Why I think Everyone Should wear a mask!
By Kene Anamekwe M.D.
Covid 19 is confirmed to be airborne and remains in the air 8 hours or more depending on the condition.
Corona virus is confirmed to also survive on surfaces as well.
Copper, Steel -2 hours
Paper, plastic -3-4 hours
Air â 8 hours or more depending on condition.
WHO reversed their earlier position that the Covid 19 virus is not airborne?
And finally, on 04/03/2020, the CDC has also made changes to their recommendation about the public wearing face clothing like home-made masks and scarves.
I want to take a minute to explain it to you all.
I started asking my patients, family and friends to wear masks 2-3 weeks ago.
Some medical people/public didnât agree with me but I knew it was the right recommendation.
We have shortage of PPE for medical professionals so please people DO NOT COMPETE WITH THE MEDICAL PEOPLE FOR THE MEDICAL GRADE FACE MASKS. They need it for their own protection as they are exposed to much bigger dose of the virus than they general public. I worry that if our healthcare population starts to get sick, we will have a shortage of medical personnel to care for the critically ill in the hospital. These are tough times and your doctors and nurses are humans with feelings and families. Many are afraid for their lives but they must put on that bold demeanor and go to the battle field daily. I have lived that life in the past as a swine flu survivor. I got the H1N1 virus after intubating a patient I didnât know had swine flu in the early days of the disease. I watched her fight for her life for 2.5 months in my hospital ICU and needless to say when I became sick, I was afraid if my disease course would mirror hers or will I be able to respond better with treatment since I was very healthy. I was worried about my family, husband and my very young kids at the time. I did well as you can see, I am still around. I have since become a big advocate of people supporting that health and immunity naturally and most of my patient population are doing this daily.
Why wear a facial clothing?
If you walked into a store aisle where an asymptomatic person shedding the virus just coughed or sneezed or did any other action that released the virus into the air. Since the virus can survive suspended in the air. You would innocently come into that aisle after they left and breath in the invisible enemy. If our asymptomatic shedder (someone who has the virus but is not sick yet) was wearing a facial cover, it would trap most of the virus in his mask or facial clothing preventing release into the air or a much a smaller dose. And your cloth fabric face mask can trap large droplets but not very small ones, thereby reducing the dose of the invisible enemy getting into your system. I choose to believe some protection is definitely better than NONE. I was finally pleased to see CDC recommendation which mirrors my recommendation from 2-3 weeks ago.
Please every one take precaution. This recent recommendation does not negate any of the current social distancing order already in place. We need to continue all previous recommendations in addition to wearing a facial clothing. Also, it is not necessary to run to the store to buy anything to make a face mask because you can make one from everything you currently have at home like an old bed-sheet or pillow case, old T-shirt, old cotton scarves, bandana or old cotton clothes. I had posted a face-mask pattern to make it easy for you all to print and duplicate for your personal use. I do not own the right to that pattern but she did expressed permission for personal use only. If you do not have elastic at home, no problem, you can use the elastic head ties most people have for tying up their hair for the ear loops.
This is very Important!!!!!!!
When you make your mask, please use 2 different fabric for ease of identifying the side worn directly on your face. Never reverse your cloth mask to wear the opposite side. These I would wash with every use.
Once again, do not compete with the medical community by buying medical grade face masks. If you purchased some already, please consider donating it to the people that need it the most which is the medical clinics and hospitals in your community.
Some common symptoms of the virus.
Symptoms often start 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure
1. Sore throat/ Dry cough
2. Flu-like symptoms- headache, myalgia (body aches)
3. Fever of 99.6 F or greater
4. Loss of smell and/or taste
5. Loss of appetite and fatigue
6. Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, indigestion and vomiting.
7. Shortness of breath, and low oxygen with pneumonia.
Our patients are still able to purchase supplements online at
https://www.thorne.com/u/VivifyWellness
Vit C, Vit D and Zinc to support your immunity in addition to all your previous personal recommendations
We have implemented telehealth visit to meet the needs of our patients.
https://doxy.me/dranamekwe
Call our office at 972-941-8484 to get on my schedule and when your appointment time arrives, click the link above to enter my virtual waiting room and I will meet you there. This visits can be done on your phone, computer or any device with face time capability.
I initially limited my telehealth visits to only existing patients however, I have opened it up to new patients as there are people testing positive for Covid 19 who are mildly/moderately symptomatic at home but not suitable for inpatient care in the hospital and seeking care but because they have no previous healthcare relationship are struggling to get treatment. I have a protocol and I have treated some of these cases and some are recovering well. Many of the appropriate medical visits will be moved to Telehealth visits. Telehealth visits remain covered just like your usual medicals by your insurance, so donât be afraid to use the services if you have a medical need.
IF YOU ARE NOT SICK, PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOMS/ URGENT CARES.
So far, I believe we are still meeting the needs of our patient population from a distance and I still have continued in person care for those that need it. And please help us to help you. If you are sick call the office first. Do not come to the clinic. Please respect the instructions on the sign posted on our door.
I want to Thank the City of Wylie fire department for supporting our clinic with some of the appropriate PPE which has made it possible for us to stay open, in addition some PPE I was able to purchase from medical society.
I want to thank our patients for their prayers and supports. Some of you have donated masks and gloves to the clinic. You know yourselves and we greatly appreciate you all.
We miss you all and look forward to seeing everyone back in person when appropriate. Be safe. Stay home. Do not over eat. I never thought that a day would come when everything that was important in our lives will become non-essentials. Children are home, parents are home, churches are closed etc. Let us emerge from this period as much better people. Let us use this period to learn a new skill. Let us use this period to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God or any superior being that you believe in.
My Best Regards!
Kene Anamekwe M.D.
Lastly, below is New/ updated CDC recommendation on facial clothing use.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html?fbclid=IwAR2aYntev7mykJWVyijJokuw73C8Ikut6jh5DHTPkfFpgi1yH1TeqDt4f3g
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