HJAR Jul/Aug 2020

36 JUL / AUG 2020 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS DIRECTOR’S DESK ALOGUE COLUMN DIRECTOR’S DESK Testing and contact tracing will be key in controlling the spread of COVID-19 moving forward. Both testing and contact tracing are necessary to quickly identify those with COVID-19, reach out to their close contacts, and place them in quarantine for 14 days to keep infections from spreading. This will be crucial as we aim to reduce restrictions on businesses, schools, and communities. Anyone who believes they have had contact with, or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 is encouraged to get tested. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. This new virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person speaks, sings, coughs, or sneezes. Currently, there is not a vaccine available to prevent COVID-19, and there is no proven treatment for COVID-19. There is also no antibiotic for preventing or treating COVID-19 because it is caused by a virus. Healthcare professionals are responsible for testing patients suspected to have COVID-19, and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) encourages testing for all known contacts, even if they do not yet have symptoms. This will help to quickly identify existing cases among contacts. Asymptomatic contacts who initially test negative must still complete 14 days of COVID-19: Testing and Contract Tracing quarantine, and should be retested if they develop symptoms. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, and may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness requiring hospitalization, and in some cases, death. Warning signs that a person needs medical attention immediately include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or