Another slight dip today in the number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System. 17 patients are being treated for the virus, down from 18 yesterday. Seven patients are being treated in the ICU, up from six yesterday, but only two are on ventilators, down from six yesterday. Doctors remind us the health system was down to 9 or 10 patients a couple of weeks ago, then jumped to 24 in a short time. They’re hopeful this downward trend continues and think the recent mandatory mask orders in Kansas City, Wyandotte County and the State of Kansas will help.
Fireworks injuries typically make the headlines during this time of year. Dhaval Bhavsar, MD, who specializes in plastic surgery and burns, joins us to talk about the immediate physical dangers with fireworks while Dr. Hawkinson addresses the COVID-19 risks verses rewards of family and social gatherings to shoot off those fireworks
Dr. Bhavsar is worried about the July 4th holiday this year. He says after three-and-a half months of having to stay inside and away from big crowds, and with many public displays canceled because of COVID-19, more people are likely to shoot off fireworks at home. He and the burn and trauma teams usually see injuries to children from sparklers and serious injuries to young adults, mostly males, from mortars. He had advice on knowing when to seek medical help for a burn and said the health system’s burn team will be fully staffed for the holiday weekend. His best advice is to be safe, watch out for the kids and don’t drink and use fireworks. Some safe alternatives to fireworks are confetti poppers, glow-in-the-dark bubbles, glow sticks, silly string, glow paint, color flashlights and rocket straws.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, agrees this weekend will be challenging, not just in preventing fireworks injuries, but in preventing the spread of the virus. He says family gatherings are likely to be larger, and social distancing, mask wearing, and hand hygiene will be vital in keeping the numbers down. He thinks the Kansas governor’s new mandatory masking rule will help change the culture around masks and says for the time being it’s the best thing to do. He answered the question about whether masks are dangerous by saying they are not, and there is enough room for the carbon dioxide we exhale to escape. He says unless you have a disease like COPD or lung cancer, everyone can wear a mask. He advises having 2-3 cloth masks on hand and keep them clean. He says to “treat your mask like underwear.” That means not manipulating it many times a day, making sure everything is covered by having it rest on the bridge of your nose, and keeping it clean. He says wearing a mask is being considerate of others.
Tuesday, June 30 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman joins us to walk us through state mandated mask wearing that take effect in two days. Dr. Joseph LeMaster, Johnson County Public Health Officer and Tracey Osborn Oltjen, President of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce speak to how the business community and county is taking the news, plus answer questions about public Fourth of July celebrations.
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