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CV🦠News, Week of November 9, 2020

 

Covid-19

 

Hopeful (yet careful) greetings, TVD friends,

Hopeful! Most of you have read about the preliminary report from Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, regarding their candidate COVID-19 vaccine. In a placebo-controlled trial involving 44,000 patients (so far) an interim analysis not only showed protection but at a level of 90%. This would be fantastic news if this holds true once the study is completed. And so far, no serious safety concerns have been reported. You can read more about this in the New York Times here and here

Careful! Just this week, and in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday,  Health Officers from the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma, and the city of Berkeley have issued joint recommendations for staying safe during the Thanksgiving holiday. In short, if you gather in person, keep it small, short, stable, and outdoors.  Also, nonessential travel, including holiday travel, is not recommended.  Travel outside the Bay Area will increase your chance of getting infected and spreading the virus to others after your return.  For those who are traveling, there are tips to help avoid catching COVID-19 or spreading it to fellow travelers.  If you travel outside the Bay Area, it is strongly recommended that you self-quarantine for 14 days after your return if your activities while traveling put you at higher risk of getting COVID-19.  

Eric Weiss, MD, Nov 9, 2020

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How do I date in the time of Coronavirus?

The desire for human connection hasn’t waned during the pandemic, and singles, some for the first time, are turning to virtual dating when the usual ways of meeting people have decreased as the pandemic endures.  I have heard many say they think, even after the pandemic, virtual first dates will continue to occur at higher rates than before. This is due to their convenience and, often, their effect on conversations going deeper than the usual surface level. 

For a great overview on the current trends in online dating and recommendations from relationship and health professionals on how to navigate dating during these times, these articles in WebMD Health News and on NPR provide a helpful guide… Read more  

Jennifer Abrams, MD, November 10, 2020

 

How flu is different from COvid-19

​​​​Both the flu (influenza) and COVID-19 are contagious and will be spreading this fall and winter. They have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart.

Fortunately, we have a vaccine​ to help prevent the flu​. Make sure your child gets a flu shot, ideally by the end of October or sooner. This is more important than ever this flu season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both infections can cause no symptoms (asymptomatic) or include mild to severe symptoms. Flu symptoms show up about 1 to 4 days after being exposed to a sick person. COVID-19 symptoms appear about 2 to 14 days after being exposed to a sick person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC​), shared and unique symptoms may include:

Common symptoms of BOTH Influenza and COVID-19

  • Fever/chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Stuffy, runny nose
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Symptom more likely with COVID-19

  • Loss of taste or smell

 Read more

 Sky Pittson, MD, November 11, 2020

 

COvid-19 Flu

Yes, it is possible to have co-infection with COVID-19 and influenza and thus experts are concerned about the potential for a “twindemic” this winter. When the pandemic began, it was initially thought that co-infections with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens were rare, but as case numbers increased, it became clear that it is possible. Generally speaking, anytime that you have one infection (whether viral or bacterial), your immune system can be slightly weakened and make you more susceptible to other diseases. Other than the difficult task of determining what infection someone might have and thus deciding on necessary treatments and isolation/quarantine recommendations, the concern is that having both infections could be more dangerous than having one alone… Read more

Jackie Phillips, MD, November 10, 2020

 

How easily can I catch Covid-19 from a sick family member?

A recent study by the CDC shows that once one person in a household is infected, others can also be infected with COVID-19 quickly.  If you suspect a family member is sick, they should be isolated even before test results are back. This is to minimize the exposure to other members of the household. 

The study followed 101 people and had a 54% rate of converting family members once exposed. 75% of these secondary infections occurred within five days of the first symptoms in the initial patientRead more

Prerana Sangani, MD, November 11, 2020

 

HOPE AND GRACE

If you have made it this far, time for a reward, something to lighten your day, and acknowledge the human spirit. Find some escape, or perhaps even inspiration, in this ever-growing collection of works and perspectives gathered from around the world. Please contact me directly if you have come across something that has lifted your heart today.  Dr. Eric Weiss

 

Pray, Cook and Repeat

Pray, Cook and Repeat

Lynette Hammond, a 62-year-old grandmother who lives in Louisiana, has been sharing her family recipes online with the hashtag #PrayCookRepeat, which has been her lifelong motto.

The first video posted to her Youtube Channel, Lynn’s Kitchen, has been viewed more than 6,000 times.

“Pray, cook, and repeat. That’s what I do in my life,” Hammond told TODAY Food. “Prayer is very important to me and I am a Christian. It’s my daily duty and it keeps me going. I hope it’s an encouragement for everyone out there.”

Read more!

Pistachio, the puppy born with green fur

Pistachio, the puppy born with green fur

Adorable. An Italian farmer, Cristian Mallocci, was incredibly surprised when his dog gave birth to a green-furred puppy.

Pistachio was the only puppy born with green fur as part of a five-dog litter born in October.

Read more!

Endangered White Rhino Baby Born

Endangered White Rhino Baby Born

Wonderful news. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida welcomed a baby white rhinoceros—which is a “near threatened” species, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Kendi was the first Rhino to be born at the animal park in 1999 and the birth of her child marks the 11th White Rhino at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Read more!

 

Again, CV🦠News is a labor of love. If you enjoy reading this, please share widely! Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Please subscribe here.

*****

Yours, in health and resilience,

Eric and the TVD MD team…