Dear Member,

As the summer comes to a close, we now try to figure out how to assume some kind of “normalcy”. Some people are returning to their offices and some children are re-entering the school system. We know this is a difficult time for most. Deciding which options are best and safest for you and your loved ones can be challenging and confusing.

Flu vaccines: We have received our first shipment of influenza vaccines. We highly recommend EVERYONE getting the flu vaccine this year to minimize a possible “twindemic”. We think it is of the utmost importance to obtain a flu vaccine this year to help protect you from viruses other than COVID-19. Having both viruses at once would probably increase your risk for hospitalization. All our vaccines are quadrivalent and are recommended for those 6 months and up. In early October we are expected to receive the “flu mist”. A nasal spray vaccination instead of an injectable. This is great for those ages 2 - 49 who have a needle phobia. The nasal spray is a live vaccine. It is not recommended for those with asthma, COPD, those who are immunocompromised, have diabetes, kidney disease, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Please call the office to set up a vaccine appointment. As usual, we are making every effort to make sure we have proper social distancing between appointments. According to the experts, the perfect time to receive the flu vaccine is mid-September to mid-October. However, if you are only seeing us prior or after this timeline, it is still a great time to obtain the vaccine. Call for a vaccine appointment today!

Water in the schools: We have been reading a recent report about the quality of the water in schools. Due to the closure of school for so many months, the water in many schools has remained stagnant. As such, there have been increased reports of the bacteria, Legionella, in the schools’ water supply. We recommend sending your children who are returning to school with their own water bottle until all the systems have been thoroughly cleaned. Those in sports who are using showers should double check how well the school’s water supply was cleaned prior to using showers in the locker rooms. Legionella can be inhaled as well.

Rapid testing: In mid-September we should have rapid testing on premises. We have been waiting for the most accurate tests to be distributed and it has been a frustratingly slow process. However, we are happy to announce that in mid-September we will have tests that will give results within 15 minutes. This test has demonstrated reasonably high sensitivity (97.1%) and specificity (98.5%). This machine tests antigens. Antigen tests detect the presence of viral particles, including specific proteins, whereas traditional PCR tests detect the presence of viral RNA. PCR is considered the gold standard of testing. Antigen tests can be performed more quickly than PCR tests, but they tend to be less accurate. In late October/early November we will be receiving a “rapid” PCR test that is just as accurate as the swabs we now send away to the labs. This test will give results within 45 minutes. These tests also test for Influenza A and Influenza B and various other respiratory illnesses from the same swab. We feel this will be extremely helpful in helping us diagnose and treat respiratory illnesses.

We have also been in touch with Abbott. They have developed a portable and inexpensive rapid test that requires no machinery. This test is similar to a home pregnancy test however it must be administered by a health care worker. Despite its ease and inexpensive price, it is currently not available. The federal government has purchased the first few months’ worth of production. We will keep you posted if it becomes more widely available.

Pulse oximeter: Once again, we remind you to have a pulse oximeter in your house. These are inexpensive devices which allow us to follow you at home and make more informed decisions on treatment in cases of COVID-19.

Do Antibodies protect you? Two recent cases seemed to indicate that two people with documented COVID had been reinfected. One person in Hong Kong, was found during routine airport testing and was completely asymptomatic. Another case this week was a patient in Nevada who had a worse case this time around. Both cases showed a different genome of the virus - an Asian type and a US/European type. There are a total of 4 cases worldwide that have been shown to be reinfected based on genomic evaluation. Three of them had asymptomatic or a much milder disease the second time. However, the American Society for Microbiology reported that a Seattle fishing vessel that departed port in May, returned 18 days with the first human evidence that neutralizing antibodies provide protection from reinfection by COVID-19. Although COVID-19 swept through the vessel, infecting 104 out of 122 people on board, all 3 individuals who had tested positive for antibodies prior to this embarkation remained healthy during and after the expedition. All this to say there are still many unknown variables regarding possible protection, so we strongly advise those with antibodies to continue to remain vigilant and alert until more has been discovered.

Contact tracer scammers: Be aware that contact tracers will NEVER ask you or say the following: they will never divulge the name of the person you were in supposed contact with; they will never ask for your social security number or your credit card information or immigration status. They will also never ask you to “click on a link”. Contact tracing is important but there have been reports of scammers trying to get your financial/personal information. Be helpful, but be alert and aware.

Isolation Hotel Program for Those with COVID-19

COVID-19 is extremely contagious, meaning that it is easily transmitted from one person to another. If you tested positive for COVID-19 or think you might have it because of your symptoms, it is very important that you do not come in close contact with others, including people you may live with. This is called "self-isolation." You may qualify to self-isolate in a hotel, free of charge, for up to 14 days if you do not have a safe place to self-isolate. This can mean:

Your home does not have space for you to stay six feet away from others
You share rooms or a bathroom
You live with someone who is vulnerable

Hotel rooms are also available for New Yorkers without COVID-19 but who live with someone who has COVID-19.

How do I get connected for a hotel to isolate?

If you are currently at your home and think you may have COVID-19, you can call 311 or 844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Labor Day Weekend:

Please remain vigilant over this coming holiday weekend. The virus is still around and doesn’t care if you are tired of it or want a last gasp of summer party. Wear a mask and stay socially distant. Stay safe and stay well!

Summer/Fall 2020