#in the office who wears a kn95 / n95 at all times…. and then you go to a fucking ***** **** concert in one of the front rows where ppl are

[pepprs]

also ok . i know i have been irlposting way too much but my parents are going to a concert 2 hrs away tmrrw for a Very Famous Person and it’s outdoors but certain to be crowded and it’s like uhmmmmm. a little ironic and frustrating is all. not to mention i am afraid for my siblings and my lives a little bit and also for my parents lives or whatever. lol

[troglobite]

alsdkfjalkdsj

so maintenance guy showed up half an hour ago. not related to our floors, but routine maintenance check on our hvac system.

my mom, as w everyone who enters the house, asks him to wear a mask.

he puts it on outside on the porch then comes in.

gets all the way down our hallway and says in the loudest voice

"i am just getting over being sick. don't know if it was covid. is the mask enough, or should i have the office reschedule with someone else?"

anyway so part of what he would have to do is climb inside my mom's closet (which, seriously, bring your own fucking mask, dude, it's NARSTY up there in the crawlspace, fiberglass EVERYWHERE) so my mom said yes please reschedule

air purifier situated and turned up on high

lysol sprayed, surfaces wiped

and i manage to find an old mask in my room so i put that on and put my own air purifier in my room next to my door.

but i am So Fucking Tired and have not gotten enough sleep but i'm just like 🙃

thank fucking FUCK that he was honest and said something

because i think i would've deliberately committed various crimes if either one of us had gotten sick because of him

anyway this is why you ask people to wear a mask in your home. bc not all of them are going to be considerate like this guy (who really should've said something out on the porch, but he was only inside for like 45 seconds, and he had the mask on, so)

and while kn95s and n95s etc are VERY effective, you can't prevent gapping or make sure they're wearing it right and they could be actively contagious

also just. absolutely wild. to be Sick at this moment in time and not check and see if it's covid.

but our govt has downplayed it and made it harder to get tested and so they don't know that you're gonna need records of positive covid tests if you're gonna have a fighting chance at getting a long covid diagnosis or any other thing.

anyway.

i've just been sitting here in my n95 w my air purifier in front of my door, afraid to leave my room, and i'm on so fucking little sleep i need to get back to sleep

oh and of course the dream i was having before i woke up?

involved being in a mall shopping for shoes and other things but i realized i wasn't wearing a mask and the place was fucking packed so i started panicking

i had made it out to a parking lot, in my dream, before i woke up because my mom was running around before the hvac guy got here.

then he got here.

then that^^ happened.

here we are. //sigh

the frequency with which i have dreams where i'm some packed public place, and the first step towards me waking up is realizing i'm not wearing a mask and neither is anyone else in my dream. alskdjflaksd fhfiauhglasdfj fucking. hell.

[purplesurveys]

1177

survey by joybucket

Have you _____ during this pandemic?

Worn a mask? I mean, of course. I put one on even when I’m only picking up deliveries from my doorstep.

got tested for coronavirus? Never. I also hope I’ll never have to go through this, I don’t want a stick up my nose and throat D:

known someone who died from the virus? Personally? Too many people at this point. 

gotten the COVID vaccine? Not yet, but I have many relatives who’ve already gotten theirs, my mom and grandmother included, so at least. I know my employer has a plan in place over the next few weeks or months, so I’m just currently waiting for updates on their end.

started a new hobby? Yeah, I started on embroidery late last year. I haven’t been able to keep it up, but I’m still very much interested and want to go back to it soon. I also plan on getting one or two new Klaypel kits so I can finally replace and throw out the ones Gabie gave to me as gifts.

hated being stuck at home? Yeah, especially during the start when there seemed to be no end in sight. When they heightened quarantine protocols again earlier this month, that also made me feel aggravated about being stuck at home indefinitely since I had already started going out on weekends for self-dates.

worn a mask someone made for you? No one has made a mask for me, but one of my uncles got me a supply of a certain kind of face mask that I didn’t initially use.

sewn your own mask? No.

purchased masks at the store? Not me personally, but my dad regularly buys a supply for the family to use.

purchased a KN95 or N95 mask? Again, not me. But we regularly have a stock at home, along with the blue surgical face masks.

complimented someone on their mask? I don’t think so. I barely pay attention especially towards mask designs.

protested mask-wearing? ????? My name’s not Karen.

complained on Facebook? Nothing mask-related, but I have definitely complained about the government’s negligence and lack of proactivity about this entire situation.

read a book? I started on Midnight Sun which my parents got for me, but I never finished it. I got busy immediately the week after since I got accepted into my internship, and it was also because I was dealing with my breakup and could not focus enough to read for more than 5 minutes.

had an event canceled you had been looking forward to? My college graduation, which I’ll forever stay bitter about.

stocked up on toilet paper? I don’t think so. My parents didn’t believe in panic-buying.

been to the store when it was crowded? I do remember the mall being packed when I went last-minute Christmas shopping. Not to a crazy extent, but there was still quite a number of people.

been to the store when the toilet paper aisle was empty? N/A. We don’t have toilet paper aisles, but all stores have hand sanitizers and temperature checks by their entrance.

lost your job? I didn’t have a job before the pandemic because I had still been a student when everything started.

worked from home? Yup, and still on an WFH arrangement until now.

still had to go to work? I’ve had to go two times, but that was because it was absolutely necessary to go to the office to get the work done. My employer is pretty strict about this anyway and if something could be done at home, they’d decline the request.

went to a protest at your state's capital building? Well we don’t have states so this isn’t really relevant to me. Should a credible org plan a protest against the government though, I’d be interested in going.

watched the news for updates on the virus? We keep the TV on during dinner, at which time the news is always on. Whether I want to or not, I always get updates on the Covid situation in the country.

wondered if you had covid? Yeah, when I got extremely sick in May last year.

not left the house for a week? Way more than a week.

watched YouTube videos? YouTube is pretty much a part of my daily routine, with or without the virus.

spent a whole day watching movies? I’ve only watched one movie since the beginning of the pandemic.

cleaned your house from top to bottom? Not me, but my mom.

ordered something online? Too much crap.

ordered a pizza? I’ve gotten pizza a few times for my family, yeah. I remember ordering from Pizza Hut, Motorino, and most recently, Yellow Cab.

prayed to God?

completely forgotten a holiday that you normally celebrate? Nah, I usually remember when holidays are because that means I get a day off hahaha.

voted in an election? There haven’t been any elections that have taken place since the start of the pandemic.

gotten to know your neighbors? Somewhat. I only say hi to them and greet them a good morning/afternoon when I walk the dogs, but I don’t initiate conversations.

sanitized everything in your home? We always do this, especially when a package arrives for someone in the family.

wrote someone a letter? Started one but never finished because I soon realized it wouldn’t be worth it.

wished this pandemic were over? Don’t we all?

been surprised this pandemic has lasted so long? Yeah, I definitely thought things would be normal by now.

worried about catching the virus? I think the worry exists for everyone. I just wouldn’t say I’ve ever gotten super anxious and panicky about it. I feel pretty resigned at this point and just want everything to be over, so I can finally have the life I was meant to have back.

stayed home because you didn't want to catch the virus? That, and because I was required to stay home to begin with.

been to church? We watch a service on YouTube every Sunday morning.

watched an online church service? ^ Yeah, that’s what I meant haha oops.

been stopped by a police officer? No, but there was one time I was cleaning up Cooper’s tray and there happened to be a village guard cycling by our street, and he just kindly reminded me to put on a mask or shield since I had forgotten to do it.

seen a lot of police cars patrolling the area? No. I would definitely be pissed off if this happened - especially in a residential subdivision - and share a pic on social media to alert everyone about the unnecessary mess that is the police.

had someone cough on you out in public? No. But again, this would also piss me off and I wouldn’t hesitate to confront the asshole who would do something like that.

has someone stand less than six feet away from you while waiting in line? Always. Some people here can still be unbelievably stubborn.

had to use an inhaler? Never needed one.

been to the doctor? Yeah, to have my blood and urine tests examined.

had increased asthma and/or allergy symptoms? I have neither.

felt like you were fighting a virus? Like I said, I got a bad fever sometime last year. Even though I didn’t show any of the common Covid symptoms (e.g. I had wet cough instead of a dry cough), I felt as if I was rotting away lmao. I could barely stand up and I felt like fainting the second I would raise my head.

been diagnosed with the coronavirus? No.

felt lonely? It’s natural.

went somewhere with a friend? Just a couple of times. I went to UPTC with Andi at the start of the year, then back in Feb I went to Perfy’s with several friends, well aware of our ignorance but badly craving for a sense of normalcy for even just a night.

attended an online event? BANG BANG COOOOOOOOOON. Best 8 hours of my life during the pandemic thus far.

had a business in your area close down? Like the people I know who’ve died from the virus, too many.

received a stimulus check? Hasn’t happened.

received food stamps? No, and I don’t think we have that system in place here. The government just lets the hungry go hungrier.

applied for disability? No, not applicable.

applied for food assistance? No, thankfully we haven’t reached this point.

visited a food pantry? ^

had a fever? Just back in May. Hasn’t happened again since.

believed a conspiracy theory about the virus? Cringe, no.

had to take online classes? When the whole world was still at a loss on how to handle a global pandemic, aka early March, I briefly took Zoom sessions for some of my classes. But it proved to be difficult what with many students struggling with internet connections or being stuck somewhere without their school supplies, so my university canceled the sem altogether not long after and gave everyone general passing grades.

ate at a restaurant? I did a few times. I frequented coffee shops rather than restaurants, though.

walked through a drive-thru? I’ve...driven through a drive-thru, but not walk.

had your mask fog up your glasses? Every damn time I get out of the car, hahaha.

had to go to the hospital because of covid? Nope, not for myself or for someone else.

had to go to the hospital for a different reason? For my fever.

used hand sanitizer? At least once a day.

felt encouraged, joyful, or blessed? Now, especially. Things are starting to look up, at least for my own life.

[covid19updater]

COVID19 Updates: 08/21/2021

UK:  Army supporting ambulance services in England LINK

RUMINT (US):  Walmart and Covid experience has been a popular topic, so I had one today I thought I would relate. I went to Walmart this afternoon to purchase office supplies and a few food products. With self-check out I should have been out in ten minutes. It was about four-thirty when I completed my purchases. When I got up to the self-check out area, there was a line eight deep. There was only five spots open for the public to do the work of the Walmart employee. Many self-check out lines were closed. This line was during a pandemic when logically you would want people to check out quickly and leave. True, it was during a peak time, but that is why you have management and peak planning decisions made. I was not a happy customer. I finally got to a register, and checked out. I then went politely up to the door monitor and told her they needed to open more registers or check-out lanes. Then, she made the classic comment, "No one wants to work, we are short-staffed." Well, Walmart has instituted the policy that all workers must be vaxxed. That is probably part of the problem. Even for eleven dollars a hour I would not want to play Russian Roulette with the vax reactions. I look for this to be happening a lot more as people choose not to take the vax and leave their employment. It could really be impactful and not in a good way in the health care industry as more people come down with the Delta variant ant the vax mandates are pushed.

California:  Los Angeles County passes 25,000 COVID-19 deaths as new mask rules aim to slow spread LINK

World:  Not sure who is trying to ram FDA approval through early, because these prestigious outlets aren’t naming names, but the federal clinical trials website estimates that the clinical study of the Pfizer shot won’t even be complete until May 2, 2023. LINK

UK:  47008 'delta' cases in the 2x vaxxed: 402 deaths, 0.86% chance of death 215837 delta across ALL vaxxed: 481 deaths, 0.22% chance of death 151054 delta in UNVAXXED: 254 deaths, 0.17% chance of death 0.22% vs 0.86% 291% higher increase in vaxxed people.

UK:  Adverse events reported to IPC during the last 2 weeks: 317 new reports. Among them: 55 deaths including 28 after jab #3, 3 after jab#2 bellow 40 yo. 39 Neurological issues. 63 Cardiac issues including 8 under 40 yo, 7 after jab #3

India:  India gives emergency approval for world’s first COVID-19 DNA jab LINK

World:  Long-haul COVID: How grassroots online movement Survivor Corps helps those facing lingering symptoms LINK

Arkansas:  Northwest Arkansas hospitals reach all-time high in ICU bed usage LINK

Tennessee:  BREAKING: An absolutely stunning 2,106 new #COVID19 cases reported today among Tennessee's school-age children. For our kids, this is the worst moment of the pandemic.

China:  One positive #COVID19 case has been confirmed in Jingmen, central Hubei Province. The person tested negative nine times previously.

Florida:  BREAKING Florida Huge dump of new cases (55,751 cases reported for today & tomorrow: new record for 1 or both days). Huge dump of deaths (415 more than yesterday;1,486 more than last Friday). Positive rate UP to 19.8% from reported 19.3%.

US:  BREAKING: U.S. reporting 1,000 coronavirus deaths a day on average, highest since March

US:  U.S. COVID update: More than 1,000 new deaths for 4th day in a row - New cases: 182,035 - Average: 149,456 (+4,054) - In hospital: 93,590 (+678) - In ICU: 23,043 (+156) - New deaths: 1,485

World:  .@ScottGottliebMD says vaccinated people must remain cautious as the contagious delta Covid variant spreads LINK

US:  U.S. probing Moderna vaccine for higher heart inflammation risk - Washington Post

UK:  Covid19 and sport: Government data shows mass participation events can happen safely LINK (Propaganda...)

Louisiana:  Louisiana’s Governor says there have been more COVID cases reported by Louisiana schools - during the first week of the school year - than were reported in ANY week of last school year.

Florida:  Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran says the state will withhold state funds from Broward and Alachua public schools, targeting school officials compensation, as a result of them violating Gov. Ron DeSantis' mask orders.

Israel:  74% of 70 - 79 year olds in Israel have ALREADY received the Pfizer booster shot (3rd dose). There are early signals of effect. But we should see a meaningful decline in serious cases by next week if this strategy works. (LOL)

Tennessee:  Hospitals, health care systems pen letter to unvaccinated Tennesseans; 'beg' them to get vaccinated LINK

RUMINT (NYC):  For people across the US, when you go to the doctors office or medical clinic are the staff and doctors wearing N95s and KN95s? In NYC it seems like most doctors and staff are just wearing loose surgical masks. Wondering if other cities it’s the same?

World:  WHO today issued an open call for experts to serve as members of the new WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO)

UK:  The latest UK PHE Technical Briefing has just been published, and it shows that the vaccine breakthrough rate for Delta infections in the UK continues to increase by about 6% per month. The curious conundrum of the fully vaccinated being more likely to die of a Delta infection than the unvaccinated also continues. Links to the relevant PHE Technical Briefing papers are given.  Breakthru rates: End of May = 3% Mid June = 7% Mid July = 13% Mid August = 19% LINK

NYC:  NYC To Require Vax Card And Proof Of ID For Indoor Activities

Jamaica:  JUST IN: #Jamaica recorded 794 new #COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate now stands at 43.8%. 15 deaths were recorded in the latest update.

US:  NEW: Number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 tops 95,000

Florida:  Vaccinated man dies in Florida, daughters share their anger and urge people to get vaccinated LINK

Montana:  In Missoula, Mayor John Engen said, “Our hospitals, more than a year and-a-half into the pandemic, are in the most dire situation they’ve been in to date." LINK

Australia:  JUST IN: Australia's most-populous city, Sydney, extends lockdown until end of September

Oregon:  patient with COVID died in the emergency room at an Oregon hospital because no ICU beds were available - OPB

Canada:  “Alberta Health Services said the outbreak consists of 15 staff and physicians who have tested positive, as well as five patients — all of whom were at the hospital for non-COVID health reasons — who acquired COVID-19 while in hospital.”

Georgia:  Beloved coach, teacher dies of COVID-19 at 36 despite being vaccinated LINK

World:  Norwegian study: More than half of young people with mild Covid-19 infections experienced Long Covid LINK

World:  Trial data from AstraZeneca on Friday raised the prospect of a new treatment to prevent COVID beyond vaccines, giving hope in particular for people who respond poorly to immunisation shots. The British drugmaker said its new antibody therapy reduced the risk of people developing any COVID symptoms by 77% in a late-stage trial. The company said that 75% of the participants in the trial for the therapy - which comprises two types of antibodies discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the United States - had chronic conditions including some with a lower immune response to vaccinations. LINK

US:  Actor Melissa Joan Hart believes she got breakthrough COVID from her kids after they went back to school. "It's weighing on my chest. It's hard to breathe. One of my kids, I think, has it so far. I'm praying that the other ones are okay." LINK

US:  Lack of hospital staff continue to plague many Southern states. Nationally, 13% of hospitals are reporting critical staffing shortages, up from 9% at the beginning of the month. In Louisiana, over 1 in every 4 hospitals are critically short on staff.

Israel:  80% of covid patients on ECMO in Israel are unvaccinated.

World:  Compared to previous years. Over the last 4 weeks deaths from causes, other than COVID-19, are 11% higher than would normally be expected in 50-64 females…

World:  Anecdotes tell us what the data can’t: Vaccinated people appear to be getting the coronavirus at a surprisingly high rate. But exactly how often isn’t clear, nor is it certain how likely they are to spread the virus to others. And now, there’s growing concern that vaccinated people may be more vulnerable to serious illness than previously thought. LINK

World:  "The Scientific Process Is Short-Circuited By Politics" - Startling Admission From Scientists Jeopardizes Biden's Boosters LINK

US:  This Is Why Your Walmart Could Be Closed This WeekendSTORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS UNTIL AT LEAST SUNDAY. HERE'S WHY. LINK

Japan:  Infected woman in Japan loses baby after being unable to find hospital that would admit her LINK

Arkansas:  There are currently 345 COVID-19 patients on ventilators statewide. This is an all-time high for Arkansas.

Virginia:  The University of Virginia disenrolls at least 238 students who didn’t comply with the school’s Covid-19 vaccine requirement before in-person classes begin on Monday, a university spokesperson says. LINK

Tennessee:  BREAKING: #COVID19 situation dire in West Tennessee. @uthsc warns ERs may soon be forced to triage medical care, turning away patients who, they believe, are unlikely to survive! Failure to impose mask mandates and other mitigation measures will be “catastrophic.”

Canada:  Health officials in B.C.'s north have declared a COVID-19 outbreak among employees working on the Site C hydroelectric dam project. LINK

US:  NEW: Civil rights pioneer Jesse Jackson Sr. and his wife have been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 LINK

Australia:  NSW recorded 830 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

US:  Hilary Duff reveals COVID-19 diagnosis despite being vaccinated LINK

New Zealand:  #BREAKING Mandatory scanning/signing in is being introduced for busy places and large gatherings to ensure the Government can contact trace quickly, Hipkins says

Georgia:  Cobb County hospital requesting mobile morgue as COVID-19 cases surge LINK

[dine-on-nervine]

Have you _____ during this pandemic?

Worn a mask? Of course. I work in retail.

got tested for coronavirus? I haven’t been tested ever. Just temperature scans all over the place.

known someone who died from the virus? I haven’t lost anyone to my knowledge.

gotten the COVID vaccine? I did that a few days ago, with the followup on May 19.

started a new hobby? Not really, just been working on the ones I already have.

hated being stuck at home? I hated the thrifts being closed. I was never “stuck at home”.

worn a mask someone made for you? Yes, my girlfriend sewed me three.

sewn your own mask? Nah, I have a girlfriend for that. :-D

purchased masks at the store? I did that awhile ago and as of today (since I lost the mask I pulled out for the rest of the week somehow) I need to buy more.

purchased a KN95 or N95 mask? Nope. My store sells KN95 masks, but I use the blue paper ones.

complimented someone on their mask? I have done that. And I’ve seen some absolute idiot masks too, like the other day it was “This mask is as useless as the governor” (Inslee’s saving our lives so fuck you, dude!) and the transwoman in a “Trump 2020 - Fuck Your Feelings” mask.

protested mask-wearing? Nope, but I pull mine down a lot when I’m not within sight of anyone.

complained on Facebook? You know it. But mostly about other people. What fucknuts you find in Florida and Kentucky and Texas running things.

read a book? Nope.

had an event canceled you had been looking forward to? I’m sure of it. This will be two RAGS rummage sales and two UPS flea markets and one Packwood citywide rummage sale (going on two?) that didn’t happen.

stocked up on toilet paper? Well, it’s just my ass so when I had the chance to buy some I did, but I think I have 4 left from what I bought about a year ago.

been to the store when it was crowded? It happens.

been to the store when the toilet paper aisle was empty? LOL, yes. Target was wiped out, NOTHING on the shelves. WinCo was okay for nose tissue and paper towels but the toilet paper was catch-as-catch-can for a month or so.

lost your job? Actually I was hired to my job two weeks after the shit hit the fan.

worked from home? Nope.

still had to go to work? Yes. Because someone’s gotta stock those shelves.

went to a protest at your state’s capital building? Nah, that’s for losers.

watched the news for updates on the virus? I read the news and there are always updates, I don’t look for them specifically.

wondered if you had covid? It’s happened. I’ve never run a fever but various other symptoms have shown up. Every time someone asks if I’ve had this or that symptom, I lie and say no because every other malady in the world which causes those symptoms STILL EXIST.

not left the house for a week? Nope. Even when I wasn’t working right after the nation started taking this shit seriously, I was still going to the park at least 3 times a week.

watched YouTube videos? Not really.

spent a whole day watching movies? This has never interested me.

cleaned your house from top to bottom? Nope, too busy and pretty apathetic about it.

ordered something online? Yeah, that happened a few times. :)

ordered a pizza? Me personally, no. I’ve been where pizza was ordered. My girlfriend has much better taste than that so I ate pretty well from various restaurants by delivery.

prayed to God? I conversed with the universe a few times, not usually to beg for anything but to be gracious for what I have and express what I’d like to have happen or want to see come my way. And I’m happy to say that a lot of that did in some way happen.

completely forgotten a holiday that you normally celebrate? Don’t think so.

voted in an election? Definitely voted in the national election. It was the most important one in US history.

gotten to know your neighbors? Nope. A wave and a hello, and I have a new neighbor to the right, but nothing that qualifies as “getting to know them”.

sanitized everything in your home? Nope.

wrote someone a letter? I really should have, just for typing practice.

wished this pandemic were over? Name one person who does not.

been surprised this pandemic has lasted so long? Nope. We have the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic as an example of how these things work out globally and nationally, so any talk in March 2020 about this being over in a couple weeks was unrealistic -- especially when you have millions of fucknuts who don’t take it seriously, thus spread it far and wide before any serious measures to control it happen... and then, millions of fucknuts who STILL don’t take it seriously and bitch about the control measures and refuse to do them, continuing to spread it far and wide in the name of “personal freedom”.

worried about catching the virus? It’s a reasonable fear, I work in retail! Two of my coworkers caught it and deity-only-knows how many of my customers were exposed/exposiing others.

stayed home because you didn’t want to catch the virus? This was never an option. And it was never anything I chose to do.

been to church? I can’t think of any reason why I’d go to one, other than sightseeing.

watched an online church service? I can’t think of any reason why I’d do that either. One of the people I follow (and like a lot, so this is by no means a slant on her or her beliefs) said something in a survey about singing along with the hymns in the online church service she tunes into. I had a mental image of singing hymns alone at home while watching YouTube...

been stopped by a police officer? This is not something a lot of people want to do, even if it was just a tail light out, at the present time, especially if one is not Caucasian, because racists in blue have not gotten the message to straighten up or get back into the woodwork.

seen a lot of police cars patrolling the area? Nope, though the other day I did see a higher-than-usual number of cops around when I was out driving and it wasn’t even the end-of-month ticket quota.

had someone cough on you out in public? Nope, but someone would probably get laid out flat if they did that to me.

has someone stand less than six feet away from you while waiting in line? Yeah, and there were a couple times I was at the market maintaining the proper distance at the checkstand line and some fuck stepped in front of me.

had to use an inhaler? Never needed one.

been to the doctor? Dentist, a few times in the last month, but I haven’t seen the doctor in about a year and a half.

had increased asthma and/or allergy symptoms? Nope, but since in the last year I’ve started investing in product meant to improve my indoor air quality (Air Cop doesn’t work because there’s no circulation to get the bad air to it, so get an actual ionic system that moves the air) that 5ppb of O₃ that it produces does give me a little bit of a cough.

felt like you were fighting a virus? Not really, just dealing with the usual colds.

been diagnosed with the coronavirus? No.

felt lonely? Hmm, not really. My friends have always been remote, my beloved is nearby, I like being alone when I walk at the park, and I work retail so there’s no lack of human contact (whether I want it or not).

went somewhere with a friend? I do that some some regularity.

attended an online event? I can’t place one.

had a business in your area close down? Yeah, we’ve lost a bunch of them.

received a stimulus check? All three of them.

received food stamps? Nope, I’ve never collected on that. Long been in a position where if I am short on budget I can tighten my belt when it comes to food expenses and have things come out right. Someone asked me a few years ago why I don’t get food stamps since financially I qualified (my monthly expenses definitely exceeded my income by about $100 most months) and I said, “pride?”

applied for disability? Nope, not disabled.

applied for food assistance? Nope.

visited a food pantry? Nope.

had a fever? No idea.

believed a conspiracy theory about the virus? Nope, since if you have several brain cells to rub together you see how stupid a lot of them are. And yet they still keep coming because some people are idiots.

had to take online classes? Nope. That’s my girlfriend’s daughter, a freshman at a state college, though. Going off to college was a big source of dismay for her mother because those two are really close, and then with the pandemic... well, if you aren’t going into classes and must do the work and the lectures online, there’s no reason why you can’t do that at home and at your leisure. So after all these goodbyes about her leaving, she’d come home for a month at a time.

ate at a restaurant? Yes, I still do that. Capacity is at a fraction but I still do that.

walked through a drive-thru? Around here they demand that you drive. Funny that one place had bikes or mopeds on their drive-thru sign and I was like, yeah, no, you don’t really accept that. The building is open so I’m going in, even if it’s for take-out.

had your mask fog up your glasses? The struggle is real!

had to go to the hospital because of covid? Nope. Thankfully.

had to go to the hospital for a different reason? Nope.

used hand sanitizer? It happens out of necessity and my girlfriend sprays my hands every time we get back into the car after being in a store but I don’t believe in using them in regular life.

felt encouraged, joyful, or blessed? I am, I am, and I definitely am.

[orbemnews]

Restaurant Dining and Mask Use Linked to Virus Spread Even as officials in Texas and Mississippi lifted statewide mask mandates, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday offered fresh evidence of the importance of face coverings, reporting that mask-wearing mandates were linked to fewer infections with the coronavirus and Covid-19 deaths in counties across the United States. Federal researchers also found that counties opening restaurants for on-premises dining — indoors or outdoors — saw a rise in daily infections about six weeks later, and an increase in Covid-19 death rates about two months later. The study does not prove cause and effect, but the findings square with other research showing that masks prevent infection and that indoor spaces foster the spread of the virus through aerosols, tiny respiratory particles that linger in the air. “You have decreases in cases and deaths when you wear masks, and you have increases in cases and deaths when you have in-person restaurant dining,” Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the director of the C.D.C., said on Friday. “And so we would advocate for policies, certainly while we’re at this plateau of a high number of cases, that would listen to that public health science.” The findings come as city and state officials nationwide grapple with growing pressure to reopen schools and businesses amid falling rates of new cases and deaths. Officials have recently permitted limited indoor dining in New York City. On Thursday, Connecticut’s governor said the state would be ending capacity limits later this month on restaurants, gyms and offices. Masks are still required in both locales. “The study is not surprising,” said Joseph Allen, an associate professor at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of the university’s Healthy Buildings program. “What’s surprising is that we see some states ignoring all of the evidence and opening up quickly, and removing mask mandates and opening full dining.” Other researchers said the new study confirmed the idea that viral transmission often takes place through the air, that physical distancing may not be sufficient to halt the spread in some settings, and that masks at least partly block airborne particles. President Biden’s health advisers have said in recent days that now is not the time to relax. As of Thursday, the seven-day average of new cases was still 62,924 a day, according to a database maintained by The New York Times. While that figure is down 14 percent from two weeks earlier, new cases remain near the peaks reported last summer. Though fatalities have started falling, in part because of the vaccination campaigns at nursing homes, it remains routine for 2,000 deaths to be reported in a single day. Mr. Biden on Wednesday criticized the decisions by the governors of Texas and Mississippi to lift statewide mask mandates and reopen businesses without restrictions, calling the plans “a big mistake” that reflected “Neanderthal thinking.” The president, who has asked Americans to wear masks during his first 100 days in office, said it was critical for public officials to follow the guidance of doctors and public health leaders as the coronavirus vaccination campaign gains momentum. As of Thursday, about 54 million people had received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. “It may seem tempting, in the face of all of this progress, to try to rush back to normalcy as if the virus is in the rearview mirror,” Andy Slavitt, a White House adviser on the pandemic, said on Friday. “It’s not.” C.D.C. researchers examined the associations between mask mandates, indoor or outdoor restaurant dining, and coronavirus infections and deaths last year between March 1 and Dec. 31. The agency relied on county-level data from state government websites and measured daily percentage change in coronavirus cases and deaths. Updated  March 5, 2021, 2:50 p.m. ET Infections and deaths declined after counties mandated mask use, the agency found. Daily infections rose about six weeks after counties allowed restaurants to open for dining on the premises, and death rates followed two months later. The report’s authors concluded that mask mandates were linked to statistically significant decreases in coronavirus cases and death rates within 20 days of implementation. On-premises dining at restaurants, indoors or outdoors, was associated with rising case and death rates 41 to 80 days after reopenings. “State mask mandates and prohibiting on-premises dining at restaurants help limit potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2, reducing community transmission of Covid-19,” the authors wrote. Shortly after publishing the report, the C.D.C. amended it, urging establishments that resume serving diners to follow agency guidelines for reducing transmission in restaurants. “The message is, if restaurants are going to open for on-premise dining, it’s important to follow C.D.C. guidelines to do so safely and effectively,” said Gery P. Guy, a scientist with the C.D.C.’s Covid response team and the study’s corresponding author. What You Need to Know About the Vaccine Rollout That includes “everything from having staff stay home when they show signs of Covid or have tested positive or been in contact with someone who has Covid, and requiring masks among employees as well as customers who are not actively eating or drinking,” Dr. Guy said. Other steps include adequate ventilation, options to eat outdoors, spacing customers six feet apart, encouraging frequent hand washing, and sanitizing of surfaces that are touched a lot, such as cash registers or pay terminals, door handles and tables. Even if restaurants limit capacity, however, aerosolized virus may accumulate if ventilation is inadequate, Dr. Allen said. “It doesn’t really matter if it’s a restaurant, spin class, a gym, a choir practice — if you’re indoors with no masks, low or no ventilation, we know that’s higher risk,” he said. “Respiratory aerosols build up indoors. It’s that simple. This is a real problem for restaurants.” Linsey Marr, an expert on aerosol transmission at Virginia Tech, said Americans could not be expected to follow all the latest science, and so many simply rely on what is open or closed as an indicator of what is safe. But indoor dining is particularly risky, she added. People typically sit in a restaurant for an hour or more and don’t wear masks while eating, leaving them vulnerable to airborne virus. “Limiting capacity will help reduce the risk of transmission, but indoor dining is still a high-risk activity until more people are vaccinated,” she said. Restaurant workers are particularly exposed. While they can wear masks, diners do not, reducing protection against the virus. And workers spend many hours inside with every shift, Dr. Allen said. He recommended that restaurant workers double-mask, wearing a surgical mask covered by a cloth mask, or buy high-efficiency masks like N95s, typically reserved for health care workers, or KN95 or KF94 masks, taking steps to assure they are not counterfeit. “Now is not the time to let our guard down and pull back on the controls when we’re so close to having a lot of people vaccinated,” Dr. Allen said. Eileen Sullivan contributed reporting. Source link Orbem News #dining #Linked #mask #restaurant #Spread #Virus

[lonelydesert]

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[alicecpacheco]

Through the looking glass, into the unknown

To start the week, thought you all might enjoy reading my latest article that appears in the June issue of Dental Products Report...  

For now, we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face.” With all apologies to St. Paul, truer words might never have been spoken. As regular readers of this column will know, I love to talk about change in our profession and all the excitement that normally comes with it. Yet, as much as it pains me to say this, sometimes change is not exciting; sometimes it’s scary. This appears to be one of those times.

We are suddenly seeing massive changes in our profession to keep our patients, our teams, and ourselves as secure as possible from SARS-CoV-2.

Probably the perfect solution to this would be to simply press “pause” on dentistry and wait for the science to catch up. Unfortunately, the problems our patients trust us to deal with couldn’t care less and won’t wait for the science to catch up. They will continue to wreak havoc on our patients until we can return and get things back under control.

My office did not reopen until May 18, which meant I had not done an elective procedure for almost 60 days. During the pandemic shut down, I treated emergencies only for that time and had chosen to work alone in an effort to decrease the number of potential exposures and to conserve PPE. I couldn’t even remember how long it had been since I had worked without an assistant. Amazingly enough, I didn’t struggle nearly as much as I had anticipated. Granted, I was only seeing emergencies and only treating as little as possible to get the situation stabilized, but it also made me appreciate how important my dental assistants are to the equation. There is a reason it’s referred to as a “team”—something every doctor needs to remember.

Into the Great Unknown

Now here comes the tricky part. Dentistry is an evidence-based scientific profession, and it tends to attract people who want to see proof. In Dental Products Reports’ recent Technology and Materials Survey, 54.09 percent of respondents classified themselves in the category, “I’m a researcher. I need to see clinical studies, hands-on demos, etc.” That’s a good thing. Our patients definitely do not want someone who is just “winging it.” But that’s the crux of the problem we are currently facing in our profession. We just don’t have enough scientific information to be able to act with steadfast assurance.

As I type this, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has not updated its recommendations for dental treatment since April 27. The American Dental Association has requested that the CDC update its guidance for dental personnel returning to work, but that information appears to be slow in arriving. The current CDC guidelines still encourage the postponement of elective dental procedures, but at least 28 states are now reopening. That means 28 states have cleared dental offices to open again and begin seeing patients for elective procedures. (Editor’s Note: The CDC finally released updated recommendations for dental settings on May 19.)

While I understand the science is lagging in the battle against COVID-19, at some point the specialists in infectious disease and epidemiology will have to take their best shot at this. I cannot say with any degree of certainty, but it’s certainly starting to look like everyone is so concerned about making the wrong recommendations, that no one will make a recommendation at all.

Because of that, we are approaching three weeks of some offices performing elective procedures and being forced to use a “best guess” scenario.

Place Your Bets

As we all either proceed with treating or proceed with getting ready to treat, the question I am hearing the most among dentists is, “What are you doing for infection control?”

That simple question is an indication of the difficult position we, as doctors, find ourselves in during this pandemic. I was in dental school when Universal Precautions went into effect. That’s obviously been a while, but I don’t remember there being much confusion regarding the changes that were being made.

On the other hand, the current situation is rife with questions. So, what do we do? First of all, let me say so that everyone knows, I am not an infectious disease expert. I’m going to throw out a few ideas here. I’m doing this as an effort to get us all thinking—look upon it as a discussion we might have at a meeting in the bar after dinner.

Masks are certainly going to be a major priority. I’d be willing to bet that most of us now know more about masks than we ever expected in our career. N95s are the best option, but you don’t need to be in healthcare to know they are in short supply. There are other versions available from countries outside the U.S., such as the KN95 from China, which are supposed to be identical to the U.S. N95.

However, with the demand for respirators has come dishonesty. It’s now become known that some masks sold as KN95 are counterfeit. The U.S. had originally approved 80 overseas companies to provide N95-equivalent masks, but then had to prohibit 65 of those companies from selling masks for medical use. This happened after the federal agencies testing these masks had known of the failures for three weeks. When I found out about this I was outraged, and I feel you should be as well. Heaven only knows how many of those masks were used in that three-week span and how many of our medical colleagues had their lives put at risk because of it.

Many offices plan to ration these high filtration masks until the supply chain stabilizes. This is done by using one high filtration mask per day and then covering it during use with a separate Level 3 mask. The Level 3 masks can be changed as needed throughout the day. At the end of the day the N95 (or KN95) is placed inside of a paper bag and allowed to sit for 5 days. After the five-day span, the CDC considers them ready to wear again.

Gowns have also become a sought-after item. Whether disposable or reusable is up to the office, but “gowning up” will become a part of standard operating procedures for the foreseeable future. These should be waterproof and should protect underlying garments as much as possible. Some disposable gown manufacturers switched over to making masks due to demand, which has now created a disposable gown shortage.

    "We are going to have to be even more vigilant about our inventory control. Running out of critical PPE could stop treatment in its tracks.”

Hair bonnets have been discussed a lot and no one seems to have a really good answer as to whether or not they are needed. The normal “gauze” types certainly won’t prevent virus penetration, but some individuals feel better with them during treatment. Perhaps the best option for those who desire to cover their hair are the good old fashioned shower caps. These are basically a thicker ply plastic bag with elastic. While these would keep viruses out, they will also be very warm for those who choose to wear them.

Face shields are also a popular option. While the CDC is currently advising either safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, many are choosing to wear glasses and a face shield. The problem with face shields is that most are not very compatible with magnification. More than 80 percent of doctors are currently wearing some type of magnification and fitting a plastic shield over almost all of them is difficult if not impossible. Adding to the problem is the fact that most wearing magnification also have a light attached to the glasses. This makes the mask even more difficult to fit, while also creating reflection problems as the light bounces off the mask and reflects back into the user’s eyes.

And That Isn’t All

Then let’s add in the temperature factor. All of this PPE is going to surround us with non-breathable materials. Viruses cannot get in, but the tradeoff is that heat cannot escape. We are going to get very hot. Spending hours wrapped in layers of insulating materials is no one’s idea of a good time.

Plus, we are going to have to be even more vigilant about our inventory control. Running out of critical PPE could stop treatment in its tracks, meaning we’ll have to be hyper aware of inventory levels. Also, because the supply chain is so out of sync, we can’t just pick up the phone and place an order with the expectation it will arrive in a day or two. We’ll have to scour all available supply channels in an attempt to find items that are in stock and purchase before those items are sold out. This is going to require a careful balancing act that we’ve never had to perform before.

Wrapping Up

Is this going to be difficult? Absolutely. However, we’ll get through it. Dentistry may not have faced this kind of challenge before, but we’ve faced challenges in the past and we prevailed. I’m no happier about the current situation than any of you, but as my grandfather used to say, “Son, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” Here’s to doing what is NOT easy. See you on the other side. 

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Reopening Dental Offices For Routine Care Amid Pandemic Touches A Nerve

Tom Peeling wanted his teeth cleaned and wasn’t going to let the coronavirus pandemic get in the way.

Luckily, his six-month regular appointment was scheduled for earlier this month, just days after dental offices were allowed to reopen in Florida for routine services. In late March the state ordered dentists to treat only emergency cases as part of its efforts to keep residents at home and to preserve limited medical supplies, such as N95 masks, that might be needed to treat COVID-19 patients.

Yet for Peeling, 62, of Lantana, Florida, the dental visit was anything but routine. He had his temperature taken upon arrival and was asked to rinse with a hydrogen peroxide solution to reduce germs before the dentist or hygienist looked into his mouth. The dentist and his assistants all wore masks.

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Another change: He was the only patient in the office.

Florida is one of 40 states that have allowed dental offices to resume providing routine services following the March shutdown of nonessential businesses in much of the United States when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The American Dental Association supports dental offices reopening — with added precautions — in states where COVID-19 cases are declining. It notes that patients are better off if they have their regular dental services. The dental group says many dental practices are being hit hard financially because most of their regular patients aren’t coming in for routine care.

But many health experts question whether states are moving too fast.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to advise patients to limit dental visits to emergencies. The CDC said it has no data yet about the possibility of coronavirus “transmission during dental practice or to determine whether [dental health care providers] are adequately protected when providing dental treatment using standard precautions.”

Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and a Milwaukee hygienist, also said it’s not time yet. His association believes dentists should postpone all elective and nonemergency care until dental offices have enough equipment such as masks to safeguard all employees and there is more testing to gauge the spread of the disease.

“We have some hygienists who are ready to go back to work and follow the guidance to keep themselves safe and their patients safe,” Crespin said. “But we are hearing from other hygienists worried about going back because appropriate protections are not being put in place” and offices have limited supplies of protective gear.

Infection control experts said patients, dentists and their staffs need to weigh their risks — which vary by where they live, their age and other factors.

“Just because you can be going back to the dentist doesn’t mean you should automatically go,” said Pia MacDonald, an infectious disease expert with RTI International, a nonprofit research institute in North Carolina. She said patients should talk to their dentists about what precautions they are putting in place.

For dental practices, like many other small businesses, the shutdown has been financially devastating. An ADA survey of 17,000 dentists found that by early April more than 9 of 10 dentists said their patient volume was 10% or less of normal, and just under half had stopped paying their employees. Nearly 20% of dentists said they had concerns about sustaining their dental practice if current restrictions are kept in place until the end of June, according to the survey.

“We are going to see more dentists file for bankruptcy if the restrictions go into June,” said Margaret Gingrich, president of the Michigan Dental Association. Like many dentists, Gingrich received a Small Business Administration loan to help her pay rent, utilities and payroll.

Even when dentists get clearance to resume regular visits, it’s uncertain how many patients will postpone out of fear of coronavirus infection. An April survey by the North American Dental Group, which operates 230 dental offices nationwide, found 71% of respondents were uncomfortable going to the dentist for a “non-time sensitive” dental procedure.

“I don’t feel comfortable being in the chair with my mouth open for an extended period of time,” said Marian Hollingsworth, 66, of San Diego.

Adding to their financial woes, many dentists plan to see fewer patients per day to reduce the number of people in their waiting rooms and give staff more time to disinfect areas between cases.

Matthew Roberts, a dentist in Crockett, Texas, who reopened his practice to routine patients last week, said dentists are accustomed to handling germs that can cause infections.

“While we are not used to this novel virus, we deal with infections all the time,” he said. “Patients should have no qualms” about returning.

In addition to wearing N95 masks and gowns, he and his hygienists now use face shields.

When patients arrive at his office, staff members take their temperature to make sure they don’t have a fever, which could signal a COVID infection, and screen them by asking questions about their health.

Roberts said he has been pleasantly surprised that many of his patients have chosen to book appointments once he reopened. He attributed that to his rural county having few COVID cases and patients wanting a return to normal. After being closed for six weeks, Roberts said, he has a backlog of 300 appointments to get through. He’s scheduling patients into September.

Matthew Messina, a spokesperson for the ADA and a dentist in Columbus, Ohio, said that, with added precautions such as having patients wait in their cars instead of small waiting rooms and dentists wearing face shields, people should feel comfortable about going to the dentist even if they are elderly and at high risk for COVID complications.

“The dental office is a safe place for patients,” he said.

MacDonald, the infectious disease expert, recommended, however, that older people consult with their medical doctor about whether a routine dental visit is worth the risk.

“Dentists are uniquely positioned to handle this,” said Thomas Paumier, a Canton, Ohio, dentist who reopened last week. With a shortage of N95 masks, he said, he is using high-quality surgical masks and a face shield.

“Ever since the HIV experience in the 1980s, we treat every patient who walks in the door as potentially infectious,” Paumier said.

Like many other dentists, he donated masks and gloves to area hospitals. But recently, his were returned because they were not needed.

Still, other dentists are concerned about getting adequate supplies. Michael Hoffmann, a dentist and treasurer for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, said many practices there are “not opening to full capacity — because there’s not enough personal protective equipment.”

He said his own practice has about a month’s worth of supplies. “Once we run out, we’ll have to close our doors until we can get more,” he said.

The society recently used a salesperson Hoffmann had previously worked with to order 100,000 KN95 masks — the European version of N95s — from a supplier in China. But the masks arrived in boxes stamped “nonmedical.”

“When we were trying to fit-check them, they leaked horribly,” Hoffmann said. “Nobody was able to get any kind of seal, and we knew they were fraudulent.”

The group received its money back, and Hoffmann said they will refund the dentists that preordered.

KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber contributed to this story.

Reopening Dental Offices For Routine Care Amid Pandemic Touches A Nerve published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[stephenmccull]

Reopening Dental Offices For Routine Care Amid Pandemic Touches A Nerve

Tom Peeling wanted his teeth cleaned and wasn’t going to let the coronavirus pandemic get in the way.

Luckily, his six-month regular appointment was scheduled for earlier this month, just days after dental offices were allowed to reopen in Florida for routine services. In late March the state ordered dentists to treat only emergency cases as part of its efforts to keep residents at home and to preserve limited medical supplies, such as N95 masks, that might be needed to treat COVID-19 patients.

Yet for Peeling, 62, of Lantana, Florida, the dental visit was anything but routine. He had his temperature taken upon arrival and was asked to rinse with a hydrogen peroxide solution to reduce germs before the dentist or hygienist looked into his mouth. The dentist and his assistants all wore masks.

Don't Miss A Story

Subscribe to KHN’s free Weekly Edition newsletter.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Another change: He was the only patient in the office.

Florida is one of 40 states that have allowed dental offices to resume providing routine services following the March shutdown of nonessential businesses in much of the United States when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The American Dental Association supports dental offices reopening — with added precautions — in states where COVID-19 cases are declining. It notes that patients are better off if they have their regular dental services. The dental group says many dental practices are being hit hard financially because most of their regular patients aren’t coming in for routine care.

But many health experts question whether states are moving too fast.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to advise patients to limit dental visits to emergencies. The CDC said it has no data yet about the possibility of coronavirus “transmission during dental practice or to determine whether [dental health care providers] are adequately protected when providing dental treatment using standard precautions.”

Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and a Milwaukee hygienist, also said it’s not time yet. His association believes dentists should postpone all elective and nonemergency care until dental offices have enough equipment such as masks to safeguard all employees and there is more testing to gauge the spread of the disease.

“We have some hygienists who are ready to go back to work and follow the guidance to keep themselves safe and their patients safe,” Crespin said. “But we are hearing from other hygienists worried about going back because appropriate protections are not being put in place” and offices have limited supplies of protective gear.

Infection control experts said patients, dentists and their staffs need to weigh their risks — which vary by where they live, their age and other factors.

“Just because you can be going back to the dentist doesn’t mean you should automatically go,” said Pia MacDonald, an infectious disease expert with RTI International, a nonprofit research institute in North Carolina. She said patients should talk to their dentists about what precautions they are putting in place.

For dental practices, like many other small businesses, the shutdown has been financially devastating. An ADA survey of 17,000 dentists found that by early April more than 9 of 10 dentists said their patient volume was 10% or less of normal, and just under half had stopped paying their employees. Nearly 20% of dentists said they had concerns about sustaining their dental practice if current restrictions are kept in place until the end of June, according to the survey.

“We are going to see more dentists file for bankruptcy if the restrictions go into June,” said Margaret Gingrich, president of the Michigan Dental Association. Like many dentists, Gingrich received a Small Business Administration loan to help her pay rent, utilities and payroll.

Even when dentists get clearance to resume regular visits, it’s uncertain how many patients will postpone out of fear of coronavirus infection. An April survey by the North American Dental Group, which operates 230 dental offices nationwide, found 71% of respondents were uncomfortable going to the dentist for a “non-time sensitive” dental procedure.

“I don’t feel comfortable being in the chair with my mouth open for an extended period of time,” said Marian Hollingsworth, 66, of San Diego.

Adding to their financial woes, many dentists plan to see fewer patients per day to reduce the number of people in their waiting rooms and give staff more time to disinfect areas between cases.

Matthew Roberts, a dentist in Crockett, Texas, who reopened his practice to routine patients last week, said dentists are accustomed to handling germs that can cause infections.

“While we are not used to this novel virus, we deal with infections all the time,” he said. “Patients should have no qualms” about returning.

In addition to wearing N95 masks and gowns, he and his hygienists now use face shields.

When patients arrive at his office, staff members take their temperature to make sure they don’t have a fever, which could signal a COVID infection, and screen them by asking questions about their health.

Roberts said he has been pleasantly surprised that many of his patients have chosen to book appointments once he reopened. He attributed that to his rural county having few COVID cases and patients wanting a return to normal. After being closed for six weeks, Roberts said, he has a backlog of 300 appointments to get through. He’s scheduling patients into September.

Matthew Messina, a spokesperson for the ADA and a dentist in Columbus, Ohio, said that, with added precautions such as having patients wait in their cars instead of small waiting rooms and dentists wearing face shields, people should feel comfortable about going to the dentist even if they are elderly and at high risk for COVID complications.

“The dental office is a safe place for patients,” he said.

MacDonald, the infectious disease expert, recommended, however, that older people consult with their medical doctor about whether a routine dental visit is worth the risk.

“Dentists are uniquely positioned to handle this,” said Thomas Paumier, a Canton, Ohio, dentist who reopened last week. With a shortage of N95 masks, he said, he is using high-quality surgical masks and a face shield.

“Ever since the HIV experience in the 1980s, we treat every patient who walks in the door as potentially infectious,” Paumier said.

Like many other dentists, he donated masks and gloves to area hospitals. But recently, his were returned because they were not needed.

Still, other dentists are concerned about getting adequate supplies. Michael Hoffmann, a dentist and treasurer for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, said many practices there are “not opening to full capacity — because there’s not enough personal protective equipment.”

He said his own practice has about a month’s worth of supplies. “Once we run out, we’ll have to close our doors until we can get more,” he said.

The society recently used a salesperson Hoffmann had previously worked with to order 100,000 KN95 masks — the European version of N95s — from a supplier in China. But the masks arrived in boxes stamped “nonmedical.”

“When we were trying to fit-check them, they leaked horribly,” Hoffmann said. “Nobody was able to get any kind of seal, and we knew they were fraudulent.”

The group received its money back, and Hoffmann said they will refund the dentists that preordered.

KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber contributed to this story.

Reopening Dental Offices For Routine Care Amid Pandemic Touches A Nerve published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

[dinafbrownil]

Reopening Dental Offices For Routine Care Amid Pandemic Touches A Nerve

Tom Peeling wanted his teeth cleaned and wasn’t going to let the coronavirus pandemic get in the way.

Luckily, his six-month regular appointment was scheduled for earlier this month, just days after dental offices were allowed to reopen in Florida for routine services. In late March the state ordered dentists to treat only emergency cases as part of its efforts to keep residents at home and to preserve limited medical supplies, such as N95 masks, that might be needed to treat COVID-19 patients.

Yet for Peeling, 62, of Lantana, Florida, the dental visit was anything but routine. He had his temperature taken upon arrival and was asked to rinse with a hydrogen peroxide solution to reduce germs before the dentist or hygienist looked into his mouth. The dentist and his assistants all wore masks.

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Another change: He was the only patient in the office.

Florida is one of 40 states that have allowed dental offices to resume providing routine services following the March shutdown of nonessential businesses in much of the United States when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The American Dental Association supports dental offices reopening — with added precautions — in states where COVID-19 cases are declining. It notes that patients are better off if they have their regular dental services. The dental group says many dental practices are being hit hard financially because most of their regular patients aren’t coming in for routine care.

But many health experts question whether states are moving too fast.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to advise patients to limit dental visits to emergencies. The CDC said it has no data yet about the possibility of coronavirus “transmission during dental practice or to determine whether [dental health care providers] are adequately protected when providing dental treatment using standard precautions.”

Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and a Milwaukee hygienist, also said it’s not time yet. His association believes dentists should postpone all elective and nonemergency care until dental offices have enough equipment such as masks to safeguard all employees and there is more testing to gauge the spread of the disease.

“We have some hygienists who are ready to go back to work and follow the guidance to keep themselves safe and their patients safe,” Crespin said. “But we are hearing from other hygienists worried about going back because appropriate protections are not being put in place” and offices have limited supplies of protective gear.

Infection control experts said patients, dentists and their staffs need to weigh their risks — which vary by where they live, their age and other factors.

“Just because you can be going back to the dentist doesn’t mean you should automatically go,” said Pia MacDonald, an infectious disease expert with RTI International, a nonprofit research institute in North Carolina. She said patients should talk to their dentists about what precautions they are putting in place.

For dental practices, like many other small businesses, the shutdown has been financially devastating. An ADA survey of 17,000 dentists found that by early April more than 9 of 10 dentists said their patient volume was 10% or less of normal, and just under half had stopped paying their employees. Nearly 20% of dentists said they had concerns about sustaining their dental practice if current restrictions are kept in place until the end of June, according to the survey.

“We are going to see more dentists file for bankruptcy if the restrictions go into June,” said Margaret Gingrich, president of the Michigan Dental Association. Like many dentists, Gingrich received a Small Business Administration loan to help her pay rent, utilities and payroll.

Even when dentists get clearance to resume regular visits, it’s uncertain how many patients will postpone out of fear of coronavirus infection. An April survey by the North American Dental Group, which operates 230 dental offices nationwide, found 71% of respondents were uncomfortable going to the dentist for a “non-time sensitive” dental procedure.

“I don’t feel comfortable being in the chair with my mouth open for an extended period of time,” said Marian Hollingsworth, 66, of San Diego.

Adding to their financial woes, many dentists plan to see fewer patients per day to reduce the number of people in their waiting rooms and give staff more time to disinfect areas between cases.

Matthew Roberts, a dentist in Crockett, Texas, who reopened his practice to routine patients last week, said dentists are accustomed to handling germs that can cause infections.

“While we are not used to this novel virus, we deal with infections all the time,” he said. “Patients should have no qualms” about returning.

In addition to wearing N95 masks and gowns, he and his hygienists now use face shields.

When patients arrive at his office, staff members take their temperature to make sure they don’t have a fever, which could signal a COVID infection, and screen them by asking questions about their health.

Roberts said he has been pleasantly surprised that many of his patients have chosen to book appointments once he reopened. He attributed that to his rural county having few COVID cases and patients wanting a return to normal. After being closed for six weeks, Roberts said, he has a backlog of 300 appointments to get through. He’s scheduling patients into September.

Matthew Messina, a spokesperson for the ADA and a dentist in Columbus, Ohio, said that, with added precautions such as having patients wait in their cars instead of small waiting rooms and dentists wearing face shields, people should feel comfortable about going to the dentist even if they are elderly and at high risk for COVID complications.

“The dental office is a safe place for patients,” he said.

MacDonald, the infectious disease expert, recommended, however, that older people consult with their medical doctor about whether a routine dental visit is worth the risk.

“Dentists are uniquely positioned to handle this,” said Thomas Paumier, a Canton, Ohio, dentist who reopened last week. With a shortage of N95 masks, he said, he is using high-quality surgical masks and a face shield.

“Ever since the HIV experience in the 1980s, we treat every patient who walks in the door as potentially infectious,” Paumier said.

Like many other dentists, he donated masks and gloves to area hospitals. But recently, his were returned because they were not needed.

Still, other dentists are concerned about getting adequate supplies. Michael Hoffmann, a dentist and treasurer for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, said many practices there are “not opening to full capacity — because there’s not enough personal protective equipment.”

He said his own practice has about a month’s worth of supplies. “Once we run out, we’ll have to close our doors until we can get more,” he said.

The society recently used a salesperson Hoffmann had previously worked with to order 100,000 KN95 masks — the European version of N95s — from a supplier in China. But the masks arrived in boxes stamped “nonmedical.”

“When we were trying to fit-check them, they leaked horribly,” Hoffmann said. “Nobody was able to get any kind of seal, and we knew they were fraudulent.”

The group received its money back, and Hoffmann said they will refund the dentists that preordered.

KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber contributed to this story.

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/reopening-dental-offices-for-routine-care-amid-pandemic-touches-a-nerve/