Congressman Hill outlines COVID-19 symptoms and what the government is doing about the pandemic

Congressman French Hill distributed the following letter to constituents to address the pandemic of Coronavirus – or COVID-19:

Dear Friends,

The health and safety of Arkansans and Americans come first.

Last week, I joined my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in passing an emergency funding package which provides $7.8 billion to protect the American public from COVID-19. I am pleased that we put aside politics to provide our federal agencies with the resources required to combat this virus.

I applaud the hardworking men and women at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for already taking considerable steps to limit the spread and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in the United States. This new funding will substantially bolster our health care workers and protect American families.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion in a detailed briefing to House members last week about the status of the COVID-19 outbreak.

I was encouraged by their leadership and coordination with all of our different state and local health officials. Widespread, available testing is a major focus for everyone, specifically in key areas in the United States where there are reported and confirmed cases of COVID-19, including Washington state, Oregon, New York, Florida, and California. Testing will continue to expand nationwide. Crucial vaccine research and development is underway in our nation by pharmaceutical research companies, such as Gilead Sciences, Merck, and other key developers.

It is important to note that to date, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas.

However, the state of Arkansas has already begun preparing to fight this outbreak. Governor Hutchinson held the following address on COVID-19 at the end of February.

The CDC is recommending that people take the same steps as they would to avoid other respiratory illnesses at this time of the year, namely:

Avoiding contact with sick people.
Not touching your face with unwashed hands.
Staying home when sick.
Covering your cough or sneeze.
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Washing your hands often, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after sneezing or coughing.

Additionally, the CDC is recommending that the elderly and people with serious chronic medical conditions stock up on supplies, avoid crowds, take every precaution to keep space between themselves and other people and avoid unnecessary travel.

The graphic below provided by the Mayo Clinic outlines the different symptoms that accompany COVID-19, the flu, and allergies.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence lifted federal limits on testing for the virus. He stated “today we will issue new guidance from the CDC that will make it clear that any American can be tested, no restrictions, subject to doctor’s orders,”

Currently, the tests are available at state and university labs in each state, including Arkansas.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Public Health laboratory is providing testing for COVID-19 for those patients who have been identified as a likely case based on their clinical symptoms and history.

If you believe you may have contracted COVID-19, or come into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 contact your medical provider immediately or call the Arkansas Department of Health hotline at 1-800-803-7847.

Rest assured, I am closely monitoring the situation, and as more information becomes available, I will be updating via my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels.

Sincerely,