This is something I have been anxious about for some time. Data are hard to come by as health services are rapidly overwhelmed, but study of the early reports and case series from both Wuhan and Lombardy have led me to worry that healthcare may itself become a risk 1/n
This is only exacerbated by the chronic lack of PPE that is being suffered far and wide. Innovative solutions are needed for this, and to develop robust supply chains and confidence that orders will be fulfilled promptly 2/n
Cohorting will also be important - separating out the #COVID patients from the others in specific facilities large enough to accommodate them. They should also be cared for by dedicated teams that have the minimal contact possible with the rest of the healthcare system 3/n
As for the rest of healthcare, the potential for asymptomatic transmission should lead to caution. Just as physical distancing comes from the insight that we should assume we are infected, and seek to not infect others, we should recognize transmission possible here too 4/n
Ideally, we would be able to all wear N95s. But, again, PPE shortages. This could have been foreseen (indeed it was), like the need for many more ventilators. Now people on the frontline are having to recycle their masks. Our system was not designed for such strain 5/n
The many amazing people who are working day and night to minimize the loss from this pandemic are incredible professionals. They are trained to conduct complex procedures minimizing risk for them and those they care for - but they need the PPE to stay safe 6/n
This maybe more widely understood than is my impression. And I know that PPE and cohorting are part of the conversation at many levels. But I've been anxious about the possibility of this for weeks - and then I read that article 7/fin
PS - data from S. Korea don't seem to show this. But SK cases skew younger so *generally* on the less severe side and less likely to need hospitalization
