Ways To Stop The Spread Of Coronavirus: Pinellas Doctors

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Medical staff members in Pinellas County shared the dos and don'ts of how to decrease the coronavirus spike on the County's FB Live page on Tuesday. This advice comes a day after the state of Florida surpassed 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and the county reported two new coronavirus-related deaths on Monday as reported by Paul Scicchitano with the Sarasota Patch.

Dr. John Thogmartin, chief medical examiner of Pinellas County and Pasco County, and Dr. Angus Jameson, director of Pinellas County EMS shared worldwide studies about how to decrease the transmission of coronavirus, and the effects of the increasing number on local hospitals and residents.

"On the hospital side, we're seeing also significant increases in the number of folks coming for testing, and the number of folks that are testing positive," said Jameson. "Our hospitals in Pinellas County today have more COVID patients in house than they've had at anytime previously."

Jameson did not give comparison numbers on the call.

"We were seeing quite a few referrals for COVID related deaths that we were investigating," said Thogmartin. "That flattened out with the lockdown, and now we are getting a little increase although you know these spikes in numbers that has happened in numbers over the past week or so — whatever action you take, there's a delay."

The World Health Organization reports that on average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.

During that incubation period, if a person is not practicing social distancing or wearing a mask, they can unknowingly affect other people out in public or pass it along to family members, and this puts those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease at a higher rise to develop serious illness from the coronavirus according to WHO.

"This novel virus we don't know anything about has significant morbidity and fatality," said Thogmartin. "Looking at the numbers, you can not let it burn through us because it will be a disaster. It would break us, and it would take us a decade to climb out of it."

The Florida Department of Health reported on Tuesday that Pinellas County confirmed coronavirus cases is at 4,033; 129 deaths and 554 hospitalizations. The state of Florida has 103,503 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,238 deaths.

Thogmartin said that the youngest recorded coronavirus death in Pinellas County is 51-years-old. He did not confirm on the call if the deceased had underlying health conditions.

Both doctors did express that with the increase in coronavirus cases, they worry that hospitals will reach max capacity, and this will make it harder for those seeking medical treatment for other health issues such as heart attacks and strokes to receive treatment quickly.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Administration, on Tuesday it reported that in the County there are 842 hospital beds currently available out of a total of 2,549 beds. Angus said that the local hospitals have said something must be done soon to decrease the spread of coronavirus in the community or their fear could come true of reaching capacity.

Angus and Thogmartin expressed repeatedly the importance of wearing a mask properly, which means to have mouth and nose covered, and practicing social distancing.

Thogmartin suggested that going to bars is not a good idea because when going to places known for having loud music, you have to invade someone's personal space as you yell in their face to be heard over the music. And if you're asymptomatic expelling a droplet of saliva on someone while talking in their face, you could potentially infect them or vice versa. WHO reports that coronavirus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

Recently, a number of bars in Pinellas County, such as the Galley in downtown St. Petersburg closed temporarily because of staff members testing positive for coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference in Orlando that if any bars or restaurants in the state violate social distancing guidelines they risk losing their liquor license.

Jameson shared that a recent global medical study by the Lancet medical journal revealed the significance of decreasing coronavirus transmission through social distancing and wearing masks.

"Our search identified 172 observational studies across 16 countries and six continents, with no randomized controlled trials and 44 relevant comparative studies in health-care and non-health-care settings. Transmission of viruses was lower with physical distancing of 1 m or more, compared with a distance of less than 1 m; protection was increased as distance was lengthened. Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection with stronger associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar Eye protection also was associated with less infection."

Jameson said he understands that wearing a mask is uncomfortable as he wears one sometimes for 12 hours in the emergency room, but he's doing it to protect patients.

Thogmartin stressed that when we're wearing a mask while out in public, we're doing it to protect others.

Pinellas County Commission passed a vote on Tuesday that requires all people inside an indoor establishment to have a face covering as of 5 p.m. on June 24. The ordinance does have exemptions:

• The mandate cannot conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• It does not apply if a person is strictly adhering to social distancing and there are 10 or fewer people in the location who are also maintaining social distancing.
• It does not apply to governmental entities such as schools, courthouses or city halls, although those entities are encouraged to develop procedures to protect employees and the public.
• If a person is under age 18, that person’s use of a face covering is left to the discretion of that person’s parent, guardian or an accompanying adult.
• Religious rituals such as various forms of singing are permitted provided that social distancing is strictly maintained.
• Exercising while social distancing, such as in a gym, is permitted without a face covering.