Thread by @DrRobDavidson

#Coronavirus Thread>>> I am seeing many patients with respiratory “flu-like” illness as I have every “flu” season for the past 2 decades. With mixed messages from the @realDonaldTrump administration and reports of cases without known exposure, people are concerned that they 1/7

might have #COVID19. I have thoroughly read the @CDC related guidelines, and I am still not entirely sure what to tell them. I know that their risk is low if they have not had contact with a known infected individual, and if they have not travelled to any number of 2/7

countries listed on the CDC website. Even as this outbreak evolves and we have more cases in more communities, the risk of serious illness with young healthy people is very low. The concern now is for the elderly and chronically ill population for whom the mortality rate 3/7

seems to be an order of magnitude higher than that for influenza. The CDC recommends isolation and referral for screening for anyone with “severe” lower respiratory tract infection without an alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza), and no identified source of 4/7

exposure. This would include all of my admitted pneumonia patients. Am I to isolate every one of them and refer for testing/screening? What is the co-infection rate with influenza? If significant, should a positive influenza=no screening for coronavirus? 5/7

As of now, I am wearing a mask and gloves in every room and washing/sterilizing my hands religiously.

I am educating my patients on best practices to reduce the spread of infectious disease. 6/7

As to whether or not you should go to the hospital with symptoms, that is up to you. Just know that without known exposure, concerning travel, or severe/significant symptoms, you will likely not get tested for coronavirus, and you will likely be sent home. 7/7