The American Medical Association (AMA) recently issued a list of eight COVID-19 tips "that doctors wish patients would follow."
Individuals need to take action to fend off COVID-19 and help prevent spreading the illness behind the ongoing pandemic crisis, according to a post on the AMA's website.
"As communities continue to navigate the impending flu season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that patients take preventive measures to minimize their risk and limit exposure to SARS-CoV-2, often referred to as the novel coronavirus," AMA senior news writer Sara Berg wrote. "Following proper precautions can decrease a person’s chances of being infected or spreading the deadly virus."
About 36 million people have become sick with SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, of whom 25 million have recovered and 1.05 have died, according to the latest figures available. Of those, 7.54 million have been in the United States, where about 211,000 have died.
In addition to the AMA's list of eight tips, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provides a wealth of recommendations to prevent contracting and spreading COVID-19, including how to select, wear and clean a mask.
The first tip on the AMA's list of eight coronavirus tips that doctors wish their patients would follow is: Wear a mask.
"There has been a turning point in the U.S., with many states mandating the wearing of masks to curb the spread of COVID-19," according to the AMA. "However, misinformation and mixed signals about masks continue to circulate. This has threatened to drown out the growing body of evidence that shows wearing masks can help fight SARS-CoV-2. Physicians want to clear up those misunderstandings to get everyone to #MaskUp."
Other tips on the list include maintaining a social distance, washing hands and limiting exposure to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The AMA list also recommends testing only when needed.
"The AMA encourages the general public to be good stewards of limited testing resources and help reduce wait times for results," the AMA blog said about this recommendation. "Patients should seek testing for SARS-CoV-2 when they have a medical need for that test, meaning that they are demonstrating symptoms of COVID-19, they have a known exposure to COVID-19 (whether they have symptoms or not), they need a test before seeing a physician or getting a procedure or they are a health care professional that may have had exposure or risks exposing others."
