This graphic is from McGill U. in Canada. 2 meters is 6.5 feet.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.  Edior@Blogfinger.net

Everyday there are more and more sources of information about the epidemic including those that are not medical.  I have heard from my cousin Bobby–a realtor,  Bed, Bath, and Beyond; a political news source, and a local Assemblywoman.  Of course, there are many expert sources as well such as Cornell Medical School, American Medical Association, CDC, etc.

But some doctors may not be helpful such as a group of doctors at the University of Washington who are predicting  numbers of Corona deaths. That is not science, and such information should be reserved for the health authorities and not the public.

Ideally, all public information should be evidence based, but as you know, for example, doctors are using an antimalarial drug to treat serious Corona cases without having any controlled trials.

They argue that these are desperate times and we can’t wait for those studies.  When Dr. Anthony Fauci, the NIH face of expertise in D.C., was asked by a reporter if he would take that or other unproven drugs if he were infected, he replied that he would only consider an unapproved COVID-19 drug if it were part of a scientific controlled trial.

It is tempting to repeat something you hear, but I suggest you pay attention only to authoritative sources such as CDC.gov.

Today we have some powerful quotes from healthcare professionals courtesy of the McGill Office for Science and Society in Montreal.  Thank you to them for these samples:

 An ER doctor in Montreal:   “Please disseminate this message to everyone that you know: to those young and old and those in-between that are underestimating the gravity of this situation. This is NOT the time to hang out, to chill and to party together because then it is YOU that is propagating the rapid spread of this potentially deadly virus. The death of MANY will then be on YOUR shoulders. And why? Because you couldn’t just stay on your damn couch.”    (This doctor took some needed time outdoors to ride bikes with her family when she discovered many “clusters” of people disobeying the 2 meter rule.  (2 meters is 6.5 feet)

A Harvard gastroenterologist:  “I am always trying to find a positive spin on everything and I am optimistic that this will change healthcare forever for the better. Performing telephone interviews with patients or video virtual encounters are helping keep us to communicate with patients and prevent them from feeling abandoned. The overwhelmingly positive response from the patients is making the continued work worthwhile.”

From a scientist from the National Research Council  discussing vaccines:

“In conclusion, there are several steps involved in developing a vaccine before the final step of testing, which is clearly the most critical part of the process. Health practitioners need not only ensure efficacy, but also safety. In addition to general safety considerations, vaccines against a virus have an additional complication. Unfortunately, instead of blocking, some virus-specific antibodies can enhance the entry of the virus, and in some cases the replication of the virus. These can therefore enhance rather than limit the infection and must be eliminated.

“Therefore, yes it may seem that it is taking forever to get a vaccine, but considering all that needs to be done, and done successfully, a year or so is really not that long.”

Dentist in Montreal:  “Dentistry and physical distancing are mutually exclusive. We get very up close and personal with patients as we are literally working inside of mouths. Unlike many other occupations, ours cannot be performed remotely. It is imperative to treat emergencies in the safest possible conditions so as not to endanger the health of patients and caregivers. Of particular concern are treatments in which bio-aerosols are produced, namely when employing handpieces, air-water syringes, and ultrasonic cleaners.”

(PG: My NJ dentist first said “only emergencies” and then said, “We are totally closed.”  Not every dental office is equipped to work on patients with Covid-19 or threats of infection. If you have a dental emergency, call your local health authorities for a referral.)

Pennsylvania internist who takes care of Corona cases:  “…but certain procedures or processes can increase the risk of aerosolizing infectious particles that aren’t filtered by a simple mask. Examples include during intubation, or even when the patient is on noninvasive ventilators.

“The general population who are not in direct and close contact with COVID-19 patients definitely do not need a respirator mask such as the N95 in the US.  So if you happen to have stocked up on some, consider donating them to your local hospital. We are running short.”

(PG:   This doctor sometimes wears regular masks for “regular patients,”  but for the COVID cases she uses a respiratory N-95 mask and she wears the same mask for 8-12 hours. This is probably OK, but supplies of masks are still short. She also doesn’t wear those space suits that you see on TV.  She wears a gown, shoe covers, gloves, hat and appropriate mask. She volunteered to be the Corona doctor for the 12 cases in her hospital.)

This doctor and so many of them like her are so brave.   And their exposure creates  potential risk for their families. They need to be appreciated by all of us.