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COVID-19 questions answered by Health Department staff A media Zoom meeting was held by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department on August 19, 2020 for questions from the ten counties of the District and answers from staff. A list of questions was presented to our staff by the media. We also included the responses to the questions from last week that we did not cover in a zoom conference because of a scheduling conflict. Some of the key questions and answers follow: By Amy Tomlinson Lake Cumberland District Health Department Q - Why does a person in isolation with a positive result not have to retest in order to be released from isolation with a negative test? At one time, a person was required to have 2 negative test results before being released, but now cases are released by the discretion of a worker without any additional required testing even when a patient is still symptomatic. What assurance is there that the patient is not a carrier of the virus for longer than someone else might be without additional testing? A - Studies have shown that people are most infectious the day before and day of symptom onset and become less and less infectious over time, and non- infectious when symptoms are much improved. The PCR test picks up viral RNA and is very sensitive- it does not distinguish between viable virus and remnants of RNA. In studies where the virus was actually cultured, there was no viable virus found from people who have recovered and had positive RNA results. Hence, we use the CDC's non- testing recommendations to determine when someone is non-infectious. Q - Last week you shared that there are no numbers available for total number of tests administered by county. However, these numbers are available at the state level. Is LCDHD okay with not having access to local numbers? And have you taken any steps with the state to put a system in place for the total number of tests to be reported to counties? A - It would be nice to have those numbers in context of being able to calculate the positivity rate. To get this would require a change in law. Right now, the law only requires labs and/or doctor's office to report positive results. We get results from so many providers; it would be utterly difficult to try to develop our own “volunteer-based” system “asking” all these sources to submit that data and have any kind of faith that the information was comprehensive or accurate. However, positivity rate is only one measure. It measures positive tests divided by total tests. It is intended to give one measure of how fast the disease is spreading. There is much other data we have access to that tells us this: i.e. new case rate, infection rate, growth rate. Q - The director of CDC says that schools should be in session. Why are we not following CDC guidance on this one health issue while we do for everything else? A - I can’t speak for the Governor or the Kentucky Department for Public Health Commissioner. As a local health department, on a major public health issue, we align with the Kentucky Commissioner of Public Health. His is the top public health voice for the state. From a purely public health perspective, anything, during a pandemic, that encourages gathering should be strongly discouraged until there is a vaccine. However, society won’t tolerate this level of restriction; so, here we are as a society fighting over what should be open and what shouldn’t. The more gathering, the more COVID-19 will spread. The more community spread, the more hospitalizations and the greater mortality. Q - Is a KN95 CE certified manufactured to EEA standards disposable mask better than the 2 layer cotton mask? A - Possibly, no direct data exists, but in some studies surgical masks were somewhat better than cloth masks. N95 masks have to be fit tested and worn properly, if not they are considered surgical masks. Q - What do I do if I have had a close contact with someone who has been tested positive for COVID-19 but I have not been contacted by public health? What is considered a close contact as there are some confusion? A - As far as “close-contacts” the definition is 15 minutes less than 6 feet. We rely on the interview conducted with the “case” to determine who the “close-contacts” are. If you think you are a “close-contact” to a case, feel free to call you local health department to be evaluated and advised. Q - If I think I have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 and I have no symptoms should I still be tested and isolated? A - You should test if you are showing symptoms. You can test if you want to ease your mind. However, if you think you are a “close-contact” you should isolate for 14 days. Q - My husband and I was at a local doctors office this week, upon entering in the building for our appointment the personnel ask that my husband and I take our mask off for our temperature checks. They used a mouth thermometer. We have both stayed at home like the governor ask, but felt like we were at risk by them asking us to take our mask off so we just cancelled our appointment that day. Is this proper protocol? A - The guidance does not stipulate what type of thermometer should be used, only that temperature’s must be screened. There are positives and negatives with each type of thermometer. If they are using a mouth thermometer they should sanitize after each use and also the staff taking temperatures must be masked. Q - My daycare was shut down this week because of a COVID-19 situation. Can you tell me the symptoms I need to look for in my child? Will they be different than in an adult? Just for clarification, the health department doesn’t shut-down daycares. Sometimes daycares shut-down because they have a significant cluster at their location. Many times, children are asymptomatic (don’t show symptoms). If you child was designated as a “close-contact” they should quarantine for 14 days. Q - Any new recommendations for people in this area that are planning to go on vacation? A - No matter where you are, avoid crowds, social distance, wash your hands, and mask. Keep an eye on the state website KyCOVID-19.com to see what states are on the travel restriction list. LCDHD County Health Centers (800) 928-4416 Adair • Casey • Clinton • Cumberland • Green • McCreary • Pulaski • Russell • Taylor • Wayne Hearing or speech impaired callers: call the Kentucky Relay Service at (800) 648-6056. Give the communications assistant our phone number to contact us. This story was posted on 2020-08-25 16:38:01
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