Can we prepare for the next round of coronavirus infection? Will we prevent the disruption of our lives again? What can we do to make sure that fewer people get seriously ill or die from the COVID-19. These are important questions that we need to address in order to prepare for the next round ofContinue reading “Five things we must do to prepare for the next COVID-19 outbreak.”
Author Archives: jbakerjrblog
Will I Die From CVID-19 When I Go Back To Work?
Will I die if I get coronavirus infection? Will I get seriously ill? What is the chance I will get infected if I resume my normal activities. Will there be medical care available for me if I get sick? Are their medicines that could keep me from dying if I get sick? These are someContinue reading “Will I Die From CVID-19 When I Go Back To Work?”
The Pandemic Will End: Part One.
The question of how the coronavirus pandemic ends and when people can return to normal activity is a complex one. It has been oversimplified in the public discourse with some suggesting we uniformly stop protective measures after a certain period of time while others argued we must permanently change lifestyles throughout in the world. IContinue reading “The Pandemic Will End: Part One.”
When and how does it end? When do we get back to "normal?"
Tomorrow I will begin to sort through the issues of how and when the current pandemic might end, and the much more complex issue of when we get back to “normal.” I am an allergist/immunologist, not a psychiatrist, and I know many of these decisions are not in my domain. However, it is an importantContinue reading “When and how does it end? When do we get back to "normal?"”
The Time for Viral Testing is Over: Why are there Variations in Death Rates in Different Countries
Executive summary Rates of infection and death with coronavirus (COVID-19) appear very different in different countries. The reasons for this have been hotly debated. Many pundits have suggested that inadequate virus testing has been responsible due to inadequate isolation of infected individuals. Data now show that these differences may relate to who in the populationContinue reading “The Time for Viral Testing is Over: Why are there Variations in Death Rates in Different Countries”
Chloroquine continued….
Unfortunately my concerns were warranted about the push to repurpose approved drugs for COVID-19. A couple in Arizona decided to take chloroquine phosphate to prevent coronavirus infection and unfortunately the husband died from poisoning. He ingested the chemical itself, used to clean fish tanks(!), and not the formulated drug; however the same toxicity that killedContinue reading “Chloroquine continued….”
Focus Everyone: These are the most important weeks of the pandemic!
I have a short but important blog today. Over the next few weeks the first wave of the pandemic will crest in most of the US. What makes this time so important is that this first surge of the virus cuts through the population most aggressively. There is no immunity among us and the spread can beContinue reading “Focus Everyone: These are the most important weeks of the pandemic!”
It’s Time: How to self-diagnose a coronavirus infection. What to do if you think you're infected.
Executive Summary Coronavirus infections need to be self diagnosed This can be done by identifying a number of characteristic symptoms Individuals who suspect they are infected should contact their physician and not go to an emergency room or hospital Anyone with suspected coronavirus infection should self-isolate for 14 days regardless of whether they have hadContinue reading “It’s Time: How to self-diagnose a coronavirus infection. What to do if you think you're infected.”
Seven reasons to be optimistic about the coronavirus pandemic
I thought I would end the week on a positive note! Despite the remarkable challenges we are facing there are reasons to be optimistic. Science, circumstances and even natures evolution may combine to make this event managable and something we can learn from for future pandemics. Here are seven reasons why the US could controlContinue reading “Seven reasons to be optimistic about the coronavirus pandemic”
The difficulties with repurposing approved drugs to treat coronavirus infection; or why we aren’t yet ready to give everyone chloroquine!
Executive Summary Many drugs approved to treat other diseases have been proposed to treat coronavirus infection. Some of these drugs block similar viral infections, while others treat inflammation from any cause which could reduce symptoms. Repositioning approved drugs may allow shortening of the development cycle; however, there is no assurance they will work or beContinue reading “The difficulties with repurposing approved drugs to treat coronavirus infection; or why we aren’t yet ready to give everyone chloroquine!”
Pandemic Pondering 