COVID19-016 – March 29, 2020

Dear Patients,

The numbers: US: 124,686 cases 2,191 deaths 1.75% fatality rate South Korea: 9,583 cases 152 deaths 1.58% fatality rate Germany: 58,247 cases 455 deaths 0.78% fatality rate Maryland: 1,183 cases 10 deaths 0.84% fatality rate (90.5% of tests in MD have been negative - 12,354 negatives) As we test more, the number of cases will continue to go up - we know that. So far, Maryland hospitals are doing a great job; they are waiting and ready. The Maryland rate is complicated by a Carroll County nursing home infection (66+ patients, 11 hospitalized) with obviously elderly compromised patients. The island of Manhattan is 34 sq miles and has 1.6 million people (correction from yesterday, thank you PT); there are 8 million people in all five boroughs. The NY metro area has 20 million people so the task of social distancing is enormous. Cell phone activity can be tracked and reflects mobility - check this site ; you will see the data up to March 23. Here in MD we get a "B" grade. We can do better! Stay home and be a hero! It is currently thought that we may peak in mid-April - another 2 to 3 weeks away. Here is an interactive site that shows predictions. This is disturbing, but important to look at. Use this information to keep the pressure on yourself, your loved ones, your friends, your co-workers. This is war and our weapon is to STAY HOME.

Please be tough. Do not allow fear and worry to bring you down. We have a plan, we are all part of the remedy. Stay home! The rules apply to everyone. Therapeutics: Here is a link to the information on using NSAIDs - Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naprosyn). The story speaks to the difference between causation and association. More specifically, understand that all people who eat chocolate die (eventually) but chocolate does not cause death. Nonetheless, the notion of whether NSAIDs contribute to a more severe outcome with a COVID-19 infection is still not 100% clear. So acetaminophen is the prudent substitute for now. We do know that steroids (corticosteroids) given intravenously to patients with severe COVID-19 respiratory decline does seem to make the situation worse. The first use of passive immunity using plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients was given today in Texas. On a musical note (no pun intended): I Gotta Wash My Hands! And on a lighter note to make you smile:
HAO 24/7


Harry A. Oken, M.D.
Office: 410-910-7500, Fax: 410-910-2310
Cell: 443-324-0823

Adjunct Professor of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Confidentiality Statement:

This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.