Who should be tested for COVID-19?

Santa Monica, CA-

*Individuals with 3 or more "points", please get tested! I am aware that it may be challenging to find a testing facility during this time. Contact your primary care provider, urgent care, or local emergency room for more information for local testing centers. Additionally, please contact your doctors on how to manage your chronic conditions during this time.

• Fever (add +1 point)

• Lower respiratory symptoms:(add +1 point)
  • cough
  • shortness of breath /difficulty breathing

• Return from areas with COVID in the last 14 days: (add +1 point)
  • China, South Korea, Japan
  • Iran
  • Most European countries
  • UK/Ireland

• Have had close contact within past 14 days with person with confirmed COVID 19? (add +1 point).
  • Close contact is defined as—

    a) being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time; close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case

    – or –

    b) having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)

• Immunocompromised without travel or known exposure: (add +1 point for immunocompromised conditions that are not listed here) 
  • Elderly >65 years of age
  • People living in living assisted or long term care facilities 
  • Underlying chronic conditions- especially if uncontrolled:
    • Lung disease (asthma, COPD)
    • Heart disease (congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease)
    • Diabetes
    • Neurologic conditions that weaken ability to cough
    • Weekend immune system (Chemo/radiation, transplant patients)
    • Immunosuppressants drug users (steroids, biologics)
    • Chronic kidney disease, patients on dialysis
    • Sickle Cell Anemia
    • Cirrhosis of the liver, Spleen dysfunction/lack of spleen
    • Obese (BMI >40)
    • Pregnant

For more information about treatment of allergies and asthma during this time, visit our website at www.SneezeWheeze.com, or reach us by telephone: (310)828-8534 or by e-mail: FrontOffice@allergyandclinical.com

Dora Afrahim, MPAP, PA-C

Allergy & Clinical Immunology Medical Group

**Credit: information from CDC website

Author

Dora Afrahim, PA-C Dora Afrahim is a board-certified Physician Assistant. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and then received her Master's degree from Keck School of Medicine USC. Her training includes general medicine as well as diagnosing and developing individualized treatment plans for patients who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other disorders of the immune system. Dora is a Southern California native and was inspired to specialize in Allergy & Immunology by her desire to help improve her patient’s quality of life. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, hiking, traveling and volunteering.