[AMA] I'm a Doctor. Ask Me Anything COVID-19 Related

Linamotoichiban on 21/03/2020 - 12:13
Last edited 26/03/2020 - 17:14 by 1 other user

As a doctor working in the emergency department, one thing I've noticed is that there has been a lot of misinformation out there. Patients are coming hoping to get tested for COVID-19, but end up wasting their time because they won't meet criteria to be eligible to get a swab. Others are receiving group texts stating that drinking hot water will kill the virus…

Please ask me anything related to COVID-19, even if it is the simplest question (as long as it is not direct medical advice). My aim is to provide some helpful information, because information is key.

I would also like to encourage everyone to self-isolate and stay at home if you can. Even if you are not sick! It is the only way that we are going to slow the spread of this virus. Countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore have implemented strict regimes early on for people to self-isolate, which has drastically slowed the spread of the virus in their countries, as opposed to our Western Neighbours, where there has been a rampant spread.

My colleagues and I have been trying to spread the word to everyone to take this simple step to protect ourselves and our community before it is too late. We are potentially 2 weeks away from where countries like the UK and Italy are at the moment, where our colleagues there have run out of beds and having to pick who to treat and who to leave to die..
They have also seen young healthy people being affected badly and dying from this disease, so do not think you are immune just because you are young! Please get the word out there and tell all your family and friends to STAY AT HOME!

We stay at work for you. Please stay at home for us

Interesting article regarding how self-isolation helps:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-si…

Looking forward to answering your questions!

Additional simple tips to reduce the spread!
1. Wash your hands often, especially before and after eating
2. Avoid touching your face
3. Cough and sneeze into your elbow

Mod: Please note that this is an unverified AMA and take any comments on this thread and anywhere else non-official with a grain of salt. Please see official advice from the Australian Government. While this is a worrying time, please be kind to each other including staff of OzBargain.

Introduce Yourself

closed Comments

          • trapper on 22/03/2020 - 19:59
            +1

            @paraneoplastic: This years flu may not get a chance to spread at all with half the world locked-down. May be the one upside of all this.

          • picket23 on 22/03/2020 - 20:39

            @paraneoplastic: Yeah true, though without being tested, I won't be away from work for near 14 days. I also have young family members who I can't isolate from in the house. They'll be going to school until/unless they show any symptoms of illness…

            I don't think I have coronavirus. I think I got a chest infection from something else which happens occasionally to me. I am just surprised at the lack of testing going on…

        • moonleaf on 23/03/2020 - 18:41

          How long ago you got cough? Is it nagging or occasional type of cough? I too not eligible for a swab due to the current criteria. This will not strave the virus spreading if these type of mild symptoms cannot get tested and who knows if infected with the virus become silent spreaders Not sure if you can pay to get tested.

    • inamotoichiban on 22/03/2020 - 20:54

      I think it is the best we can do at the moment given there is a shortage of tests. We are trying to get the highest yield from our tests.

      • diazepam on 23/03/2020 - 01:46
        +5

        Load of BS when everyone's saying "there's no community transmission" when in reality - they aren't testing for it (of course I understand the reason behind it with limited resources).
        And from what it seems I'm not the only one - a lot of doctor chats/groups I'm in are getting annoyed and displeased at the way the government is framing it and really in my eyes - downright lying to the public.

  • luffyex2010 on 22/03/2020 - 16:04

    Breaking News!

    Bondi backpackers among 97 new coronavirus cases in NSW

    More Sydney beaches closed this afternoon apparently these dumb and dumberer cannot understand the danger.

  • happirt on 22/03/2020 - 16:42
    -6

    Why are you on the forums rather than in ICU?

  • 1d0ntkn0w on 22/03/2020 - 17:10

    Do you believe China is fudging the number of COVID19 cases they have, given their population density, number of active cases, the measures they have taken to stop the spread and their potential motivations for downplaying the number?

    EDIT: Asking from purely health perspective, is it possible to contain the virus so effectively (given it spreads like the flu) with the measures that have administered

    • inamotoichiban on 22/03/2020 - 20:57

      There is a possibility they could be fudging it, although I guess we will never know.

      It is possible to reduce the number affected through aggressive social isolation measures.
      Places like Hong Kong and Singapore have been very successful in containing the virus as a result of their strict social isolation measures.

      • trapper on 22/03/2020 - 21:58

        Singapore has lost control now, exponential growth for the last week.

      • zappy32 on 22/03/2020 - 22:38
        +1

        What are the strict isolation measures that you believe Singapore did well considering they didn't shut restaurants, bars, schools or borders?

        • inamotoichiban on 24/03/2020 - 10:31

          They have been strict in enforcing that people are compliant with self-isolation
          Everyone who has been instructed to self-isolate is sent an SMS several times a day, and they are required to check in their location to confirm that they are at home. Harsh penalties apply if they are found to be outside.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/03/2020 - 17:53

    On a scale of 0 to 100 how f**ked are we?

    • TEER3X on 22/03/2020 - 20:13
      +1

      Real mortality rate is probably around 0.5% so 0.5 out of 100

      • trapper on 22/03/2020 - 20:23
        +5

        Hubei outbreak is basically over now, mortality was 4%.

        It will be much worse if our medical system is overwhelmed, which is looking almost certain as this rate.

        • Dalton on 23/03/2020 - 18:03

          4% of those that tested positive, presumably, not 4% of the population, or even 4% of the people that got infected in that area.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2020 - 17:29
          +1

          Hubei outbreak is basically over now, mortality was 4%.

          According to a report on Monday by RTHK, Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, residents said hospitals in Wuhan had refused to test patients who showed symptoms. Kyodo News in Japan reported at the weekend that a local doctor said the number of cases had been manipulated before President Xi Jinping’s visit earlier this month, prompting the beginning of “a mass release of infected patients”.

          Some of the concerns about China’s reporting stem from how Beijing classifies patients. While the World Health Organization and South Korea consider anyone who has tested positive for the virus as a confirmed case, China does not include asymptomatic infections in its final tally.Critics also question why recovered patients who retest as positive are not counted. Data from quarantine centres in Wuhan showed that the possibility of recovered patients testing positive again was between 5% and 10%, according to the state-run Global Times. Officials in Hubei have said those patients would not be recorded as new confirmed cases because they had been counted previously.

          An unnamed official at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention told the Chinese magazine Caixin: “It cannot be determined whether transmission has been completely cut off in Wuhan.” The official said there were still “a few or dozen symptomatic people every day”.

  • qiaoer on 22/03/2020 - 17:59

    As far as I know, the incubation period is around 14 days and the patient will spread the virus within the incubation. So it would be definitely worth to wear face masks because people may have no symptoms. Face masks are not hard to buy from China now since they can produce 200 million a day. Most Chinese bought their masks online and shipped. Should we all wear face masks as well?

    • inamotoichiban on 22/03/2020 - 21:14
      +1

      It is arguable whether face masks help.
      Most face masks won't fully prevent you from inhaling respiratory droplets
      They may help in the sense that you will touch your face less, but the problem with them is that many people will not dispose of them correctly, and contaminate their hands in the process.
      At hospital we have been taught to keep our hands away from the front mask surface when removing them, and to immediately wash our hands after taking it off

      Don't think you are protected just because you are wearing a face mask
      The best way to protect yourself is to stay at home if you can and practice good hand hygiene

      Also the incubation period for this has been shown to be more in the range of 2-7 days, but there have been cases in which it has possibly been up to as high as 27 days

      • qiaoer on 22/03/2020 - 23:41

        Thanks for replying. I mean we all should wear masks because we don't know if we are infected already. To prevent the incubation patient giving virus to others, he should wear a mask which means everyone should wear a mask.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/03/2020 - 18:36
    -1

    How soon will Person B, after coming into contact and becoming infected by Person A who has COVID-19, be contagious to others?

    • inamotoichiban on 22/03/2020 - 21:23
      +1

      There have been reports of presumed asymptomatic transmission, so there is a possibility that one could become contagious soon after exposure.

      The incubation period is quite short anyway, with reports stating it typically ranges from 2-7 days.

  • randombrick on 22/03/2020 - 19:02

    Question regarding self isolation. If someone gets mild symptoms, then how long do they self isolate for? Longer of - until symptoms subside or 14 days? Does that guarantee that the virus is no longer in the system? What are the chances that a person is still a carrier after symptoms subside?

    • serpserpserp on 22/03/2020 - 20:11

      If you haven't travelled overseas and you don't know anyone with covid-19 or had confirmed contact then you can call your GP about it and discuss. You don't self isolate for two weeks if you have a runny nose.

    • inamotoichiban on 22/03/2020 - 21:38
      +1

      This is a tricky one, especially as community transmission ramps up

      It will be difficult to not be suspicious of COVID when someone develops flu-like symptoms, and so the safest thing to do would be to self isolate for the period of 14 days or until symptoms subside - whichever one is longer.

      There have been reports that people have shown evidence of continual viral shedding after their symptoms have resolved, however it is not known whether this shedding is significant enough to be contagious

      • Ok computer on 22/03/2020 - 22:40

        Transmission of the faecal-oral route may also be of concern. However the Lancet article suggested more research was required…
        Say I was a plumber in a healthcare facility should I upgrade my PPE when working with blocked toilets?

        Lancet
        No cases of transmission via the faecal–oral route have yet been reported for SARS-CoV-2, which might suggest that infection via this route is unlikely in quarantine facilities, in hospital, or while under self-isolation. However, potential faecal–oral transmission might pose an increased risk in contained living premises such as hostels, dormitories, trains, buses, and cruise ships.

        https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(20)30083-2/fulltext

        • cheaplee on 23/03/2020 - 19:23

          Yes I would. Look up Amoy Gardens re: SARS

      • randombrick on 22/03/2020 - 23:12

        people have shown evidence of continual viral shedding

        Curious- how do you check for virus shedding? Is that just based on circumstantial evidence or is there a way to test for that?

  • Chipsnosalt on 22/03/2020 - 20:43

    Although there is no vaccine currently for the drug, will generic OTC drugs such as panadol, aspro, codral, etc help with the symptoms?

  • Bunnyburger on 22/03/2020 - 21:07

    Can an infected person's wake transmit the virus to the people they walk past? I mean the wind forces generated as someone walks past you.

  • SpendLess on 22/03/2020 - 21:15

    Why can countries like Singapore/South Korea have access to so many more test kits and able to do so much more testing than us? Money? One of the big thing it seems from these 2 countries is the amount of testing they do and then able to treat plus isolate the infected has helped a great deal in keeping things under control.

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 10:06
      +2

      The testing kits we get are mostly from overseas at the moment, and given there is a global shortage of these testing kits, there has been a restriction on exports from countries which currently produce it, as they keep more for themselves.
      I believe our government is working on trying to have testing kits made here.

    • nfr on 23/03/2020 - 11:29

      Since the start of outbreak South Korea and Taiwan invested in production of test kits and PPE. It's a small cost compared to economic impact of an uncontrolled outbreak.

    • dhnqt on 23/03/2020 - 22:34
      +1

      Even Vietnam is able to produce their own test kits and export to other countries. https://vietnaminsider.vn/vietnam-exports-homemade-test-kits…

      I don't know why developed countries like Australia or USA can't do it

  • Eeples on 22/03/2020 - 23:33

    Children are known to be super-carriers of the flu.

    Is there any reason to believe that this is not the case with COVID-19?

    How worried ought older, pregnant, immune compromised, teachers be?

    • bargainparker on 23/03/2020 - 01:21
      +8

      There is no reason. Children should stay home even is scomo says it's not time yet. I value my children's lives far more than what some politician thinks is the right thing to do for the economy

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 09:00

      Children can be carriers just like anyone else

      They have already banned children from visiting nursing homes as they could potentially pass it on to the elderly, however they are just as likely to pass it to other people in the population.

      There has been a strong push from doctors to close schools, although I do recognise there are large economic consequences of doing that.
      From a health perspective, it makes sense to close schools.

  • Kill Joy on 23/03/2020 - 09:04

    We are potentially 2 weeks away from where countries like the UK and Italy are at the moment

    Since the virus is asymptomatic for 2 weeks, doesn't it mean we are already there then, we just don't know it?

    • luffyex2010 on 23/03/2020 - 10:42
      +1

      Yes we do, points at bondi junction incident and that is just a reported cluster/small fraction of the stupidity/ignorance/ of the people.

      That is a big hint that a large % of Aussies are going out enjoying thier normal lifestyle as if the social distancing means nah chances of a croc or shark bitting me is higher than getting this virus.

      Don't get me wrong I absolutely love Western culture of enjoying life that is one of the reason I am here (next is winter as I love freezing cold weather 😁)

      But now is not the time to do that when there is a Pandemic happening on local soil.

      We may not be there yet but it seems the people are planning (unconciously) to get to that stage. I am not surprise if we are going to be the top 10 in this coronavirus olympics.

      Forgot to add
      Winter is Coming and that is viruses ideal weather.

      Lockdowns not enough to defeat coronavirus WHO's Ryan

    • trapper on 23/03/2020 - 12:48

      We are not potentially a few weeks away from Italy, we absolutely are a few week away from there.

      Australia will probably top 100k cases even if we start a total lock-down today.

      • Kill Joy on 23/03/2020 - 13:00

        That was my point - I think we are passed the point of no return on this one.

        • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 13:56
          +1

          Everything we do will make a difference. Even if the numbers continue to climb. We could limit the numbers to 80,000 instead of 500,000. That’s 420,000 people right there.
          Stay at home to protect yourself and to protect others
          The earlier we act, the better

          • Kill Joy on 23/03/2020 - 14:06
            +2

            @inamotoichiban: I've been self isolating for 2 weeks already, no push back from me. But I can tell you now the way the public is behaving, it will infect over 50% of the population. We just aren't taking it seriously enough from a precautionary perspective. 500,000 is honestly a very optimistic number.

            Remember that we will not be rid of this virus until A) everyone is infected, recovered and now immune; or B) we have a vaccine in wide spread use. From development, testing, approval and mass production of a vaccine, we are at least 12 months away from a fully vaccinated population. I can tell you now that we will have more than 500,000 thousand infected by then at the current rate of doubling. We are definitely at the point of no return, we cannot limit this to 5 digit infections.

            • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 15:14

              @Kill Joy: Thank you for doing the right thing and self-isolating.

              I agree. The problem is that people are not taking this seriously enough. That is why we need to tell everyone we know. There needs to be a change in the public perception.

              If everyone self-isolated, then it would give people time to recover and not be infectious anymore. This would slow down the spread and it would ultimately come to a halt. Look what has happened in other countries. If the China stats are true, they have now reached a stage where their numbers have almost halted. Life is starting to resume over there. They have capped themselves at 80,000 rather than a potential 500 million given their population. That is very significant

            • trapper on 23/03/2020 - 15:27

              @Kill Joy: C) Total lock-down until we have no new infections + two weeks to be sure.

              There will be over 100k cases even if we start this today though, so we are up shit creek no matter what, it's just a matter of how far.

            • trapper on 23/03/2020 - 16:00

              @Kill Joy:

              we are at least 12 months away from a fully vaccinated population. I can tell you now that we will have more than 500,000 thousand infected by then at the current rate of doubling.

              At current rate of doubling the whole country could be infected before the end of April.

              • Kill Joy on 23/03/2020 - 18:26

                @trapper:

                Total lock-down until we have no new infections + two weeks to be sure.

                We are incapable as a community to respect a lockdown. I can gaurantee you a lockdown will not be effective at preventign spread.

                At current rate of doubling the whole country could be infected before the end of April.

                It's likely to curve off as the pool of uninfected reduces, so it'll likely take at least 6 months. Their are algorythms for it.

                • trapper on 23/03/2020 - 19:20

                  @Kill Joy:

                  I can gaurantee you a lockdown will not be effective at preventign spread.

                  Then I have more faith in us than you.

                  And also ultimately the army will be patrolling the streets if all else fails.

  • Todger on 23/03/2020 - 10:02

    Is Metformin a Glitazone drug?

    Does Metformin inhibit respiratory function?

  • Oofy Doofy on 23/03/2020 - 10:57

    What do you think about this?

    https://centerforinquiry.org/video/discussing-the-coronaviru…

    It is dominating our lives. I think the fear of the virus is a bigger problem than the virus itself. Nogueira: Can we say so far this virus is worse than the swine flu (H1N1) outbreak on 2009? Offit: No. Probably the best data comes from South Korea, where they tested more than 100,000 people. They found 6,000 cases and 42 deaths, which is a mortality rate of about 0.7%. Maybe it is a little worse than the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, but not much. Even the seasonal flu has a mortality of about 0.5%. The problem with coronavirus is that people think they are more likely to die if they get it. I think all evidence says that is not true.

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 12:47

      South Korea has definitely done better than other countries. This is probably because of widespread testing, early detection and early isolation for people infected.
      I would be careful with interpreting the data like the article has. Out of the 8000 or so positive cases in South Korea, only 3013 have been resolved. 104 of them are deaths. The rest are still active infections. That means that inevitably some of these active infections will turn into deaths.
      The mortality rate is much worse on average compared to South Korea.

      • Oofy Doofy on 23/03/2020 - 13:14

        The doctor isn't a nobody though, I would say he's a very high level doctor, researcher and scientist, especially with his background and credentials. I'm sure he's been looking into this very closely.

        So I would apply significant weight to his medical opinion.

        This virus seems to be more of an extreme concern for developing countries with lack of socialised medicine, or plain lack of medical resources.

        • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 13:38
          +5

          Italy certainly isn’t a developing country, and they have one of the best healthcare systems in the world.
          They have just been overwhelmed with the amount of sick people, and we are heading for this situation too if we don’t do more.

          New Zealand is shutting down everything despite low case numbers, and this is what we should have been doing.
          There is still time to make a difference and reduce the number of lives lost.

          You never know if it will be you. You are at risk of getting infected if you don’t take the necessary precautions. When we get to capacity, doctors soon may have to make the hard choice whether to save you or something else. This is what is happening in Italy. We do not want to make this choice. Please help us

          • Oofy Doofy on 23/03/2020 - 14:45
            -2

            @inamotoichiban: Less than 1% death rate in Italy, and trending down. Italy also has the oldest population in the world, after Japan.

            I'd be careful to be alarmist at this point.

            TMK the median age of death in Italy is 80 from this particular virus. Stats changed since I last checked.

            • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 15:21
              +3

              @Oofy Doofy: I’m sorry Bamboozle I don’t mean to be blunt but your stats are simply wrong
              The mortality rate in Italy is at least 10%
              (Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/)

              As you can see Japan has fared much better due to strict isolation measures.

              Don’t think just because you aren’t old that you won’t be affected. Many young people will die from this

              I don’t want to look back on this and think that we should have acted sooner or done more. I make no regrets in being alarmist. It is necessary in this situation.

              • Oofy Doofy on 23/03/2020 - 17:35

                @inamotoichiban: Totally disregard, I was analysing other country data about coronavirus and typed in completely incorrect information here about Italy for deaths % wise.

                Other stats (median age and demographics) are current as of today though.

                https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

                Make what you will of these figures and the reporting of cases and details of all cases etc. Italy is an anomaly…

                • inamotoichiban on 24/03/2020 - 10:00

                  @Oofy Doofy: Italy definitely has one of the highest mortality rates, however look at countries like Spain and the UK
                  They are definitely not developing countries.

                  If you are trying to say that we aren't supposed to take this seriously, then you would be wrong. We need to take this seriously.
                  Of course, there is no need to panic. You can protect yourself and others if you just take the right steps. All you need to do is do what has been recommended
                  Stay at home, socially distance when you have to go outside to shop, wash your hands, cough into your elbow and avoid touching your face.

      • luffyex2010 on 23/03/2020 - 13:47
        +1

        I agree Dr. but Taiwan should get some credits for handling it do damn fast and well.

        • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 13:57
          +1

          Definitely. Taiwan has also been great. The key is the act now. No matter what stage you are at.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2020 - 10:57
    -4

    The number 1 way to avoid this illness is to simply stay out in the open air. Washing your hands, avoiding touching your face or coughing in your elbow will do sweet ^^$% all for you. Live outside, sleep outside, do everything outdoors. Stay indoors at your own peril…

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 12:18
      +2

      Hi Warier, I hope I can persuade you to change your view on a few points.

      1. Being in the open air does not help if you have other people in close proximity.
        Of course if you were somewhere remote with no one around, then there is no harm. But most people are living in the city.
        Do not think that you are safe just because you are in the open air. You can inhale other people’s respiratory droplets whilst outdoors.
        The important thing is to keep your distance if you have to go outside, but to stay at home if you don’t.

      Please have at look at this article. It really hammers it home.
      https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/7news.com.au/lifestyle/healt…

      In regards to washing your hands, washing your hands help to wash off any viral particles that may have come into contact with your hands.
      This is extremely important, and has been shown to make a huge difference. There have been zero Healthcare worker related infections in Singapore because they have adhered to strict hand hygiene practices.

      Not touching your face prevents you from spread any of the viral particles from your hand to your face, which then in turn can come into contact with your mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). This is a mode of transmission

      Coughing and sneezing into your elbow helps prevent any viral particles you may have from spreading to your hand and subsequently to other people through surfaces you may touch

  • love2buy on 23/03/2020 - 11:43

    Can this virus be passed on by someone's piss or poo?

    • cheaplee on 23/03/2020 - 19:29

      Maybe poo, we don't know yet.

      Look at Amoy Gardens - SARS

  • weee on 23/03/2020 - 12:53

    do we have any study on long term effects on the cured, does it leave something in your lung for the rest of your life?

  • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2020 - 14:07
    +1

    Are you scared ,Doc? How do you prepare mentally for what you are about to face?

    • luffyex2010 on 23/03/2020 - 14:50
      +1

      I had this in my box but didnt post it lol.

      Dr…this is a personal question.

      You do not need to answer it.

      Are you prepared for what is coming?
      Are you afraid as in if given the chance you would rather be in a different field than being on the front lines?
      When is the breaking point when you just walk away from it and say stuff it, I too am only a human and I dont want to sacrifice my life for a job.

      I have a few cousins who are doctors but I will never ask them this questions as its way too personal especially when you know them. Cousins- 3x vets sort of dr s' (not front lines but they are making sure your animals are happy and healthy)
      Cousins overseas- husband and wife dr s'
      Cousins- cancer scientist but wife family have 3 dr s'
      Cousin- dentist sorry almost forgotten her lol

      Unlike some people who I know (during school days, they just want to be a Dr so they can examine woman)….i know its sad as I was from an all boys school.

      Funny thing that guy I knew actually became a Dr. and a Dr specialist that checks between the legs… guess his dream came true. Lol)

      All I want to say you all are the true heroes.
      Greatly Appreciated that we have you guys especially a time like this than ….a bunch of guys worrying about $$$ more than public health.

      Thank you.

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 16:03
      +5

      It is definitely scary. I’m not going to lie
      Right now I am just so focused on getting the word out there that I really haven’t had much time to contemplate it all.

      There is a simple thing everyone can do to save lives. You don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse. Tell everyone you know to stay home.
      You are going to save way more lives doing this, way more lives than we will save on the front line. Prevention is key

      stayhome

      • trapper on 23/03/2020 - 16:25

        Saw that interview on TV last night with the doctor at a hospital in Italy.

        She said they had all these patients coming in and on ventilators and people dying continually, but the hardest thing of all was that in her hospital not one single person had recovered yet.

        Now that would be hard.

  • saintpotter on 23/03/2020 - 14:09

    If you had close contact with a confirmed case for less than 15 minutes, and have symptoms after a couple of days of fatigue and earache (no cough or fever), do you recommend getting tested?

  • roundnumbersonly on 23/03/2020 - 15:01

    Is at all possible to teach/train laypeople to assist in what you/nurses do? Do you ever contemplate a conscription type scenario where ordinary people are asked to work in hospitals, etc?

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 16:07

      We haven’t considered that yet. Instead we are trying to increase staffing from the pool that we already have.
      Many have given up their annual leave to stay at work. Many have gone from part time to full time.

    • mauricem on 25/03/2020 - 13:54

      Like Japan training fighter/kamikaze pilots in 2 weeks near the end of WW2. I gather they didnt need to worry too much about landings though:(

      Back on topic it would be student nurses and trainee allied health folk that would be brought into the front line in the first instance, after that who knows?

  • DarthAntz on 23/03/2020 - 15:04

    Is sneezing into your shirt/jumper/under-shirt equally effective?
    Please tell us how sneezing/coughing into your crook elbow has become official advice and effective.

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 15:25
      +1

      Hi DarthAntz. This is what I wrote in reply to another comment

      Coughing and sneezing into your elbow helps prevent any viral particles you may have from spreading to your hand and subsequently to other people through surfaces you may touch.

      You still need to wash your hands and avoid touching your face to reduce the chance of yourself getting it from other people. But most important of all is to self-isolate. You are not going to get it if you don’t come into contact with anyone.

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 20:51

      In addition, by coughing/sneezing into your elbow, you are minimising the amount of droplets you are releasing into the air which can infect other people.

      • DarthAntz on 23/03/2020 - 23:44
        +1

        Thank you. I suppose its the easiest thing to do, and brings awareness. I'll still sneeze into my shirt and undershirt, as i'll leave a mark on the elbow of my sleeve otherwise.

        Cover your mouths!

        And I appreciate all of your efforts in this thread.

  • moonleaf on 23/03/2020 - 15:37

    I am normally healthy and rarely get sick but since about late January this year when I was sitting in a car someone was coughing badly then few days later I developed a strange persistent dry cough but not the nagging type and no other symptoms that still lingered until today similar to one of Covid-19 symptoms. At at time we weren't made aware of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China so I just brush off thinking it maybe caused by something like an environmental irritants.

    Probably there were already several strains of the coronavirus existing around the world. The Chinese strain was particularly virulent, eventually crossed borders, and mutated or combined with the local strains of different places around the world.

    So in my case I won't meet criteria to be eligible to get a swab because:

    1. I never traveled overseas in the last fourteen days
    2. I don't have a close contact name of confirmed case

    I would like to ask the doctor what should I do?
    Can I pay to get a swab?

    I think this year onward will be survival of the fittest.

    a strange pneumonia was circulating in northern Italy as long ago as November, weeks before doctors were made aware of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, one of the European country’s leading medical experts said this week. More click on the link below.

    https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3076334/coro…

    There is saying your life is in your hands so as guided by WHO: Wash your hands at least 20 seconds.

    • skid on 23/03/2020 - 16:08

      Unlikely that it originated in Italy in November. Italy's infection numbers would be far greater than China's.

      • moonleaf on 23/03/2020 - 16:24

        China total deaths 3,274
        Italy total deaths 5,476

        https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.h…

        • skid on 23/03/2020 - 16:57
          +1

          Stats from that site on 18th Feb 2020:

          Italy: 3 infected
          China: 72400 infected

          Why would this be if the virus started in Italy?

          • moonleaf on 23/03/2020 - 17:13
            -2

            @skid: I'm not saying it started it Italy as said probably there were already several strains of the coronavirus existing around the world. The Chinese strain was particularly virulent, eventually crossed borders, and mutated or combined with the local strains of different places around the world.

    • lainey13 on 25/03/2020 - 11:19

      I got a bit of a cold in late Jan, and have a dry mild cough ever since. I figured since I didn't travel it can't be COVID and just to live with the stares when I cough, but no point worrying about it. It was funny when I coughed on the train and people moved away. I have been wearing my mask when going outside since I started feeling ill in late Jan. I'm pretty sure it was just a normal cold though!

      • trapper on 25/03/2020 - 17:27
        -1

        If you're sick for any reason right now just stay home, last thing we all need is a cold going around too

  • AmpeD on 23/03/2020 - 17:17
    +1

    I'm a office worker, working for WA government department. I can fully do my role from home, but nothing has been said to work from home as yet. The social distancing like on the weekends is useless to me working in a office with 20-100 people at one time. Is there any direction I can use you persuade my workplace to make the call?

    • trapper on 23/03/2020 - 17:25
      +2

      You just gotta say look I'm not comfortable coming in to the office unnecessarily with a pandemic going on.

      • Ok computer on 23/03/2020 - 19:37

        Yep, talk it up. We have been preparing for the surge today… Social isolation is the name of the game.

    • moo on 23/03/2020 - 18:29
      -1

      You could resign..and if they ask why, just indicate your reasons. That could be an approach to take?

      • fozzie on 23/03/2020 - 22:19

        What kind of suggestion is this???? He is worried because you know 15000 people have died and you say he should resign!
        You are out of your mind.

    • inamotoichiban on 23/03/2020 - 20:55
      +2

      I’m surprised that a government organisation is not already making its workers work from home especially if they are able to.

      I’m sure many of your colleagues would feel the same way. Maybe you can raise it together? Say that you are all uncomfortable working within such close proximity given the current climate. It is definitely safer to work from home.

  • luffyex2010 on 23/03/2020 - 21:54

    Hey Doc, just curious, how many approx. ventilators equipments are usually available in a hospital?

    Lets say in your hospital, since this equipment is the life saviour of someone in critical condition.

    • inamotoichiban on 24/03/2020 - 09:19
      +3

      Normally there is one ventilator for every ICU bed. All ventilated patients are kept in ICU usually
      There are also some ventilators in theatres which will end up housing patients once our ICU beds are full, but they will also become full in a short period of time.

      There are only 2229 ICU beds in Australia.

      We are working on getting more ventilators, but please keep in mind that patients needing ventilators have a really high mortality rate.
      Just because someone is on a ventilator, does not mean that they will survive. Most will actually die.
      A study showed that approximately 70% of patients with COVID-19 needing a ventilator ended up dying.

      That is why prevention is so important.
      We have to take this seriously.

      • luffyex2010 on 24/03/2020 - 10:21

        Ok next question based on the coronavirus counter website.

        Australia
        Infected 1,887
        Day +278
        Death 7
        Total recovered 118
        Active cases 1,762
        Critical cases 11
        Cases per M pop 74

        So can I say that as long as the critical cases doesn't reach 2k the hospital can still cope right?

        • inamotoichiban on 24/03/2020 - 10:36
          +2

          Remember that there is a lag in the statistics due to the incubation period.

          In terms of numbers affected right now, it is more in the realm of what will be reported in 1 weeks time, which may be 10,000 or even more.
          Projections have been made saying that critical cases will rise exponentially and that our ICU beds will be full in 2 weeks time.

          Every bit we do now helps.
          It means less people will be sent home to die.
          1 person has the potential to be responsible for the infection of 59,000 other people

  • Sweet3st on 23/03/2020 - 23:02

    I'm interested in the link to hypertension as I suffer from that myself… I've never been able to work out if that's controlled/uncontrolled or no difference? My last check was 120/80 but I do take one med.

    • jc123 on 23/03/2020 - 23:19

      For the average adult 120/80 is within normal range and controlled.

    • cheaplee on 24/03/2020 - 08:06

      It would still count as a co-morbidity for the sake of outcomes. It is not necessarily uncontrolled hypertension that poses a risk. It is more along the lines that if you have hypertension, controlled or not, there is underlying pathology associated with it that we can't measure, such as increased atherosclerosis, not yet significant renal decline, etc.

  • DealsBoy on 23/03/2020 - 23:54

    Check out this clear video by UK ICU Professor about how easily Coronavirus can spread: (https://www.facebook.com/252079804817907/videos/205326770694…)

    Please share if you need convincing how widely and quickly this could spread if we aren't more careful.
    we have to:
    - physically distance by 2m between people,
    - wash your hands with soap and water regularly especially when touched things outside
    - isolate at home if unwell with fever, cough however mild it may seem etc

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