Calm Amid The Coronavirus Storm: Laguna Community Clinic

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Dr. Jorge Rubal is staying abreast of all new coronavirus news as his Laguna Beach Clinic faces the biggest storm of this century. Those on the front lines, like at the clinic, are ready to assist the more vulnerable of the population.

The Laguna Beach Clinic opened in 1970 with a group of volunteer physicians and local activists who believe that everyone should have equal access to healthcare. Dr. Jorge Rubal has led the clinic since 2016.

Preparation and knowledge can help reduce your risk and those of the community.

"We're still learning how this pathogen is transmitted," he wrote on his website. However, the primary mode resembles the spread of the flu.

He describes, in detail, why it is necessary to keep socially distant, or out of range of a cough or sneeze from an infected person.

"Virus carrying droplets can land in your mouth, nose, or be inhaled," he wrote.

The reason for so much sanitization is also the fact the virus can last up to nine days on a surface.

While Laguna Beach has gone into self-isolation mode as the city, county, state, and nation establish a protocol for "flattening" the coronavirus curve, Rubal reminds residents that "a diagnosis of COVID-19 is not a death sentence."

Still, with reports coming in that we have a long way still to go, he offers practical steps toward avoiding infection on his website.

Most importantly, thoroughly and frequently wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and cough into your elbow or cover your sneeze with a tissue that you throw away, right away.

According to Rubal, doing simple things and following the reports from the CDC will ultimately reduce your and your family's risk as well as that of your, neighbors, co-workers, and our community.

For more information about the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, visit: lbclinic.org