Dr Steven Becker is providing the following information to help keep our patients informed about COVID-19 / novel coronavirus.

What is coronavirus/COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new variant of a common family of viruses called coronaviruses. These viruses typically cause respiratory tract infections ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Though most commonly found in animals like cattle, cats and bats, some coronaviruses can infect and spread between humans, such as COVID-19 and SARS.

How is it transmitted?

Just like the flu, the coronavirus is spread through coughing, sneezing and close personal contact with other people.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms related to COVID-19 coronavirus infection range from mild to severe respiratory symptoms. Most patients have fever, cough and body aches. In more severe infections, symptoms may include shortness of breath and/or pneumonia. Symptoms typically appear between two and 14 days after exposure to an infected person.

Am I at risk?

The risk to you remains very low. Those at highest risk have recently travelled to countries including China and South Korea, followed by Iran, Italy and Japan. People who have had close personal contact with travelers to these countries who now exhibit respiratory symptoms are also at a higher risk. 

How can I prepare? 

The COVID-19 coronavirus risk should be managed like other potential disruptions to your daily activities: prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Make sure you have at least a two-week supply of critical medications and supplies necessary for good hygiene.

What treatments are available?

There are many studies currently under way but only Remdesivir has been granted emergency authorization for use with Covid 19. We expect rapid review and approval as medications and vaccines become available for the treatment of COVID-19 — but the earliest prediction is December, 2020. In the absence of a vaccine or medication, good hygiene practices remain the primary method to address wide-spread transmission and supportive care remains the only medical treatment.

How can I protect myself?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend practicing good hygiene in the same way you would protect yourself against the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating, as well as after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Wear a mask when in public if you are indoors or if you are outdoors and must be within 6 feet of someone.

• Avoid close contact with people who may be may be sick or have had contact with someone who is infected.

• Social distance advised is 6 feet.

• Droplet transmission with a cough or sneeze can travel over 20 feet and linger for up to 3 hours indoors.

• Droplet transmission dramatically decreases if someone wears a mask.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a mask or tissue (and then throw the tissue in the trash) or sneeze into the bend of your elbows.

• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that non-household members may have touched.

• Alternatively — you may leave non-– refrigerated items that you have purchased in the closet for 3 days which should be adequate to deactivate the virus.

• Sunlight degrees the virus in less than a day.

• UVC ultraviolet light sources have been found to decontaminate surfaces in as little as 12 minutes.

• The SARS-2-Coronavirus is held together by surface tension. Absorbent surfaces such as cotton absorb moisture and can disintegrate viruses in less than 3 hours.
  Conversely, hard metal or plastic surfaces can allow the virus to persist for up to 3 days.

1. How to stay healthy.

General information:

The spread is via droplet transmission. Most droplets come from infected (and incubating) individuals’ cough, sneeze and touch. 

If you aren’t in your own home – don’t touch anything above your neck until you’ve washed- or alcohol-ed your hands. Get under your nails. Wash very well.

Stay 6 feet away from anyone unless you’re certain they aren’t coughing sneezing or ill. 

Even then- keep 6 feet away and remember if you’ve touched ANYTHING – don’t touch anything above your neck. Not your hair; not your face; not your head or ears or glasses. If you do, that area is suspect until you have washed or alcohol-ed the area and your hands.

Masks; even the best masks aren’t perfect even — but they will at least decrease — and at best prevent virus from getting into your nose and mouth. And they will help prevent your coughs and sneezes and exhalations from infecting — or at least upsetting — others. It’s still important to maintain some distance from anybody that is not part of your household.
Finally — masks also reassure those around you that you make an effort to avoid Covid 19 infection.

What to do if you feel ill.

2. If you’re sick – see guidance below.

If you have symptoms of respiratory illness (e.g., fever, cough and/or shortness of breath), answer the following questions:

1. Have you recently traveled outside the country or anywhere in the US that has had a high incidence of coronavirus? Current countries at high risk include all Asian countries, Italy, and Iran.• Yes• No

2. Have you been in close contact with anyone known or suspected to have the COVID-19 coronavirus illness? Close contact is defined as within 6 feet for 3 minutes or more. • Yes• No

If you answered YES TO ONE OR BOTH of these questions and have any respiratory symptoms: 

• Stay home and call Dr Becker’s office (713-932-1924). A staff member will take your information and have Dr Becker contact you to provide additional information and discuss the best options for you.

• If you believe your symptoms are life threatening, go to the nearest hospital emergency department. We recommend that you call Dr Becker – 713 932 1924 – or call his or Helene’s cell number which you all have. (If you don’t, please call the office and get it). We will then contact the emergency department immediately so we can provide them with necessary information and decrease your wait and your risk.

As more information becomes available it will be posted on this website. Additional information is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus.