As we enter the 3rd week of COVID-19 shut downs, we at Lewis Pediatrics remain open and available if you need us.
I think we all need to take a moment and count all the positive changes that the “shutdown” has brought. As Mrs. Lewis, Harper and I walked around our neighborhood for the 3rd time on Saturday, we noticed that more of our neighbors, some of whom we had never seen before were out and walking. There were times when an air traffic controller was necessary as couples, children on bikes and scooters and dogs needed to pause to maintain an acceptable “social distance. Many people who typically would walk on with earbuds in, not acknowledging anyone else, paused to say hello and ask how we were doing.
Mrs. Lewis has a maxim that we need to get rid of 3 things a week that we no longer need or use. This weekend we probably cleaned a year’s worth of those items as we tackled a few corners of our basement.
We FaceTimed with our grandson and read books to him. We FaceTimed with our granddaughter who read books to us. We Zoomed with friends in virtual social hours.
Life has certainly changed, but it does go on.
And, from one of my many briefings about COVID-19,
“For the First Time in A While, I’m Actually Not Scared …” Dr. David Price Provides Empowering Advice for Staying Safe and Protecting Our Families
“I Actually Know Now That I Won’t Get This Disease”
On March 22, Dr. David R. Price—a critical care physician on the front lines of treating COVID-19 patients at New York’s Cornell-Weill Medical Center—conducted a Zoom call about the disease with friends and family members around the country. In simple terms, he provides basic facts about the disease and what people can do to stay safe.
Here’s a link to excerpts of his video: vimeo.com/401923670
Key points include:
- The disease spreads through sustained contact with someone who has COVID-19
- Transmission is almost exclusively from touching hands to face after exposure to droplets
- Any mask helps to prevent face-touching, so the public doesn’t need surgical masks
- Dr. Price wears an N95 mask only during procedures such as intubation and extubation
- COVID-19 patients can avoid infecting family members through isolation within the home
- About 10% of people who get the disease need hospital care, because they are short of breath, and the large majority of hospitalized patients recover
So, please stay calm.