ATTENTION: DU Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, nurses, PA's

[PCIntern]

And all others who treat individuals clinically:

I’m curious as to how you viscerally feel about going to work now that we MAY have an extremely serious communicable disease issue at hand.

I for one, at my age, but in relatively good health from an immune standpoint (for what that’s worth) am somewhat fatalistic and accepting of the risks. I’m not certain that I would feel that way at age 30 but I was about that age when AIDS hit my practice hard. Of course, that was less easily transmitted, but early on we were not certain of that. Nevertheless I never turned a patient away even though as a dentist we are essentially swimming in blood products. It’s ok: it goes with the territory. I’m not frightened, nor am I panicky in the least, but I am concerned for my fellow man and woman.
Any thoughts from anyone??

[moondust]

1. Would it help

to do this when a patient arrives?

[lapfog_1]

2. Everything (like this) helps

but in the case of Covid-19... it is not sufficient.

People can spread the virus who are absolutely asymptomatic.

No fever, no cough, no fluid in the lungs... nothing.

In addition, it is highly contagious although we don't know YET all vectors of infection.

Right now the estimates are for every person infected, they can or will infect 2.5 other people... a normal flu is more like 1 to 1 (ex CDC person on Rachael last night).

[dewsgirl]

3. I read the other day, those temperature at airports haven't

stopped a single case in the US.

[lapfog_1]

4. Most of the cases in the US were either known

before they were brought here (Diamond Princess) or had been infected and traveled here before any checking was done.

However the person in Solano county California is very strange... and points to a significant population of undiagnosed infected people here in the US already...

And if that is true... there is almost no way to stop the pandemic

[dewsgirl]

5. Yes, I believe by now, there is likely community spread throughout

the country being misdiagnosed as the flu, which they refuse to test for without links to China. There was a nurse from MA last night on Twitter, that actually begged them to test her, they told her to go home and self quarantine.

[lapfog_1]

6. I myself have had the "flu" fot the last 4 weeks

fever, chills, night sweats... but not much else except a very persistant cough and fluid in the lungs. I seem to be getting over it now, but I wake up with a nasty cough every morning now almost 6 weeks later

[dewsgirl]

7. Is anyone in your household sick?

That is the danger of them ignoring this, the people that are asymptomatic/mild are still just as contagious.

[lapfog_1]

9. yeah, just before I got sick, my 17 year old

came home with a 2 day "flu" and stayed out of school... I didn't think anything of it at the time. Now I wonder any of his friends at school have relatives from Wuhan or somthing.

[dewsgirl]

14. I live with my pregnant DIL and my step granddaughter who

is in K, while my son is deployed in Qatar. I have lived here for 4 and a half months and in that time, I have been sick 3 times, she brings home all sorts of germs. You are probably fine, as closely as I've been following this I feel like I should have better advice.

[Chainfire]

24. My wife was really sick with flu

My wife was very ill with flu-like symptoms a few weeks ago. It hung on like Velcro. What amazed me, is that I didn't get it from her. I was so sure that I could not possibly avoid it that I did not take any protective measures and kept waiting for that first cough. Perhaps, my suspicions are correct, I really am Superman!

[Chainfire]

12. And that is the point of last nights campaign show

I am not a medical professional, but a plumber, which is close enough, so I will add my two cents......

Trump has reminded us that the seasonal flu kills tens of thousands each year. If a case is not confirmed by a test, then it is not Coronavirus, but normal flu. I don't know about others, but I would feel a lot better suffocating from seasonal flu rather than the Coronavirus.

Keep your head in the sand and you will not see it coming....

[dewsgirl]

15. I thought of this, but the mortality rate is much higher than

the flu.

[Chainfire]

11. Of course not

However, it gives the masses confidence that everything possible is being done.

[backtoblue]

8. Embalmer checking in

Retired, but watching closely.

[Nonhlanhla]

10. Getting really scared

My daughter and I have both been fighting a respiratory virus the last few days. Dry cough, mild fever, shortness of breath. We're both asthmatics. Even though this is likely not corona, I'm scared that this is weakening our lungs and making us more susceptible. She's only 10, and likely to survive, but I'm nearly 50. I'm really scared of this thing.

[dewsgirl]

16. I hope you both get well soon. I am really scared too.

[Chainfire]

13. Who is at greater risk? Just asking?

It is the medical professionals or paraprofessionals who should, on a routine basis, be aware of, and practice contamination control, or the convenience store clerk or bank teller that is in contact with scores of people every day?

[PCIntern]

17. General nightmare...

Everyone’s in trouble. Anyone who rides an elevator is in trouble. That’s what a pandemic is when it is transmitted by aerosol.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. Is that the transmission method?

How long is the virus viable on non-living matter? Are door knobs and hand rails suitable for transmission? What about packaging?

At this point, the general public (that includes me) should be better informed. Too bad we have liars and political operatives in all the places where we should have competent people.

[Ms. Toad]

19. It has a pretty long life on surfaces - longer than the flu or a cold

Up to 9 days. https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(20)30046-3/fulltext

[Hermit-The-Prog]

20. Thanks! The summary alone provides much information.

https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701%2820%2930046-3/fulltext

[MiniMe]

21. I would say anybody who handles money is at greatest risk.

I think money hangs onto viruses and that spreads the illness

[PCIntern]

22. Trump: send me all your money!

Get the disease out of your wallet.

[Chainfire]

23. For once in my life

It will be good to be broke!