COVID-19

About COVID-19

Coronavirus is a type of single-stranded RNA viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold and typically leading to an upper respiratory infection.  Some more severe examples of coronavirus are Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). A strain of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of a new disease not previously seen in humans Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Some people infected with the virus have no symptoms. When the virus does cause symptoms, common ones include low-grade fever, body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. However, COVID-19 can occasionally cause more severe symptoms like high fever, severe cough, and shortness of breath, which often indicates pneumonia or ongoing health problems known as Long COVID or Post COVID Conditions..  Additionally, your age and overall heath can put you at higher risk for the virus.  People with underlying medical problems, receiving treatments that leave them immunocompromised, or have lung disease are more likely to develop serious illness.

The most up-to-date information is available from the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and your state’s resources.

https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/faq.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coronavirus

https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=22789

Resources

COVID Care Resource Center

https://www.patientadvocate.org/covidcare/

PAF has compiled a robust library of resources available to ease the financial strain our patients, and their families, may be experiencing as a result of COVID-19.

Our weekly webinar series will help clients and community members stay abreast on current COVID-19 pandemic developments.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section addresses common questions about the COVID-19 pandemic; and a robust resource directory is available and includes resources that ease the financial strain our clients may be experiencing as a result of the COVID-19. Information is organized and available in the following categories:

• Food & Nutrition
• Housing
• Healthcare & Guidance
• Insurance
• Legislation
• Marketplace
• Medication
• Transportation
• Unemployment
• Utilities

COVID Care

www.patientadvocate.org/covidcare

1-800-532-5274

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Through COVID Care, PAF’s case managers provide patients diagnosed with a chronic, life-threatening and debilitating disease, who are impacted by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, and those hospitalized for COVID-19, with timely and relevant information and education to questions and concerns they have about accessing and paying for care, managing basic cost of-living needs like food, rent and mortgage, utilities, insurance, and necessary transportation costs that have become difficult to manage due to the pandemic. PAF is a connector, ensuring that patients and caregivers in need of practical support are linked to resources that can address these needs.

Most importantly, PAF provides emotional support by actively listening to patient’s questions and fears, providing an empathetic, compassionate and knowledgeable support to each person calling COVID Care. The program is available to any patient, or caregiver, who has a chronic, life-threatening or debilitating health condition and has been directly, or indirectly impacted by COVID-19; as well as patients and their caregivers who do not have any underlying health condition but have been hospitalized with COVID-19.