NU doctor answers new coronavirus questions
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, new questions about the virus and how to respond in our daily lives arise every day. On Friday, we posed several of these new questions to Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of the Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Murphy also is a practicing physician at Northwestern Medicine.
Q: What’s the best way to practice social distancing? Should people avoid public transit, ride shares, taxis? Should I go out to eat or drink at restaurants or bars? Is that considered a large gathering that may put me or others at risk?
A: This depends on the setting and host (patient/ person). High-risk individuals (age 60+ years, underlying cardiac, lung, cancer, hypertension, diabetes or other immune suppressive conditions/diseases), should limit contact as much as possible with other people. Basically, stay home. Lower-risk persons should not shake hands, should wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. You should also keep away from anyone who is sick, keep your distance from other persons (6 feet is recommended), avoid rush-hour public transit and packed trains or buses. If a taxi or ride-share driver appears ill, get out of the car and seek alternative transportation. Avoid crowded bars and restaurants. As the situation worsens, like in Spain, restaurants/ bars may be forced to close. Large gatherings should be avoided.
Q: Now that reports of
confirmed cases of coronavirus are becoming more common in our area, what happens once someone has been diagnosed?
A: If they have few or mild symptoms, stay home and treat it like you have a bad cold. If ill, seek advice from your medical provider which could result in hospitalization, especially if you have any comorbidities. (For instance, people with chronic lung, cardiac or kidney disease, those who have already weakened immune systems, who have had a transplant, diabetes, etc.)
Q: If schoolchildren are home because school is canceled, what are the best recommendations for parents? What activities are OK? Playdates with friends? Sleepovers? Doing online learning together? Studying at coffee shops?
A: Don’t let children play with anyone who is ill. Wash their toys and their play area periodically. Avoid kiddie parties, but a few healthy kids getting together is OK. Remember, kids get a much milder form of disease, but they can spread it adults, including those who are vulnerable.
Q: If my kids are off school and I have to work, should I be concerned about leaving them in the care of an older relative, like a grandma or uncle?
A: If everyone is healthy and not sick, this is OK.
Q: Many people have seen the graphic about “flattening the curve.” Can you explain this and discuss whether that is a
helpful or accurate way to think about things?
A: The epidemic in the U.S. is growing exponentially (i.e., getting bigger fast). This will reach a high point or peak, then start to decline as public health measures begin to take their effect and/or the at-risk population becomes smaller through social distancing or they all get infected, get immune and no longer can transmit virus. It’s a typical bell-shaped curve with the top of the curve being the peak.
Q: If you have a confirmed case of coronavirus, then recover, is it possible to be diagnosed again in the future?
A: Probably not.
Q: Are there any precautions people need to take when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at grocery stores?
A: Wash your hands or use sanitizer after getting home, wash the fruit and vegetables like you usually do anyway.
Q: Is it possible to have influenza AND coronavirus?
A: It is highly unlikely to have both simultaneously.