We hope you and your family are safe and healthy.
We have seen our lives upended over the past week as communities around the world shut down to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Every single one of us is feeling the impact of this pandemic – whether that be fighting this virus as a healthcare provider, homeschooling our children, losing our jobs, working from home, or being isolated from loved ones. We recognize the anxiety and fear that the hysteria surrounding COVID-19 has caused us all. But we also want to acknowledge the incredible acts of kindness and heroics that will get us through this situation.
As a company, we have always been committed to cleaning up your medicines. But we also have a responsibility to make sure our families and team members are safe, that our children are able to continue their education from home, and that we are sharing the information we have to keep you all informed.
Here are a few facts we’ve seen from our network of doctors and medical professionals that may help alleviate some of the stress so many are feeling:
The coronavirus will not end the world!
While this is a serious situation, it likely has a fatality rate of .3%-1%, which is higher than the approximately .1% fatality rate of a typical flu. So far, in 2020, according to the CDC, between 36,000-51,000 people in the US have died from flu, and about 3,500 people have died from the coronavirus. Every loss of life is a tragedy. However, this also means that well over 99% of people that have the coronavirus will likely be fine.
It’s the impact on the hospitals.
COVID-19 is likely much more infectious than a moderate flu, as each person with coronavirus may infect 1.5 to 3.5 new people, which means it has the capacity to quickly infect a large number of people and to overwhelm hospitals and health systems. Hospitals are set up based on projections for how many patients will come in, and pandemics like coronavirus defy hospital models by producing a sudden increase in the number of patients – this sudden increases can happen so fast that hospitals can end up unprepared from a medical supplies as well as a staffing standpoint, which can create negative outcomes for patients and society. The impact on health systems may be the most concerning part of COVID-19.
Who is most at risk?
The coronavirus poses a serious health risk to seniors and people with autoimmune issues, as does the flu and many other diseases (and even ingredients). During this time, they should stay home as much as possible.
People outside of these categories should act responsibly to minimize contact with others so they don’t spread the coronavirus to people that are at higher risk. We should practice activities that we are all familiar with during every cold and flu season – wash our hands frequently, cover our mouths when we cough, and avoid touching our face. We should avoid public spaces - and when we do have to venture out, try to keep a social distance of 6 feet. Of course, everyone should follow all state or local quarantine laws.
How can we protect ourselves?
The US government has not encouraged people to wear masks, likely due to the fact that not enough masks are available. But we believe wearing N95 masks can likely be helpful if people are able to find them –coronavirus was successfully contained in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and wearing masks was an essential part of those countries’ strategies to contain the virus. The World Health Organization has worn masks in nearly all news briefings and the CDC has recommended masks in healthcare settings as a standard response to the flu. Doctors also use masks when treating coronavirus patients. That being said, there is a mask shortage and healthcare providers do not have enough masks. The last thing we want people doing is buying a mask that would otherwise go to a doctor. Healthcare workers are most in need of masks, and the surge of private sector companies donating resources and manpower to manufacture more masks (and other vital equipment) gives us hope and resolve.
As always, our customers are our first priority and we are here for you. If there is anything we can do to help answer your questions or concerns, please reach out to us by email or text at 310-254-2339.
All the best,
Max Spielberg and David Johnson
Founders, Genexa Inc.