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The signal that we are starting to
control COVID-19 will be a leveling
out of the daily death rate.
When that starts to happen, most
predict that the infection will
begin to come under control.
How can this come under control?
By more strict shelter in place and
aggressive measures of limiting
inflow and exits from areas.
You may have seen in parts of Asia
where the workers wearing hazmat
suits are spraying down the cities;
this seems prudent.
Unfortunately, New York City is
doing very poorly:
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The numbers:
US:
55,225 cases
802 deaths
1.45% fatality rate (increase from
yesterday)
South Korea:
9,137 cases
126 deaths
1.37% fatality rate (increase from
yesterday)
Germany:
34,009 cases 172 deaths
0.5% fatality rate (stable)
Maryland:
423 cases
4 deaths
0.94% fatality rate
No change in my previous recommendations: stay
home, remain vigilant, frequent hand
washing, social distancing >6feet.
Therapeutics:
We are on Day 2 of the Columbia/Oz trial:
100 patients randomized with
Hydroxychloroquine + Azithroymcin vs
placebo.
Multiple vaccine efforts are underway.
American ingenuity and the reduction of
government rules will likely have something
within 6-8 months.
Canada is studying an old gout drug called
colchicine to minimize the inflammatory lung
reaction caused by COVID-19 which effects
15-20% of those people infected and can lead
to respiratory insufficiency. This is
called a cytokine storm and is where my
group is trying to get some interest in our
steroid compound called BEA. It needs
to tested and thank you to all of you who
have been giving me leads to find partners
to pass this baton forward.
Plasma from recovered patients may be of use
since it contains neutralizing antibody and
efforts are underway using this as a remedy.
There is interesting information about
raising intracellular levels of zinc (thanks
MM). It looks like this turns off
viral replication inside the infected cells.
The problem is getting the zinc into the
cell; this may be one of the ways
Hydroxychloroquine (HC) works. HC may
facilitate extracellular zinc to get inside
the infected cells to shut down viral
replication. We don't know yet if
giving extra zinc as a supplement may be
helpful.
China claims that both IV and an oral high
dose of Vitamin C may be helpful; I see no
downside, but we need to prove this with
good science.
Where does this leave us:
In the same place! Take care of
yourself so you can take care of the people
you love and depend on you!
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Stay home, be a hero; as Dr. Oz says: "the
power of one".
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Wash your hands frequently.
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Do not touch your face.
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Eat healthy.
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Supplements: Vitamin D-3, 2000 units per
day and a Multivitamin, no downside
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Get some exercise.
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If it's nice out, get 15-30 minutes of
direct sunlight.
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Get restorative sleep: 6-8 hours/night.
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Smile: it's good for your head.
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Meditation can combat stress, check out Headspace, and
thank you JW and GD for this: Click
it
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Don't check your IRA/401k, it will only
stress you. Remind yourself that
it will come back. Why?
Because this is America and
that is who we are!
On a calming note:
This song by
Adele (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0)
is considered one of the 10 most relaxing
songs based on a study by neuroscientists at
Mindlab International who measured
participants' physiologic responses.
And finally, on a much lighter note: (thanks
JF)
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