The Risks

As of May 4th Florida began re-opening as a phased approach. Phase I has begun and although a date has not been announced yet, many businesses are preparing for Phase 2 re-openings, including bars, gyms, theaters and capacity at restaurants, retail, and salons will increase. It has been said that infections rates, and hospitalization rates will be monitored for increases during Phase 1 and if successful then we will progress to Phase 2. Obviously, with business reopening and people are more exposed to each other the risk of infection definitely increases. There is a lot that we still don’t know about this virus but there is also a lot that we have learned within just the last 2-3 months. We know that the risk of exposure is less when outdoors and much greater indoors. We know that longer exposure time leads to greater exposure risk. Briefer encounters tend to be less risky. We know that activities that increase the droplet release from the nose or mouth increases exposures such as talking, yelling, coughing, singing, or sneezing. We know that face coverings that cover both the nose and mouth decreases the amount of droplets expelled and therefore decreases risk. If everyone that is exposed to each other wears a mask or face covering that exposure decreases even more so. We know that staying at minimum 6 ft apart decreases risk. We know that respiratory droplets can land on surfaces or can be placed there via people’s hands. The next person that touches this surface can transfer the droplets from their hands to their eyes, nose, mouth, or face and that can cause it to be able to infect that person. We know that washing your hands and/or sanitizing when water is not available can decrease this risk. As you can see, I have described situations as decreased or increased risk. I never said zero risk or no risk or even exact numbers. The more we know, the more we can make educated decisions about our own actions and how we can decrease our risk and our family’s risk of exposure.
Please read this excellent article that explains some of the large outbreaks and how easily they occurred in restaurants, choir practice, sporting events, etc. and what you can do to protect yourself.

Brief encounters while social distancing outdoors seems to be the lowest risk. Wearing a mask and others around you also wearing a mask, especially when indoors, along with hand hygiene and sanitation measures, is the best way to decrease risk indoors if being indoors is necessary for work or if you decided to visit a business.
Public Health officials have had to deal with very unprecedented times. These are the same organizations that have implemented public health measures such as seat belts, air bags, fire alarms, traffic lights, gun safety, and so many more. All of these measures were based on large studies and data showing that human lives were at risk and they studied ways to decrease these risks. All of these issues have had measures implemented to decrease our risk and have become laws and fines are associated with breaking these laws. These measures were implemented to protect us. We do not see people protesting against seat belt use. Seat belt use protects the wearer. Except in rare instances, it does not protect anyone else. It is to protect your personal safety. Wearing a mask also helps protect you but in this case it also helps to protect others around you and those around those people. One person that is potentially an asymptomatic spreader of Covid19 can potentially affect the lives of hundreds of people. Not just those that become infected but also their family members that may lose them to complications. Think about the child that loses a parent, the parent that loses a child, the family that loses the bread winner, the business that loses the owner and employees are left without a job. There are so many scenarios and so many people that can be affected by one persons actions or inactions.
Unfortunately, Covid is here to stay. We have entered a new era. Our way of life has changed and will continue to change. As humans we adapt to change. Things may not be done exactly how you are used to but that is why humans are so resilient. We can learn. We can adapt. We can implement innovative changes and ideas. We can overcome anything we set our minds to. It’s all about our mindset. Instead of fighting against change, let’s embrace it. Let’s fight for our survival. We will overcome this just like we have overcome everything else life has thrown at us. In order to do so we need to educate ourselves and make intelligent choices. We need to build new habits and new routines. We need to work together not against each other.
At Velez Family Health, we are working on implementing innovative changes to keep us and our patients safe. We are sourcing protective equipment for the practice and implementing new protocols and procedures for when we reopen. We do not have a date when we will be able to see patients in office just yet. Our date depends on how quickly we can source all the proper supplies which has been difficult due to shortages and increased demand with many other businesses also reopening. Once we have everything we need to properly serve you, we will announce a phased re-opening. We will continue televideo for now and continue it as much as possible even after re-opening.
For a great article that explains in more detail about the risks and how to avoid them please click here.
Please feel free to share. Everyone can use this information right now. Stay safe! Remember, we are all in the same storm but in different kinds of boats. Take care of each other. Be kind to each other.