COVID testing, etc., Medicaid will pay for the transportation.
Higher risk for severe illness
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/children.html
Resources for Correctonal Facilities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/correction-detention/index.html
Faith-based organizations
Help Your Family, Your Neighbor, and Your Community
Someone who has been exposed to an individual known to have a COVID-19 infection, may be able to infect others before they start showing symptoms.
This is why it is so important that you self isolate before the symptoms start from the time of your exposure to the infected individual so you do not transmit the virus to others in your family or community.
In particular, let’s protect our most vulnerable community members, the elderly and anyone with chronic medical conditions.
The Virginia Department of Health has established an information hotline for questions about Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Please review the information provided on the VDH Coronavirus Website first, then if you still have questions, you may call (877) ASK-VDH3 (877-275-8343) to speak with a public information representative.
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.
-Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
– Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not hands) when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash.
– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
– Stay home when you are sick.