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Picture this: it is a sunny day, there is a summer breeze
and you are walking up a mountain trail. Instead of being
close to the mountainside on your right, you are walking on
the side of the path which is closest to the
edge. Pre-occupied with your thoughts, your mind is
somewhere else. As you are walking, you stumble and your
right foot comes off the path and drags against the outer
edge of the path. It happens suddenly, it's unexpected and
it jolts your attention to the present moment. You are able
to recover without falling down the incline to your
right. Yikes! That was a close one. It could have been bad
but you were lucky. This time.
Okay, but what does this have to do with COVID-19? Well, in
Maryland, the Governor has eased lock-down restrictions as
of yesterday at 5:00 PM. I welcome it. Businesses can slowly
open up. Restaurants that are able can serve
outside. Outdoor pools can be at 25% capacity. Yet, just
like taking a nice hike up a mountain path, be cautious,
stay alert, be in the moment, one step at a time. Wear your
face-mask, socially distance, wash your hands, isolate
yourself if you are not feeling well. Be careful in areas
out of your safe zone and sanitize your hands once back in
your safe zone. Remember, however, that this is a
respiratory virus. Yes, you can contract it by contact, but
according to the CDC, this is <6% of the cases.
The reality of the lock-down is that it worked. The curve
flattened and we avoided a surge in our hospitals. Now, we
are prepared in our hospitals. We have strict standard
operating procedures for our most vulnerable in senior
nursing facilities. We have adequate personal protective
gear and testing for our health care workers. The reality is
that as we ease back into our lives, we have to learn to
live with COVID-19 and we have to get back to work. Overall,
as statisticians and epidemiologists learn from the
pandemic, you will see more and more information that
supports re-opening in a logical, targeted manner. And
hopefully, with this new understanding of the biology and
epidemiology of the pandemic, school reopening in the fall
is beginning to become a reality in many places. The data is
clear that people with co-morbidities and under the age
of 60 are at very low risk for complications from a COVID-19
infection.
I have attached recent Senate
testimony by Scott Atlas, M.D. and his colleagues
from Stanford University; they have a common-sense plan for
re-opening the country. Based on what we now know, it is
very practical. As I have said before, as information
becomes available every day, news is reported that makes us
stop and say "I am even more confused!" Hang in
there! Overall, we are making good progress with COVID-19.
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The numbers:
Yes, we have surpassed 100,000 US deaths.
Maryland: 50,988
cases -/- 2,348 deaths -/- 4.6% fatality rate
Greater than 50% of the deaths in Maryland continue to be
nursing facility residents or staff.
The
Maryland
Rt
was updated yesterday and is 0.89 (it continues to decline);
the lower the better.
Diagnostics and Therapeutics:
My book update:
Thanks to all of you who have purchased BOOM, 100% of
the profits are going to support COVID-19 research at the
University of Maryland. Now, more than ever, is a great time
to take a fresh look at your health, nutrition and stress
management.
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