It’s Easter, but it doesn’t feel like it this year. At least not to me. Everyone is tired of hearing about Coronavirus. Unfortunately, that’s where we are right now. Yes, it may be annoying to think of nothing else, but this is a global problem. I spoke with a patient this week who informed me that she is unable to work because she has been a server in a good restaurant for many years. It’s how she supports her family. I made the comment that she probably can’t even find another place in the city to work right now because all restaurants offering inside dining are closed. She reminded me that all the inside dining restaurants in the world are closed right now.

There hasn’t been another time in modern history that this has been the case. The world is closed for ‘business as usual.’ Planes are grounded, companies are folding, manufacturing plants are shuttering their doors, and there is no end in sight.

As a physician, I’m privileged to work with many incredible, selfless providers. We’re doing our best to stay safe, taking precautions and wearing personal safety gear, but some are still falling ill due to exposure.

As COVID-19 ravages the world and throws international cultures into a state of upheaval, we continue to see many concerned patients suffering with various illnesses, most of which are not due to the Coronavirus.

We all know that it will take time, a long time, for our country and the world in general to recover not only from the virus, but from the effects on society including our overall health, attitudes, emotional stability, political focus, fears, jobs, finances, and the list goes on. Some of the problems we are seeing now are directly related to isolation and fear of the unknown.

I have to reiterate what many of the medical authorities have been saying. The only clear categories we have right now are individuals who are essential workers and those who are non-essential workers.

The essential workers need to be out there doing the jobs they are trained for, even though with the stimulus package many of them could make more by sitting at home. We need essential workers to provide healthcare, but also to be the workforce for pharmacies, grocery stores, gas stations, power companies and all the things we require to be healthy while remaining home.

The non-essential workers are those who should remain home. Their jobs have been taken, at least temporarily, and they are forced to shelter in place. But that’s an important aspect of fighting this virus. It can’t survive without us, so we don’t give it access to ourselves or to others.

I have seen a number of blogs on news sites where individuals can write in for answers, but many of the questions are not focused on practical issues. For that reason, I decided it may be helpful to open a discussion here regarding concerns, rumors, strategies, etc. as they pertain to COVID-19.

If you post your questions below under the comment section, I will answer them to the best of my ability. It doesn’t matter what your question is, as long as it’s a real concern. This is one of those times when there aren’t any dumb questions. In response I’ll do my best not to give dumb answers.