COV-19 READINESS UPDATE

19 Mar COV-19 READINESS UPDATE

Posted at 13:24h in Our Top Articles, Resources by

COVID-19 READINESS UPDATE

 synopsis by Dr. Matt Fontaine

 

How to stay calm and be prepared

As we watch cases of the virus unfold and wait for data to be processed, uncertainty surrounds the health, economic and social impacts this crisis will create over the coming weeks and months.  Our hospital system is dealing with solving the problem of shortages of medical supplies like masks, ICU beds and ventilators. Taking precautions like social distancing can help.  Equally important is to stay calm under chaos, even headed and focused on your health and well-being.  Many are working from home, gyms are closed.  At Potomac Physical Medicine, our focus is musculoskeletal medicine.  We are here to help assist with staying active and pushing through this difficult time.

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

  • While some patients who contract COVID-19 may need hospitalization and need to be placed on ventilators, many of those patients who are healthy and are not high risk are likely to have much milder signs and symptoms.

 

  • Virus attached to ACE 2 receptors (found primarily in the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and GI tract)

 

  • High risk patients continue to be those 70 and older, those with compromised immune systems, cardiac disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious illness.

 

  • Some patients have shown atypical symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

 

  • Cov-19 mode of transmission droplets, aerosol, surfaces.

 

  • Cov-19 (SARS-2) could be detected in:

 

  • Aerosols, up to 2-3 hours post aersolization
  • Up to 4 hours on copper
  • Up to 24 hours on cardboard
  • Up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel

 

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO IMPROVE DEATH RATES, REDUCE ILLNESS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT

 

  • By reducing rate of spread, lethality will be reduced

 

  • Reduce rate of spread by reducing social interaction

 

  • People taking maximum distance and isolation that is feasible

 

  • A triage system with accurate testing to detect positive cases

 

  • There is talk of convalescence serum, taking antibodies from those already exposed to virus, a process known as apheresis.

 

 

POSITIVE OUTLOOK?

 

 

  • The virus cannot grow exponentially forever.

 

  • The R0 (replicative number) at some point cannot not be maintained; when there are enough people infected, spread will decrease.

 

  • Exponential growth will move to exponential slowing.

 

  • Ensure healthcare workers and first responders do not get infected

 

  • Buy time for the system to build capacity (e.g., ICU beds)

 

  • Goal of containment is “flattening the curve”, to lower the peak surge of demand that will hit healthcare providers. And buy time in the hopes that a drug can be developed.

 

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

 

  • Self-quarantine

 

  • Optimize sleep & Hydrate

 

  • Take supplements> Vit D, Vit C, Fish oils, B Vitamins, Magnesium

 

  • Exercise every day, Zone 2, strength training, time restricted feeding

 

 

Resources:  special thanks to all the hard work and deep dive from Dr. Peter Attia and his colleagues at peterattiaMD.com

 

Previous information taken from two part podcast on The Drive

 

 

WHAT WE ARE DOING

  • We want you to feel safe and pain-free!
  • We are eliminating overlap in our waiting room for your convenience
  • All rooms as well as Waiting Room are sterilized after each patient.
  • Hand sanitizer and sink are available for all patients before leaving the office
  • Call in policy, patients may opt to receive a call when doctor is ready for them.
  • We are waiving our cancellation fee for those patients who are sick
  • We are working with patients to get them appointment times that conform to their hectic schedules given school closures, work from home etc.

 

When stress rises, pain exacerbates.  We want to eliminate both.

Pain breaks down your resistance.  Let’s get you back into fighting shape

 

 

Dr. Matt Fontaine

Clinic Director Potomac Physical Medicine

 

 

 

WHAT IS COVID-19?

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your healthcare provider and reduce contact with others.

 

As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals at highest risk for severe disease and death include people over 60 years of age and those with underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.

Coronavirus symptoms, which can begin 2-14 days after exposure, are similar to the flu and include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Left untreated, or in people with compromised immunity, COVID-19 can progress into a coronavirus-infected pneumonia.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

TR is looking to CDC and WHO as subject-matter experts on this outbreak.

Live updates and information can be found here:

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