Thread by @jason_buick

1/
Its been drilled into us the importance of #PPE & proper disinfecting to limit disease transmission. Off the job, its proper #HandHygiene, #SocialDistancing & self-monitoring of symptoms. #FlattenTheCurve or the hospitals will be overloaded.
Here is why #COVID19 worries me!

2/
Named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Like MERS and SARS, #COVID19 is an infection of the respiratory system.

3/
First identified in Wuhan, China in Dec 2019. #COVID19 has reached 169 countries, with ~235,000 cases and ~10,000 deaths. And it is spreading quickly. It took over 3 months to reach the first 100,000 cases, and only 12 days to reach the next 100,000.
who.int/emergencies/di…

4/
Not every patient has traditional symptoms (cough, fever, SOB).

Symptoms include:
Fever: 44-98%
Fatigue: 23-70%
Cough: 59-82%
SOB: 19-42%
Sputum: 19-34%
Muscle & joint pain: 11-35%
Headache: 8-14%
Sore throat: 5-14%
NVD: 1-20%
canadiem.org/covid-19/

5/
Fever is NOT required to diagnose #COVID19. Only 44% of patient had fever upon presentation. This increases to 89% upon admission.
@NEJM
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

6/
Take precautions when performing aerosol generating procedures such as:

CPR
Intubation
BVM ventilations
CPAP
Nebulized medications
Suctioning

Make sure to wear all your #PPE. This is why we need mask, gloves, goggles & gowns #GetMePPE #SafetyFirst

https://twitter.com/amychomd/status/1240030939624939523?s=20

7/
#COVID19 is NOT just a disease among elderly patients. Any age can have it! Evidence from South Korea & Italy highlight this.
Italy - older population, tested only symptomatic patients
South Korea - younger population, tested everyone
@AndreasShrugged
medium.com/@andreasbackha…

8/
Young people ARE susceptible to COVID-19 and are in fact carriers of the disease. They also appear to be largely asymptomatic. Consider lowering your threshold for wearing #PPE with this population. #SocialDistancing #PhysicalDistancing #GetMePPE

annals.org/aim/fullarticl…

9/
The virus also affects kids but their presentations are different.

Symptoms include:
Cough: 49%
Throat swelling: 46%
Fever: 41%

Less common ones (<10%) include diarrhea, fatigue, runny nose & vomiting

They too can be contagious. #SocialDistancing

nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

10/
In Canada, don’t be fooled into a false sense of security b/c our case numbers are low. There is a bottleneck of available test & turnaround times.

Additionally, cases are not limited to travellers. We are starting to see cases of #CommunitySpread!

canada.ca/en/public-heal…

11/
While it needs a living host to replicate, it can remain viable for hours on different materials.

In the air - 3hrs
On Copper - 4hrs
On Cardboard - 24hrs
On Stainless steel - 48hrs
On Plastic - 72hrs

Disinfect constantly #BePrepared
nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NE…

12/
But there are reasons to be optimistic:
1)Social Distancing works
2)China reports decreasing incidence of COVID19
3)Researchers @Sunnybrook have isolated the virus which will help with testing, treatments & vaccines
4)Vaccines & drug trials are ongoing
sunnybrook.ca/research/media…

13/
So yes we are in for some tough times ahead. And yes I am still worried.
But we will get through this. Our training, skills & expertise have prepared us for this. Communities are coming together, united in our fight, confident in our own abilities.
#WeAreInThisTogether

14/
So here is my final message to everyone there.

"We are at work for you. Please stay at home for us."

#SocialDistancing #COVID19 #StayHomeWhenYourAreSick
#SelfIsolation #StaySafeStayHome #StayHomeCanada #FlattenTheCurve #Paramedics

/end

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