Be an educational resource on COVID-19
Posted: March 19, 2020 - By Cris RiveraIt’s safe to say that COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus, is on the minds of most, if not all of your customers. In one way or another it’s affected everyone’s lives. It’s all over the news, on social media, and it’s being talked about daily. While there is a wealth of information on COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and various health professionals, there’s also an abundance of misinformation online. Your business is uniquely positioned to be an educational resource through this unprecedented time.
Emails and newsletters are a great way to provide relevant information about COVID-19 to customers. Here are three points of information we recommend inclduing in your email.
Educate your patients about common COVID-19 misconceptions
Begin by focusing on some common misconceptions your customers might have heard or read about.
- The vast majority of the population faces a low risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. However, individuals with lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, or those with a compromised immune system are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill.
- While elderly people have been more severly affected by the disease, anyone can get sick regardless or age, sex, or ethincity.
- The most common symptoms of someone with COVID-19 are a dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath and can appear anywhere from 2-14 days after exposure.
Tips on how to stay healthy
Remind your customers that there are a number of preventable measures one can take in their everyday life. The CDC recommends washing your hands frequently with hand soap for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face as much as possible, and practice social distancing. As the number of cases increases, many state, local officials and employers have imposed new workplace restrictions which includes working from home if possible.
Offer recommendations for customers who believe they might have COVID-19:
Advise your customers to remain at home if they feel sick. The CDC recommends that people self-isolate at home, cover coughs and wear a mask if available. If symptoms get worse or do not improve, encourage customers to consult with their physician over the phone to see if they should go to the emergency room. Alternatively, they can seek medical care using telemedicine if it’s covered by their health insurance.
More information about COVID-19 is coming out everyday, so be sure to keep your employees and customers up-to-date on the latest information from the CDC, WHO, and local health officials.
