CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19)
As you are aware, cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, are continuing to spread in Los Angeles. Please know that your children are at very low risk. The vast majority of children who contract COVID-19 will have mild illness. This is not an absolute, however, and there are some case reports of young children getting seriously ill. Here is the most recent report of children and COVID from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including rates of hospitalization and mortality.
There has also been many stories of in the news of COVID-19 causing an inflammatory response in children called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). You can read more about the condition on the Children's Hospital Los Angeles blog. Again, this is very rare but we are aware of it and watching out for it in our patients.
First of all, we want to reassure our families of the preventative measures that we are taking here in the office:
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
**These are two different things that people often get confused. Please read closely**
Isolation: for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
You must stay home until:
You must stay home until:
More details about isolation can be found here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidisolation/#
Quarantine: for someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 but is NOT positive
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE (you are exempt) if you do not have symptoms AND you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. This means that you are either fully vaccinated and boosted or you are fully vaccinated but not yet eligible for a booster.
More details about quarantine can be found here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidquarantine/
TESTING
We offer multiple types of testing at our office for patients and their parents and families. Most testing is charged directly to the family unless it is performed during a visit with the doctor in which it will then be charged to insurance. All testing results will be uploaded to our online patient portal and you can download them directly from there. There is also free testing available through LA County.
COVID-19 PCR testing ($40): This is testing done by a deep nasopharyngeal swab to see if you currently have an active COVID-19 infection by testing for genetic RNA from the virus. The tests will be sent to various trusted labs within Los Angeles based on availability of swabs that we have. We get results back in 24-48 hours. Testing done on Saturday or Sunday will receive results on Monday or Tuesday. Please note that a COVID PCR test can stay positive up to 3 months after the initial test so it is not recommended to re-test during this timeframe.
COVID-19 Rapid Antigen testing ($75): This test is a nasal swab that looks for protein from the virus and indicates an active infection. Testing is completed in our office and results are available in 15-20 minutes. Rapid testing can also be done to end isolation prior to 10 days (see guidelines above)
COVID-19 Antibody testing ($75): Antibody testing is still of only limited clinical value, since the tests are not 100% accurate, and a positive test does not necessarily signify immunity, or safety from the virus. If you would like to discuss getting antibody testing, we recommend a telemedicine visit. This way we can take the time to the discuss the test and/or the results, and go over what the test actually signifies for each patient.
COVID-19 VACCINES
We are offering COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in our office for all patients 6 months and older as well as any parents or caregivers who wish to be vaccinated. All doctors recommend that our patients receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless specifically exempt due to medical reasons or a previous adverse reaction. Please call the front desk to schedule an appointment during our vaccine clinic days.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging parents to not delay their child’s checkups and vaccines. Immunization rates are dropping at a dangerous rate, putting millions of children at risk for measles, whooping cough, and other life-threatening illnesses.
We continue to be open every day, 365 days a year. We are here and staying safe and healthy and ready to give our patients the care that they need. We are also offering telemedicine and home visits in order to keep as many patients home as possible and limit our exposure in the office (please visit those pages for more details).
Lastly we want to remind everyone that with the excessive amount of information currently available online, please be sure to only check updates from reputable sources including the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. We will also continuously update our website, Instagram, and Facebook page.
There has also been many stories of in the news of COVID-19 causing an inflammatory response in children called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). You can read more about the condition on the Children's Hospital Los Angeles blog. Again, this is very rare but we are aware of it and watching out for it in our patients.
First of all, we want to reassure our families of the preventative measures that we are taking here in the office:
- All patients with respiratory symptoms will be placed into rooms immediately upon check in. Many sick visits are being conducted via telemedicine.
- Exam rooms are cleaned thoroughly after each visit and main areas (bathrooms, waiting room, front door) are cleaned multiple times throughout the day. We have multiple air filters for the waiting room and exam rooms.
- There are specific exam rooms that are reserved for well visits only and will NOT have sick kids in them
- Our office is stocked with personal protective equipment (aka PPE) for our staff (masks, gloves, gowns, eyeglasses) to protect ourselves from being exposed and to prevent transmission.
- Staff and sick patients >2 years old are required to wear a mask at all times
- As a reminder, our office building does have a stairwell if you prefer not to take the elevators
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
**These are two different things that people often get confused. Please read closely**
Isolation: for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
You must stay home until:
- At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms first started and
- You have a negative viral COVID-19 test (rapid antigen) collected on day 5 or later and
- You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and
- Your symptoms are improving
You must stay home until:
- At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first started and
- You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and
- Your symptoms are improving
More details about isolation can be found here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidisolation/#
Quarantine: for someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 but is NOT positive
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE (you are exempt) if you do not have symptoms AND you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. This means that you are either fully vaccinated and boosted or you are fully vaccinated but not yet eligible for a booster.
- You must quarantine (stay home and away from others) until:
- If you do not test, you can end quarantine on Day 10 as long as you do not have symptoms.
- You can end quarantine after Day 5 if you have no symptoms and you have a negative diagnostic test (PCR is recommended) that was collected on Day 5 or later.
More details about quarantine can be found here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidquarantine/
TESTING
We offer multiple types of testing at our office for patients and their parents and families. Most testing is charged directly to the family unless it is performed during a visit with the doctor in which it will then be charged to insurance. All testing results will be uploaded to our online patient portal and you can download them directly from there. There is also free testing available through LA County.
COVID-19 PCR testing ($40): This is testing done by a deep nasopharyngeal swab to see if you currently have an active COVID-19 infection by testing for genetic RNA from the virus. The tests will be sent to various trusted labs within Los Angeles based on availability of swabs that we have. We get results back in 24-48 hours. Testing done on Saturday or Sunday will receive results on Monday or Tuesday. Please note that a COVID PCR test can stay positive up to 3 months after the initial test so it is not recommended to re-test during this timeframe.
COVID-19 Rapid Antigen testing ($75): This test is a nasal swab that looks for protein from the virus and indicates an active infection. Testing is completed in our office and results are available in 15-20 minutes. Rapid testing can also be done to end isolation prior to 10 days (see guidelines above)
COVID-19 Antibody testing ($75): Antibody testing is still of only limited clinical value, since the tests are not 100% accurate, and a positive test does not necessarily signify immunity, or safety from the virus. If you would like to discuss getting antibody testing, we recommend a telemedicine visit. This way we can take the time to the discuss the test and/or the results, and go over what the test actually signifies for each patient.
COVID-19 VACCINES
We are offering COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in our office for all patients 6 months and older as well as any parents or caregivers who wish to be vaccinated. All doctors recommend that our patients receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless specifically exempt due to medical reasons or a previous adverse reaction. Please call the front desk to schedule an appointment during our vaccine clinic days.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging parents to not delay their child’s checkups and vaccines. Immunization rates are dropping at a dangerous rate, putting millions of children at risk for measles, whooping cough, and other life-threatening illnesses.
We continue to be open every day, 365 days a year. We are here and staying safe and healthy and ready to give our patients the care that they need. We are also offering telemedicine and home visits in order to keep as many patients home as possible and limit our exposure in the office (please visit those pages for more details).
Lastly we want to remind everyone that with the excessive amount of information currently available online, please be sure to only check updates from reputable sources including the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. We will also continuously update our website, Instagram, and Facebook page.
