Doctors at The University of Kansas Health System say there’s a hint that the curve is flattening today as the count of inpatients with COVID-19 was 33, the same as reported yesterday. 9 patients are on ventilators, the same number as yesterday. 4 or 5 patients are waiting for test results. Doctors reminded us to wash our hands and teach our children proper hand hygiene, to keep hands away from their face and to cough into their elbow. They cautioned there is still much work to be done.
- Steve Stites, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the health system, says he knows Easter is this Sunday, but the best advice is to not have the big traditional family gathering this year, and maybe postpone it till later in the year when the crisis has passed. He also talks about clinical trials now underway to see if any existing medicines are effective in preventing or treating COVID-19. He says sheltering in place is still the best way for us to beat the virus.
- Dana Hawkinson, MD, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, says if you’re not infected, you’re probably affected by COVID-19. He addresses whether there’s any evidence that hydroxychloroquine, a drug for treating malaria, has any effect on COVID-19 patients. He also talks about whether it’s helpful to put a filter in your mask if you’re wearing one. And he reminds us that masks are mainly for keeping you from spreading germs rather than protecting you from others. He also talks about the potential for false negative results in some COVID-19 tests if they’re not done right or with the right equipment.
- Karin Porter-Williamson, MD, palliative care, says it’s very hard for those in the hospital to be separated from their family because of visitor restrictions. She says staff do all they can to connect patient with family by video conferencing and other means. As she puts it, “We’re trying to maintain physical distancing, not social distancing.” She also addresses the problems some medical teams are facing with saving as many lives as possible with sometimes limited resources. She also says it’s important to talk with loved ones about what’s important in life and do as much advance planning as possible.
- Mitchell Douglass, MD, medical director of the Marillac Campus, specializing in inpatient mental health care for children ages 4-17, also joined the panel by phone. He says the number of kids at risk for suicide coming to Marillac for treatment is way down. But the number of kids there who have actually attempted suicide is up. He explains why. He says it’s very important during this challenging time to check on your kids and see how they’re coping with the stress of being physically cut off from their friends.
Wednesday, April 8, at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call with media. Carrie Wieneke, MD, OBGYN, will join the panel to talk about pregnancy and COVID-19. The feed is now available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all. You will still need to call-in to ask questions.
Telephone dial-in Participants:
Dial: 1-913-588-2222, and enter 50041981# when prompted for the Call ID.
