Visiting the doctor or pharmacy? Here’s how to protect yourself from coronavirus
People are urged to stay home to help stop the spread of coronavirus, but some may need to venture out to visit a doctor or pick up a prescription.
So how can you do those activities while taking steps to avoid getting COVID-19?
Here are the latest tips from experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Before heading out, health officials recommend contacting a doctor or pharmacist.
If possible, people should reach out to health professionals through email, phone or video calls, according to the CDC. Anyone with a non-urgent doctor’s appointment may want to consider rescheduling, the agency says.
Patients also should call their doctor’s offices if they think they are sick with the coronavirus, according to the CDC.
For pharmacy needs, health officials on Monday encouraged people to order prescriptions via phone and consider getting medications delivered.
Visiting doctors, pharmacies
Though the CDC recommends people limit trips to doctor’s offices and drug stores, some may find it necessary to go.
While seeing a doctor, patients should wear face masks, stay 6 feet from others, keep their hands away from their faces and use disinfectant cloths on surfaces that people often touch, health officials say.
At the pharmacy, health officials suggest stopping at drive-thru windows or using curbside pickup programs.
“Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines so you do not have to visit the pharmacy as often,” the CDC said.
