Questions about COVID-19?
PHC ADDRESSES FACTS, FICTION, AND MISINFORMATION
Information about the novel coronavirus is everywhere. It’s in your Facebook feed and on the news, in newspapers, and plastered on the sides of buses. But how much of this information is accurate? According to health experts, frustratingly little. Misinformation creates a potentially dangerous dynamic. People who are bombarded with conflicting “facts” are far more likely to lose faith and stop believing anything. With misinformation continuing to spread, as does COVID-19, the health care providers at Pasadena Health Center have provided us with this helpful guide to what’s true and what’s not about coronavirus.
MASKS: Masks are by far the most controversial and misunderstood aspect of this pandemic.
FACT: Masks, IF USED PROPERLY, can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Case Study: On May 12, 2020 (day 0), a hair stylist at salon A in Springfield, Missouri (stylist A), developed respiratory symptoms and continued working with clients until day 8, when the stylist received a positive test result for SARSCoV-2. A second hair stylist (stylist B), who had been exposed to stylist A, developed respiratory symptoms on May 15, 2020 (day 3), and worked with clients at salon A until day 8 before seeking testing for SARS-CoV-2, which returned a positive result on day 10.
A total of 139 clients were directly serviced by stylists A and B from the time they developed symptoms until they took leave from work. Stylists A and B and the 139 clients followed the City of Springfield ordinance* and salon A policy recommending the use of face coverings (i.e., surgical masks, N95 respirators, † or cloth face coverings) for both stylists and clients during their interactions. Other stylists at salon A who worked closely with stylists A and B were identified, quarantined, and monitored daily for 14 days after their last exposure to stylists A or B. None of these stylists reported COVID-19 symptoms. During all interactions with clients at salon A, stylist A wore a double-layered FRWWRQ IDFH
FRYHULQJ, and stylist B wore a double-layered cotton face covering ora VXUJLFDO PDVN. The fact that people who were clients did not get infected is the first documented evidence in a public setting that mask may work in stopping the spread of Covid 19 and is a very important finding.
What types of mask can I use?
The N95 mask is a respirator. The respirator is a protective device. N means Not resistant to oil. The 95 means that the filtration efficiency is greater than or equal to 95%. This indicates that this respirator can block at least 95% of very small (0.3 Micron level) test particles. N95s and KN95s are both rated to capture 95% of particles. KN95 meets a Chinese standard and N95 is more common in health care. FDA approved both mask due to a shortage of N95 mask in the United States. Both of these masks are more commonly seen in health care settings.
Surgical masks are mainly designed to protect the patient. You can find them online and often doctors offices will pass them out to patients who do not have a mask. They are designed to stop transmission from the person wearing the mask to other people around them.
Homemade masks to be effective must cover the nose, mouth, and chin. There should be a tight seal around the nose and the material should be thick enough to stop air from blowing through. If possible, they should have a filter to protect the person wearing the mask and the person nearby from droplets.
For a mask to be effective it must be worn correctly in order to work. The mask must cover both your mouth and nose simultaneously to protect you and others. Anyone wearing a mask that only covers their mouth and leaves their nose exposed is not protecting themselves or others.
PHC recently went on Facebook Live and made a mask tutorial. You can watch the film and learn more about how to keep you and your loved ones
as safe as possible. Sweitzer says PHC will continue to post more educational health videos on Facebook Live in the weeks to come.
TESTING FACT: There are THREE TYPES OF TESTS.
The test available now are PCR molecular, Antibody Serology test, and Antigen test.
The Antigen test identifies people who are currently infected with the coronavirus. It may be used as a quick test to detect active infections.
The test can Antigen identify a virus in the nose and or throat secretions. It does this by looking for proteins from the virus. These tests should provide results in just a few minutes. They are still fairly new and not as readily available yet as the others.
PCR tests diagnose if you currently have the coronavirus, and Serology tests strictly measure antibodies caused from exposure. Serology should not be used as a sole diagnostic test. Anyone with signs and or symptoms needs to have the PCR (swab) test.
“30% of people who have COVID-19 don’t feel any symptoms,” says Sweitzer. If you have an active infection, you can still spread it to others, even if you feel fine. You can make an appointment to get tested if you have had an exposure, have traveled to a place where infections are high, or answer positive to any of the CDC questions on the PHC web site. If you have a group larger than 20, PHC will bring the testing to you, as long as everyone agrees to be tested and the facility has a large, air-conditioned room for the health professionals to conduct the testing. Everyone participating needs to wear a mask.
The test to see if you’ve had COVID-19 in the past are called Serology (antibody) tests. Antibody tests range in level of efficiency, but the FDAapproved tests PHC administers can give you reliable results within 10 minutes. Antibody tests are important because if you’ve already had the virus and survived, you should be far less likely to re-contract it during this current wave. However, it is important to remember test do not guarantee that you will not get the Coronavirus again. There have been some cases were people have had a double exposure.
TREATMENTS and VACCINES FACT: There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.
There are many vaccines in the early stages of development, but Sweitzer warns us they will most likely not be ready until after the first of the new year. “It’s too early to get excited,” he says. “A vaccine trial must be at level 3 before we can be hopeful.” That being said, scientists worldwide are working towards a vaccine. There is hope on the horizon, but no vaccine yet.
Three Vaccines are entering Stage II and Stage III trials. Novavax has received a contract from the federal govt and hopes to have a vaccine by the early part of next year. The vaccine is hoping to address mutations that are occurring with Covid 19. A new strain was recently discovered. The major mutation was detected in the SARS-CoV-2 viral envelope spike proteins. Researchers who are working to develop the new vaccines are working to address this concern. Physicians will have to be more aware of this change in the virus. G614 is a more pathogenic strain of SARS-CoV-2. Other companies working on the vaccine include Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca.
As for treatments, scientists and medical professionals are working around the clock testing a number of drugs to see if they will help lower the death rate of people who get very sick from COVID-19. Remdesivir is currently being used across the State of Texas for treating Covid 19.
Another popular drug is Hydroxychloroquine which has had some successful trials.
If YOU FEEL SICK
If you feel sick, the first thing to do is stay calm. Sweitzer advises, “When we’re emotional, it can lead to irrational behavior, and during a pandemic, irrational behavior is a problem.” Remember, there are many factors that contribute to you not feeling well. If you have a history of allergies, you may consider that a possible cause. “Don’t automatically assume you have COVID-19,” says Sweitzer. It’s also important to know the signs and symptoms of Covid 19 and to review them on the CDC website as they add more information as it becomes available.
If you do feel you’ve possibly been exposed, the best thing to do is get tested and selfquarantine. If your symptoms get worse, if you have trouble breathing, or experience chest pains, Sweitzer implores you to seek medical attention. “Don’t be afraid to go to the hospital, it can save your life.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO Despite how it may sometimes feel, there are steps you can take to keep you and your family safe.
Sweitzer reminds us there is no substitute for washing your hands. Anti-bacterial soap kills COVID-19. If you can’t wash your hands, use hand sanitizer until you can. Wear a mask properly when in public and stay socially distanced, at least 6 feet away, from anyone who does not live in your home. Another thing we can do is pay attention to the science to help you factor your personal risk. Preexisting conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney problems, and high blood pressure dramatically increase your risk of having severe complications from COVID-19. Age is also a factor, as those over 65 on average have worse outcomes upon contracting the virus. Lastly, get your information from a reliable source. Sweitzer recommends visiting CDC.gov or the websites for either Harris County Health Department or Texas Department of State Health Services. “Turn off the news and get your information from trusted sources,” Sweitzer says. “Confirm your sources before you spread misinformation.” Sweitzer also reminds patients of PHC that they are offering telemedicine visits for both physical and mental health. These services work with any type of phone, whether you have a flip phone or a smartphone.
Pasadena Health Center is a non-profit, full-service healthcare facility. Their mission is to provide access to reliable, quality health care for the community, in a caring atmosphere. Visit https://www. pasadenahealthcenter.com or call (713) 554-1091.