Ahvie Herskowitz, MD

Is Our Fear-Based Approach Towards COVID-19 Naïve, Wrong, and Misplaced? Waiting for a vaccine to protect the elderly and high-risk persons is not a rationale strategy! If we are to open schools and businesses safely, we need a strategy that protects the high-risk population now!

Can We Open Schools in the U.S. Safely? THE BAD NEWS: We are 20 times worse than our EU neighbors in positive cases AND death rates. Our rising deaths will very likely get worse over the next 2 weeks, so we must begin reversing the trend immediately.... Can we please agree on mandatory face masks in areas with rising infection and hospitalization rates? If we do this, there is a chance that by end of August, the rising trends will be reversed and we can reopen most schools across the country in a safe and metered way. THE GOOD NEWS: 99.2% of COVID 19 cases in the USA are labelled as not serious cases. These data are similar to worldwide data (98.8% of cases not serious). (Sourced from Worldometer database: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/.) USA (1.9 million cases; 16,000 serious cases (0.8% or 1:1,250 cases). Worldwide (4.9 million cases; 59,150 serious cases, (1.2% or 1:833 cases). ADULTS ARE THE ONES AT RISK: As of July 8th, CDC noted that 92% of all COVID-19 deaths are above age 55, and 80% above age 65%. The majority of serious illness occurs in patients with multiple pre-existing conditions (i.e., obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease). NOT YOUNG CHILDREN, TEENAGERS OR COLLEGE STUDENTS Only 14 deaths in children under age 15 (1:8,333 COVID 19 deaths). Only 149 deaths in ages 15-24 (1:130 COVID 19 deaths). EDUCATE THE AT RISK ADULT POPULATION At risk adults need to be educated in reducing their risk! When kids go back to school, some at risk adults and teachers will undoubtedly be exposed to COVID-19. WHY NOT IMPLEMENT A NATIONAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ON HOW TO REDUCE RISK OF SERIOUS COVID19 ILLNESS IN ADULTS? The medical community has a lot of preventive medicine principles to share!!! This is to save our nation’s economy and schools, WAITING FOR A VACCINE IS NOT A RATIONALE STRATEGY! Public Health is not limited to social distancing and masks. These are our first line of defense. Yet, we need more. we have Preventive Medicine departments in most major medical centers. Get them involved! Otherwise, we remain stuck, disempowered and continue to wait for things to worsen, or at best stay the same indefinitely. Read more articles and updates here: www.anataramedicine.com/coronavirus-main #coronavirus #covid19 #covid_19 #covid19testing #lockdown #ahvieherskowitz #socialdistancing #transmission #coronavirusoutbreak #anataramedicine #flu #immunology #epidemiology #prevention #drahvie #infectiousdiseases #pandemic #quarantine #outbreak #thereishope

We want to wish you and your family a safe and happy Independence Day! Let us be mindful of everything we can do for our nation to make it a place of wealth, peace, and happiness.

Let us take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country, and offer our warmest wishes and deepest gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice.