I’m writing this article on 21 March 2020. I am ensconced in my mountain enclave, in a state of semi-isolation because of the coronavirus situation. I say “semi-isolation” because although I mainly write about photography issues on this little website, my living is made as a pulmonary physician for the Veteran’s Administration and I have to go to work. I think it is likely that I am going to have an “interesting” next several weeks.

Things are already somewhat tense in our facility. We have made great efforts to reschedule nonessential physician visits, handling things over the phone. We have shut down routine testing. I undergo a brief medical history and have my temperature taken on arriving for work in the morning. All of this seems very prudent to me. The hospital is actually very quiet right now, with a very much reduced risk for exposure. This, however, may change.

More ominously I have been conducting seminars to update my colleagues on the management of mechanical ventilators for the types of problems seen in a SARS-type infection. We have begun to convert our short procedure unit into an adjunct ICU/negative pressure room. All of this is a little scary for a hospital not typically engaged in the care for very high acuity patients. Hopefully, this will all be overkill, but it’s clearly necessary to plan for the worst.

It’s very likely that my pleasant part-time pulmonary/sleep medicine career is about to revert to my former life as a critical care physician.

In terms of the disease, I am somewhat hopeful about several recent developments. Number one would be the possibility that several medications (hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and remdesivir) already available or nearly available, may have activity against the virus. Number two: hopefully the infectivity and/or virulence of this bug will fade over time much as do many of the seasonal viruses. It would be hoped that if there is a summertime pause, a vaccine can be developed to be available for the next season.

Like many people, I watched yesterday’s press conference where Dr. Fauci seemed to downplay the president’s enthusiasm for the proposed medications. This is inevitable for a man deeply involved in research, a culture where a treatment is only endorsed after multiple double-blind studies prove its efficacy. Unfortunately, we don’t have time for such perfection. He is right when he says that if we are to try these medications, then we need to keep the data so we can draw appropriate conclusions regarding their efficacy.

Meanwhile, I have two children in Seattle Washington. Both are healthy, and working from home, and report to me that all is well. Hopefully, that will continue.

On the other hand, I have a 93-year-old physician father sequestered at his home. I do visit but stay at least 6 feet away from him. From his point of view, as he doesn’t drive, things aren’t that much different than normal. These visits may have to stop at some point, which is sad.

I pray for my friends whose jobs and thus their income has been interrupted by this mess. Hopefully, we can find ways to help.

My advice to all would be to lay low, wash your hands frequently. Perhaps a shower after a trip to the grocery store, or other public spaces would be prudent. Disinfect work surfaces obsessively. By all means, get outdoors for exercise if you can.

I would ask your physician about hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin. The doses are readily available on the web and at least around here, they are still available in the pharmacies.

It would be really smart to stop smoking at this point.

And for God’s sake, don’t be a martyr. If you’re sick don’t go to public places, and don’t go to work. Even if you are a healthcare worker, stay home. You’ll do more harm than good.

I fervently hope, and cautiously believe that in a month or so, if all of the efforts in place are effective, the curves will flatten, and things will begin to normalize.

Then I can go back to writing about cameras.