Coronavirus

Last updated: January 18th, 2022

Dear Primecare Patients,

At Primecare of Coral Gables, we pride ourselves on always being a community partner and providing the best care for our patients. And right now, during the COVID-19 outbreak, we need your help to protect our ability to take care of the patients who truly need us. Please take a couple of minutes to read the following message and share with friends and family.

We are closely following the news and recommendations from the Florida Department of Health (FDH) and Center f or Disease Control (CDC) as the cases in Miami continue to increase daily. We will do our best to update you and encourage you to check with the FDH and CDC on a regular basis for updates.

Omicron Variant update:

As Omicron becomes the dominant variant of COVID-19 the areas infected tend to be the throat and bronchi whereas prior variants infected the lungs leading to more severe symptoms.  With the omicron variant, symptoms tend to be more mild but the variant is also significantly more contagious.

Vaccine information:

We recommend that all patients receive the vaccine unless you have had a severe allergic reaction, especially to a vaccine or injectable or polyethylene gylcol.

FAQ regarding the vaccine: click here

Do I need a Booster Vaccine?

Yes!  Please see below for further guidance:

What you should do to protect yourself:

The best way to prevent illness from COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to the virus and use good hand hygiene. Common sense precautions that prevent the spread of flu will also help prevent the spread of COVID-19 . Please do the following:

• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover cough and sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and hard surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

What you should do if you are experiencing symptoms?

You have symptoms consistent with covid, we recommend you get tested at one of the local testing sites.

Have symptoms? Try the CDC Coronavirus Self-Test Tool: CDC SELF TEST

For those patients who are experiencing fever, shortness of breath, persistent cough and body aches, please call our office (or 911 if it is an emergency). We are here to examine and evaluate you, if we feel that this is in yours and the community’s best interests.

General recommendations for those with mild symptoms will include:

• Self-isolation at home
• Stay away from others by using a specific room and separate bathroom, if possible
• Clean your hands often
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Wear a facemask
• Click the following link for more recommendations from the CDC: CDC Recommendations

Please keep in mind anyone tested negative today could contract the illness tomorrow. Most patients who contract the disease will experience mild to moderate cold or flu-like symptoms and will recover fully by following the above advice.

Our office is staffed by some of the most dedicated teams in healthcare. We are coming to work every day committed to caring with kindness. We hope you will help us by not coming for a COVID-19/coronavirus test unless you meet the appropriate criteria or by calling ahead. By doing that, you will be helping ensure that Primecare continues to remain available to your friends, family and neighbors who need us now.

Find a list of locations to get tested: Dade County Testing Locations

Some additional resources for treatment including monoclonal antibodies are available through government websites including: www.patientportalfl.com or CDC Monoclonal Antibody Locator

Recommended sources of information :

• Florida Department of health
  • https://floridahealthcovid19.g...
  • For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121.
  • The Call Center is available 24 hours a day.
  • Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected]
  • Resource kit: https://floridahealthcovid19.g...
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  • Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru...