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To Stanislaus County Supervisors: An Open Letter on Opening

May 19, 2020 By Jim Costello 4 Comments

James Costello
James Costello

My name is James Costello. I am a pediatric physician’s assistant with almost 40 years’ experience.

I want to thank our health officer, the Board and all of those people who put this very impressive, detailed set of recommendations together. Thank you!

In general, I agree that many businesses can and should open up under the strict guidelines presented. The documents mention an Online Training Tool and Marketing Tool Kit, but no web links are supplied. They should be, not only for our community access but for Governor Newsom, since their presence may strengthen your case for a variance.

However, I am concerned that some people in our community, because of our rural location, relatively low community infection and death rate, may assume that we are out of the woods, so to speak, and that we can somehow relax, unlike New York and Los Angeles.

This virus spreads in the same ways no matter where you live. Admittedly, city crowding and group situations enhance viral spread to more people more quickly, but infections will potentially increase here with more exposures under relaxed social behavior or in crowded conditions unless strict social distancing measures are adhered to.

Ultimately, until the public develops herd immunity through either exposure and recovery or through vaccination or combination of both, the virus will be with us and able to infect any one of us, with the same resultant risk of serious morbidity and mortality that has occurred elsewhere.

I am concerned about two aspects:

One is regarding the use of effective masks or face-coverings. It is my feeling that masks should generally be mandatory for the public for entry into any local business where appropriate. In these guidelines, they seem not to be mandatory.

My other concern is opening the schools to modified attendance. As any parent knows, schools are germ factories. Young children routinely engage in hand-to-mouth behavior and do not wash their hands very well. By allowing small groups of children to return to school, we may be unwittingly creating a pool of asymptomatic coronavirus transmitters who will then bring the virus home to their siblings, parents and possibly grandparents, any of whom could be at high-risk. And, we should keep in mind the rare but new and serious “pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.” While children are seemingly at low-risk for serious coronavirus illness, they are not without any risk, and this virus continues to surprise.

I suggest that our school districts hold off class attendance for the fall.

Lastly, I would urge each one of you to vigorously counter the conspiracy theories and misinformation that has infested our television and social media. Any decisions regarding how to respond to Covid-19 must be based on facts and science.

Dr. Fauci knows what he is talking about. Please, please listen to him!

 

Filed Under: History

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leon Van Diepen says

    May 20, 2020 at 7:28 am

    Thanks James! With some common sense precautions,we can hopefully get through this horrible pandemic.

    Reply
  2. richard anderson says

    May 22, 2020 at 10:00 pm

    Really good advice, Jim, thanks.
    As opening up is indeed happening, this is a vast national economic/medical experiment. Scientists will be analyzing the coronavirus spread, cases, deaths. It will become quite clear which cities, counties, states screw up and kill both their residents and industries, and which struck that necessary slower, middle road between health and economy.
    I am thankful we live in a state that seeks to protect its citizens. We’ll see if that is implemented in Stanislaus County.

    Reply
  3. Beth Bridegroom says

    May 23, 2020 at 8:29 am

    Thank you! So helpful to hear from our own Modesto medical personnel. I am a senior citizen and appreciate what you said about wearing masks in businesses and being cautious about starting schools.

    Reply
  4. Nancy says

    May 24, 2020 at 8:51 am

    I am so happy to hear someone tell it like it is. I live in Oakdale where basically nobody wears a mask. The ones that do are few. I’m still not comfortable around people for that very reason. I’m high risk and it feels like nobody cares if people in my position live or die. If they cared they would wear a mask. I have family working on the front lines in our hospitals. I also have have lost family to this nightmare. I sincerely hope that everyone who reads this truly hears what you said. It shouldn’t take a tragedy for people to wake up and take things seriously.

    Reply

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