{"id":6775,"date":"2020-03-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=6775"},"modified":"2023-06-26T21:54:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T21:54:03","slug":"lessons-covid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/lessons-covid\/","title":{"rendered":"‘We’re all in this together’ An infectious disease specialist shares lessons from COVID-19","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michael Myint, MD<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know there are many questions and concerns about COVID-19 in our community.<\/p>\n

First and foremost, I want to provide some reassurance that illness due to COVID-19 disease is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. However, it can cause serious illness for those over the age of 60 and those who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. That\u2019s why it is critically-important that we all take precautions to protect everyone in our community.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we’ve learned so far:<\/p>\n

1. Social distancing works.<\/h3>\n

Social distancing refers to a protection measure meant to reduce and slow transmission of disease. On March 15, the\u00a0CDC<\/a>\u00a0made a recommendation to cancel gatherings of more than 50 people\u00a0throughout the United States for the next eight weeks. Schools and in-person dining in restaurants and bars in Washington have also been temporarily closed or suspended.<\/p>\n

I strongly endorse these actions, which will undoubtedly help slow the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

I recommend minimizing unnecessary public exposures as COVID-19 in Puget Sound is still on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends taking extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people (3-6 feet) to further reduce your risk of being exposed to this new virus.<\/p>\n

Based on what we have seen from other similar countries like Italy and South Korea, we might only be at the beginning of our epidemic in the United States. Social distancing measures will help to slow the spread.<\/p>\n

2. People need to stay home when they are sick.<\/h3>\n

Staying home when you are sick or keeping your kids home when they are sick is not optional during an epidemic like COVID-19. Fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other upper respiratory infection symptoms are an indication to stay home. Consider a fever anything over 100.4, but be overly cautious if you feel unwell.<\/p>\n

This is also the start of allergy season, so sometimes it is challenging to tell the difference. I get asked all the time when to seek health care. Given that COVID-19 is\u00a0similar to\u00a0the flu, I would do what you normally do to treat flu symptoms. If you are able, rest and hydrate and manage your symptoms at home. If you feel like you need to be evaluated for more severe symptoms like shortness of breath, call your provider first. Please note that the flu is still present in the\u00a0Pacific Northwest and it is not too late to vaccinate.<\/p>\n

MultiCare has a\u00a0coronavirus assessment tool<\/a>\u00a0to help determine if you are at risk for COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Again, I want to provide reassurance that most people will recover from COVID-19 at home with plenty of rest and fluids.<\/p>\n

3. Hand and respiratory hygiene protects everyone.<\/h3>\n

Even if you are not at higher risk for complications associated with COVID-19, you can keep yourself and others safe by practicing good hand and respiratory hygiene, especially now while you are likely to get and spread germs:<\/p>\n