Coronavirus: Where do we go from here?

Aug 30, 2020 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

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By Dr. Zulfikar Bux
Assistant professor of Emergency Medicine

As the case numbers continue to increase in Guyana, behavioural change to help mitigate the spread is not consistent in the population. We have to be careful as the medical system is struggling to cope with the demands of managing the rise in COVID-19 cases, and the non- COVID-19 conditions that are also slowly increasing. As I said before, our medical system in Guyana was never designed to cope with a pandemic. The healthcare providers are literally putting their safety and lives at risk to ensure we continue to cope with the increasing demands. We need to implement and adhere to strategic measures to ensure the health system is not overwhelmed or we will all suffer greatly. The spread is too great and there is no turning back. What we do as a people will determine how much we suffer or how fast we recover. Today, I will discuss options that will help promote the latter.
What is the main goal?
At this time, there is enough community spread that will see a continuation in the spread of the disease even if we were to lockdown. In any case, if we were to do a strict lockdown, we will still have to face the virus upon opening up; our economy would however be too weak from the lockdown and may be a major detriment to us fighting the pandemic. We therefore need to find a balance between moving the economy forward and preventing the medical system from becoming overwhelmed. The best way to do that is to slow down the disease spread but allowing sufficient public activity to sustain our economy. My focus today will be on interventions that will prevent the medical system from becoming overwhelmed. The economic measures are beyond my expertise and once we get the medical interventions right, the economy will benefit.
We need to take prevention measures seriously
The key to fighting this disease is to avoid getting it altogether. By practicing preventative measures, we limit the spread of the virus and prevent our country from becoming overwhelmed. Imagine, if we all were to wear masks when we are out, the virus would be stopped in its tracks and we will all be able to thrive. Do not get deterred if others are not wearing their mask; studies are showing that even if 50% of the country wears their masks that would be sufficient to control the spread of the virus. In addition to mask wearing, we can boost our chances of winning by practicing these other measures:
-Avoid crowded environments and deliberate gatherings
-Social distance more than 6 feet when interacting with others
-Keep our hands clean at all times
-Getting tested if we suspect we have the disease
Utilize treatment options EARLY
Another way we can prevent the system from becoming overwhelmed, is to minimize hospitalizations from the disease. You may be thinking that this is beyond your control if you were to get the disease. Actually, you may have more control than you know. Numerous studies have shown that there are medications once used early, can significantly reduce the chance of the disease progressing to the more severe form and thereby, preventing hospitalizations. These medications are now part of the National treatment guidelines and you can opt to use them even before getting your results. Once your doctor suspects that you have the disease, you can decide to initiate the treatment while you await your results. The earlier you start the following treatments, the better your chances of preventing the severe form of the disease:
-Hydroxychloroquine
-Ivermectin
-Azithromycin
-Vitamins C and D and Zinc (you should use these daily to ensure your immune system is prepared to battle the disease)
Do not hesitate to request these treatments early if your doctor suspects that you have the disease. You will be helping yourself and at the same time, avoiding hospitalization which is a key factor in preventing the system from becoming overwhelmed.
How long will this last?
This is not a question that anyone can definitively answer. The best answer is until we can find an effective vaccine and have sufficient numbers for everyone. This may take us to mid-2021. In the meantime, we are in the middle of a surge which we need to control before it gets out of hand. If we were to take the actions that I described immediately, I am optimistic that we can have control of this virus by the late October to early November. We then should be able to sustain our livelihoods and ‘ride the tide” until a vaccine becomes available.
I therefore urge you all to get on board and encourage others to be responsible so that we can all live through this pandemic. Let’s arm ourselves with our masks and battle this virus knowing that there are early treatment options available to help us in the event that we falter.

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