Dear Patient:
I hope this finds you well. Currently there are 22 persons hospitalized at NCH with COVID and we have treated 1200 people in the hospital successfully since the beginning of the pandemic. The positivity rate for the past 7 days at NCH remains low at 3.77%.
Many of you have asked about blood donation after having COVID and below is a link for more information or you may call 624-6504 for the blood bank.
Treatment: Mortality has fallen from COVID due to improved treatment over the past several months. Please see the attached PDF with a recent excellent review article on outpatient care for patients with COVID.
Vaccines: A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. There are several different “biological preparations” being actively investigated to provide the active immune response to Coronavirus. Four different vaccines are end-stage for clinical trials at this time. Two vaccines use messenger RNA to stimulate a response while the latter two use RNA that is transmitted on an adenovirus. The FDA has made extraordinary steps to assure the safety and efficacy of the vaccines prior to approval. The states are currently working with the federal government on an effective distribution plan.
Below is an updated link for Collier County testing sites:
http://collier.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/06/0601testinginformation.html
Below is the link to the updated NCH COVID information page:
https://nchmd.org/news-and-events/newsroom/coronavirus-covid19
As always, take care and remember to wash your hands, wear a mask and practice at least 6 feet of physical distancing. Please also get your flu shot now.
Paul Jones MD