UK Government Approved COVID Testing Provider
We are a UK Government approved PCR testing provider
Pre-Travel PCR, Day 2 and 5 Testing, Test and Release and immunity testing
- SARS-CoV-2 is a new, highly infectious, coronavirus that is spread by aerosol, droplets and contact with infected surfaces
- Most people will have asymptomatic or mild disease
- More vulnerable groups (elderly, obese, people with co morbidities) can develop serious illness, with hospitalisation and death
- We are also seeing a subgroup of people developing so called “long-covid”
- It usually affects younger, otherwise healthy people
- Symptoms range from extreme fatigue, cardiac or psychiatric symptoms, varying in intensity
- Some present with strokes, blood clots, kidney or heart damage, diabetes and even neurological and psychiatric issues
- COVID is less likely to cause serious illness in children, although there have been cases of Kawasaki type syndromes.
PREVENTION
- The best way to prevent infection is by not coming into contact with the virus in the first instance
- Social distancing and masks have been shown to reduce risk of transmission
- Regular hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds, frequently using hand sanitizer and not touching your face
- Until there is a vaccine, we will have to continue with the above measures, to try and reduce the spread and effects of the virus
SYMPTOMS
- Very wide range of symptoms
- Most common: Fever, dry cough, tiredness
- Less common: aches and pains, sore throat, loss of smell/taste, diarrhoea, headaches, conjunctivitis
- Serious symptoms: breathlessness, chest pain/pressure, loss of speech or movement
TREATMENT
- For people with mild symptoms, self-isolation and over the counter pain relief
- More serious cases of respiratory illness require hospital admission and some sort of breathing support
- Steroids have been shown to help reduce the inflammatory response blamed for the most serious illness
- There are multiple treatments and vaccines under investigation
- The good news is that we are learning more about the virus every day and treatments are improving
Dr Wayne Cottrell will be back in the clinic from 18 October and the clinic will be open every weekday from that date
