OK, even while we continue to push & plan for #shutdownNYC, I'm starting to have a new concern that I want to share:
In a few days, testing will start to be more broadly available. Many people will want to rush to it.
But that will be a big mistake. Here's why. THREAD
In a few days, testing will start to be more broadly available. Many people will want to rush to it.
But that will be a big mistake. Here's why. THREAD
Unless you or your loved one is urgently sick & need hospitalization, you should stay home.
Most people who have COVID-19 need to stay at home, like you would with a flu, drink fluids, rest, and get better.
That’s what they'd tell you at the testing center.
Most people who have COVID-19 need to stay at home, like you would with a flu, drink fluids, rest, and get better.
That’s what they'd tell you at the testing center.
If many people flood the testing centers, some who are infected, and some who are not, we’ll be creating petri dishes for sharing the virus.
Here's the biggest point: We face a very serious shortage of masks & personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
If those masks are used for testing, they won't available at hospitals for frontline healthcare workers as seriously ill people start flooding in next week.
If those masks are used for testing, they won't available at hospitals for frontline healthcare workers as seriously ill people start flooding in next week.
Obviously, we should have enough masks and PPE for a crisis like this.
But we don’t.
And the same thing is happening all over the country, and all over the world.
But we don’t.
And the same thing is happening all over the country, and all over the world.
I really get that this is counterintuitive. We have been hearing how bad it is that we weren’t testing earlier.
And if we could have identified the first few cases and quarantined them, that would have been great.
But we are way beyond that.
And if we could have identified the first few cases and quarantined them, that would have been great.
But we are way beyond that.
So: I’m thinking it may actually be a mistake at this point to set up walk-in or drive-by testing centers for non-critical cases.
We need to preserve the capacity of our health care system -- masks, gear, health-care workers, rooms, everything -- for the most serious cases.
We need to preserve the capacity of our health care system -- masks, gear, health-care workers, rooms, everything -- for the most serious cases.
If you or a loved one is sick, but not in an urgent condition: Stay home & call your doctor. Or 311 to get routed to a healthcare provider. Or call the New York Presbyterian Hospital hotline at: 646-697-4000.
If you or a loved one needs hospitalization, you’ll need to go to the hospital.
But for those who are mildly sick: please stay home, and resist the urge to get a test to find out for sure. If you’re wondering if you have coronavirus … just assume that you do.
But for those who are mildly sick: please stay home, and resist the urge to get a test to find out for sure. If you’re wondering if you have coronavirus … just assume that you do.
It’s weird that in this crisis, the right phrase might be: “Heroes don’t get tested.”
But seriously, the way for us to be heroes, collectively, is to do all we can to slow the spread, and preserve capacity in our health care system for those who are seriously ill.
But seriously, the way for us to be heroes, collectively, is to do all we can to slow the spread, and preserve capacity in our health care system for those who are seriously ill.
