It has been a tough week, full of conflict. Music can soothe and give us solace. Billy Joel's Summer, Highland Falls is about conflict.

Isaac Newton was one of the most influential scientists in history. I love this quote of his: "Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy." More importantly, Newton conceptualized the third law of motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. My translation: we all get what we create. This applies to everything including our risk for COVID, and further, the actions and in-actions that lead to the spectacle we witnessed this week. The third Newtonian law applies to everything we do or decide not to do.

About the COVID Vaccine:

• Howard County has done a great job of quickly dispersing their allotment; they are waiting for their next delivery so they can continue vaccinating.
• Here is a link to track our national vaccination progress.
• I will keep you up to date on local availability!

The numbers:

Maryland: The Rt is 1.12 and climbing - not good! Now, look at these graphs. Daily tests, cases and hospitalizations are all up. In Maryland, the survivability rate for those under the age of 50 is 99.6%.

USA: Case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths are continuing to increase. These graphs show the sobering statistics. Case fatality rates continue to fall; however, we are dangerously close to a surge that will overwhelm our health system.

The science of COVID:

• Fortunately, it is unlikely we will see the "twindemic."

• Influenza is minimal so far. Why? Social distancing, reduction in international travel, face masks, hand washing, and more importantly, 70 million Americans got the flu shot this year.

• Face masking is not enough! Keep your social distance, minimize gatherings to <10 people, wash your hands frequently.

• This ICU physician gave an impassioned testimonial to Congress, to ask the NIH to look at his group's data on Ivermectin.

• I think Ivermectin has a place, particularly for vulnerable people who turn positive and are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. It is a cheap drug that has been used for the treatment of parasitic infections for decades. It is FDA approved for multiple indications, but not for COVID.

• I am frustrated that Monoclonal Antibody Infusions remain difficult to obtain and schedule in Maryland, despite my efforts at alerting the Governor's Office. I am disappointed they are not quickly responding or reacting, but I will not give up. Thank you, SS, SD and MM, for your continued assistance.

On a musical note:

On a lighter note:

As a reminder, I am no longer sending out daily updates and instead, I'm updating you periodically as things change. Just like yesterday, face masks, social distancing, hand washing and/or sanitizer whenever you need to leave your safe zone. Stay home if you display any symptoms.

I continue to enjoy writing these updates. Initially, these were only sent to my patients, however, I have been humbled to learn that, through social media, these writings have been forwarded and re-forwarded to many. This has brought me great joy to know that this simple act of sharing facts, thoughts, opinions, and hopes have touched you in some way. Hopefully, I have been able to reassure you, maybe make you smile and laugh, soothe your worries, and comfort you. And maybe, just maybe, I have helped you to be in the moment!

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

Feel free to forward this on: spread the word, not the virus.

HAO

24/7

Harry Oken, M.D.

Adjunct Professor of Medicine

University of Maryland, School of Medicine

Office 410-910-7500

Fax   410-910-2310 

Cell   443-324-0823