14/03/2020
Time for some PSA!
For all those who have been texting, calling, wondering how to make sense of all this CoVid Craziness, here's my best attempt to give you the most important basics, both as an emergency physician and somebody who cares about all you TONS.
1. This is not "B.S." – It's real. In short, CoViD19 is a virus we don't know a lot about but are frantically studying and learning every day. While yes, *most* people who get it will be *totally* fine, it spreads really easily and fast -- like the flu! -- but with a higher death rate, currently estimated around 1%. This means that even though most young healthy people and kids who get it will just have a flu-like illness and get better soon, if we aren't diligent about **SOCIAL DISTANCING (if you don't *have* to go somewhere, don't! Time to spend some time with your fam-bam at home!),** **WASHING YOUR HANDS,** **NOT TOUCHING YOUR FACE/EYES,** we will spread it REALLY FAST and give it to those that *are* at serious risk -- like the elderly, people with heart or lung disease, cancer patients, etc. So while you may be young and healthy and fine and not afraid, it is *ABSOLUTELY ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD TO THOSE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED MOST NEGATIVELY.** The real threat of this virus is what is happening in Italy -- where so many people get sick that the number of people who need serious medical care outnumbers the number of healthcare providers and the equipment that exist in our country. THAT's the danger/fear, and it's real. And happening in other countries. Like right now right now. So it's serious.
2. While yes this is real and should be taken seriously, at the same time, everybody SERIOUSLY needs to CALM DOWN. The media is *not* doing us any favors making it sound like the zombie apocalypse is coming. Stocking up on 6 months of toilet paper and canned goods and rice and hand sanitizer is only causing stress and chaos that is absolutely NOT needed. It's *reasonable* to have about 30 days of basic supplies at home, mostly in case YOU are sick and need to stay home to prevent spreading your illness to others.
So where should you get your info? **NOT your opinion piece filled news like Fox "News", that's for sure.** Instead, stick with the scientists and healthcare professionals that know what they're talking about and go directly to: (1) the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html, (2) the World Health Organization https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public, and (3) your trusted medical professional organizations, like the American College of Emergency Physicians https://www.acep.org/COVID-19.
3. What about babies??? Selfishly, I'm thinking of my own little nephew who is expected to arrive in about two short weeks. So what about the friends and family planning to visit to see the brand new tiny human?? Should they cancel their plans?? Well, not exactly. But they *SHOULD* modify them a little. If you're NOT super close family, I would say cancel your visit and re-plan it for later when (1) the spread of the virus is slowed and (2) the baby's immune system is stronger -- give it 6 months. But if you *ARE* close family (parents, grandparents, immediate sibs), follow this advise:
- Take **antibacterial wipes** with you on the plane and wipe down EVERYTHING in your ROW. The seats, the window area, the arm rests, the seatbelts, the fan/light switches overhead. EVERYTHING. For both you and your two neighbors.
- **Wear a MASK** and offer them to those sitting around you. Explain to them you are going to visit a #-days old baby and that you appreciate them helping you keep that baby safe.
- Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer a MILLION times, especially before eating, or touching your face/eyes/nose/hair.
- When you get to where you're going, do *not* go straight to see the baby. Go to your hotel/where you're staying, take a shower and change your clothes.
- Whenever ANYONE arrives at the house, they should wash their hands with soap and water for a *FULL 30 SECONDS** before touching the baby or anything else.
- And finally, if you have *ANY SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER* – cough, runny nose, sore throat – You should absolutely be nowhere near that baby or their parents.
4. And finally, a SUPER important part to all of this, **WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL??** Turns out, if a ton of people who "think" they have CoVid come to the ER, way more people will *GET* CoViD who otherwise would have been fine! And you're increasing the risk of giving it to healthcare workers which makes our hospitals tougher to staff. We don't want that! So, if you have *BASIC URI SYMPTOMS*, do NOT come to the ER. And if you call your primary doctor and they tell you to come get tested for CoVid, PLEASE RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THEM. If you're young-ish and healthy, it really doesn't matter if you have it for sure or not. Either way, you need to stay home, put yourself on self-quarantine for 14 days, order in your groceries and food, and don't spread what you have.
**BUT** if you are having trouble breathing or pretty sick and are somebody more high risk (see the list in item #1!), come and see us. Because you may need to stay in the hospital or have actual testing, or the health department following you at home to make sure you're not getting worse and needing som**hing like an intubation / breathing tube or to be on a ventilator.
So if you're just kind of "flu-y" but can breath and keep fluids down, just STAY HOME.
Hopefully this is helpful. Of course ask any questions you want! Having good, fact based information is key to us beating this thing. 😉
