Pine Island Pandemic Task Force formulates COVID action plan
Although cases have declined, there are currently some severe cases of COVID-19, Dr,. Daniel Hanley reported at the Feb. 7 meeting of the Pine Island Pandemic Task Force. He said patients are still being sent to the hospital for falling oxygen levels, and heart rate, among other tell-tale signs.
“Other than that, most people with COVID seem to be doing quite well … I do believe we are headed toward that endemic part of the pandemic,” Hanley said.
Treatment options remain limited statewide, said Hanley, even for the immuno-compromised. When patients come to his clinic, testing is done and his first priority, he said, is making sure they’re stable, especially if they’re symptomatic, presenting with congestion, sore throat, body aches, fever or coughing. Most of the results are negative, he said, with the positive results clearing quickly.
“At this point, I do feel like the better utility, for us as a Task Force, might be to start to plan ahead for the post-pandemic phase, because there will be spikes, there will be different variants coming out. The medications will be more available in the future … I do believe we are on the right track on the whole,” Hanley said.
Although the U.S. does not have the same vaccination rates as other countries, Hanley said he feels confident that most of the unvaccinated have likely already had COVID. Getting vaccinated, he said, is a personal choice he leaves to the discretion of his patients.
Fellow Task Force member Dr. James Koopman said he feels confident that treatment will be more readily available soon, with treatment available now for very high-risk patients. Talking about an allocation system, he said, is worth the effort.
Task Force member Martha Huard said it might be up to the Task Force to educate people as to who needs the treatment versus who doesn’t, once it becomes available.
Hanley said it’s important that the Task Force be useful in disseminating news that will be immediately helpful.
“I want us to be relevant, because we run the risk of being tuned out,” Hanley said.
Huard agreed but said there is also a risk in people becoming complacent in a lack of consideration to severe complications.
Hanley suggested a COVID action plan, easily referred to for those who may need to understand what to look for and when to seek help.
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