CORONA VIRUS UPDATE: FACTS VS. HYPE
We Live in Today and Plan for Tomorrow: JAMES A VITO, DMD
We have received a lot of positive feedback on our initial Corona Virus Information of FACTS vs HYPE email and enough patients have expressed an interest for continued follow ups.
As your health care provider, I want you to know that we are taking all the appropriate steps to protecting you our patients with constant disinfection of all areas of our office and in between patient visits to protect not only you but our staff as well. Because of the boutique nature of our practice, this process is made much easier with our business model of one patient in and one patient out.
Please bear in mind, these are the same careful infection control measures we have taken all along since I have been in practice, to prevent the other pandemic viruses that we potentially come in contact on a daily basis that are not receiving the daily press like: AIDS, HEPATITIS A, B, C: SWINE FLU, EBOLA, MERS-COV, SARS-COV as well as the regular INFLUENZA VIRUS (FLU) among others. While some coronaviruses have caused devastating epidemics, others cause mild to moderate respiratory infections, like the common cold .(WHO)
The Main Difference between this CORONA VIRUS, COVID-19 and the other Pandemics I have mentioned above is that we have developed vaccines in large part to treat or minimize these other pandemics and as such we are not as concerned about them as we should be.
We must all exercise some COMMON SENSE during this time. Please be aware that the CABEL NEWS OUTLETS are a 24/7 monster that needs to be fed. As such a lot of information is being disseminated which is centered around “their” main talking points to keep you tuned in and subtly creating panic so you continue viewing. This is raising the level of concern and panic everywhere. Every day we hear about the number of deaths due to the Corona Virus, The run on Super Markets for food, The lack of items like Toilet paper in super markets.
Let’s put things in perspective with the following 3 facts:
FACT 1. As of this writing (March 15,2020) the number of deaths nationwide from the CORONA VIRUS is 57. In contrast, the number of deaths from gun violence in the City of Philadelphia from January 1,2020 to March 2, 2020 alone, is 71. Nationwide, the average year of the number of gun deaths year to date is 1503. 538 homicides, 111 are children homicides and 938 from suicide.
FACT 2: As of March 13,2020, 36 million people are sick with the FLU, 370,000 are hospitalized, 22,000 have died of which 144 are children. (CDC). In summary more children have died from Gun Violence and the Flu (111 and 144 respectively) than from the CORONA VIRUS (0)
FACT 3: Even though we have a vaccine for the flu, 45.3 per cent have gotten the vaccine. According to a Feb. 21,2020 CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: The current influenza vaccine has been 45% effective overall against 2019-2020 seasonal influenza A and B viruses. Specifically, the flu vaccine has been 50% effective against influenza B/Victoria viruses and37% effective against influenza A(H1N1) pdm09.
FACTS (CDC) James A Vito, DMD
1. RECOVERY STATISTICS: 80% of all people who get the CORONA VIRUS will recover. Corona Virus has a very low to no affinity for children/adolescents.
2. AT RISK STATISTICS: The age group at most risk is 65+, mostly 80 years old and older, who have underlying heart, respiratory, immune and diabetic issues are at the greatest risk and comprise the highest mortality rates to date
3. SPREAD: Coronaviruses can be transmitted between humans through respiratory droplets that infected people expel when they breathe, cough or sneeze. This is why “SOCIAL DISTANCING” is important.
4. Surface Contamination: FLU virus lives on hard surfaces for 24-48 hours. Corona Virus lives on Plastic and Stainless steel for 72 hours, cardboard 24 hours, copper 4 hours. (CDC)
5. Surface Disinfection: You can disinfect these surfaces with Ammonia, Alcohol based products, Lysol, soap and water and DIY Bleach spray: 4 Teaspoons of bleach to one quart of water.
6. Personal Hygiene: Wash your hands with soap and water and avoid touching your face. If you touch something and not sure it is clean- Wash Your Hands. Hand Sanitizer works in a pinch provided the alcohol concentration is 60% or higher. Avoid touching your face, if you sneeze or cough do so into your elbow. If you are sick or feel sick stay home.
7. PHONE Hygiene: Your Phone is like a third hand We must be diligent about wiping our phones frequently to prevent infection
8. Oral Hygiene: Maintain good oral health with regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments and the use of medicated mouth rinses like Peridex and Closys which help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
9. Avoid Crowds: I applaud the authorities and civic leaders for cancelling group events to help minimize group and/or community spread. While many are disappointed at the cancelling of events like Baseball Spring training, The Master’s, March Madness, Pro basketball and Hockey season, local St Patrick Day Parades etc. we must all look at this minor inconvenience as what is “BEST” for the COMMON GOOD.
10. Avoid unnecessary travel. Many companies are cancelling travel for their employees and we should also extend this to vacation travel. As a personal note, I was planning a vacation trip at the end of April which I am cancelling out of an abundance of caution for my family, friends and my patients.
11. Improve your Immune system: Better Diet, Exercise (1/2 hr. every day), Sleep (8Hours a day) and Eliminate Smoking, since both the Flu and the Corona Virus attack the respiratory system
12. Get the FLU shot: People with the FLU are utilizing some of the same hospital resources as the Corona Virus. Respirators, ICU beds etc. So, if you have not yet received the flu shot, do so. The flu shot will not reduce your chances of getting the Corona Virus but may eliminate the strain on the hospital systems.
13. SUPER MARKET HOARDING: According to many GOVERNMENT AND FOOD CHAIN web sites, the
U. S. Food system and Supply Chain is abundant and intact. What we are seeing now is panic shopping and hoarding. There is plenty to go around. Please Shop responsibly
Use common sense: When listening to the information out there, Cabel news, please also refer to the CDC web site, NIH website, HHS website and WHO website for accurate and up to date information.