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Key Points
Updated: September 14, 2020
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In Today’s Recommendations for Industry, we review the similarities between COVID-19 and the flu and what businesses should do to limit spread of both. Read more below.
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While many symptoms are indicative of either COVID-19 or Influenza, congestion & runny nose symptoms are a confusing middle ground of other common causes such as the common cold, allergies, influenza, or COVID-19.
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We encourage everyone to get the get the flu vaccine as soon as available.
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If you have any of these symptoms (or an unexplained runny nose or congestion), it’s worth a discussion with a medical professional in order to be medically assessed; Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea
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In recent news, there is a new 15-minute Abbott COVID-19 test in development; and a new method from the University of Illinois method is said to be able to produce 20k results in about 5 hours.
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iCovid is a home nasal test said to provide “20/40 min results at home” and be “read like a pregnancy test.”
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The specificity (risk of false-positives) of antigen tests is generally good but the sensitivity (risk of false-negatives) may be questionable, so serial testing of asymptomatic people could potentially provide for better clarity and accuracy if logistically and financially feasible
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Recommendations for Industry
Q. COVID-19 vs. Flu: If in doubt, keep them out!
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A. With the arrival of cold and flu season, the complexity of the COVID-19 situation has increased, with questions continually arising, such as “Is it flu or COVID or just a common cold?” “How do I know?” and “Should employees with symptoms stay home?”
Unfortunately, there is not an easy answer, as the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 overlap significantly, adding to the challenges of managing your business. That said, TAG makes the following recommendations:
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Both the flu and coronavirus are infectious, and the mode of spread is similar for both, so the precautions you are taking to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will work for limiting the spread of the flu as well. Because of this, TAG recommends: If in doubt, keep them out.
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TAG recommends that anyone with any of the CDC-designated COVID-19 symptoms be considered potentially infectious. Those symptoms include:
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Fever or chills
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Cough
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Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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Fatigue
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Muscle or body aches
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Headache
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New loss of taste or smell
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Sore throat
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Congestion or runny nose
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Nausea or vomiting
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Diarrhea
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While understanding that individuals have unique health situations (e.g., allergy, common cold, etc.), TAG recommends that anyone with these symptoms be asked to consult with a medical professional, which could be a company HR or health provider or the individual’s own health provider. The individual should Isolate until the assessment is made and COVID-19 or flu ruled out. Testing may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, and if the individual does test positive, all COVID-19 isolation and precautions should be followed.
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Because there is a vaccine for influenza, TAG advises that you encourage all your employees to get vaccinated to help keep them healthy and reduce the spread of the flu
Outbreak Updates
As of September 14, 2020 (1:45 pm ET), there are over 29,075,608 cases (>925,500 deaths) worldwide.
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Due to the increasing number of cases in the United States, TAG will move from reporting counts per country to focus on the United States, please see here for the data. For further information regarding worldwide numbers, please refer to John Hopkin University’s aggregate map.
Keep up to date with COVID-19:
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Please send us any questions, comments, and/or concerns! We are happy to talk with you.
OR call us at 1-800-401-2239
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