SKYLIGHT DENTAL CARE Patients;
We want to take a moment to communicate with you on how we will address upcoming challenges to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We now know the virus is active in our community, and transmitted by people who are both symptomatic and asymptomatic, and being transmitted among those who have not traveled abroad. It seems reasonable that we act to minimize contact prior to further cases being identified. To that end, it is our intent to clarify our measured strategy for moving forward.
The CDC's Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care Settings note- dental personnel may consider postponing nonemergency or elective dental procedures until a patient is no longer contagious with diseases that can be transmitted through airborne, droplet or contact transmission, or presumptive symptoms: All patients with a fever, or flu-like symptoms (i.e., throwing up), or signs of a fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance, or sweating).
The ADA recommends following standard precautions with all patients, at all times. Similar to patients with other flu-like illnesses, patients with COVID-19 have reported mild to severe symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Within 14 days of symptom onset, they also may have had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient or a history of travel from affected geographic areas.
Many public institutions are requiring a 14-day transition after traveling to countries on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travel Alert list such as China, Iran, Italy, South Korea or Japan. Please notify us directly if you or your child have any plans to travel to any of these countries. We will continue to follow the CDC, state and local health department recommendations.
If a patient or family member shows any of these symptoms, they will not be seen for your/their appointment and we reserved the right to kindly leave the office to protect others.
At this time, it is important to remember as a community that we maintain a healthy perspective.
We have ramped up cleaning our office and we have hand sanitizer at the front desk. Sanitizing wipes are near workstations and counters so that employees can keep them continuously cleaned.
We are closely following the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) guidelines and recommendations on the steps we can take to help prevent the spread of the virus. We have shared specific instructions with our employees on the importance of washing their hands and staying home if they feel sick or are returning from an area of the world identified as posing a coronavirus-related risk
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and do all we can to protect you and our employees.
Sincerely,
Skylight Dental Care