Covid19 update March 21, 2020
Hope that you are all doing well. Covid19 confirmed by swab numbers are still creeping up, mostly because only certain group gets tested. It seems that the actual numbers are vastly higher with milder severity in our populations. Influenza has slightly decreased. People with covid19 are not generally hospitalized or intubated, and we probably have numerous people who recovered and dont realize they had it. We are not new to this by any measure. Theoretically, the same measures have been advocated to combat influenza viruses for the last 25 years. I think it is a work in progress to learn how devastating this can be to the economy and peoples mental well being. Vaccine is far from a miracle and work is going at a feverish level. There is a huge monetary incentive to be the first in this regard. More interesting is the discovery that more and more medications that we have used for other purposes can be used to decrease viral levels in an infected person so that the rare person may avoid a critical level. This would be the best case scenario, as it would result in a good immune response by our immune systems. Almost sounds like a strategy mother nature would employ.
Our medical building is on lock down for acutely ill people that fit the symptoms. They should be calling the health department hotline and going to a covid19 assesment center. Testing is best reserved for those in hospital that require intense care. Lets not forget that we are dealing with viruses that have a natural place in the world and are not trying to wipe out the human race. This is how viruses exist, and probably contribute some benefit to the human genome as a whole. One of the truisms in virology is that viruses which are too lethal, are not virtually invisible as this is. Ebola produces bleeding from all orafices, smallpox warns us with charactertic rashes. A negative test, means you are sick with something else, and can’t determine if you overcame corid or are still susceptible.
More troublesome is the language used. “War has been declared, borders closing, people locking themselves in, hoarding supplies, arming themselves.” I wont even start to mentions rumours coming from the those that should know better, that spur the mass hysteria. Imagine, being a leaf fan, and the only hockey score ever announced was how many goals the leaf score. No mention of how many their opponents score or who won, or other teams. Stanley cup certainty mania would start for sure.
I have been caught in this situation by being on the wrong side of the border when quarantine was announced, and now am working from an off site location in seclusion for 14 days. On another positive note, numerous organizations have come together including the CPSO, ministry of health, public health, OMA, CMA, CMPA to allow doctors to perform virtual medicine and phone assesments during the emergency measures. Matters of confidentiality still matter, and it is recognized by all that advice can only be limited at best. Despite contacting government stores for protective equiptment 6 weeks ago, it has not arrived and will not be arriving any time soon. ie. the troops on the gound are trained and ready to go. The have purchased their own equiptment, but alas, the requisitions for ammunition is still being considered, despite the battle has been ongoing for 3 mos. This does not allow effective front line treatment of any air borne infections in the office setting. Our staff and physicians will attempt to field your concerns for non infectious situations on a priority basis. Leave a message on our phones, be a little patient and we will try to reach out, refill scripts, arrange procedures etc. for you during this time. In office policies will change soon to adjust to the numerous and ever changing guidelines which seem to changing on a daily basis.
Please keep your wits about you. Keep those other illnesses under control, because that makes a big difference. We are here for you and we will get through this together. But life will be different and there will be more challenges coming.