The chief nursing officer from the Hi-Desert Medical Center was the guest on Friday’s Up Close Show. David Cooke took calls live on the air about how to avoid COVID-19, what to expect if you contract the virus, treatment, and much more. Managing editor Tami Roleff has the highlights from the show…
“The [COVID-19] virus is a highly contagious virus; it is easily transmitted through touch, through droplets. If you touch a surface that has been contaminated, it is transmitted to your mouth, your face, through your nose, very quickly, so it’s really important to wash your hands frequently and often and avoid touching your face.”
David Cooke, the chief nursing officer and chief operating officer at Hi-Desert Medical Center, said the symptoms to watch for are similar to the common cold.
“The common signs and symptoms you would look for would be a very sore throat, very dry, non-productive cough, fever.”
He said it’s easily transmitted because virus can be transmitted before people know they are sick and people are still contagious while they are sick. And even when people are infected with COVID-19, many think they just have a common cold.
There are no treatments for the virus yet; Cooke said doctors just treat the symptoms much as they would a cold.
“The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to quarantine yourself. It’s important that you wipe down your surfaces, washing your hand frequently.”
