As a physician (Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology), I try to separate my work from this blog, but at a time like this, I feel the need to spread the message to as many people as possible.

Although it is still very early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the world will never be the same. As the SARS-CoV-2 makes it way around the world, we will all experience our version of the pandemic at different times. Healthcare workers scramble around the world to contain the virus and minimize casualties. The battle against this virus will not be won in the hospital wards and in the clinics, it is fought in our homes and neighborhoods with prevention. The soldiers in this battle are the people who live in this country. by staying home, you are contributing more than you will ever realize. That is our main weapon. With such contagious pathogen, the goal is absolutely containment. Preventing the disease, is MUCH more efficacious to our health care system, than treating it. This emphasizes the importance of staying home as much as humanly possible. What sets SARS-CoV-2 apart from influenza, SARs and even ebola is its ability to shed virus in asymptomatic people. This fact, is what makes it so difficult to control. People are able to shed virus to dozens of people around them, unknowingly before they even start to have symptoms. Keep this in mind. In a perfect situation, we would be able to test EVERYONE to identify all of those that are asymptomatic, however given the situation and our resources, this is simply not possible. The only way to prevent it’s spread is to treat the situation as if you had COVID-19. Quarantine yourself for the next 14 days. Only then, with our given resources, would we stand a chance against this outbreak. Stay home, go for a hike, go outdoors. Keep 6 feet away from each other. Take care of eachother. Remember, healthcare workers are going to work, so that you don’t have to. Please spread the message. We will beat this.

Stay healthy and safe,

John Le