Updates on COVID-19 (Part 2)

By Edgar Mana-ay

 

The Health Ministry of Cyprus advised its doctors to curtail the use of malaria medications chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which Cyprus bought in a joint consignment with Israel and India.

Cyprus was among the first nation to approve the use of the anti-malarial drug to treat COVID-19 patients. US Pres. Donald Trump initially boasted he is using these anti-malaria drugs as a deterrent against coronavirus. Nicosia and Jerusalem have jointly bought five tons of these anti-malarial drugs from India but Cyprus Health Ministry recently advised doctors to curtail its use on some COVID patients amid renewed concerns that the drugs could trigger heart problems and put lives at risks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was discontinuing its trial of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug Lopinavir/Ritonavir in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 after they failed to reduce mortality. WHO said the results of the interim trials showed that the drugs produced little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients when compared with standard of care.

“Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect,” WHO said, referring to large multi-country trials the agency is leading.

With partial re-opening, more people will be in close contact with each other even if the social distancing is supposed to be strictly followed. Just take a look at malls and markets, a model for complacency and indiscipline, hence potential infection risks are highly possible. It is important therefore that we BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM so we can ward off coronavirus infection and prevent this serious disease. Good hygiene is the first line of defense against contracting COVID-19 and that includes frequent hand washing and wearing a face mask in public. Supplements can also boost our immunity. There are large studies that vitamin D3 and Zinc can lower our risk of death by 50% according to Dr. Donna Casey of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Sunshine helps provide vitamin D but supplements are recommended if you cannot get outside 15 minutes a day. Zinc is found in foods like chocolate, meat, nuts and beans but Dr. Casey said taking zinc supplements (a basic component of multivitamins we are taking) can help ensure you are getting enough to keep immunity high. Dr. Casey further said that “comfort foods” like sweets and alcohol lower the immune defenses.

Stress which is running rampant during the pandemic due to quarantine and a host of restrictions also hurts our immune system. According to Dr. Casey, managing stress can help us stay healthy mentally and physically. Exercise is an excellent stress buster. Just walking outside and getting a little sunshine can do wonders for our bodies. Conclusion: Do not overlook the importance of staying fit, active and healthy even in isolation or quarantine during this pandemic.

One of the few good developments caused by the pandemic is the so-called telemedicine or consultation with your doctor via face time or phone only. Of course, this is more applicable in the US because payments are by electronic transfer and most importantly, their massive health insurance system covers this now. This writer has used this just once recently because my doctor knows me for the past 20 years (suki na) and payment can be waived (I don’t use credit card) because of the pandemic. While telemedicine is convenient, no parking hassle nor waiting in the doctor’s clinic, it’s not great for a new patient and the doctor can’t do a physical exam!

Israel thought it had crushed COVID-19 and even bragged to the world (just like a certain presidential spokesman) declaring victory 10 weeks after recording its first case. Israel had imposed a series of draconian measures causing the number of new cases to plunge. Fewer than 250 people have died. It also used the local spy agency, Shin Bet, for digital tracking in contact tracing of those suspected infected by the virus. The Israelites even declared that they are a model for many countries and that “the world should learn from us.”  They were so confident that the country MOVED TO QUICKLY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL! Just like the escape of their forefathers from the Pharaoh of Egypt, the Israelites were heading in droves UNMASKED to beaches, pubs and restaurants disregarding social distancing like animals released after a long time stay in a corral, and the virus stealthily spread among them.

Getting out of the lockdown was not conducted in a coordinated matter especially on school openings and public gatherings. The perception of the public was that the coronavirus was over, disregarding conventional wisdom that there is NO herd immunity and NO vaccine yet. Compounding matters, schools reopened rapidly and chaotically, after starting with a handful of grades, it re-opened the entire educational system in just two weeks. The virus quickly soared through the educational system with tens of thousands of students forced into quarantine. The combination of public non-compliance with basic rules and large gatherings created fertile ground for the virus to spread especially as fewer and fewer Israelis wore masks in public as the first wave of infection ebbed. Complacency is always a human instinct as problems go down, and the Ilonggos are no exception to it!

The Israeli second wave experience should be an object lessons for both Mayor Jerry and Governor Toto who with brilliancy are trying their best to manage this pandemic as they faced the difficult dilemma about WHETHER, HOW, HOW MUCH AND WHEN to resume school, business and all other forms of activities.  As Iloilo gradually reopens, HUMAN NATURE SETS IN. Masks are routinely down the chin when no police is around. One meter social distancing quickly turns to one half then to zero! Calibrated or gradual lifting of controls weighed against increase infection and death is a very complex game for our officials. But the armor against the virus should always be maintained: masks should not slip down, distancing not diminished to zero and crowd gathering controlled, otherwise, we suffer the Israel consequence.

Remember what Vernon Sanders Law said: “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lessons afterwards.”