CORONAVIRUS TRANSMISSION - WHAT WE KNOW AS OF 03/20/2020

As of 03/20/2020 we still don't know enough about Coronavirus transmission.

MY VIEW

From my personal extensive analysis of the available data (references are available on this page) it is clear to me that the virus can be transmitted in the following way:

• Droplets (when someone with COVID-19 coughs or sneezes)
• Surface transmission (when these droplets land on surfaces and someone touches them)

Additionally, it appears that SARS-CoV-2 (the Coronavirus responsible for this pandemic) 

• may also present in the infected individual's gastrointestinal tract, stool, and urine
• aerosol transmission (through the air) is a possibility.

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EXPERT VIEW

Check out a litter from an expert on the subject of transmission. It is really eye-opening...

CLICK HERE to view the blog post with the letter.

Please take the time to read the letter. It is important. Please share it as well.

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WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

Be conscientious about your own hygiene and take active measures to protect yourself and others:

• self-isolate as much as you can even if you are not sick
• cover your cough and sneeze
• sanitize surfaces before and after you touch something
• wash your hands for 20 seconds before and after you touch something
• if soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• keep 6-foot distance with anyone who does not live in your home
• if you have to be out of your home and are not able to maintain a 6-foot distance (like during pharmacy or grocery shopping) use a scarf to protect yourself from anyone's cough or sneeze (and to protect others in case you cough or sneeze); wash the scarf after each use
• if you care for someone who is sick with respiratory symptoms, wear a mask and gloves
• avoid coming in direct contact with anyone's bodily fluids (wear gloves, and wash your hands extensively, if you do)
• if you have masks or any other personal protective equipment, consider donating it to healthcare workers in your area.

I know this is a lot to take in, but it will save lives.

​I am sorry if the information keeps changing all the time! I will do my best to continue keeping you updated. 

With love and care, 
Dr. Maria Danilychev, MD
www.danilychev.com

P.S.: Below are some images that may help makes sense of all the PPE (personal protective equipment)

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

When around people outside of your home:

To protect yourself from droplets in case some coughs or sneezes on you (and to protect the others from your own accidental cough or sneeze), you can use a scarf if you are not sick and a mask if you are (PS: please don't go in public if you are sick):

IF YOU ARE NOT SICK

ONLY IF YOU ARE SICK

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PPE for healthcare workers

ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK AT ALL TIMES!!!

Standard earloop mask is not enough in a healthcare setting - it does not offer as much protection from SARS-CoV-2 as N95 masks, which should be the masks of choice for healthcare providers (in addition to other PPE).

SIDE TIP: Since a face mask has to be discarded after EACH sick contact, to preserve the supply of N95 many doctors wear a standard earloop mask over the N95 and discard that standard mask after each patient, which allows them to use the N95 longer. This is not ideal, of course.

Image from CDC website

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OK

BASIC DROPLET PRECAUTIONS PPE (regular face mask + face shield + gown + gloves)

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BETTER

PPE NEEDED BY MOST HEALTHCARE WORKERS NOW (N95 mask + face shield + gown + gloves)

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BEST

BEST PPE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS WORKING WITH SARS-CoV-2 PATIENTS (PAPR + suit + gloves)

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If you are sick at the hospital with a respiratory infection, you want all your doctors and care providers to look like the BEST photo above in the ideal case scenario.

Which masks are currently provided to healthcare workers? Very few get PAPRs, many do not have access to N95s, some healthcare workers don't even have enough regular masks, any many are instructed by their hospital administrators to wear suboptimal protective equipment to avoid "scaring" the public. Honestly, I would be more scared of a doctor who is unprotected and may be passing germs around, then the one who is fully "suited up".

Please do whatever you can to help! You don't want people in the front lines to start getting sick and dying. Who is going to help the rest of the people?

Physicians are notorious for being really bad at advocating for themselves. I've been asking everyone how is not adequately protected by their healthcare organization to speak up, but very few people are doing it. It will take a public outcry to for this horrible situation to change. 

I am doing everything I can to increase public awareness of this issue which is largely hidden from the public eye and which is not being adequately addressed.

Please spread the word! Please find ways to contribute PPE to healthcare workers near you!