COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, September 23rd

Numbers, pediatric athletes and myocarditis, state covid plans, Kn95 masks - failure, and COVAX.

1. Numbers are back in the 30k a day range which is positive.

2. The American Academy of Pediatrics is advising that children who are exposed to COVID should not return to sports for at least 14 days. Children who develop symptoms of COVID should undergo an ECG before returning to sports due to rising concern regarding myocarditis among child athletes who are exposed to or contract COVID. Viral myocarditis can lead to arrhythmias. The Academy has drafted guidelines for testing athletes for myocarditis, recommendations vary based on the level of exposure, and/or presence of illness. More research is being done in this area. In related news, we are starting to see anxiety and stress-induced sleep issues among children following the return to school. Some recommendations for parents include making sure you keep your child on a schedule, even if they are attending school from home.

3. States are starting to make their COVID vaccine plans. The CDC has asked each state to create a plan for the distribution of the vaccine and submit the plan to them by October 16th. The idea is to be ready when the vaccine is. I am going to draft an overview of the top 3 vaccine options along with a general explanation of vaccines for tomorrow, so watch for that.

4. Up to 70% of the KN95 masks which are certified in China do not meet US standards for efficiency. I.e. they don’t work well. The US bought hundreds of thousands of masks from China due to the shortage we were/are experiencing, but the ones we have been receiving are reportedly not up to par, are not safe, and are not effective.

5. 156 nations joined COVAX – the WHO initiative to provide fair and equitable distribution of the COVID vaccine around the world. The United States opted out.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It is normal to feel run down, exhausted, discouraged and isolated right now. When this first started we all hunkered down together. People rallied together, posting signs, reassuring ourselves that we were in it together, putting out teddy bears for the kids to hunt, and putting up signs to encourage our healthcare workers. We rallied behind businesses, and restaurants took food to our hospitals. Signs went up in yards with messages like, “we are in this together” and for just a moment we were unified in the same awful experience. We joked about how much we would accomplish in quarantine and how much weight we would all gain.

Then time ticked by and things began to change, slowly at first and then more rapidly and more aggressively until we ended up taking sides, drawing proverbial lines in the sand, and facing off over all sorts of things. The divisions have left many feeling isolated, alone, exhausted, and running on fumes. We didn’t accomplish great things in quarantine. We did gain the weight we joked about. Some of us turned to alcohol, some sunk into depression, some became consumed with anger, some fear. Friendships were severed and words were spoken that can never be retracted. But amid all the anger, confusion, and division, the fight has to keep going and so we trudge on, exhausted and over it.

No matter what happened yesterday, we can do better today. We can reach out and mend fences today. Today we can take a long shower and wash off the past, release the pain and exhaustion and frustration and live this day. We do not need to be afraid. Nor do we need to live in denial. We don’t have to fight over masks – we just have to do what we believe to be right and let others do the same. We don’t have to agree with each other - we just have to respect each other’s right to have our own opinions. We don’t need to be afraid – we just need to take the appropriate precautions. We don’t have to fight anymore - we just have to reach out and start the process of reconciliation. Because we are all too tired to keep fighting alone. We need each other. We do better together. It’s ok to be tired and worn. It’s ok to be fed up and discouraged. It’s ok to want it all to just end and go back to normal. And it’s ok to disagree.