Coronavirus Disease 2019

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Posted: 2/28/2020

The situation with COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus “SARS-CoV-2” or coronavirus disease 2019) is changing rapidly, with new developments coming day by day, hour by hour. For everyone in our community, our lives have changed dramatically in the past few weeks. We want to thank you for reading our many messages and listening to the guidance we’ve put in place to keep our patients healthy during these unprecedented times. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Our team at Community Care Physicians stands ready to care for you - safely - during this most critical time. We want to offer reassurance as we navigate this crisis together and move forward. We're in this together, even if 6 feet apart.

COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing and IgG Antibody Testing
Community Care Physicians offers two different types of coronavirus tests for our patients in the Capital Region, NY - COVID-19 (PCR) diagnostic testing and IgG COVID-19 Antibody Test. The COVID-19 PCR Test is a nasal swab used to directly detect the presence of disease. This test determines if you are currently infected with COVID-19. This test is offered at CCP's testing location in Latham, NY by appointment only for patients of CCP who have an order from a CCP practitioner. Testing is performed in CDPHP's Fitness Connect gym in the Capital Region Health Park, Latham, NY. If you need to be tested and you're not a patient, don't worry. Use one of our Urgent Care Centers in Albany, NY or Latham, NY as a portal of entry to our system to be tested.

CCP also offers the IgG Antibody Test which measures a particular class of antibody (IgG) directed against the COVID-19 virus. Rather than showing if you are currently infected with COVID-19, this antibody test may indicate if you've had COVID-19 in the past and have since developed antibodies. Antibodies are usually detectable 2 or more weeks after the start of the infection. A POSITIVE test means that you have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and that your body has had time to manufacture an “anti-COVID-19” antibody. A NEGATIVE test means that there is no evidence of a prior exposure OR that your body has not had time to manufacture an “anti-COVID-19” antibody. This test is available to patients at their CCP doctor's office and at CCP's Lab Draw locations, once you have an order from your CCP provider. If you need to be tested and you're not a patient, don't worry. Use one of our Urgent Care Centers in Albany, NY or Latham, NY as a portal of entry to our system to be tested.

Learn More About Telemedicine for Your Next Appointment

Safety is Our Priority - Enhanced Infection Control Procedures at Our Offices

There is no higher priority for us than the safety of our patients and employees. The care we provide is essential to our patients. We must continue to provide this care in our offices and virtually using telemedicine. For appointments that require face-to-face visits, we follow strict infection control procedures, based on the guidance of CCP's COVID Response Team, the New York State Department of Health, and the CDC, to keep our patients and staff safe. The situation is evolving quickly, and we are working diligently to approach it with a mix of caution and accommodation as your healthcare provider. We need to be sure you are aware of our current challenges and recommendations, including strict limitations and precautions on required protection and testing. We screen patients over the phone and in the office; our staff wears personal protective equipment at all times; our offices have infection response teams; our patients are asked to wear masks upon arrival to our offices and all patients/visitors/staff are screened upon entering our offices; we have enhanced cleaning schedules and separate sick and well spaces; we use telemedicine to help people stay home; we limit the number of visitors in our offices and promote social distancing.

Feel Safe Knowing What We Ask of Our Patients and Staff

A Message to Our CCP Family

In these challenging times, we are strong because of our team. Each of you has an unwavering commitment to our patients and to each other. We are honored to announce that CCP is recognized this year as a Top Workplace. While it may seem difficult to celebrate during this uncertain time, we'd like to take a moment to acknowledge all the great work our teams have done and what we plan to do for our community moving forward. While the world has had to step back, our team has stepped up, implementing changes to continue to make a difference in the health of our patients. Each of you has played a role in the success of our company, in ordinary and these extraordinary times. No matter how far apart we are, we are one. Please join us in celebrating our Community Care Physicians family.

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Community Care Physicians will provide access to updated information as it becomes available.

Latest News:

COVID-19 Travel Advisory

If you have any travel plans, you should know that as of June 25th, people coming to NY, NJ, and CT from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 must quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact with the identified state. What’s considered a state with “community spread?” A state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

Additional details have been released following Governor Cuomo’s travel advisory/executive order for anyone returning from travel to states that have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. Click here to find the states that meet the criteria for required quarantine, guidance for travel, and exemptions for essential workers (based on the duration of time in designated states, as well as the intended duration of time in New York.)

How to Wear Your Masks and Which Masks to Wear

VALVED MASKS -- The novel coronavirus brought a new definition of normal – which now includes wearing facemasks that cover your nose and mouth. We’ve seen some patients wearing a particular type of mask called a “valve mask” - like the ones pictured here. While we thank you for masking up and doing your part to stop the spread of this virus, please do not wear these masks. Here’s why. Valve masks have a one-way valve allowing exhaled air to pass through a small round or square filter attached to the front. They only filter air breathed in, not breathed out. So it may protect the wearer from some pathogens in the air, but it does nothing to protect the people around you. When exhaled air passes unfiltered into the environment, it takes your respiratory droplets with it, and this is how coronavirus spreads. Your breath, sneezes, coughs, respiratory droplets still spread. This valved mask defeats the purpose of the CDC’s universal masking guidelines – to prevent transmission from infected individuals (with or without symptoms) to people around them.

So, if you get your hands on an N95 with a valve and you think because N95s are the gold standard for protection it will protect those around you, it won’t. The N95 masks reserved for healthcare professionals’ use don’t contain this valve. We understand the valved masks are a little more comfortable for the wearer, but during this pandemic, a homemade cloth mask, bandana, or surgical mask is far superior. Please replace your valved mask with one of these options instead. Learn More.

There is a correct way to wear your mask. Make sure the mask covers your mouth AND nose, and follow these other masking guidelines.

COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing and Antibody Testing

Everyone is talking about COVID-19 testing and antibody testing. We understand it can be confusing. This grid from the CDC gives a good overview of the need to know facts. Remember, CCP offers both COVID-19 viral testing (nasal swab) and antibody testing (blood test) for patients. If you are interested in these tests, call your doctor.

Percentage Positive Results by Region
See where the Capital Region, NY stands. These metrics have been established based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of State, and other public health experts.

Industries Reopening in NY by Phase
Businesses in each region of NY will re-open in phases. Re-opening refers to non-essential businesses and business activities. Essential businesses and business activities, like medical services at Community Care Physicians, that are open will remain open. Here is a breakdown by each phase.

Inflammatory Syndrome in Kids and Teens Related to COVID-19

Recent reports of children experiencing Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome symptoms tied to the COVID-19 pandemic are raising concerns among patients and physicians. Most children with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or exhibit only mild symptoms. However, you may have seen stories in the news over the last couple of days about several cases of children falling ill both in Europe and in the New York City area with what has been termed "Pediatrics Multi-System Inflammatory System Associated with COVID-19." Read more.

Governor Cuomo Announces New York Has Issued First-in-the-Nation Criteria to Healthcare Professionals Defining COVID-Related Inflammatory Illness in Children

Community Care Physicians Develops Plans to Move Forward Safely

Moving forward safely – that’s our goal. Everyone wants to get back to “normal.” But it’s our responsibility to do so in a way that doesn’t put people at more risk. You may have heard from Gov. Cuomo and in the news that certain counties in NY are allowing elective outpatient procedures/treatments to resume. So what does this mean, what is available and where, and what does this mean for your care at CCP?

Throughout this pandemic, CCP has been open to care for you. But, we did have to postpone elective outpatient procedures – like certain surgeries and endoscopies, for example - for a few months. This was done to minimize the number of people walking through our doors and to free up resources. Now, as the country looks to phase a reopening, certain elective procedures can be done again – and safely.

It’s important to know what determines if a county can relax restrictions on elective procedures. First, it’s on a county-by-county basis and only under certain conditions. Second, elective outpatient treatments can be performed in that county if the hospital capacity is over 25% for the country and if there have been fewer than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the past 10 days. Lastly, patients must test negative for COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. As you can imagine, this is a bit of a moving target - If a county that has resumed elective surgery experiences a decrease in hospital capacity below the 25% threshold or an increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries must stop. This means that we ALL still need to strictly adhere to guidelines of the CDC to stop the spread of COVID-19 while we slowly reopen our communities.

As you know, CCP operates in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Montgomery, and Warren counties. We are actively monitoring restrictions on elective surgery in these counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region. Remember, this is based on where the CCP facility/office is and where we perform our outpatient procedures, not based on where the patient lives.

We want you to know that we are developing our plan of how to open up CCP for these elective procedures and all visits. Patients waiting for elective surgeries will be contacted as we are able to schedule these procedures. If you have any questions about your elective procedure, you can contact your doctor’s office as well. We continue to follow infection control procedures in our offices so it’s safe for you to come in. Telemedicine isn’t going away either; it will remain something we offer in the future. But, we need to get back to offering all our services in person and virtually, while complying with federal and state regulations – and while being safe. This is our focus. Please visit our website often as we make updates on services available during this time.

We are monitoring this developing situation closely, staying in regular contact with our health organizations, and other experts. We’ll continue to update you as needed as this situation evolves. Please check back for additional updates. Visit the CDC or the NYS Department of Health for real-time updates on the confirmed cases in the US and in our local community in New York.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
EVERYONE should:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or after you've been in a public place if you absolutely must be in public. If soap and water is readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Practice social distancing! Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home as much as possible, even if you're an essential worker. Put distance (at least 6') between yourself and other people. Remember, some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others, but still social distance. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you don't feel sick.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to grocery store or to pick up other necessities. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. DO NOT use a facemask meant fo a healthcare worker (surgical mask and N95). Always continue to keep 6 feet between yourself and others. The face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
- Ask yourself if you really, truly need to leave your house.
- Cover your sneezes and coughs inside your elbow. Immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Learn more from the CDC