2 days ago one of my very frail, blind, diabetic elderly patients with a history of heart disease and obesity tested positive for covid. The good news; we had previously discussed his do not resuscitate wishes and he had his final wishes in writing by way of a State sponsored POLST. He is in ICU as far as I know. The bad news; he will not likely survive this, likely is alone (more so than before) and isolated on oxygen only. I respect his wishes and we had several talks about this very scenario during my home visits with him. He is a good old guy, always had stories to share about his seemingly tough upbringing and his strict Mother.
Here’s the bad news. So far in the county I live in and provide medical care we have had at least 2 hot spots in senior facilities that I am aware of. As of this post our Impotent Health Department is unwilling or incapable of providing tests to the caregivers or other residents of the group home my patient resided in. They either do not or will not consider or provide antibody screens for these folks or the Medical Provider that made a home visit there 20 days earlier.
Can you hear the choking? I would prefer help with these scenarios to identify, contain, isolate and trace. Monitoring signs and symptoms and awaiting things to go poorly is just that, poor. Talk is cheap, hundreds of empty what-if beds are great. Closing everything from nail salons to liquor stores and car dealerships is lunacy. We need proactive scientific action by our leadership.