Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System said today that “stay-home” orders have been found to be effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in other places.
Wyandotte County and surrounding areas are under a “stay-home” order starting at midnight tonight and lasting until April 23.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas, said the data are strong that stay-at-home orders can make a difference in stopping the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of the order is to lower the number of people who become ill, to lower the number of people who die and to lower the number of people who come into the health care system.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control infectious diseases at the University of Kansas Health System, agreed and urged everyone to follow the guidance, stay home and stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Everyone wants to know what the secret sauce is,” Dr. Stites said. “It’s not a secret. It’s wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, wipe down surfaces you touch, and then don’t touch your face.”
Dr. Hawkinson said making a conscious effort not to touch your face can help avoid the spread of COVID-19. Keeping a distance from others (social distancing), also is important, the doctors said.
Wyandotte County reported 16 COVID-19 patients as of 5 p.m. Sunday night, an increase from 14 on Sunday morning, according to Unified Government Health Department figures. Johnson County reported 31 cases on Monday morning, an increase from Sunday’s total of 28, according to Johnson County Health Department statistics.
In the hospital, proper hand washing and hygiene is being stressed, the doctors said. Those who work at the hospital are tested through taking temperatures and answering questions about their health as they come to work. Visitors have been limited, and those who visit also have their temperatures checked.
The doctors said the health professionals were using personal protective equipment. The hospital currently is in good shape with the number of beds and ventilators available, they said.
Dr. Hawkinson said for the past week, they have been having discussions with doctors at the University of Nebraska in Omaha about reusing personal protective equipment, developing ultraviolet light technology possibly allowing the equipment to be reused.
Testing has mostly been limited to patients who are sick enough to be admitted to hospitals, and there has been a shortage of tests reported in the nation. Tests from private labs have now been added, and the doctors are exploring using other places.
The doctors said what happens in New York, where COVID-19 is more widespread, affects here in that there may not be as many testing kits available. They have been planning on how many patients they can expect, know the capacity and believe they have the right amount of hospital beds and equipment, but it depends on the curve, according to the doctors. If the curve goes straight up, it doesn’t matter how many masks they have as it could overwhelm the entire area.
According to the doctors, 80 percent of the people who get COVID-19 will be fine after a few days. “If you don’t go out and are not around people to make you sick, you’re not going to get sick,” the doctors said. COVID-19 generally has a period of 2 to 14 days until the patient shows symptoms, after exposure.
The KU Hospital is using hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients, according to Dr. Hawkinson. It is a medication usually used on malaria patients.
KU Health Systems also is rolling out a telemedicine program for mental health this week, which will be available for patients, he said. It may extend to the outpatient area over the next few weeks.
The UG’s COVID-19 response website is at
https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information
The Kansas COVID-19 website is at
https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus
COVID-19 information from the CDC is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.