Two ER Doctors Test Positive For COVID-19 (on opposite coasts - both in critical condition)

[Dennis Donovan]

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/covid-first-er-doctor-transmission-washington-new-jersey

By Josh Kovensky

March 15, 2020 12:38 a.m.

Two emergency room doctors on opposite sides of the country are in critical condition after contracting the novel coronavirus.

One doctor in his 70s in Patterson, New Jersey tested positive for the virus after coming down with respiratory symptoms, while another ER doctor in Washington state has symptoms consistent with the virus, the American College of Emergency Physicians said in a statement shared first with TPM.

Both cases are potential candidates for the first cases of so-called occupational transmission of the disease, by which the novel coronavirus spreads from patients to the doctors treating them.

But though the cases highlight the risk that emergency room doctors are taking in treating the illness, the extent of community transmission in Washington state and potentially across the U.S. makes it difficult to pinpoint the origin.

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[Chemisse]

1. Medical professionals are literally risking their lives to treat patients.

That is both admirable and horrifying.

Is that really the commitment you make when you become a physician or a nurse? What if you have small children at home who need you and are more important to you than the health of strangers? What do you do then?

[dewsgirl]

2. I think about this question often.

[IronLionZion]

3. "admirable and horrifying"

It's an honorable job that needs to be done. But unfortunately doctors and nurses are exposed to infectious diseases in the line of duty. They can also unwittingly transmit the disease without realizing it or showing any symptoms when they leave work. These folks have families who may include vulnerable elderly or immunocompromised, some take public transit, they buy groceries, etc. just like anyone else.

[BeckyDem]

4. You are right to ask this question and the answer

Should be we step up and help these families with relief .

[Magoo48]

5. Yes indeed,

communities need the resources to provide whatever health workers need to weather this outbreak.

[volstork]

6. It is an unspoken commitment

that healthcare workers make when entering into the field. The reality of it did not dawn on me until I was into training, but, as the years have worn on, I have come to realize that clinicians consciously or unconsciously agree to sacrifice our bodies (to an extent) in the service of the bodies of others.

[Chemisse]

9. That's what I was wondering.

And it makes sense that the realization would come gradually since the danger is not so apparent at first.

[Sgent]

11. Many professions I know

have rented hotels and/or hospitals have taken out leases during this epidemic. Once he treats his first case he's not planning on returning home for possibly months.

[Chemisse]

16. I guess that's the only way to protect their families.

What a sacrifice. I am just in awe of this.

[Hekate]

7. KnR

[Native]

8. Their PPE doesn't help as much as the general public may think - take masks for example...

I've read that the N95 masks they are wearing block at least .3 microns, but that Covid-19, like other Coronaviruses, is much smaller - .14 microns being the largest. Bottom line, our medical professionals are putting their lives on the line for us, like our firefighters, police officers, and other professionals.
---------------------------

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks

"According to an article published in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, ‘the electron micrographs of negative-stained 2019-nCoV particles were generally spherical with some pleomorphism. Diameter varied from about 60 to 140 nm. Virus particles had quite distinctive spikes, about 9 to 12 nm, and gave virions the appearance of a solar corona’. So, the size of 2019-nCoV coronavirus is around 125 nm (0.125 microns). The smallest particles are 0.06 microns, and the largest are 0.14 microns. The electron microscopy image showing SARS-CoV-2 virus can be seen here."
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0796-5/figures/1
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001017

[Chemisse]

10. I've read about that too when trying to figure out if the masks would be effective.

And yet they seem to work to a fair degree (I'm thinking of the study in China with the infected person on a train. Several sitting right near him with masks were not infected, but some several seats away without masks did get infected).

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coronavirus-can-travel-twice-far-official-safe-distance-and-stay

Aren't the virus particles riding on droplets that are larger than these pores?

[Native]

13. I don't know. I've submitted this question to CNN. They are collecting questions and personal

...stories they'll share and answer in upcoming stories. Here's the link: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/04/us/coronavirus-town-hall-questions/index.html

[uponit7771]

12. K&R, We need unfettered testing and isolation !!! We can't get that right now so we're screwed

[Duppers]

14. They should treat patients with hazmat suits on.

These people are heroes!!

[lindysalsagal]

15. Terrifying.