New Hours
We’re pleased to announce that we are now able to extend our hours. Starting Monday, May 18, we will be open Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00 PM, with an hour lunch from 1:00-2:00 PM. For your safety, we will continue curbside-only service for the reasons detailed below. We’re now also taking up the backlog of routine care because you are no longer being asked to stay at home.
A short summary of the stuff below: wear a mask, avoid restaurants, use curbside service where possible.
New COVID-19 Thoughts
How do we prevent Coronavirus? For the last month and a half, we have been on “lockdown” where most people have kept their contacts to a minimum and have stayed home. Most employers have closed their workplaces and all kinds of social activities are closed. The only thing remaining generally open has been stores that sell essential goods, like food and home supplies. This action has definitely reduced the rate of transmission of the virus. The number of new cases as well as the number of deaths per day has leveled off for the most part.
For a scientifically-minded guy like me it has been hard to find the information I would like. What activities are causing the spread? Are people who are isolating getting infected? Are runners getting infected? What about people who visit friends but stay 6 feet away, as per the recommendation? Is it foolish to play tennis or beach volleyball? Was there any point to closing the pool?
For the most part, this information has been lost in the aggregate numbers that are reported every day. We know that there were 46 new cases in DeKalb County yesterday, but we don’t know anything about them. What is the real epidemiology of this virus? Is it reflected in the national or state strategy for reopening?
I’m linking to a great blog post about these questions. This is written by a scientist although not an epidemiologist. But I feel that the insights are very reasonable.
Until I hear differently, I believe that most of the airborne spread of the disease will be in enclosed spaces where people are together a long time. That would be like restaurants, funeral homes, concerts, rehearsals, and unfortunately, medical visits, especially waiting rooms. If someone comes into an enclosed space and coughs/sneezes virus all over it, then the people who have to remain in that space are going to get infected. But asymptomatic people can spread the disease by breathing alone.
The other main way of spreading is through contact, either directly or through surfaces. We should continue to avoid shaking hands, hugging and kissing people casually. When we share objects like tools or papers, we should sanitize our hands before touching our faces. As we go through our day, we risk picking up the disease from doorknobs, handrails, and other surfaces we usually touch with the palm of the hand. We need to wash hands frequently and use sanitizer.
Wearing masks is a great way to reduce spread. It reduces the particles flying around from breathing, coughing, sneezing and talking. Simple masks like surgical masks or bandanas also reduce particles inhaled by 75%. N95 masks stop nearly all transmission of the virus but they are difficult to acquire and uncomfortable to wear. Most people I see are not wearing them correctly, so they are probably as effective as surgical masks in those cases.
Masks do not prevent you from acquiring an infection through direct or indirect contact, so be sure to be aware of touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth. Wearing glasses can help prevent you from touching your eyes.
It seems that we should be able to enjoy a nice walk, jog or bike ride without too much risk. Tennis is probably also safe. Indoor sports are a bad idea right now. Hopefully, with good screening and social distancing, the gym will be OK.
Eating at restaurants is still pretty unsafe. It’s better to do takeout or at least sit outside if you can. Definitely do not join a crowd.
In the end, I don’t think that we will get rid of the virus. Eventually we will all be infected unless a vaccine is developed. But we can hopefully avoid a “second wave” of infections that overwhelms our healthcare system. I think if we have a huge uptick in severe cases, it won’t matter what orders the governor gives, people will be isolating and the economy will shut down again.
Let’s try to be smart as we reopen and we will hopefully be able to have the economy get back on track while we prevent the virus from getting out of hand. Wear a mask. Avoid restaurants and groups. Use curbside service.