Dear Patients,

Although I am not a Trekkie, I will admit that growing up, I loved Star Trek. I used to try the "Vulcan nerve pinch" on my sister; it never worked on her and instead just made her cry. I also loved the futuristic predictions about gadgets (tricorders, phasers, replicators, etc.). I was a young boy when the series began and I so wanted to be a person of action like Kirk, logical like Spock and a healer like Bones (Dr. McCoy). The tv show and movies were sometimes corny and often implausible, but for me, they were downright inspiring!

"Live long and prosper;" living life better by learning from Star Trek:

• Have a mission statement such as "boldly go where no man has gone before."

• Embrace diversity.

• Be logical. Got a problem? Work it with logic, reason, and science.

• Be kind and grateful.

• Information that does not make sense or seems illogical often requires changing perspectives. Get out of the box, walk around it, kick it a few times. Climb back in the box.

• A good leader listens. Teamwork always!

• Cultivate friendships. A good friend will be there for you, through the good and bad, and if you do not agree on every issue, a robust debate helps people learn from one another.

• Remember that friends may come and go, but your family is with you for life.

• Not everything is black and white. Certain situations justify controversial actions and it often relates to the context of the issue.

• Keep your sense of humor.

• The most vulnerable people are those in nursing facilities; the people who take care of them need protection.

• Eat well, exercise regularly (not too much, not too little), get outside in the sun for 20-30 minutes each day, and get restorative sleep to boost your immune system.

• Stay calm, have gratitude for what you have, and give kindness to those in need.

The numbers:

Maryland:   39,762 cases -/- 1,903 deaths -/- 4.8% fatality rate

Greater than 50% of the deaths in Maryland have been nursing facility residents or staff.

The Maryland Rt was updated this morning and is 0.95 (stable); the lower the better.

Diagnostics and Therapeutics:

• Take your Vitamin D-3, I recommend 2000 units/day. This is more information if you aren't tired of reading about it.

• Just approved is a new COVID-19 test. It is faster and less expensive then the current test. It is very specific (meaning very accurate) but not as sensitive as the current nasal swab test (higher chance of false-negatives). This new test is an antigen test; the current test is a PCR that detects nucleic acids of the virus.

My book update:

Thank you to all who have made a donation by purchasing my book. I truly appreciate it! If you haven't made a purchase, if these daily emails have touched you, soothed you, reassured you in anyway, please let me know by making a donation by purchasing BOOM!

Reach out. Stay connected. Stay home. Save lives. The power of one. Be well.

Harry A. Oken, M.D.