Helpful Information about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Hoag Gynecologic Oncology (HGO) continues to monitor the situation around the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our top priority is the health and safety of our patients, staff, and physicians. At the present time we are continuing to care for our patients both in the office and in the hospital. We continue to perform scheduled surgeries, including elective surgeries. If you are sick with respiratory symptoms please call to check if you should keep your planned appointment or surgery or reschedule.

The recommendations regarding the COVID-19 situation are rapidly developing and changing in response to new information. Please keep yourself informed with reliable sources, we are using the CDC’s information page and recommend this to our patients. More information about symptoms, prevention and updates can be found on the CDC website.

What We Know

Coronaviruses are a family of common viruses that can cause respiratory illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure and range from mild to severe. These may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Respiratory failure
  • Symptoms have been most severe in patients with chronic underlying health conditions, people over age 60, and those who are immunosuppressed, such as our patients receiving chemotherapy.

What You Can Do

You can protect yourself from COVID-19 infection the same ways you protect against the common cold or seasonal flu.

• Sanitize your hands often for at least 20 seconds each time. Alcohol gel works well in most situations (like after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose), but hand-washing with soap and water should be performed after going to the bathroom, before eating, or when your hands are visibly soiled.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. (Putting a tissue on a table contaminates the surface of the table with germs.)
• Avoid air travel and cruises.
• Do not travel to areas with known outbreak; check the CDC for updates.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Limit close contact (within 6 feet) with in public and avoid large gatherings.
• Do not visit hospital patients if you are ill in order to protect patients, visitors and staff. Visitation may be limited at the discretion of the medical providers and hospital staff at any time.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Routinely disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, using a cleaning spray or wipe.
• Avoid travel to high-risk countries. Non-essential travel to or through any of the countries for which the CDC has issued a level 2 or 3 travel health notice is discouraged.

Stop – Call Your Doctor and Do Not Come Into the Clinic

1. Have you OR someone you have close contact with traveled from China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, or Italy in the last 30 days?

2. Have you had close contact with a suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 individual in the last 30 days?

3. Have you had fever or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough or shortness of breath) in the last 14 days?

Stay informed

The CDC has the most current information about the virus, including everything you need to know about how the virus spreads, how it’s treated, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you get sick. Stay on top of the latest news by visiting the following websites, which are being updated frequently.

• CDC COVID-19 Information
• CDC COVID-19 FAQs
• CDC Guidance for Travelers
• CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus
• Orange County Health Care Agency FAQs
• Orange County Health Care Agency – Novel Coronavirus What You Should Know
• World Health Organization – Emerging Respiratory Viruses, including nCov: Methods for detection, prevention, response and control