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Real talk on tonight's AETN Arkansas Week broadcast with Steve Barnes. Words were not minced.
It featured:
Dr. Cam Patterson from @uamshealth
Dr. Joe Thompson from @ACHI_Net
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha from @ADHPIO
Key takeaways and quotes:
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It featured:
Dr. Cam Patterson from @uamshealth
Dr. Joe Thompson from @ACHI_Net
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha from @ADHPIO
Key takeaways and quotes:
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Hospital capacity Issues:
- Dr. Patterson said the ICU at UAMS was full.
- Capacity includes not just beds, but ventilators, PPE and other resources
- Resources in the state may not always be in the right place at the right time to meet all needs
- Dr. Patterson said the ICU at UAMS was full.
- Capacity includes not just beds, but ventilators, PPE and other resources
- Resources in the state may not always be in the right place at the right time to meet all needs
Dr. Patterson: "As this progresses, we will see capacity constraints and limitations on our ability to provide care unless we effectively bend the curve soon."
The current situation in Arkansas:
- Dr. Thompson: We are at the risk of losing control. We've breached 10% positive 5 times in the last 2 weeks. We're seeing 20-30% increase in hospitalization and ventilator use week over week.
- Dr. Patterson: We are clearly on the edge.
- Dr. Thompson: We are at the risk of losing control. We've breached 10% positive 5 times in the last 2 weeks. We're seeing 20-30% increase in hospitalization and ventilator use week over week.
- Dr. Patterson: We are clearly on the edge.
Dr. Thompson: The EU and the US both experienced the same initial spike, but today the EU will have about 4-5,000 new cases a day, and the US will have about 55,000 new cases a day; despite the EU having 1/3 more people than the US. "This is controllable."
Politicization of the Virus:
Dr. Thompson: "We need to overcome political polarization and we need to not play games here. This is a threat to our economy. This is a threat to our families. This is a threat to our individual health moving forward...
Dr. Thompson: "We need to overcome political polarization and we need to not play games here. This is a threat to our economy. This is a threat to our families. This is a threat to our individual health moving forward...
...and we do not need it to become a political football as, unfortunately, it has become."
Dr. Patterson: "Masking is not a political issue. It's a science issue. Social distancing is not a political issue. It's a science issue."
Dr. Patterson: "Masking is not a political issue. It's a science issue. Social distancing is not a political issue. It's a science issue."
School Reopening:
Dr. Thompson: Every superintendent should strive to have every student wear a face covering if they can't guarantee 6 feet of social distancing. Schools don't need to question whether facial coverings should be required this fall.
Dr. Thompson: Every superintendent should strive to have every student wear a face covering if they can't guarantee 6 feet of social distancing. Schools don't need to question whether facial coverings should be required this fall.
Dr. Patterson: "Not place has opened schools with a rising rate of infection. So no matter what we do, we need to be prepared to be surprised. We need to put as much effort into our plans to shut down schools as we're putting into opening them back up...
...Because, inevitably, we will have to shut down school systems once they've opened up if outbreaks occur in those school districts."
Masks:
Dr. Patterson: We need a uniform policy for masks across the state.
Masks:
Dr. Patterson: We need a uniform policy for masks across the state.
Vaccinate your darn kids:
Dr. Dillaha: We've seen a decrease in the number of doses of childhood vaccinations given during Covid. It could be partially because clinics were closed for a period of time, but it could also stem from anti-vax, anti-science rhetoric....
Dr. Dillaha: We've seen a decrease in the number of doses of childhood vaccinations given during Covid. It could be partially because clinics were closed for a period of time, but it could also stem from anti-vax, anti-science rhetoric....
....It's safe to get children caught up on their vaccines. There's plenty of PPE, and parents don't have to worry about contracting Covid on the visit.
"The last thing we need is measles and Covid."
"The last thing we need is measles and Covid."
Unknowns about long-term implications:
Dr. Patterson: Covid can cause long-term changes to lungs, heart, and central nervous system.
Dr. Dillaha: There's no indication that people can expect lasting immunity to Covid. It will likely be possible to get it over and over again.
Dr. Patterson: Covid can cause long-term changes to lungs, heart, and central nervous system.
Dr. Dillaha: There's no indication that people can expect lasting immunity to Covid. It will likely be possible to get it over and over again.
If you missed the link the first time, I'm posting it again below. Worth a full watch. Excellent questions from Steve Barnes. Legend. https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/programs/arkansasweek/s38/arkansas_week_covid-19_outlook
