Covid Update: Strength in Tenacity
“My strength is in my tenacity.”
– Louis Pasteur
Aloha Colleagues!
The virus that causes COVID-19 has been known to us for barely 6 months yet has turned our lives & futures upside down. While the world still seeks answers to many questions, we have faced many challenges & in doing so learned many things.
Facts:
*COVID 19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and talking.
*Asymptomatic individuals can shed virons & infect others.
*Currently, is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
*Surgical masks are essential protect others in the environment.
*Immunotherapy is currently in clinical trials with human subjects.
*The research on chloroquine deaths in hospitalized patients has been retracted by Lancet & The New England Journal of Medicine.
* Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is associated with COVID 19 illness and exposure. The cause is yet unknown, but it may involve heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or GI tract. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children recover with medical & nursing care.
*Public health measures have been effective in “flattening the curve” but recent violence loosening of restrictions is concerning.
*In the United States there have been
1,891,690 cases of COVID 19 and
109,192 total deaths.
*Until recently, Hawaii seemed to have escaped the worst of COVID 19 with
673 total cases and 17 deaths. However, clusters of new cases have emerged in the last several days causing serious concern and underlining the need for community infection control practices.
*COVID-19 associated stressors – including the social, financial, and emotional- are causing increased incidence of anxiety and depression. Those at especially high risk include those who
- Had mental health concerns before the outbreak. • Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- Children and teens.
- People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like nurses, doctors, other health care providers, and first responders.
- People who problems with substance use.
- People who live in lower-income households or have language barriers.
- Experience stigma because of age, race or ethnicity, disability, or perceived likelihood of spreading COVID-19.
Nurses are being hailed as COVID -19 heroes around the world. Now more than ever, we need to stay focused and honor our profession and the trust the public places in us.
Mahalo for all you do!
For more information visit:
For more information visit
https://www.hawaiidata.org/covid19
https://search.cdc.gov/search/index.html?query=Covid&sitelimit=&utf8=✓&affiliate=cdc-main
