CDC Updates on Coronavirus/COVID-19 2020

August 17, 2021

Update as of August 17, 2021

IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS AND COVID-19 VACCINE – AN FCP UPDDATE:

Your healthcare providers at Family Care Partners (FCP) believes that widespread COVID-19 vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic.

The CDC now recommends that people whose immune systems are moderately to severely compromised should receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID–19 vaccine after receiving the initial 2 doses. The CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.

FCP will continue to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for established FCP patients who wish receive the initial COVID-19 2-dose series. For our limited number of moderately to severely immunocompromised patients who meet the current CDC criteria, FCP will soon offer appointments to receive a 3rd dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Once these appointments are available, FCP will update our website and social media pages with additional information.

If you are an established FCP patient and would like to obtain additional information about the CDC criteria for a 3rd vaccine dose, please see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow. If you feel that you meet the CDC criteria, you are also encouraged to schedule an appointment with your FCP healthcare provider to discuss your medical condition, and to determine whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you.

Update as of May 13, 2021

Summary of Recent Changes

Update that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance
Update that fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter

Update as of April 23, 2021

CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lift recommended pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine use following thorough safety review. See full statement: https://bit.ly/2QQEXnQ

Update as of April 19, 2021

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Vaccination is an important tool to help us get back to normal. This information will help you prepare for your COVID-19 vaccination.

Learn more about the different types of COVID-19 vaccines and how they work.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine

Learn more about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccination.

Update as of April 13, 2021

J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Update, April 13, 2021
The use of this vaccine is ‘paused’ for now. This is because the safety systems that make sure vaccines are safe received a small number of reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot happening in people who got this vaccine.

We do not know enough yet to say if the vaccine is related to or caused this health issue. To be extra careful, CDC and FDA recommend that the vaccine not be given until we learn more.

If you got this vaccine, seek medical care urgently if you develop any of the following symptoms:

severe headache,
backache,
new neurologic symptoms,
severe abdominal pain,
shortness of breath,
leg swelling,
tiny red spots on the skin (petechiae), or
new or easy bruising

Update as of April 6, 2021

All Family Care Partners patients 16 years of age or older are eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and can schedule an appointment to receive your vaccine at one of our locations by clicking one of the links below. Vaccines are free at all locations.

To schedule an appointment for April 6th – 9th:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CABAF23AAFEC52-covid19

To schedule an appointment for Monday, April 12th OR Saturday, April 17th:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CABAF23AAFEC52-family

Transportation to your COVID-19 vaccination appointment may be provided as part of your health plan. Contact your health plan for more information, or if you have Florida Medicaid call 1-877-254-1055. We care about your health. Get your COVID-19 Vaccination; it may save your life.

Update as of March 29, 2021

The State guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination are changing

As of April 5, 2021 anyone 16 years or older is eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

All Family Care Partners patients, and can schedule an appointment to receive your Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at one of our locations from Apr 6^th– 9^th by clicking this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CABAF23AAFEC52-covid19.

Vaccines are free at all locations.

We care about your health. Get your COVID-19 Vaccination, it may save your life

Update as of March 17, 2021

FLORIDA MEDICAID A Division of the Agency for Health Care Administration

Florida Medicaid Health Care Alert

Provider Type(s): All

Medicaid Covers Transportation for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Florida Medicaid will provide transportation to Medicaid recipients to get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. Recipients should set up a time to get their vaccine and let their Medicaid plan know they need a ride. Recipients who are not enrolled in a plan can call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055 to find out the name and phone number for a transportation service.

When scheduling a vaccine appointment, the appointment should be made several days in advance to allow time to schedule Medicaid-covered transportation.

If the recipient has any special needs (e.g., they use a wheelchair), they should tell the transportation service when the ride is scheduled. Once they know when and where they will receive the second dose, that information should be shared with the transportation provider and they will schedule the next trip.

Individuals eligible to receive the vaccine may visit http://myvaccine.fl.gov to find a location distributing the vaccine and to schedule an appointment.

When scheduling transportation for a vaccine, the ride should be scheduled at least three business days before the appointment. The following information must be provided to the transportation service:

Full name
Medicaid Identification Number
Address (pick-up and drop off locations)
Date of birth
Name of health plan (if you are enrolled in a plan)
Date and time of the appointment
Phone number

The transportation provider may ask questions to make sure they send a vehicle that meets the person’s needs. The recipient may have someone travel with them if it is medically necessary. Recipients should be sure to call the transportation service if their appointment is canceled or changed to a different time.

A Medicaid Transportation for COVID-19 Vaccinations flyer with this information is also available on the Medicaid COVID-19 website.

Update as of March 2, 2021

Your best protection from COVID-19 will be a combination of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds poorly ventilated spaces, and washing your hands often. No one tool alone is going to stop the pandemic. Learn about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination so you’ll be ready when a vaccine is recommended: https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/about-vaccines/vaccine-benefits

Update as of February 18, 2021

An important CONSUMER ALERT from Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody:

Attorney General Ashley Moody News Release

January 7, 2021 Contact: Kylie Mason Phone: (850) 245-0150

CONSUMER ALERT: Do Not Pay to Reserve a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about COVID-19 vaccine scams that involve misleading webpages charging for vaccine appointments. According to recent news reports, scammers used the popular event website Eventbrite to pose as county health departments and take or attempt to take payments in exchange for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Consumer Protection investigators and criminal prosecutors in my office are aggressively pursuing reports of scammers taking money in exchange for phony COVID-19 vaccine reservations. If you have been a victim of this scam, please contact my office so we can end this fraud and help protect those seeking vaccinations.” States are overseeing the free COVID-19 vaccine distribution rather than the federal government. To help manage appointment scheduling, several counties in Florida have turned to ticketing services like Eventbrite; however, no county is charging for vaccine reservations. Attorney General Moody recommends the following tips to help Floridians avoid COVID-19 vaccine-related scams:

Know that anyone asking for money in exchange for an appointment is a scam;
Check with county health departments for local vaccine distribution guidelines;
Be wary of any website where pop-up ads solicit a vaccine appointment;
Look for “https” or a padlock icon in the website name to ensure that you are on a secure website; and
Report suspicious solicitations or COVID-19 vaccine-related advertisements to the Attorney General’s Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

For more tips on spotting and avoiding COVID-19 vaccine scams, see Attorney General Moody’s previous Consumer Alert here. Since the COVID-19 emergency declaration last March, Attorney General Moody has issued more than 30 Consumer Alerts with information about emerging scams and tips to avoid fraud. To view the latest alerts and to stay up to date on COVID-19 related scams, visit the Attorney General’s Consumer Alert webpage by clicking here. For all of the Attorney General’s COVID-19 related releases and additional COVID-19 tips and resources, click here. UPDATE (Jan. 13, 2021): Following a review by the Florida Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Eventbrite confirmed that all unofficial listings for vaccine reservations have been removed from its platform and refunds have been made to anyone who may have paid for a reservation. Eventbrite has reported that it will review all new posts related to COVID-19 or vaccines and take action to disable any future unauthorized sites and make refunds to affected consumers. Following news reports about possible misuse of the reservation platform, Eventbrite published a resource page to assist consumers in identifying and reporting any suspicious vaccination events. Users can also report unauthorized postings at the bottom of every event listing on Eventbrite, according to the platform.

# # #MyFloridaLegal.com

The Florida Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to inform Floridians of emerging scams, new methods used to commit fraud, increased reports of common scams, or any other deceptive practice. Consumer Alerts are designed to notify Floridians about scams and available refunds in an effort to prevent financial losses or other harm caused by deceptive practices. Anyone encountering a scam should report the incident to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. To view recent Consumer Alerts and for other information about avoiding scams, visit MyFloridaLegal.com/ConsumerAlert.

Update as of February 15, 2021

FCP is in the process of acquiring our vaccine supply from the state. We will continue to keep you updated on social media and here on our website https://familycarepartners.com/news/covid19.

We encourage you to get vaccinated at any of the many location made available by the state.
• For a master list of statewide vaccinations sites: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/
• For participating Publix sites: https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida
• To pre-register with the state as more vaccines become available: https://myvaccine.fl.gov/

Update as of February 8, 2021

VACCINE PRE-REGISTRATION SYSTEM NOW AVAILABLE, for more info: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

Update as of January 18, 2021

Many of you have contacted up with questions about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. We are in the process of acquiring our supply.
As soon as we have vaccines in our offices, we will update our social media platforms (FB, Instagram, LinkedIn) as well as our webpage https://familycarepartners.com/news/covid19. Please keep checking for further updates.
#Health #coronavirus #COVID19 #vaccinechallenge #vaccinecovid19 #jacksonville #DuvalCounty

Update as of January 11, 2021

Please view Family Care Partners, Dr. Randy Warren as he speaks out concerning the current vaccine rollout. We encourage all of you to reach out to your government officials urging them to continue this rollout to include Primary Healthcare Offices.
#Health #coronavirus #COVID19 #vaccinechallenge #vaccinecovid19 #jacksonville #DuvalCounty

https://www.news4jax.com/news/2021/01/10/some-primary-care-physicians-want-to-be-involved-in-covid-19-vaccine-rollout/

Update as of January 7, 2021

Improving Ventilation in Your Home

Staying home with only members of your household is the best way to keep SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) particles out of your home. However, if a visitor needs to be in your home, improving ventilation (air flow) can help prevent virus particles from accumulating in the air in your home. Good ventilation, along with other preventive actions, like staying 6 feet apart and wearing masks, can help prevent you from getting and spreading COVID-19.

Below are ways you can improve ventilation in your home. Use as many ways as you can (open windows, use air filters, and turn on fans) to help clear out virus particles in your home faster.

Bring as much fresh air into your home as possible.

Bringing fresh, outdoor air into your home helps keep virus particles from accumulating inside.

If it’s safe to do so, open doors and windows as much as you can to bring in fresh, outdoor air. While it’s better to open them wide, even having a window cracked open slightly can help.
If you can, open multiple doors and windows to allow more fresh air to move inside.
Do not open windows and doors if doing so is unsafe for you or others (for example, presence of young children and pets, risk of falling, triggering asthma symptoms, high levels of outdoor pollution).
If opening windows or doors is unsafe, consider other approaches for reducing virus particles in the air, such as using air filtration and bathroom and stove exhaust fans.

Use fans to move virus particles in the air from inside your home to outside.

Consider using a window exhaust fan if you have one. Be sure it is placed safely and securely in the window.
Another option is to place a fan as close as possible to an open window or door, blowing outside.
Don’t leave fans unattended with young children.

Filter the air in your home.

If your home has a central heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC, a system with air ducts that go throughout the home) that has a filter, do the following to help trap virus particles:

In homes where the HVAC fan operation can be controlled by a thermostat, set the fan to the “on” position instead of “auto” when you have visitors. This allows the fan to run continuously, even if heating or air conditioning is not on.
Use pleated filters — they are more efficient than ordinary furnace filters and can be found in hardware stores. They should be installed initially within the HVAC system by a professional, if possible. If that is not possible, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions to replace the filter yourself.
Make sure the filter fits properly in the unit.
Change your filter every three months or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ideally, have the ventilation system inspected and adjusted by a professional every year to make sure it is operating efficiently.

Update as of December 21, 2020

Several At-Home Collection Kits and At-Home Testing kits for Coronavirus Disease have recently been authorized the FDA. Additional information about these test may be found at on our FCP website or at https://www.cdc.gov.

Also a good source for general testing information:

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing

To learn more about how at-home testing and collection allow you to collect a specimen at home, and either send it to a testing facility or perform the test, please see:

https://https://www.cdc.gov/corovavirus/2019-ncov/testing/at-home-testing

Update as of December 13, 2020

Read today’s MMWR report on interim recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as adopted by CDC, on the first COVID-19 vaccine available under Emergency Use Authorization in the U.S. bit.ly/MMWR121320

Update as of November 30, 2020

We’re all tired of COVID-19, but the fact is: COVID-19 is not tired of us. This pandemic is not over and cases are still rising across the United States. It’s more important than ever to do your part to slow the spread:
• Wear a mask over your mouth AND nose when in public.
• Stay home when you can.
• Stay at least 6 feet apart from others and avoid crowds.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
The more steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the safer we all will be. Learn more about ways you can slow the spread of COVID-19: https://bit.ly/3bGvO6p.

Update as of November 19, 2020

Please see the below CDC update for Thanksgiving travel considerations:

“More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days.
As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.
Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.”

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving

Update as of September 25, 2020

Please find below a number of resources for mental health. These resources include contact phone information for suicide prevention as well as other mental health coping skills and resources. There are also a list of online resources including paid and free applications focusing on meditation and alternative coping mechanism strategies for both iOS and Android.

FCP Behavioral & Mental Health Resources Immediate Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: global not-for-profit organization providing free confidential crisis intervention via SMS message. The organization’s services are available 24 hours a day, every day, throughout the US, UK, and Canada and can be reached by texting HOME to 741741, 85258, or 686868 respectively

Samaritans Helpline: 877-870-4673; Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text us anytime. Services are free, confidential, and anonymous.

Virusanxiety.com: Resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty.

Relaxation and Mindfulness Downloads through Dartmouth Student Wellness Center: https://students.dartmouth.edu/wellness-center/wellness-mindfulness/relaxation-downloads

iOS/Android Apps to Download Ten Percent Happier Meditation App

Aura: Meditation & Sleep

Calm – Meditation and Sleep Stories

Zen: Guided Mediation & Sleep

HeadSpace: Meditation & Sleep

Brightmind Mediation

What’s up?: app utilizing CBT and ACT techniques for mood/anxiety Breath: relaxation exercises

Breathe for Kids: relaxation exercises for kids

Lifeline for Moms: perinatal application for expecting moms or mom

Moodkit: CBT app for mood/anxiety

Smiling Mind: mindfulness/relaxation app Slumber: app to help with sleep Headspace: meditation

Happify: (evidence based)

Vent: a social diary

Calm harm: for self-harm exercises

Sanvello: managing stress and anxiety

Therachat: journaling and mindfulness

Moodpath: CBT based exercises

Talklife: Depression and anxiety chat support. Non licensed based Mood Mission: tracking and improving mood, interactive exercises

Moodfit: tracking and improving mood, interactive exercises

7 cups: Anxiety and stress chat run by trained volunteers

Update as of September 4, 2020

Please watch this educational video on how to stay healthy during COVID-19, from our Dr. Ali Afshar from the Fleming Island office, located at 4565 US Hwy 17 South, 32003, (904) 269-4559. Thank you!

Dr. Afshar Staying Healthy During Covid-19 Pandemic Tips

Update as of September 4, 2020

Update as of August 26, 2020

Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

CDC Revisions made on August 24, 2020

Diagnostic testing categories have been edited to focus on testing considerations and actions to be taken by individuals undergoing testing

This document provides a summary of considerations and current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations regarding COVID-19 testing strategies. The CDC recommendations for COVID-19 testing have been developed based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

Viral Testing

Authorized assays for viral testing include those that detect COVID-19 nucleic acid or antigen. Viral (nucleic acid or antigen) tests check samples from the respiratory system (such as nasal or oral swabs) or saliva to determine whether COVID-19 is present. Viral tests are recommended to diagnose infection. Some tests are point-of-care tests, often used in emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, and outpatient clinics. These tests can produce results at the testing site in less than an hour. Other tests must be performed in a laboratory. If there is not a Point-of-Care (POC) device or laboratory at the collection point, samples must be sent (deliver or shipped) to a laboratory for analysis, a process that can take at least 1-2 days.

For more information on testing for COVID-19 see the Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens and Biosafety FAQs for handling and processing specimens from possible cases.

Antibody Testing

The Food and Drug Administration has not authorized antibody testing to diagnose COVID-19, and the CDC does not currently recommend using antibody testing for diagnosis of any infection. In certain situations, antibody tests may be used in conjunction with viral detection tests to support clinical assessment of persons who present late in their illnesses. In addition, if a person is suspected of having a post-infectious syndrome caused by COVID-19 (e.g., Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children; MIS-C), antibody tests may be used to determine prior infection. Antibody tests for COVID-19 can play an important role in surveillance and epidemiologic studies, which can provide insights into the transmission dynamic of the virus among the general population. Unlike direct viral detection methods that can detect currently infected persons, antibody tests help determine whether the individual being tested was previously infected, even if that person never showed symptoms.

CDC Mitigation Protocols

CDC recommends the following measures to mitigate the spread of the virus and to protect vulnerable populations: social distancing, wearing a mask when social distancing is not possible, avoiding crowds, avoiding indoor crowded spaces, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently. Visit cdc.gov/coronavirus for more information.

Considerations for COVID-19 Diagnostic (Molecular or Antigen) Testing

If you have symptoms of COVID-19:
- Your health care provider (physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, etc.) may advise a COVID-19 test.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 or do not get tested, you should self-isolate for at least 10 days after symptom onset and at least 24 hours after the resolution of any fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications).
- You should strictly adhere to CDC mitigation protocols in circumstances in which you cannot self-isolate, especially if you are interacting with a vulnerable individual (for example an elderly person or an individual with an underlying health condition). You should adhere to CDC guidelines to protect vulnerable individuals with whom you live.
- If you live with a vulnerable individual, they should be tested.
- If your symptoms are mild:
- If your symptoms are severe or become severe, you should contact your health care provider immediately or seek emergency care.
- If you take a test and test positive, you do not need to repeat a test. Unless your illness required hospitalization, you can return to normal activities (e.g., work or school) after the passage of 10 days from the onset of symptoms and 24 hours from when any fever has subsided on its own (without the aid of any fever-reducing medications).
If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms:
- A negative test does not mean you will not develop an infection from the close contact or contract an infection at a later time.
- You do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one.
- You should monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you should evaluate yourself under the considerations set forth above.
- You should strictly adhere to CDC mitigation protocols, especially if you are interacting with a vulnerable individual. You should adhere to CDC guidelines to protect vulnerable individuals with whom you live.
If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in close contact with someone known to have a COVID-19 infection:
- A negative test does not mean you will not contract an infection at a later time.
- You do not need a test.
- If you decide to be tested, you should self-isolate at home until your test results are known, and then adhere to your health care provider’s advice. This does not apply to routine screening or surveillance testing at work, school, or similar situations.
If you are in a high COVID-19 transmission area and have attended a public or private gathering of more than 10 people (without widespread mask wearing or physical distancing):
- A negative test does not mean you will not develop an infection from the gathering or contract an infection at a later time.
- You do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one.
- You should monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you should evaluate yourself under the considerations set forth above.
- You should strictly adhere to CDC mitigation protocols, especially if you are interacting with a vulnerable individual. You should adhere to CDC guidelines to protect vulnerable individuals with whom you live.
- If you are tested, you should self-isolate at home until your test results are known, and then adhere to your health care provider’s advice.
If you work in a nursing home or a long-term care facility:
- You will need testing if there is an outbreak in your facility (i.e., a new COVID-19 infection in any staff or any nursing home-onset of COVID-19 in a resident), and you will need to be tested at regular intervals until the outbreak has been mitigated.
- You will need to be tested, unless you have already been tested as part of your facility’s operational plans.
- You need to be tested if you are symptomatic. You must not go to work until your test results are known. If you test positive, unless your illness required hospitalization, you can return to work after the passage of 10 days from the onset of symptoms and 24 hours from when any fever has subsided on its own (without the aid of any fever-reducing medications).
- The higher the incidence rate in the county in which you live or work, the more frequently you will need to be tested.
- Results of testing will be used to inform infection control interventions at your facility, including decisions regarding resident placement and work exclusions.
- Follow any additional guidance from State and local public health officials and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
If you live in or receive care in a nursing home or a long-term care facility:
- You will need to be tested, unless you have already been tested as part of your facility’s operational plans.
- You need to be tested if you are symptomatic. You must self-isolate until your test results are known. If you test positive, unless your illness required hospitalization, you can return to normal activities after the passage of 10 days from the onset of symptoms and 24 hours from when any fever has subsided on its own (without the aid of any fever-reducing medications).
- You will need testing if there is an outbreak in your facility and you will need to be tested at regular intervals until the outbreak has been mitigated.
- You will need to be tested more frequently if you leave the facility on a regular basis (e.g. for dialysis or frequent medical/other appointments).
- Results of testing will be used to inform infection control interventions at your facility, including decisions regarding resident and patient placement.
- Follow any additional guidance from State and local public health officials and the CMS.
If you are a critical infrastructure worker, health care worker, or first responder:
- You may need to get a test, according to your employer’s guidelines.
- Even if you have a negative test, you should, at all times, take special care to monitor yourself for symptoms and strictly adhere to CDC mitigation protocols.
State and local public health officials may advise specific people, or groups of people, to be tested. You should follow this advice.
It is important to realize that you can be infected and spread the virus but feel well and have no symptoms.
- As discussed above, those responsible for managing infection in such settings should adopt measures to facilitate the early identification of infected individuals, including initial testing of everyone in the setting, periodic (e.g., weekly) testing of everyone in the setting, and testing of new or returning entrants into the setting.
- In areas where there are limited number of new cases, State or local public health officials may request to test a small number of asymptomatic “healthy people,” particularly from vulnerable populations.
- If there is significant spread of the virus in your community, State or local public health officials may request to test more asymptomatic “healthy people,” particularly from vulnerable populations.
- For example, certain settings can experience rapid spread of COVID-19. This is particularly true for settings with vulnerable populations in close quarters for extended periods of time (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities).

Hyperlink: https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview

Update as of August 12, 2020

As Florida schools reopen, the safety of our children remain important to Family Care Partners. While local school leaders across our community have put new policies in place to help to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are aware that parents and guardians may still have a number of concerns.

Whether your child is returning to in-person classes or participating in virtual on-line learning, there are steps that you can take to keep your child healthy. Family Care Partners supports the following recommendations from the CDC and The Florida Chapter of the Florida Academy of Pediatrics, Inc.:

Routine well child visits with your child’s pediatrician are important! Please call your child’s medical provider to confirm your child is on track with checkups and vaccinations.
Vaccines protect children and adults from vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccination rates have fallen during the past several months in connection with stay-at-home orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Make sure your child is up-to-date with all recommended vaccines including flu. This is especially important this year because we do not yet know if being sick with COVID-19 at the same time as the flu will result in more severe illness.
For children who are participating in in-person classes, parents and guardians should check in with your child each morning for signs of illness. If your child has a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher, they should not go to school. If your child has had close contact to a COVID-19 case, follow the CDC’s guidance on what to do when exposed to COVID-19.
Talk to your child about precautions to take at school. Children may be advised to:

Wash and sanitize their hands more often.
Keep physical distance from other students.
Wear a cloth face covering.
Avoid sharing objects with other students, including water bottles, devices, writing instruments, and books.

Develop daily routines before and after school – for example, things to pack for school in the morning (like hand sanitizer and an additional cloth face covering) and things to do when you return home (like washing hands immediately and washing worn cloth face coverings).
Plan for possible school closures or periods of quarantine. If transmission is increasing in your community or if multiple children or staff test positive for COVID-19, the school building might close. Similarly, if a close contact of your child (within or outside of school) tests positive for COVID-19, your child may need to stay home for a 2-week quarantine period. You may need to consider the feasibility of teleworking, taking leave from work, or identifying someone who can supervise your child in the event of school building closures or quarantine.
Before school is in session, you may want to talk to your child and explain that all these steps are being taken to keep everyone safe and healthy. The CDC’s “Stress and Coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic” provides additional resources for you and your family.

Additional resource materials are available at:

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/decision-tool

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety

Update as of April 28, 2020

In an effort to keep our patients and team safe during this COVID-19 crisis, we’ve found it necessary to change our way of doing a few things here at Family Care Partners. We hope you understand it is with your health and safety in mind, that we now require the following:

Face masks/face coverings are to be worn during patient’s entire visit inside all Family Care Partners Clinics. The exception being children under 2, and children 2-8 with breathing problems.
Pediatric well-visits are restricted to one (1) attendant only. The exception being newborn visits.

Please, stay safe everyone!

Afshar-Action News Video

Update as of April 4, 2020

CDC Recommends Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Update as of March 30, 2020

TELEHEALTH VISITS

Our goal at Family Care Partners during this coronavirus pandemic is to remain available to patients. As the community continues to see a surge in patients with COVID-19, FCP is following state and national guidelines to maintain the safest environment for our patients and staff.

Family Care Partners is offering Telehealth visits with our Clinicians. Please call 904-744-7300 to speak to an FCP scheduler about your appointment needs.

COVID-19 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) has created a SELF-CHECKER to help you to make decisions and seek appropriate medical care regarding COVID-19. This guidance is available at: https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.

Additional resources are available for self-assessment. Apple’s new COVID-19 Screening Tool also lets you screen yourself for coronavirus symptoms. The Apple tool was developed in partnership with the CDC, the White House’s coronavirus task force and the Federal Emergency Management agency. It is available at: https://www.apple.com/covid19/

Family Care Partners reminds you that screening tools are designed to be a resource for individuals. They do not replace instructions from your clinician or ongoing guidance from state and local health departments. If you think that you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever or symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, it is important that you seek medical advice.

Family Care Partners also encourages you to stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. We can all continue to take care of ourselves and to protect others by:

Seeking prompt medical evaluation if you develop COVID-19 symptoms or have known COVID-19 exposure
Practicing social distancing
Covering your mouth with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze
Washing hands frequently
Staying at home and avoiding crowds much as possible

Update as of March 25, 2020

Beware of COVID-19 Scams

Family Care Partners has become aware that scams related to COVID-19 are rapidly increasing as the public health emergency develops. Scammers are targeting older adults and those with serious long-term health conditions who appear to have a higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19.Fraudsters are attempting to bill Medicare for sham tests or treatments related to the coronavirus and are targeting individuals to illegally obtain money or Medicare numbers.

Family Care Partners reminds you that fraudulent health claims, tests, and products can pose serious health risks. They may keep some patients from seeking care or delay necessary medical treatment..

What can you do to stop COVID-19 fraud?

Do not give out your Medicare number to anyone other than your doctor or other health care provider.
Protect your Medicare number and treat your Medicare card like a credit card.
Never provide your Medicare number to anyone who contacts you through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
Be cautious of anyone who comes to your door offering free coronavirus testing, treatment, or supplies.
Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know, which could put your computer or device at risk. Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer are up to date.
Be cautious when purchasing medical supplies from unverified sources, including online advertisements and email/phone solicitations.
Ignore online offers for vaccinations. If you see ads touting prevention products or cures for COVID-19, they are most likely a scam.
Do your homework before making a donation to a charity or crowdfunding site due to a public health emergency. Be particularly wary of any charities requesting donations by cash, by gift card, or wire transfer.
Be alert to “investment opportunities.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning people about online promotions, including on social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19 and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result.
Additional information is available at:

Update as of March 23, 2020

FCP TELEHEALTH VISITS NOW AVAILABLE

As a part of our ongoing commitment to our patients, Family Care Partners is now offering Telehealth Visits through all of our FCP locations. These visits allow patients to use a smartphone, computer, or tablet to be evaluated by an FCP clinician. During this COVID-19 pandemic, a telehealth visit is a particularly useful option for patients with chronic or acute care needs who are at an increased risk for community exposure to COVID-19.

While FCP Telehealth Visits are available across the care continuum, some clinical visit types may still be best managed by a traditional office visit. Please call 904-744-7300 to speak to a scheduling representative for more information or to schedule a Telehealth Visit.

Update as of March 21, 2020

The free federally-sponsored drive-thru COVID-19 testing site opened on Saturday, March 21, at TIAA Bank Field in parking lot J. The site will operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for as long as supplies last. While a doctor’s order and appointment are not required at this location, clients will be evaluated by a medical professional on-site. Patients who do not meet the criteria will not receive a test and will be sent home. Test results should be received within three to seven days.

Testing will be performed only for individuals 65 years or older with an on-site temperature of 99.6 degrees or higher who are also exhibiting respiratory symptoms. Additionally, first responders and health care workers who have direct contact with patients will be tested regardless of the presence of symptoms.

Those attempting to be tested should:

Bring their own pen
Bring photo identification
Bring a work ID if classified as a health care worker or first responder
Refrain from taking any fever-reducing medicine four to six hours before testing
Remain inside of the vehicle at all times.

A maximum of four people per car will be screened and tested; each person must be sitting at a functioning window. Additional passengers will be asked to move to the back of the line or return the following day.

Patients should not arrive before 8 a.m. As long lines are expected, drivers must follow the directions of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office traffic officers.

Drivers coming from the West side of town should use Bay Street.
Drivers coming from the East side should use Gator Bowl Boulevard.

Public restrooms will not be available. American Sign Language and Spanish-language interpreters will be on-site to assist

For additional information, please go to https://www.coj.net

Update as of March 19, 2020

Family Care Partners is committed to providing up-to-date information to patients regarding local COVID-19 testing opportunities.

The City of Jacksonville has announced its collaboration with a local hospital health system to provide Duval County residents with an additional drive-thru COVID-19 testing option at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, located at 1000 Water Street in downtown Jacksonville.

Before arriving at the testing site, patients must complete a screening and receive a physician order through the virtual health platform Telescope Health. Physician orders from Non-Telescope Health clinicians will not be accepted. Bring your own pen.

The drive-thru testing site, which will be located directly behind the convention center in the west parking lot, will launch Friday, March 20, at 11 a.m. To avoid long lines and to encourage social distancing, patients will be assigned to hourly time slots to come to the site for their test. Patients without an assigned time slot and order from Telescope Health will be turned away.

Additional information is available at https://www.coj.net.

Update as of March 18, 2020

Family Care Partners continues to monitor the rapidly evolving recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

If you have received guidance from a medical professional or public health official to isolate or quarantine yourself as a result of exposure to COVID-19, a healthcare provider’s note is not required to validate your illness or to return to work. Due to the current pandemic, the CDC has asked employers to be aware that healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.

Family Care Partners is closely tracking the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), passed by the United States House of Representatives in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Should state or federal guidelines for requiring a healthcare provider’s note for return to work change, we will revisit our policy.

Update as of March 17, 2020

Family Care Partners is continuing to work with commercial labs, as well as with local and state departments to coordinate testing for our patients who meet current CDC criteria for COVID-19.

To address the increased demand for testing, the City of Jacksonville has established drive-thru testing sites for the coronavirus. For additional information about The City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division or updates on COJ drive-thru testing, go to https://www.coj.net.

Update as of March 13, 2020

As the number of documented cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our local area grows, the safety of our Family Care Partners patients and staff remain our foremost priority. Family Care Partners is following the latest guidance from the CDC and the local public health agencies.

If you are an established patient at FCP and are concerned that you may have been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, you are encouraged to call our office to determine if you meet the current CDC criteria for testing. Should you need to be seen, instructions will be provided so that we can take steps to keep others from getting infected or exposed.

There are many resources available to keep you up-to-date on COVID-19 and to help you reduce the risk of infection for yourself and your family.

The CDC website offers abundant, current information about COVID-19 at https://www.cdc.gov.

Additional information is also available from the Florida Department of Health.

We encourage you to help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to the following recommendations:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Stay home when you are sick
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and throw the tissue in the trash
Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often, using either soap and water or alcohol based hand gel for at least 20 seconds
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Update as of March 10, 2020

At Family Care Partners, the health and wellbeing of our patients is our #1 priority. The coronavirus (COVID-19) which is causing respiratory illness around the world, is affecting us more and more here in the United States. Rest assured we are taking precautions in our clinics to prevent transmission of the virus. We are taking the appropriate steps to ensure all of our patients are diagnosed and treated properly in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. We would like to share with our patients information we received from the CDC. To view those resources, please click the links below.

Please do not hesitate to call us at (904)744-7300 with any questions you have regarding the coronavirus or any other health concerns you may have.

https://www.cdc.gov/COVID19

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/share-facts-h.pdf

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/COVID19-symptoms.pdf

https://https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/stop-the-spread-of-germs.pdf