COViD-19 SITUATION SUMMARY

Here is the latest update and recent recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as of April 19, 2020:Different parts of the country are seeing different levels of COVID-19 activity. The United States nationally is in the acceleration phase of the pandemic. The duration and severity of each pandemic phase can vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response.U.S.

COVID-19 cases include:

1) People who were infected while traveling, before returning to the United States.

2) People who were infected after having close contact with someone known to be infected with the virus.

3) People in a community who were infected with the virus but don’t know how or where they were infected.

CDC Recommendations:

Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat by following CDC recommendations:

  • Wear a cloth face covering in public settings to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others in case you are infected but do not have symptoms.
  • The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
  • The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are considered critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders, as recommended by CDC.
  • The cloth face covering is not a substitute for social distancing.
  • CDC continues to recommend that people try keep about 6 feet between themselves and others.

LINKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS:

CDC Corona Virus Prevention Page

FL. Dept. of Health

FACEBOOK Corona Virus Update

Your Doctor In The News

Dr. Weisz was quoted in the following article that appeared in the Sunday, April 19, 2020 issue of the Palm Beach Post:

Coronavirus Florida: ‘It keeps me alive’: Patients using hydroxychloroquine worry about shortage of medication touted for COVID-19. By Jodie Wagner 

Coronavirus Palm Beach County updates: Palm Beach Gardens resident Carol Waldenburg worries that hydroxychloroquine, the medication she takes to treat lupus, will become difficult to obtain now that it is being promoted by President Trump and others as a potential treatment for coronavirus.

An autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks normal, healthy tissue, it causes fatigue, joint pain, inflammation, headaches and numerous other symptoms that can periodically worsen.

There’s no cure for the disease, but current treatments including diet and medication can improve a patient’s quality of life by controlling symptoms and minimizing flare-ups, said Dr. Alla Weisz, a family practitioner in Palm Beach Gardens.        ….

For now, Waldenburg is still able to obtain her monthly supply of hydroxycloroquine – with a copay, it costs her $10.99 per month – and she said she’s grateful to her pharmacist for looking out for her.

But she said she lives in constant fear that supplies might run out amid the coronavirus crisis. If that occurs, she would have to switch to other medications that might not be nearly as effective in controlling the debilitating symptoms of lupus.

“Those medications include steroids and other immunosuppressants that are far costlier than hydroxycloroquine,” Weisz said.

You may read the rest of the article by clicking here: PB Post Article.

MORE GOOD NEWS!

I am proud to announce that on April 2, 2020 I was approved and received privileges at Jupiter Medical Center.

FIRST ANNIVERSARY

April 18, 2020 marked the one year anniversary since our very first Open House prior to the opening of Weisz Concierge Medical on April 29, 2019. A big “Thank You” to all my patients for trusting us with the care of their most valuable assets, their health and well-being. We appreciate our staff, and vendors who have made the past year such an amazing and unforgettable one. It’s been a great year with lots of challenges and great successes. Looking forward to returning back to a fully functioning medical office very soon.

Here are some photos taken during our April 18, 2019 Open House.

PBG MEDICAL CENTER IMPLEMENTS DEDICATED PATIENT CARE UNITS

The Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center has issued a report about their progress in adapting to the management of COVID-19. This includes the following measures:

  • The advent of rapid testing
  • The establishment of fully isolated and segregated COVID-19 Patient Care Units (PCUs)
  • The enforcement of proper donning and doffing of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) with a buddy
  • The creation of a special room outside of the ICU for staff members to sign in and receive assistance in getting properly dressed.
  • Dedicated runner support. 
  • The re-programming of elevators to restrict access to minimize points of entry
  • The assignment of dedicated support staff  to continuously wipe down and sanitize all surfaces
  • The assignment of dedicated COVID Leaders on duty 7 days per week.
  • The advent of new telemedicine capabilities

According to CEO Teresa Urquhart, the hospital now has the proper procedures in place to function at full capacity and keep all effected areas secured. This includes food service delivery, radiology bedside testing, rapid response, dialysis treatment, and trash and soiled linen pick up.

“We are doing all we can to keep our staff and physicians safe and support our team while caring for patients,” said Urquhart.

COVID-19 TESTING

According to information received from Quest Laboratories®, COVID-19 testing is now available to primary care doctors. The test will determines if a person has an acute Coronavirus infection. Results can be received within  3 – 5 days. The test will need to be performed at the doctor’s office and not at the lab. This test is covered by most insurances including Medicare according to Quest Laboratories®.

TAKE YOUR CHALK ON YOUR NEXT WALK

Sidewalk chalk drawings and messages have made neighborhood walks a little brighter across south Florida. Since the stay-at-home orders were put into place, going out for a walk is one of the few ways people are able to get out of the house. Many people doing so have noticed positive messages along their routes thanks to a mini-movement called Chalk Your Walk.

#ChalkYourWalk has flooded social media with inspiring messages during the Coronavirus pandemic and suggested that people to write them on their sidewalks. Several housing communities in West Palm Beach have encouraged their residents to do likewise to help raise people’s spirits.

When you do go outside for a walk, remember that it is still important to practice social distancing and stay at least 6 feet apart from others. Don’t touch benches, handrails or other surfaces and wash your hands as soon as you return home.

As more people are out going for walks these days, they are discovering that doing so is an excellent way to stay fit. In addition to being careful about our physical health, this is also a challenging time for our mental health. With so many unknowns to deal with coupled with ongoing social isolation, it can be hard to find something to be cheerful about each day. Writing an uplifting message on the sidewalk might create a little moment of joy for a neighbor out for a walk. Seeing a positive drawing or message will remind them that they are not going through this pandemic alone.

“I heard about the Chalk Your Walk movement on Facebook and thought it would be the perfect way to get us all out of the house, lift our neighbors’ spirits, and continue to practice social distancing,” said Lindsay Patterson from Melbourne, Florida. “I told my son to think of something happy that he would like to see while on a walk and then put that on the sidewalk.”

Here are some photos of some Chalk Your Walk messages. You can find more here: #ChalkYourWalk

MORE HEALTHY STAY-AT-HOME RECIPES

The recipes we published in our last issue were very well received. Here are two more delicious dishes that are very easy to prepare:

Herby Kale Pesto Pasta

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 bunch Tuscan kale, roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 pound of your favorite pasta
  • black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 cup raw walnuts roughly chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 1-2 balls fresh burrata cheese, at room temperature

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a blender or food processor, combine the kale, basil, parmesan, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and crushed red pepper. Pulse until chunky smooth.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the butter, walnuts, thyme, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt in a large skillet. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the butter is browned and the walnuts are toasted. Remove the nuts from the skillet to a plate.
  4. Add the garlic to the skillet, cooking 1 minute, until fragrant. Drop the pasta into the skillet. Add the kale pesto, lemon juice, and a pinch of pepper. Toss to combine. Thin the pasta as desired with the reserved pasta cooking water.
  5. Break the burrata into the bottom of each individual serving bowl. Spoon the pasta over the cheese. Top with the buttery walnuts. Enjoy!

Outrageous Herbacious Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

INGREDIENTS

  • 30 ounces chickpeas (garbanzo beans) , rinsed and drained (or 3 cups cooked chickpeas)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper , chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley , about 1 bunch
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery plus leaves , about 2 ribs
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 to 1 1/2 lemons)
  • 2 cloves garlic , pressed or minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a large bowl, add the chickpeas, bell pepper, parsley, red onion, and celery.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic, and season to taste with the kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the dressing to the chickpea mixture and toss to coat.
  3. Serve immediately or chill up to 4 days. Before serving, add more salt and pepper to taste