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ST. CLOUD — Amid concerns of the new coronavirus and a jump in emergency room visits, CentraCare Health wants people to treat themselves at home when possible.
"If you wouldn't have come to the emergency room six months ago, you don't need to come now," said Kathy Parsons, vice president of population health at CentraCare.
Outpatients will not be tested for COVID-19, Parsons said Friday, and there is no treatment that patients would receive by coming to the emergency room.
"We want people to stay at home," Parsons said, and "take care of themselves in the way they normally would."
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If someone is struggling to breathe or has another serious issue, they should seek medical care. For people with milder symptoms who may not be sure what to do, CentraCare is offering free e-clinic visits for people with respiratory symptoms.
In the last week, the e-clinic has seen more than 100 patients with respiratory symptoms a day, Parsons said, and sometimes as many as 300.
"The numbers are just really increasing," she said.
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CentraCare Health wants to keep people from coming into the emergency rooms with mild symptoms, Parsons said, because they could spread what they have or pick up something else.
"They're rightfully nervous," Parsons said. But symptoms of a cold or flu should be treated in the way people normally do: get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, use medication such as Tylenol for a fever and wash your hands.
"Those are the basic things — the things you would normally do for a flu," she said.
Clairissa Baker is the public safety watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8740 or cmbaker@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @ClairissaBaker.
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CentraCare urges people to treat typical cough, fever at home — not go to ER - SC Times
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