COVID-19

COVID-19 – Panel Discussion details

** Disclaimer – All the views expressed in this meeting are strictly personal and does not represent any organization.

We would like to first and foremost thank the doctors for putting this panel and virtual session together. 

Thank you Dr. Girish Mishra, Dr. Simanta Dutta, Dr. Ashish Khanna, Dr. Kavya Kannan, Dr. Sandhya Kumar and Dr. Suji Vasu. We really appreciate that you all took the time to answer our questions and put the community at ease. We are indeed grateful for the support and knowledge from the session. 

Here is the video link to the virtual information session about COVID-19/Coronavirus – 

Youtube – https://youtu.be/oako-G8_WqU

Salient Points –

  • COVID-19 is a new form of virus and humans do not have immunity to it. Currently we think that it spreads through droplet transmission. This is a challenging virus because it spreads from person to person even when asymptomatic.
  • Symptoms are cough, or fever, or trouble breathing. First call your primary care doctor. Do not ignore gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhoea, or lack/loss of taste and smell.
  • Those without insurance, like parents visiting, can contact 336-70-COVID. Please use Tele health, E visit and Video visit to see if an in person testing is required.
  • Once diagnosed with COVID-19, if you are taking Lisinopril, Quinapril, Ramipril, Losartan, Diovan, Irbesartan, Vlasartan, then you need to stop these drugs after discussing with your PCP. If not diagnosed with COVID-19, NO NEED to discontinue above drugs.
  • Current guidance is that it is safe to use Ibuprofen. However please stay tuned to the news and CDC website as research is on going. If guidance changes we will let you know. There are no proven therapies. No drug currently prevents COVID-19.
  • Social distancing means stay 6 feet apart. Clean surfaces frequently. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 self isolate for 7 days. Do not share utensils etc. Sanitise door knobs etc. 
  • 80% recover completely and have mild or no symptoms. 15% require hospitalisation. 3% require ICU beds. Talk to children everyday for 5 minutes. Quote that 80% get better. Pray for everyone – grandparents, doctors, nurses, paramedics etc.
  • Immunocompromised people like those with diabetes, asthama, COPD, preexisting lung conditions (this virus attacks the airway system), and chemotherapy patients are at high risk. The most common/primary complication that will lead you to getting really sick is respiratory complications. A ventilator is used to rest the lungs and help the body recover. The patient will be kept comfortable while on a ventilator. 
  • If you have fever and cough and you are worried about COVID-19 please talk to your primary care doctor. They will ask you stay at home and suggest fever reducers, allergy medications etc. If you still feel terribly ill, shortness of breath etc. it should trigger a visit to the ER. 
  • Combine grocery store visits and one person shop for multiple families. Use gloves. In coming weeks leave grocery bags outside for sometime. Wash vegetables and fruits well. Wash hands as soon as you come home. Clean door knobs with wipes etc. Use limited grocery bags. 
  • Babies are also susceptible. Treat them like the rest of the population. Any fever, fussy, not eating please go to the doctor. 

Q&A

  • In our home do we need to practice social distancing? No. Not unless they are showing symptoms mentioned above.
  • When should one go to the emergency room? Cough, fever combined with shortness of breath, chest pain etc should trigger an ER visit. 
  • How fast is the test results? Test results for in patient come back in 12-24 hrs. Outpatient varies.
  • Do you have enough PPEs for yourselves? Yes, in our community we have PPEs at the current moment. 
  • What’s your suggestion for essential employee who has to report to work and who has no fever but maybe has loss of smell/taste and is just lethargic? You call PCP and no test is given but we must report to work due to being essential? What steps can we take to minimise potential exposure? Wear a mask to prevent infecting others. Push the PCP to get tested. People that need to work/essential workers need to get tested. No amount of social distancing is bad. Better to overdo it versus not doing it. 
  • What does stage-1,2,3 means; which stage is USA in? Stage 3 is a state where there is community transmission. We are seeing community transmission in USA. 
  • Social distancing is only preventive measure, but medication is something that’s going to eradicate it eventuality; Is there any time frame we are looking at currently for medicine to get developed? We will probably have a vaccine sooner than a cure. Within 18 months we could probably have a vaccine versus a cure. 
  • Can virus transmit through food? If so, how long can the virus be dormant in food? As of now there is no evidence that it can be transmitted through food.
  • Do we have enough testing kits? From an in patient perspective there is no shortage. Out patient guidelines are symptoms plus vulnerable or symptoms plus healthcare worker.
  • As per your history, what will be situation in region in 7 days, 15 days, 30 days. Shall it be worse or better as we are having social distancing? We are preparing for the worst. If we are able to get through the next two weeks we will likely be better.

With Mata’s Blessings
Sri Mata Hindu Temple