Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19

Please refer to trusted public health officials for information on the virus, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) or UNC Health. We recommend caution when it comes to reading about the virus in social and popular media, and instead encourage you to look toward these trusted public sources.

To learn about our community, visit Wayne County’s page.

The symptoms of coronavirus include fever greater than 100, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, or cough not associated with chronic disease, such as asthma.  Learn more information about symptoms from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

There are simple things you can do every day to minimize the risk of transmission. These include:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—ordinary soap is the best defense against any virus and needs this amount of time to be effective
• Using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
• Avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands
• Avoiding close contact with others, including handshakes
• Covering your cough and sneeze in the crease of your elbow
• Cleaning and disinfecting common objects and surfaces
• Staying home and practicing social distancing

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, it is especially important to stay home. People who are at higher risk include those who:

• are 65 years and older
• live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• have chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• have serious heart conditions
• are immunocompromised
• are severely obese (BMI of 40 or higher)
• have diabetes
• have chronic kidney disease and are undergoing dialysis
• have liver disease
• work in a healthcare setting
• are pregnant or postpartum

Quarantine means a period in which people that have been exposed to an infectious or contagious disease must remain in isolation at home. If someone were asked to remain quarantined, they should not be leaving their home or coming into contact with other people, beyond those who reside in their home. The CDC is currently recommending 14 days for COVID-19.

This public health concern is unprecedented, and the health and wellbeing of our community is our most important consideration. At this time, we are uncertain how long these measures will be necessary. Continue to refer to trusted public health officials for updated information on the virus. We are all in this together.

Wayne UNC Health Care is updating our patient screening process on an ongoing basis, based on guidance from the CDC.

Currently, laboratories are estimating, at minimum, 7-8 days from pickup of specimen to release of the test results. As you wait for your results, please continue to self-monitor and quarantine. If you are concerned about symptoms that are getting worse, please contact your doctor’s office.

Testing is only available for those who meet specific criteria based on guidelines from the CDC. Please contact your primary care physician if your symptoms do not ease. If your symptoms become severe or life threatening, call 911.

When going live on Facebook or doing an interview, it is important to be heard by the viewer, however you don't want to compromise your health and safety.  We recommend wearing the mask correctly or not wearing it at all. 

• DO NOT wear the mask so it covers just the tip of your nose.
• DO NOT wear the face mask over your eyes or leave your chin exposed.
• DO NOT wear the face mask under your nose.
• DO NOT wear the face mask under your chin or around your neck.
• DO Make sure the mask comes all the way up, close the bridge of your nose, and all the way down under your chin.  Do your best to tighten the loops or ties so its snug around your face, without gaps.

If you are in an environment where you cannot be at least 6' away from others, we recommend wearing the mask and being sure to annunciate your words so those listening can understand.

If you decide to take your mask off, do not store it in your pocket, purse or other enclosed area.  Keep it in a place where air can circulate around it, such as an open paper bag or hanging up on a hook.

Touching your mask (not ear loops) is like coughing or sneezing into your hand because you are touching the droplets absorbed in the mask.  Remember to be careful not to touch the front of your mask when taking it off and always wash your hands before and after putting on/taking off/adjusting your mask.  

We are using guidelines from the CDC to determine if tested patients should be admitted while he/she awaits test results. Currently, we ask individuals with mild symptoms to return home while waiting so as to minimize exposure to other patients, families, and staff. Ultimately, the physician will consider each unique case and make the best decision for the patient.

As of March 17, 2020, elective surgeries have been postponed. By postponing elective surgeries, we are limiting the number of people moving in and out of the hospital and so minimizing exposure to other patients, families, and staff. This also ensures that we are conserving medical supplies in case of increased need related to COVID-19.

UNC Urgent Care 24/7 continues to be available for sick patients needing to speak to a doctor about a range of non-life-threatening illnesses, such as a rash, sore throat, pink eye or stomach bug. You can speak with a physician via video chat or on the phone for $49 or less depending on your insurance.

Yes. Our team will greet and isolate you upon arrival to minimize possible exposure to other patients and team members. Patients who are exhibiting respiratory symptoms are asked to click the purple Coronavirus Help tab on the bottom of unchealthcare.org to use our coronavirus symptom checker. This determine if medical follow-up is needed.

The majority of people with mild symptoms may not need to come to the hospital at all. In many cases, the most appropriate course is to treat your mild symptoms at home as this will reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread to others in our community.

Yes, our patients' safety and comfort are our top priority.

The Environmental Services (EVS) personnel will continue to follow the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Guidance to clean individual rooms and the entire Wayne UNC facility.  We are maintaining robust cleaning procedures throughout the day, as well as doing a deep clean overnight.

Not at this time. If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please call your primary care physician or use our symptom checker on unchealthcare.org.

North Carolina has set up a helpline at 866-462-3821, available 24/7 and staffed by nurses and pharmacists, to answer questions about COVID-19, including symptoms. To submit questions online, go to NC Poison Control and select “Chat.” More information is also available from the NCDHHS.

If you are comfortable speaking with that person who has symptoms, direct them to trusted sources of information, like the CDC or UNC Health. In addition, North Carolina has set up a helpline at 866-462-3821, available 24/7 and staffed by nurses and pharmacists, to answer questions about COVID-19, including symptoms assessment, how to reduce the risk of transmission, and what to do if COVID-19 is suspected. To submit questions online, go to NC Poison Control and select “Chat.”

In order to ensure the safety of those around us, anyone entering our facility, including teammates, providers, patients and vendors must wear a facemask.  Wearing a facemask correctly helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure. For more information, visit the CDC.

In a continued effort to help protect our patients and teammates from the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Wayne UNC Health Care updated the hospital visitation policy to restrict visitors effective Saturday, March 21^st.

Hospital access for visitation is limited to:

• Patients under the age of 18 are allowed two guardians for duration of stay.
• Pregnant women under observation or in labor are allowed one support person for duration of stay.
• Patients at the end of life.

Visitors with symptoms of a fever or respiratory illness, including cough or shortness of breath, will not be allowed to enter. Wayne UNC is screening all teammates and visitors for signs and symptoms of illness.

The patient’s care team and the attending physician will work with families who have special circumstances, such as a critically ill or injured family member, on a case-by-case basis.

These unprecedented times mean that we must make difficult decisions in order to ensure we keep our patients, their families, our coworkers and medical personnel safe. We have and will continue to make these decisions based on the many factors that affect the wellbeing of our community. Please visit our website for the most current visitor info and consider virtual visits when wanting to see your loved one.

Yes. Talk with your provider regarding the need for vaccines especially if you are at an increased risk due to age or a depressed immune system. Vaccines should always be kept up to date.

Long fingernails contain more bacteria under them. Healthcare personnel who have direct patient contact are not allowed to wear fingernail extenders or have long fingernails. Nail hygiene should be a regular part of hand hygiene.

Short contact times greatly reduce the likelihood of transmission but do not entirely eliminate the possibility. Always practice social distancing by keeping a distance of six feet or more.  If you are in a situation where social distancing cannot be practiced, we encourage you to wear a facemask.

There are a number of mosquito transmitted diseases such malaria and Zika. COVID-19 and HIV are not transmitted by mosquitoes.

Please contact your provider to help you get early refills for your medications. If you have a My UNC Chart account, you may request refills there, too.

Wearing a facemask correctly helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others. 

If you touch a surface with the virus on it, and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes, it's possible. However, this is not likely to be the main way the virus spreads. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods and there have not been any cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods

Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in common areas, such as doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, tables, desks, toilets, sinks, hard-back chairs. First, clean dirty surfaces with detergent or soap and water. Disinfect surfaces with diluted household bleach solution (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water), alcohol solutions of 70%+ alcohol or EPA-registered household disinfectants. Use gloves or wash hands thoroughly after cleaning. More from the CDC. Current evidence suggests that COVID-19 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces.