The University of Kansas Health System continues to see a steady number of COVID-19 patients. The number dropped to 10 today compared to 11 yesterday. Five of those patients are in the ICU, down from six yesterday with two on ventilators.
Dr. Wissam El Atrouni, associate professor of Medicine in the division of infectious diseases, teams up with fellow infectious disease physician Dr. Hawkinson to answer questions around safe summer travel just as Dr. Hawkinson is about to go on vacation. Dr. Danielle Johnson joins the conversation to help with anxiety over hitting the road during a pandemic. Psychologist Dr. Greg Nawalanic talks about the stress of working from home.
Dr. Nawalanic discussed how stressful it is for many people working from home during the pandemic. He calls it “routine chaos” He stresses how important it is to develop a routine and structure for your day, such as when you go to bed and when you wake up and stick with it just as if you were going to the office. He says it’s important to have a dedicated work space and that parents need to consider alternating work hours, so each has time to watch the kids.
Dr. Johnson says the pandemic has been tough for many people because they feel a loss of control. For some even a trip to the grocery store is impossible because of a fear of the unknown. Children are sad because they miss their friends and activities, and high school seniors who have missed traditions such as prom and graduation feel especially isolated. She suggests looking for ways to control parts of your day, and says activities like meditation, yoga or running are really helpful. She also addressed the question of traveling and how to safely bring family social bubbles together.
Dr. El Atrouni believes we’re past the peak of COVID-19 patients at the health system. He’s noticed the anxiety level among patients and staff is reduced. He also thinks the number of flu cases this coming season might be less because of all the precautions we already have in place. He believes plane travel this summer can be safe, with proper precautions. In fact, he thinks plane travel is safer now than several months ago because most are only half full, which allows for proper social distancing. He says you should always check the latest rules on quarantine from any state you plan to visit. He also warns us to take seriously any mild symptoms we have and not to believe it’s just allergies.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, is heading to the beach. He described the precautions he’s taking to keep safe while traveling. He also plans to report in from his destination to show how he’s staying safe while having fun. On other matters, he says it’s encouraging that there has not been a surge of COVID-19 patients in rural areas, especially those with meatpacking plants. He reminded us all that anyone can spread the virus without knowing you have it. He also says drugs like remdesivir continue to show promise in lessening the length and severity of the disease.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at the health system, says he tried Dr. Johnson’s suggestion of meditation…and found out it works. He too is planning a trip and says he will also report back on how he is traveling and vacationing safely. He says combining social bubbles, especially among relatives, is a matter of how much risk you’re willing to tolerate. He says while there’s no right answer to blending the bubbles, it’s important to factor in elderly and those with medical conditions that make them vulnerable. He believes how we treat each other in this pandemic will define us.
Wednesday, June 10 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. What does social isolation do to a person? What are the signs you’re suffering social isolation? Is social isolation dangerous? Who is most at risk? What do medical experts advise? What does social isolation do to my brain? What is the difference between social isolation and loneliness? How can we help the seniors in our families cope? Neurologist Dr. Jeff Burns, Co-Director of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center joins Dr. Elizabeth Muenks, psychologist.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
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For those without Zoom, call 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.
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