Dr. Steven Bishop returned to PartnerMD Live on Wednesday, April 1, with another coronavirus update. Dr. Bishop shared one projection for a timeline of the virus, as well as a video that explains the science of the virus.
He also discussed whether the CDC might change their recommendation on wearing a mask in public, the ramp up of testing availability, and answered several questions, including:
- Will a bandanna work if I don't have a medical mask? Potentially, yes. The idea is to get something that has at least two layers of cloth or t-shirt material.
- If I do start to feel symptoms, should I call my doctor or wait for a fever? Call your doctor as soon as possible when you start to feel symptoms. We are seeing data related to testing that indicates the earlier we can do testing, the more accurate the test.
- Does the PREVNAR 13 vaccine protect against pneumonia if infected with COVID-19? It will reduce your risk of having a streptococcal infection. It won't help prevent pneumonia caused by the viral pneumonia related to the coronavirus, but in theory, it could provide some protection from getting a secondary pneumonia or just getting a pneumonia from the bacterial component.
- Is it ok to do curbside pickup from Lowe's? As long as you maintain as much distance from other individuals and wipe everything down, unpackage items before bringing them into the house, etc. If it's something difficult to wipe down, you could spray it with something like Lysol or let it sit outside for a couple of days and let the virus die off.
- Is it true that frequently drinking water helps the virus wash into the stomach rather than the lungs? There is no solid evidence to support this theory. In theory, it makes sense that the stomach acid could destroy the virus, but there is no data to back up the claim. We don't know how the virus reacts within the stomach or within the GI system. However, drinking water frequently and staying hydrated will help prevent you from getting sick and help you recover faster if you do get sick.
- Is there any evidence that if you have had coronavirus and recover, you can't get it again? We don't know for sure yet. The general thought right now is probably once you get it, recover, and you have a strong antibody response, you probably won't get it again. However, there are many viruses where the antibody immunity doesn't last a lifetime. We just don't know how long coronavirus immunity would last. More than likely, once you get it, you will likely have a strong immune response to the virus. But long-term, the best solution is most likely going to be a vaccine.
- What constitutes "underlying health conditions" that affect COVID-19? Age is one of the biggest things. Anyone over 60 is at a higher risk. And pretty much any underlying health condition seems to increase the risk of having a more difficult course with the coronavirus. High blood pressure, any kind of lung disease (asthma, COPD, etc.), heart disease, diabetes, etc.
- Are they seeing more severe cases from those who smoke? We haven't seen clear data on that in the United States. We do know that Italy has a higher rate of smokers in their population, and it has been hypothesized as one of the reasons their mortality rate has been higher. I would consider smoking as a big risk factor at this point.
Steve E. Bishop, M.D.
As a board-certified internist and concierge doctor in Richmond, VA, Dr. Steven Bishop is passionate about helping his patients improve their lives through better health. He helps healthy adults adjust their lifestyles as they age and helps patients with complex medical diseases manage and improve their health.
