Q&As
Q: My child has mild cold and flu symptoms should I take him to the hospital?
a) If your child has mild fever, runny nose, sore throat or cough it is unlikely that you will need to take him to the hospital but you should speak to your pediatrician first before going anywhere to determine if an appointment in office is appropriate (triage nurse should route this call to level 2 provider). If your child appears severely ill we may recommend taking him/her to the hospital.
b) Keep your child home and out of school if he or her is sick.
Q: Can I take my child to public places?
a) If there’s high activity of COVID in your area, it’s best to stay at home or in back yard for play while sanitizing toys and hands frequently.
b) If the COVID risk is low in your area, we still can’t be sure that popular public places such as playgrounds, grocery stores, or retail shopping malls are completely risk free. Kids need to get outside in open air playgrounds are less risky than indoor alternatives. Try to go to the playground at times when it is least crowded. Wipe down equipment with antibacterial wipes before play and encourage hand-washing when your child is finished with play and before/after meals.
Q: Should I cancel my child’s birthday party?
a) While there aren’t yet clear guidelines from the CDC and Prevention on this front, it’s probably safest to err on the side of caution and cancel at this point especially if planning a large party. It’s probably okay to hang out with another family member you know well as long as they aren’t showing any S&S’s of COVID-19 or illness first.
Q: The store is out of hand sanitizer, should I make my own?
a) It is not recommended to make your own hand sanitizer even if stores are out because they need to contain between 60-95% alcohol concentration to be effective at killing bacteria and viruses.
b) If you’re using store bought hand sanitizer make sure it has at least 60% alcohol concentration and that hands are fully dry prior to touching anything
c) Hand sanitizers are not as effective when using on visibly dirty or greasy hands. In this instance, it’s best to wash with soap and water.
Q: What is my child has a compromised immune system or any chronic illness such as asthma?
a) It’s best to avoid crowded or community events even in places without community spread of the virus.
b) Avoid people who are sick
c) Wash your hands with soap and water
d) Stock up on supplies (14 days) including appropriate medications needed for treatment.
Q: Are newborns more susceptible to coronavirus?
a) Because infants are particularly vulnerable to other respiratory viruses like RSV and influenza, you should take the usual hygienic precautions you would with infants…wash your hands before handling an infant, avoid taking infant to crowded places.