What is Covid 19 ?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.
Topic: Testing for Undocumented Residents
You can still see a doctor if you don’t have medical insurance. This includes care in the emergency room, at community and migrant health centers, free clinics, and public hospitals.
- If you have CAWEM, CAWEM plus, OHP, or private insurance, you won’t be charged for a test or treatment for COVID-19, including going to the hospital.
- The Governor has reached an agreement with insurers so that people will not have to pay anything out of pocket for COVID-19 tests or hospitalizations from COVID-19.
- If you are undocumented or have been a legal permanent resident (green card holder) for less than 5 years, you may be eligible for the Oregon Health Plan’s (OHP) Citizen/Alien Waived Emergency Medical (CAWEM) benefit which includes emergency medical, dental and transport services including services at a hospital emergency room and being hospitalized if needed. CAWEM also includes all services for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. This coverage is not limited to emergency rooms and hospitals. OHA can reimburse providers for COVID-19-related services regardless of service location. Coverage includes non-emergency settings such as medical offices and urgent care.
The receipt of emergency Medicaid, such as CAWEM, cannot be counted under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) public charge rule. Additionally, on March 13, 2020 USCIS issued an alert on its website stating? that the agency will not consider testing, treatment, or preventive care (including vaccines, if a vaccine becomes available) related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge determination. You should seek the medical treatment or preventive services you need to protect your health and the health of others. This includes if your care is paid for in whole or in part by Medicaid, also known as the Oregon Health Plan.
If you do not have Oregon Health Plan (OHP) coverage or Citizen/Alien Waived Emergency Medical (CAWEM), can apply for it here?. If you don’t want to sign up for OHP because of the public charge rule, you can see a clinician through your county health clinic or through a qualified health clinic (FQHC). If you have any important medical, mental health or medication needs be sure to mention this when you call.
Topic: Traveler health
OHA recommends people stay home or in their region and avoid non-essential travel to other states or countries. People arriving in Oregon from other states or countries for non-essential travel, including returning Oregon residents, should (but are not required to) practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival and limit interactions to people in their household. These recommendations do not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel. (Essential travel means travel for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.)
For details
See OHA Guidance (Recommendations) for TravelTopic: Testing
Approval from public health is only needed for testing requested at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL). Clinicians may order commercial tests in their office based on their clinical judgment; they do not need to contact or seek approval for testing from a public health agency. The clinician will get the results to give to the patient. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and local public health agencies will also get those results to help in investigations about COVID-19.
Testing at the OSPHL requires that patients meet certain criteria. Clinicians must notify OHA that the patient meets criteria and that they intend to send the specimen to OSPHL by completing an online form.
Topic: Commercial Laboratory Test
A commercial laboratory test is done by a commercial lab such as LabCorp and Quest. There are national labs that support a lot of health systems, outpatient clinics and doctors' offices. You can find a testing location near you at healthoregon.org/covid19testing.
Topic: Exposure and Testing
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, and you develop symptoms, stay away from other people and call your healthcare provider or a clinic right away.
Topic: Test Result
The turnaround time for results depends on factors such as the lab processing the test, the number of people tested simultaneously, and the lab's supply availability.
Topic: OSPHL and Commercial Labs
OSPHL's role is to begin laboratory testing for emerging infectious diseases, while commercial labs offer expanded capacity for clinicians to order COVID-19 testing.
Topic: Health Insurance and Testing Costs
Most health insurers in Oregon have agreed to waive co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles for COVID-19 testing.
Symptoms
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
- fever
- cough
- tiredness
- loss of taste or smell
Less common symptoms:
- sore throat
- headache
- aches and pains
- diarrhoea
- a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes
- red or irritated eyes
Serious symptoms:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- loss of speech or mobility, or confusion
- chest pain
Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.
Prevention
To prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19, do the following:
- Get vaccinated when a vaccine is available to you.
- Stay at least 1 metre apart from others, even if they don’t appear to be sick.
- Wear a properly fitted mask when physical distancing is not possible or when in poorly ventilated settings.
- Choose open, well-ventilated spaces over closed ones. Open a window if indoors.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- If you feel unwell, stay home and self-isolate until you recover.
