03/17/2020
Hi 👋 My name is Atufa-
⭐️ My Educational Credentials:
➡️Graduated from University of Houston: Bio-Medical Sciences
➡️Graduated from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in CytoGenetics
I’m also a part time professional photographer with my husband (who is a part time professional videographer) that recently moved from Houston, Texas to Fort Myers, Florida!
I am currently working full time for a private company in Fort Myers, Florida that primarily provides cancer-focused genetic testing services for patients all over the world.
Recently I’ve educated myself further because of lab cultivated cultures containing Covid-19 are being sent for diagnostic, prognostic and predictive analysis & testing. It’s too early for quantitative numbers - but I believe that COVID-19 pandemic has reached a point where containment is no longer possible.
The COVID-19 threat is real & rapidly getting worse. Many of you are very nervous; some are unsure of the validity of the information you are reading. Social media memes are being falsely created to confuse & create mass hysteria.
As health care professional that is licensed & educated, I felt it was important to produce a valuable resource you can rely on as being scientifically accurate and one which contains as much actionable information and guidance as much as possible.
➡️ COVID-19 / isn’t just the flu?
No! COVID-19 has been described by some as “just a cold,” or just like the common flu. COVID-19 is NOT a common flu.
COVID-19 is a severe respiratory illness caused by the virus named SARS-CoV2. It is a novel virus, which means that no one in the world has antibodies to it because no one has ever been infected by it before.
As such- when the COVID-19 virus invades our body, we do not have antibodies. We do not have a template to utilize from a previous exposure to rapidly create a defense against the virus.
Because no one has antibodies, everyone is at risk for catching the virus, becoming ill, and spreading the virus so that it can infect those around you.
There is no accurate scientific data of what long term effects it may cause to our bodies.
➡️ What is Exponential Spread ?
Every person with the COVID-19 virus infects approximately two or more people. Some less, some more. The infection rate doubles every six days. That means that if 50,000 people have the virus today, then in 6 days, 100,000 people will have it. In another 12 days it’s 400,000 and less than two weeks later it’s over a million people.
We have close to 330 million people in the US. ➡️ The ‘experts’ expect that 40-70% of people will be infected. Exponential growth does not take that long to get to those scary high numbers.
Again- there is not enough data to support these theories..
➡️ So- who is at risk?
We are all at risk! A bit obvious but the elderly and those with medical issues such as hypertension and diabetes appear to be at higher risk of a severe disease course and death.
Children may be spared the consequences of severe disease, though they can be asymptomatic to minimally-symptomatic carriers of the virus – placing those who are vulnerable at higher risk.
But there’s no concrete scientific data to provide accurate information- only theories at this point - simply because there’s not enough data at this point to compare. There’s just way too many factors to consider.
➡️ What should we do?
The absolute importance of “social isolation”.
Containment of COVID-19 is no longer possible. The virus is already in the country and is currently spreading. We need to slow the spread.
How?
➡️ Mitigation is the best current strategy. It involves strict social isolation. If 50% of the U.S. population becomes infected, 5% of infected people will need a ventilator in an ICU, and if we have only a limited number of ventilators available in the country, you can quickly see the issue at hand.
There’s not enough hospitals. Period.
➡️ Mitigation measures for COVID-19
👍 Meticulous hand washing:
Wash thoroughly and wash often with anti - bacterial soap for minimum of twenty seconds.
👍 Alcohol-based hand sanitizer only works well if your hands are otherwise clean!
👍 Do not touch your face without making sure your hands are clean. This is hard. This is a learned skill: Practice often.
👍 Clean doorknobs, toilets, cellphones, countertops, refrigerator handles with anti-bacterial spray/wipes. Most viruses can live on certain surfaces for up to 4-72 hours.
👍 If you can work from home, work from home!
👍 Cancel vacation travel!
👍 If you are over fifty years old, you should stay home. You should only go out if there is a critical need.
👍 If you feel sick, stay home!
👍 Cancel all business travel. Your life and the lives of others are more important!
👍 Work with your doctor to try to get a three month supply of medications.
👍 Many national brands have order ahead options with either pick up/ delivery - use it!
❤️ Be Postive & enjoy valuable time with your loved ones inside your home!
❤️ Eat healthy , exercise daily & drink lots of water!
Most importantly- educate yourself from valid sources! Question everything on social media!
➡️ Learn the differences between bacteria & viruses
➡️ Learn the differences between seasonal cold, allergies & COVID-19 symptoms
➡️ Learn what’s going on in your own local area
- Be safe family & friends & don’t be scared!
We will all get through this by being the best version of ourselves!
And always remember- Be Kind ❤️
Sincerely,
Atufa Sherwani
P.S. Questions? Comments? Concerns?
I may not reply right away but I’ll do my best!
