A GUIDE TO WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19
Part 5: This and That
BY JUDY PARIS, RN, BSN,
MSN
This month I’ve decided to
consider some issues here
at NST that I’ve observed
and many others have talked and
written about. This is a bad disease
to get, with many life threatening
complications possible.
Washington Post July 7, 2020:
Hospitalizations and deaths are
climbing in some places, along
with the new surge in confirmed
cases, and states and cities are
adding new restrictions or shut-ting
down again, in an attempt to
control the spread and save lives.
Florida has seen its caseload soar
past 10,000 a day.
USA Today July 2020: The symp-toms
can include aches, anxiety,
night sweats, rapid heartbeats and
breathing problems. More recent
research has revealed life-threat-ening
complications such as stroke
caused by blood clots. Many people
may not fully recognize the dangers
of COVID-19 infections and may
not take the appropriate precau-tions.
Ultimately, a large part of
how well we can control the virus
is going to depend on people’s
behavior.
People with complications are
uncounted in any official report as
of now. A sizable minority of 10%
to 20% of patients will have mean-ingful
long-term clinical effects of
this virus. Adults and children
recovering from severe cases might
experience neurological issues, loss
of strength, psychological distress,
anxiety, depression, and post-trau-matic
stress disorder.
Over 3 million Americans
have been infected and more
than 130,000 have died.
Spread by droplets: NPR July
6, 2020: Droplets are microscopic
virus-filled particles that come out
of the nose or mouth of an infect-ed
individual when they breathe,
speak, cough or sneeze and find
their way into nearby eyes, noses,
and mouths.
By now, it’s common knowl-edge
that the coronavirus can be
spread by being in close contact
with someone who’s infected and
then breathing in their respiratory
droplets.
Or by touching a contaminated
surface (like a bench) and rubbing
your eyes, nose, or mouth.
This is why masks are necessary!
An open letter signed by 239
researchers addressed to the WHO
calls for attention and guidance
around a third route of transmis-sion:
tiny respiratory particles
that float in the air and are called
aerosols. They could be responsible
for infecting someone who comes
along and breathes them in. They
continue to float and follow the air
streams in a room. Viral spread via
air currents has been documented
in certain indoor environments.
What’s still unclear is how long the
virus lingers in the air and how far
it travels.
“Hand-washing and social dis-tancing
are appropriate, but in our
view, insufficient to provide protec-tion
from virus-carrying respiratory
microdroplets released into the air
by infected people.”
This is why wearing a mask cov-ering
nose and mouth, and main-taining
6 ft minimum distance
such as in an elevator is crucial.
Our building elevators diag-onally=
7’10”. Garage elevator
diagonally=6’10”. We would have
to stand in opposite corners facing
the wall, if 2 people are on together.
Circles on the floor would be very
helpful.
14 Day Quarantine Rule: As
new COVID-19 hot spots erupt
around the country, public health
officials say quarantine rules could
help contain the spread. But the
rules are a patchwork, and enforce-ment
differs state by state.
As of July 28, New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo announced that
travelers from 34 states, includ-ing
Florida, are now required to
immediately self-quarantine for
2 weeks. Many states impose fines
for violating the quarantine order
including New York, but Cuomo
acknowledged enforcement is a
challenge.
This is why we must depend
on people returning from these
areas to follow the guidelines that
protect all of us.
Associated Press, July 2020:
Does wearing a mask pose any
health risks? No, not for most
people. Masks don’t meaningfully
decrease oxygen in the body. Most
can wear masks without risking
their health, despite false rumors
to the contrary. Masks lower the
likelihood of droplets reaching oth-er
people. Even if you don’t have
symptoms, you could be carrying
the virus and could spread it.
There’s also no evidence that the
use of masks causes fungal or bac-terial
infections.
Disposable face masks are meant
to be used once, then thrown in
the garbage. Cloth masks should
be washed regularly.
Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s
top infectious-diseases expert,
warned there could be as many
as 100,000 new cases per day, 2.5
times the present record rate of
infections if the US continues on
its current trajectory. Asked by the
Senate’s health committee what the
overall American death toll might
be, Fauci said, “I can’t make an
accurate prediction, but it is going
to be very disturbing.”
PLEASE: It’s up to all of us to
follow the guidelines and protect
our family, friends, neighbors,
visitors, workers, etc. We are in
the midst of a life threatening
pandemic that has sicken some
residents and taken the lives of
others. Wear masks, wash hands,
and keep apart- that includes inside
as well as outside, elevators, mail
room, stairwells, arcade, shops,
patio, golf course, tennis courts,
the pool, etc.
FINALLY: If you see someone
not following the guidelines,
SPEAK UP, your life may depend
on it!
8 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ August 2020