Protect Your Family This Thanksgiving: Know Your COVID-19 Status

As we look forward to some well-deserved rest and relaxation over the Thanksgiving holiday, Pat Walker Health Center encourages you to make a smart, sensible plan to protect your family and hometown community.

What Are You Bringing to Dinner?

The most important thing you can do to protect your family is to know your COVID-19 status before you gather 'round the table. Getting tested has never been easier and gives you the peace of mind knowing you are not inadvertently making your family sick.

The health center offers drive-up/walk-up asymptomatic testing by appointment, and results are received in a day or two. You are only required to quarantine if you are experiencing symptoms or if you have been instructed by health officials because you were exposed to the virus.

If you receive a positive test result, you will need to isolate in accordance with CDC guidelines. If tested at PWHC, a medical provider will reach out and provide you with all the necessary information and next steps.

It is recommend getting tested on or prior to Friday, Nov. 20, to ensure you will have your results before Wednesday, Nov. 25. (Nov. 17, if you plan on traveling on the 20th.) This is particularly important if you are traveling or plan on being around high-risk individuals susceptible to life-threatening complications due to COVID-19.

Schedule a Test
Call 479-575-4451, option 1 to schedule your test. (While you're on the phone, ask about scheduling your annual flu shot!)

Experiencing Symptoms? PWHC offers drive-up/walk-up clinical care and rapid testing for anyone with symptoms at the Garland Garage Respiratory Clinic. This satellite clinic is by appointment only and offers rapid testing for common respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, flu, strep and others.

Plan your Thanksgiving trip carefully

• You are highly encouraged to get a flu shot: Call 479-575-7723 to schedule at PWHC.
• Review local public health regulations that might apply where you are traveling. If you are traveling by air, check for testing requirements required by the airline and/or your destination.
• Consider self-quarantine after your negative COVID-19 test to minimize exposure and the chance of infection. The CDC recently revised the definition of close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
• Travel wisely. Reduce the number of stops on your trip, take a direct flight, and if driving, pack food/snacks for the car.
• Be smart with social distancing and wear your face covering.
• Use hand sanitizer frequently on your hands and on touchable surfaces, particularly if you are using any public transit.

Thank you for doing your part to follow social distancing guidelines, wear your face covering, and practice good hand hygiene.

Follow @uofahealth on social media and visit health.uark.edu for latest health updates.