Coronavirus Update

Greetings!

I hope everyone is healthy and safe.  I know that many are ill, including some of our patients and close family.  As of this writing, there are over 27,000 confirmed cases and over 800 deaths attributed to COVID in Florida.  This is certainly an underestimation due to a few factors:

1.  Testing is not easily accessible outside of the hospital.  It is easy to get tested in the hospital.  Though, until the last few days test results would take 5 to 7 days to come back.  Now it takes < 24 hours.  

2. People who are sick are not seeking tests.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  Mild symptoms, even if confirmed to be coronavirus, may not require treatment.  It's sometimes hard to gather the strength to go out and get tested when you have a fever and body aches.

3. Tests are sometimes wrong.  ALL medical tests have this problem.  Sometimes they say there's a problem when there really isn't.  Sometimes they say everything is normal when there is really a problem.  The latter is the problem with current coronavirus testing, and it is a significant percentage.  

It looks like we have altered the trajectory to our benefit.  It is important to continue social distancing and not become complacent.  

Keep up the good work!

Sameer Verma, MD

Author

Sameer Verma, MD An interventional cardiologist who is highly trained, affable, and sometimes funny.