What is SARS-COV-2?
It is a new Coronavirus that originated in a bat in Wuhan, China. It causes the illness COVID-19. It has mutated at least 2 times and is now causing a pandemic. It is believed to have a mortality of between 1-3%, but this could be lower, because we aren’t testing enough mild cases. Either way, it is causing lots and lots of people to die and will cause a lot more people to die if we don’t do our parts to slow the spread. At this point, it’s inevitable that the virus will be everywhere—at least that’s what epidemiologists much smarter than me are saying. The important thing is that it not be everywhere all at once, so that doctors and nurses have time to help people, and people who don’t have to die, don’t die simply due to lack of resources. This is what is meant by flattening the curve, and this is why we are asking people to socially isolate. This article explains why this is important. This article gives us a state by state breakdown of the estimated last possible moment we can prevent overloading our hospitals.
At the risk of sounding alarmist, I want to reinforce how dangerous this can be for everyone. We still have so many people going about their lives as if this is business as usual. I saw it explained this way:
“You know how everyone rushed to the stores at the same time and bought everything out at once instead of staggering their visits?
Now imagine the same thing in the hospital, but instead of TP, it’s ICU beds and ventilators that are out. This is why everything is cancelled.”
We really don’t want patients and physicians to die when they don’t have to. Even if you would be okay, your parents, your grandparents, and the healthcare professionals caring for them may not be so lucky. Please, think of the greater good. STAY HOME.
So many unknowns…
There are so many unknowns about this virus. Please click below for brief discussions and links to topics that are still evolving regarding SARS-COV-2.
What should you do if you think you have COVID-19?
Elderberry use: to take or not to take?
Should I keep taking my ACEI/ARB (Blood pressure medication)?
Possible therapies—what’s being used to treat this?
Should I travel to see my parents/kids/etc?
More Information
How long does it live on surfaces?
**TRIGGER WARNING**Graphic details of spread and infection
Stay Healthy
Stay CALM
I continue to maintain that panic is not helpful. This is a scary situation, but in the vein of my page, this is a good time to tap into our mental and spiritual strength for support. We control what we can control, and we focus on what we have to be grateful for. Being physically away from others in today’s time doesn’t have to mean true isolation and it may mean we can slow down and focus more on what is truly important in the first place.
Dr. Shana Lewis gives us her tips
Symptoms
What we now know about COVID-19 is that it has many different faces, much like the other illnesses caused by coronaviruses. This is why it is extremely important to stay home if you feel ill at all, and to move around as if you have the illness regardless. We have tested people who seemed relatively asymptomatic (meaning without symptoms) and found them to be positive. However symptoms include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Chills/Rigors
- Muscle Aches
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of smell or change in smell
- Loss of taste or change in taste
Testing in Houston
Unfortunately, testing in Texas, and Houston, has really lagged behind what we would have liked to have seen happen. We are 49th in the nation. However, we do have quite a few testing options available in Houston that are summarized and updated at the link in the heading. Most of the private hospitals now have means of running their own tests, and the public locations are testing anyone who wants to be tested.
What do I do with these Kids?
When they’re not doing their work, which I’ve read really should comprise a very small part of their day (remember, they have lots of breaks and ancillary time when they’re young), see the below for some ideas.
Virtually Tour some National Parks
Kid’s Workout:
