In July, I wrote an article on COVID-19 and the re-opening of America. Many parts of America are open for a return to life. It is now September and the media is still focused on COVID-19. As an active clinician, I am challenged to sort through the myriad of opinions and studies. I receive dozens of reports daily. Everyone sees COVID-19 from a different angle. Many of those I serve have questions.
Here are a few take-home points so far.
- The messenger RNA named COVID-19 is very contagious.
- COVID-19 is real. The clinical implications are vast.
- COVID-19 has been politicized.
- Dealing with a pandemic in real-time is confusing and can promote fear.
Here is some good news. Diagnostics, treatments, and work on a vaccine are improving.
Dr. Anderson Bostom who is at the medical school at Brown University in Rhode Island has done research into the epidemiology of university students returning to school. Data is available at the CDC website, National Center for Health Statistics, and state public health websites.
On 29 campuses, nearly 29,000 COVID-19 viral RNA positives have been identified. Testing has been via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or C19 nucleocapsid protein antigen detection by immunofluorescent assay.
In this group of nearly 29,000 students, there have been no hospitalizations or deaths. This is good news. We are learning how to live with COVID-19.
Depression, anxiety, and fear are improving. I want to leave you another bit of good news from the Bible. 1 John 4:18, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear.
Hopefully, we will all learn to accept the negatives and focus on the positives. Learning to better love one another is a positive to focus on.
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