COVID-19

If you don't know who to listen to, that makes sense.

​If you want to listen to me because you trust me, here are my recommendations. They are based on recommendations from the sources mentioned in #1 below. I am reading a lot. I cope by nerding.

1. Keep your head about you. Trust only reputable sources such as Governor Newsom of California, the CDC, the WHO. This is serious. Be your best self.

2. Get good sleep so you can make good decisions.

3. Steer clear of danger if you are not equipped to help.

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4. Who do we need to be working right now?

a. All medical personnel, including and especially housekeeping, public health officers, generalist offices, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, geriatricians, medical assistants, nurses, hospitalists, ER and ICU staff, pathologists, lab technicians.

b. All involved in production, maintenance and delivery of new medical facilities and in particular, ventilators

c. Essential workers in maintenance and repair of utilities; gas, electric, internet, water, environmental waste

d. Essential workers in food production and delivery


5. Don't visit if you can call instead.

6. Don't touch if you can talk instead.

7. Stay approximately 6 feet apart.

8. People ages 65 and up, please limit going out of your homes to true emergencies. In California, there are fewer than 9,000 ventilators and 5.3 million Californians are over age 65. The need for hospitalization eclipses the mortality rate by a factor of four. Please keep yourself safe for the sake of yourself and the nation.

9. People who know people age 65 and up, please keep regular phone contact with these vulnerable folks. They don't want to be cooped up any more than you would. Please help arrange food delivery, moral support, humor and entertainment.

10. People who have diabetes, asthma, COPD, other chronic lung conditions, cancer, people taking immunosuppressive medications for autoimmune diseases, people who are frequently in the emergency room or frequently hospitalized, please follow the guidelines in #8 and #9.

11. If you have access to new, unopened medical grade personal protective equipment, please contact your local health department. CALL about these things. Do not simply drop off. Items in particular need are below. If you live in Davis, CA, you can use my contact page to let me know you have these items, and we will contact you to see if they can be of use.

-N-95 masks
-surgical masks
-protective eye ware, goggles
-medical grade non-latex gloves

12. Make sure your kids know who is in charge. You. You are in charge of helping them feel safe.

13. We are in for a wild ride but we are in this together. Keep yourself safe and lend a hand where you safely can.

- Dr. Southwick