Simple things you need to grasp about Covid-19
Claudewell S. Thomas, MD, MPH, DLFAPA, is an established psychiatrist who is currently retired ,, He received his medical degree in 1956 at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and specializes in social psychiatry, public health psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Thomas was board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry... more
Two words that need to be understood are connectivity and superinfection. The first in pandemic terms is the measurable connectedness between humans who are subject to infection or contamination by a pathogen. A zero distance means physical contact a three-foot distance is probably the traversable distance by a slight sneeze or cough; this distance goes up to six feet as the force intensifies. The droplets left on surfaces with viable pathogens reduce the distance once again to zero and can remain viable for hours, days, or weeks.
This brings us to social distancing as a containment concept applicable when the disease is established in the population and it is clear that prevention has failed. This is where we are in the USA and the 120(?) nations afflicted. Total distancing is isolation (quarantine), restriction of crowd size, closing down of mass events, schools, etc, the substitution of online classes, etc, ordering sustenance online, etc, are all doable for a time but it is clear that the home economy (not Wall Street) will break down after a time measured most probably in months rather than years.
The other word superinfection refers to a massive infection or repeated infection by an original agent or more likely an invasion by another pathogenic agent while the host is battling a first invader. It is this phenomenon that makes older people so likely to die. Basically organ systems such as kidney, liver, heart lungs, intestine, are weakened by first diseases and immune and other responses to the new invader flag or fail. So if you visit a Covid-19 site and then visit elderly parents or grandparents, you are inviting these discussed mechanisms to kill them.
On a personal note, my wife and I lost a good friend a few days ago. FBW was a mother, a divorced wife, a thespian, a member of SAG, a librarian, a great cook, an approved Lyft driver and a kind and caring person. She suffered from diabetic hypertension which seemed under control with medical care. She would often drive by with food and goodies and even drive us around. On her last visit, she complained of a headache which she hadn't before. She drove home with the advice to take acetaminophen and contact her LMD. Apparently she collapsed in the home and died a day or so after the visit.
While the cause of death was likely diabetic heart disease, there is a possibility that she was struck down by Covid-19. The lack of test kits is disgraceful. We will continue our protective isolation but we will sorely miss our friend and supporter who read and offered insights to this publication. Goodbye FBW and may flights of angels see thee to your rest.
