1 00:00:07,641 --> 00:00:08,709 - (female announcer)   Production funding for 2 00:00:08,709 --> 00:00:09,977 Behind the Headlines 3 00:00:09,977 --> 00:00:11,912 is made possible,   in part, by 4 00:00:11,912 --> 00:00:14,147 the WKNO Production Fund, 5 00:00:14,147 --> 00:00:16,350 the WKNO Endowment Fund, 6 00:00:16,350 --> 00:00:19,887 and by viewers   like you, thank you. 7 00:00:19,887 --> 00:00:21,922 - How Memphis is fighting coronavirus, 8 00:00:21,922 --> 00:00:23,957 tonight, on Behind the Headlines. 9 00:00:23,957 --> 00:00:26,727 [intense music] 10 00:00:41,108 --> 00:00:42,776 I'm Eric Barnes with The Daily Memphian. 11 00:00:42,776 --> 00:00:43,977 Thanks for joining us. 12 00:00:43,977 --> 00:00:45,712 I am joined tonight by two doctors 13 00:00:45,712 --> 00:00:47,514 from Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, 14 00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:49,449 Jon McCullers, Pediatrician-in-Chief 15 00:00:49,449 --> 00:00:50,117 at Le Bonheur, 16 00:00:50,117 --> 00:00:52,419 and a Senior Associate Dean at the UT Medical School, 17 00:00:52,419 --> 00:00:54,688 thanks for being here again. - Thanks for having us Eric. 18 00:00:54,688 --> 00:00:57,457 - And Nicholas Hysmith is a doctor specializing 19 00:00:57,457 --> 00:00:59,059 in pediatric infectious disease, 20 00:00:59,059 --> 00:01:00,694 thank you for being here. - Thanks. 21 00:01:00,694 --> 00:01:01,895 - Along with Bill Dries, 22 00:01:01,895 --> 00:01:04,831 reporter with The Daily Memphian. 23 00:01:04,831 --> 00:01:06,099 I'm gonna start with you Dr. McCullers, 24 00:01:06,099 --> 00:01:07,568 and we'll try to go through, sort of, 25 00:01:07,568 --> 00:01:09,670 all kinds of things, about social distancing, 26 00:01:09,670 --> 00:01:13,040 about the state of testing, and about the symptoms, 27 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,542 and what do you do if you feel like you have symptoms, 28 00:01:15,542 --> 00:01:17,144 and so on, so try to hit all those things in. 29 00:01:17,144 --> 00:01:19,513 And other issues, as we go through this today, 30 00:01:19,513 --> 00:01:21,248 and try to stay as focused as we can on Memphis 31 00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:22,583 and Shelby County, but obviously 32 00:01:22,583 --> 00:01:25,619 this is a national and global issue. 33 00:01:25,619 --> 00:01:28,889 For right now, the social distancing, 34 00:01:28,889 --> 00:01:31,792 and we'll define that, it seems to be the thing that 35 00:01:31,792 --> 00:01:33,193 in the last week and a half... 36 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:35,429 You and I ran into each other, in a restaurant, 37 00:01:35,429 --> 00:01:38,532 a week and a half ago and chatted about 38 00:01:38,532 --> 00:01:40,000 where's this gonna go. 39 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,268 I don't think that restaurant, 40 00:01:41,268 --> 00:01:42,803 I think they're doing takeout now, 41 00:01:42,803 --> 00:01:44,237 I think most restaurants are in the process of closing, 42 00:01:44,237 --> 00:01:46,473 people are working from home, schools, 43 00:01:46,473 --> 00:01:48,041 I think every school, public and private, 44 00:01:48,041 --> 00:01:49,543 and so on has closed. 45 00:01:49,543 --> 00:01:52,479 How far does this go, from hey, let's stay apart, 46 00:01:52,479 --> 00:01:54,114 and let's not gather in places, 47 00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:58,018 to the end of the spectrum where it's shelter in place, 48 00:01:58,018 --> 00:01:59,853 don't go out unless it's an emergency 49 00:01:59,853 --> 00:02:00,854 or you need to get food. 50 00:02:00,854 --> 00:02:02,389 I mean, how far does this go? 51 00:02:02,389 --> 00:02:05,125 - So, we can think about it in maybe three different phases, 52 00:02:05,125 --> 00:02:08,128 and one would be doing just some simple social distancing, 53 00:02:08,128 --> 00:02:11,231 protecting those who are immunosuppressed or at risk, 54 00:02:11,231 --> 00:02:13,934 and saying, "Hey, wash your hands and stay, you know, 55 00:02:13,934 --> 00:02:15,369 a little bit distant from each other." 56 00:02:15,369 --> 00:02:17,738 And let's just try to not infect those 57 00:02:17,738 --> 00:02:19,473 who are at most risk. 58 00:02:19,473 --> 00:02:22,175 We're now in kind of a phase we call mitigation. 59 00:02:22,175 --> 00:02:24,244 Which means we're really doing many things 60 00:02:24,244 --> 00:02:26,646 that are designed to stop the spread of disease. 61 00:02:26,646 --> 00:02:30,250 So, you know, not gathering in large crowds, 62 00:02:30,250 --> 00:02:32,352 working from home when you can, 63 00:02:32,352 --> 00:02:35,222 staying away from, you know, the grocery store, 64 00:02:35,222 --> 00:02:38,959 and you know, practicing that six-foot social distancing. 65 00:02:38,959 --> 00:02:42,095 Cancelling many events that we might otherwise have done. 66 00:02:42,095 --> 00:02:44,097 The third phase which, you know, you refer to 67 00:02:44,097 --> 00:02:46,299 as shelter in place, we call suppression, 68 00:02:46,299 --> 00:02:47,834 and that is really where, you're just trying to do 69 00:02:47,834 --> 00:02:52,205 every single measure you can to prevent social contact 70 00:02:52,205 --> 00:02:54,107 and to keep the virus from moving at all. 71 00:02:54,107 --> 00:02:56,343 - And do you think, from your point of view, 72 00:02:56,343 --> 00:03:00,113 we will or we need to end up at suppression, 73 00:03:00,113 --> 00:03:02,082 shelter in place, that stage? 74 00:03:02,082 --> 00:03:03,884 - It's a very interesting argument 75 00:03:03,884 --> 00:03:05,519 as to what is the degree 76 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:08,688 to which suppression is better at this than mitigation, 77 00:03:08,688 --> 00:03:10,991 and then what are the costs of suppression? 78 00:03:10,991 --> 00:03:14,261 So, what are the consequences on the economy, 79 00:03:14,261 --> 00:03:17,330 and on people's lives of that sort of strategy? 80 00:03:17,330 --> 00:03:20,600 Versus one where, maybe it doesn't work as well. 81 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,436 You know, we really don't know enough about this 82 00:03:22,436 --> 00:03:24,137 to say, I think, what the best thing is. 83 00:03:24,137 --> 00:03:26,907 Which is why, many municipalities are erring 84 00:03:26,907 --> 00:03:30,410 on the side of, well let's do the maximal thing possible, 85 00:03:30,410 --> 00:03:32,512 for the good of the people. 86 00:03:32,512 --> 00:03:34,281 - Dr. Hysmith, bringing you in. 87 00:03:34,281 --> 00:03:36,316 Your sense, in terms of, and we'll come back 88 00:03:36,316 --> 00:03:37,584 to some of these social distancing, 89 00:03:37,584 --> 00:03:39,286 but I wanted to get you in on, maybe on testing. 90 00:03:39,286 --> 00:03:42,122 And obviously, there's a lot of frustration 91 00:03:42,122 --> 00:03:44,591 and confusion about testing, that you know, 92 00:03:44,591 --> 00:03:48,428 the State got 500 tests, which seems... 93 00:03:48,428 --> 00:03:50,030 is obviously wildly inadequate. 94 00:03:50,030 --> 00:03:53,934 What are you experiencing within Le Bonheur, 95 00:03:53,934 --> 00:03:56,269 within the medical system, in terms of your ability 96 00:03:56,269 --> 00:03:58,138 to get people tested? 97 00:03:58,138 --> 00:03:59,372 Can you get all the people tested 98 00:03:59,372 --> 00:04:00,540 that you wanna get tested? 99 00:04:00,540 --> 00:04:02,075 - So right now, the answer is no to that. 100 00:04:02,075 --> 00:04:04,311 We cannot get everyone at this time tested 101 00:04:04,311 --> 00:04:05,846 that we need to have tested. 102 00:04:05,846 --> 00:04:09,216 I think early on, when we saw this happening in China, 103 00:04:09,216 --> 00:04:12,252 and we saw it happening in Europe, we were all, 104 00:04:12,252 --> 00:04:14,121 the health departments around the country were looking 105 00:04:14,121 --> 00:04:16,957 at ways that they could ramp up their testing abilities. 106 00:04:16,957 --> 00:04:20,327 And when we had one or two cases here, in our community, 107 00:04:20,327 --> 00:04:21,928 communities across the United States, 108 00:04:21,928 --> 00:04:24,331 that was adequate, we could test those individuals 109 00:04:24,331 --> 00:04:26,633 and then sort of trace who they had been in contact with, 110 00:04:26,633 --> 00:04:27,834 and it wasn't using up a ton 111 00:04:27,834 --> 00:04:30,270 of our testing resources at that point. 112 00:04:30,270 --> 00:04:32,139 Now that we have ongoing community spread, 113 00:04:32,139 --> 00:04:34,141 in a lot of the communities in the United States, 114 00:04:34,141 --> 00:04:36,910 and we will most certainly have that here in Memphis. 115 00:04:36,910 --> 00:04:38,378 I think we definitely need to 116 00:04:38,378 --> 00:04:40,647 ramp up our testing capabilities. 117 00:04:40,647 --> 00:04:43,483 We've seen some of the commercial labs come online, 118 00:04:43,483 --> 00:04:46,787 however they are severely backlogged right now 119 00:04:46,787 --> 00:04:49,189 with all the tests from across the country as well. 120 00:04:49,189 --> 00:04:52,425 So, I think, working on getting a test here in Memphis, 121 00:04:52,425 --> 00:04:55,095 in house, in some of our facilities here in Memphis 122 00:04:55,095 --> 00:04:56,997 is gonna be critical going forward. 123 00:04:56,997 --> 00:04:58,031 - Let me get Bill, we have obviously have 124 00:04:58,031 --> 00:04:59,566 a lot more questions on that. 125 00:04:59,566 --> 00:05:04,137 - So Dr. Hysmith, for now, it's not community spread 126 00:05:05,238 --> 00:05:07,908 with the cases that we know about. 127 00:05:07,908 --> 00:05:11,945 So, there is tracing who people have been in contact with, 128 00:05:11,945 --> 00:05:16,950 which seems to be a necessary, but a tedious, process. 129 00:05:18,318 --> 00:05:23,023 Do people you contact about, okay, tell me everyone 130 00:05:23,023 --> 00:05:25,025 that you came into contact with. 131 00:05:25,025 --> 00:05:27,928 I would imagine, they can't remember that, 132 00:05:27,928 --> 00:05:28,428 in all cases. 133 00:05:28,428 --> 00:05:29,863 - Yes, that's true. 134 00:05:29,863 --> 00:05:32,232 That's a very tedious process, and I can say that, 135 00:05:32,232 --> 00:05:34,267 as of this morning, here in Shelby County, 136 00:05:34,267 --> 00:05:37,437 we have had cases that have all been acquired 137 00:05:37,437 --> 00:05:38,738 somewhere other than Shelby County, 138 00:05:38,738 --> 00:05:40,207 and they've come in here. 139 00:05:40,207 --> 00:05:41,675 So, when I say we haven't had community spread, 140 00:05:41,675 --> 00:05:43,843 we haven't had community spread here that's been documented. 141 00:05:43,843 --> 00:05:45,645 - And I should also note, we're taping this 142 00:05:45,645 --> 00:05:48,448 Thursday morning, just cause it is a fast moving thing. 143 00:05:48,448 --> 00:05:49,683 Back to you. - Yes, true. 144 00:05:49,683 --> 00:05:51,651 I think that that will change, and I think 145 00:05:51,651 --> 00:05:53,553 there has probably been community spread already 146 00:05:53,553 --> 00:05:56,056 in Memphis that we just haven't recognized 147 00:05:56,056 --> 00:05:58,792 cause we're not doing mass testing waves at this point. 148 00:06:00,327 --> 00:06:05,098 - So, at that point, when you have community spread, 149 00:06:05,098 --> 00:06:10,103 you don't trace, you simply begin to treat and deal with 150 00:06:11,238 --> 00:06:14,341 what's gonna be a locally spread virus? 151 00:06:14,341 --> 00:06:15,842 - So, yes to that question. 152 00:06:15,842 --> 00:06:17,911 There has been some, that's sort of what they've 153 00:06:17,911 --> 00:06:20,480 started doing in some other parts of the country. 154 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,483 They have stopped the contact tracing element, 155 00:06:23,483 --> 00:06:26,286 and they have simply ramped up their testing. 156 00:06:26,286 --> 00:06:28,922 If you have symptoms, you stay home. 157 00:06:28,922 --> 00:06:31,691 Don't go out into public, practice social distancing, 158 00:06:31,691 --> 00:06:34,261 and in areas where they have large amounts of tests 159 00:06:34,261 --> 00:06:35,895 that they're able to perform, people can go to 160 00:06:35,895 --> 00:06:38,031 these testing stations and be tested. 161 00:06:39,466 --> 00:06:41,835 - Let me go back to you, Dr. McCullers, and talk... 162 00:06:44,704 --> 00:06:47,674 Have you administered a test, yet, to someone? 163 00:06:47,674 --> 00:06:49,542 - Not during this outbreak. - Not during this. 164 00:06:49,542 --> 00:06:51,978 But if you had, let's take that from, 165 00:06:51,978 --> 00:06:53,647 there's a box or a swab, 166 00:06:53,647 --> 00:06:56,149 like walk through the minutia of testing. 167 00:06:56,149 --> 00:06:59,986 - So, testing in this context, you're trying to get a piece 168 00:06:59,986 --> 00:07:02,689 of the virus from out of a person's mucus membrane. 169 00:07:02,689 --> 00:07:05,725 So, what we would do is, the person would typically 170 00:07:07,127 --> 00:07:09,262 be in a setting where the healthcare worker's protected, 171 00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:11,364 so either they're going to the home 172 00:07:11,364 --> 00:07:12,365 and they're wearing all of this 173 00:07:12,365 --> 00:07:14,034 personal protective equipment, 174 00:07:14,034 --> 00:07:15,669 or now we're seeing the drive-bys 175 00:07:15,669 --> 00:07:16,936 where people stay in their car, 176 00:07:16,936 --> 00:07:18,071 and the healthcare worker's wearing 177 00:07:18,071 --> 00:07:19,773 their personal protective equipment. 178 00:07:19,773 --> 00:07:21,608 You then would have a little test tube, 179 00:07:21,608 --> 00:07:24,377 that would be full of what we call viral transport medium, 180 00:07:24,377 --> 00:07:26,446 something the virus stays alive in, 181 00:07:26,446 --> 00:07:29,015 and is stabilized in. 182 00:07:29,015 --> 00:07:31,184 You would take a swab, and either swab their throat 183 00:07:31,184 --> 00:07:33,520 just like you're used to with the strep test, 184 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,155 or you would swab through the nose 185 00:07:35,155 --> 00:07:37,190 and hit the back of the throat with the swab. 186 00:07:37,190 --> 00:07:38,825 It then goes in the transport media, 187 00:07:38,825 --> 00:07:41,561 you swish it a little bit, break it in half, cap it. 188 00:07:41,561 --> 00:07:43,563 You send it to the testing facility, 189 00:07:43,563 --> 00:07:45,932 where they're then gonna run molecular tests 190 00:07:45,932 --> 00:07:48,968 which look for the genome of the virus within that sample. 191 00:07:48,968 --> 00:07:51,037 - Right now, those tests are being sent... 192 00:07:51,037 --> 00:07:52,639 There are two commercial labs, I think, 193 00:07:52,639 --> 00:07:55,241 in Memphis, is what's been reported that are doing it. 194 00:07:55,241 --> 00:07:56,976 A lot of them are going to Nashville. 195 00:07:56,976 --> 00:08:00,246 I mean, in an ideal situation, would they be done 196 00:08:00,246 --> 00:08:02,282 you know, at Methodist, at Le Bonheur, 197 00:08:02,282 --> 00:08:03,450 at the hospital itself? 198 00:08:03,450 --> 00:08:04,684 Is that where we're trying to get, 199 00:08:04,684 --> 00:08:07,420 in terms of the speed of testing? 200 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:09,456 - So, there's at least two, right now, commercial labs. 201 00:08:09,456 --> 00:08:12,726 There's others that are coming up in the very near future. 202 00:08:12,726 --> 00:08:15,261 And, to varying degrees, they have to send 'em 203 00:08:15,261 --> 00:08:17,630 to other places in the country because the model 204 00:08:17,630 --> 00:08:18,998 is of course centralized testing, 205 00:08:18,998 --> 00:08:21,000 and then back out to the different locales. 206 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:22,669 So, some of these are actually 207 00:08:22,669 --> 00:08:24,137 going to California to be tested. 208 00:08:24,137 --> 00:08:25,638 And you can see, with all the travel issues we're having 209 00:08:25,638 --> 00:08:28,241 that that creates it's own supply chain issues, 210 00:08:28,241 --> 00:08:30,710 and it takes five or six days to get a test back. 211 00:08:30,710 --> 00:08:33,246 So, ideally, and this is what we're hoping to do 212 00:08:33,246 --> 00:08:35,014 at UT within the next two weeks. 213 00:08:35,014 --> 00:08:36,316 We'd have a test here locally, 214 00:08:36,316 --> 00:08:38,017 the test only takes about four hours, 215 00:08:38,017 --> 00:08:39,853 so if you're running it a couple of times a day, 216 00:08:39,853 --> 00:08:42,288 you can get results back in 12 to 24 hours 217 00:08:42,288 --> 00:08:43,723 that are actually useful for somebody 218 00:08:43,723 --> 00:08:46,092 like Dr. Hysmith to use. 219 00:08:46,092 --> 00:08:49,062 - Who, in an ideal world, who would be tested? 220 00:08:49,062 --> 00:08:50,897 Cause right now it's a pretty high bar, right? 221 00:08:50,897 --> 00:08:53,466 I was talking to one medical professional, 222 00:08:53,466 --> 00:08:55,935 who was saying, "Look, you've gotta meet the CDC guidelines, 223 00:08:55,935 --> 00:08:57,370 having been in a level three country, 224 00:08:57,370 --> 00:08:59,439 you have to have been exposed, it's a very high bar. 225 00:08:59,439 --> 00:09:01,241 You might have some symptoms, you might have a fever, 226 00:09:01,241 --> 00:09:02,776 but you're not gonna get tested right now 227 00:09:02,776 --> 00:09:04,511 in Memphis, by and large. 228 00:09:04,511 --> 00:09:06,112 Ideally, who would be tested 229 00:09:06,112 --> 00:09:08,314 if the test were fast and readily available? 230 00:09:08,314 --> 00:09:10,784 - So again, depends a little bit on what the scale is, 231 00:09:10,784 --> 00:09:12,051 and how much new tests you have. 232 00:09:12,051 --> 00:09:14,954 Right now, we'd love for doctors who are worried 233 00:09:14,954 --> 00:09:16,923 about a patient having coronavirus, 234 00:09:16,923 --> 00:09:17,991 to be able to test 'em. 235 00:09:17,991 --> 00:09:19,626 So, that would be the first line of that. 236 00:09:19,626 --> 00:09:24,030 - And not have to, you know, hoard those tests 237 00:09:24,030 --> 00:09:26,032 for only the worst, most likely, 238 00:09:26,032 --> 00:09:27,467 - And you'd like it-- - Dangerous people. 239 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:28,701 - To be easy to do, you'd like it to be cheap 240 00:09:28,701 --> 00:09:30,870 or free to do is another big case. 241 00:09:30,870 --> 00:09:32,672 And then secondly, you'd like to be able 242 00:09:32,672 --> 00:09:34,274 to test contacts maybe. 243 00:09:34,274 --> 00:09:36,109 So, somebody's been in contact with somebody, 244 00:09:36,109 --> 00:09:38,244 maybe they're a critical healthcare worker, 245 00:09:38,244 --> 00:09:40,280 test 'em, say they don't have the virus, 246 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:41,614 they can go back to work, right? 247 00:09:41,614 --> 00:09:43,149 - Before I go to Bill, your sense, 248 00:09:43,149 --> 00:09:45,385 and I didn't know this, but we were chatting before the show, 249 00:09:45,385 --> 00:09:47,153 you've consulted with the CDC, 250 00:09:47,153 --> 00:09:49,722 you've trained other people who've been, 251 00:09:49,722 --> 00:09:51,024 you know, flu specialists. 252 00:09:52,659 --> 00:09:55,495 You've seen this on a national, global scale, and so on. 253 00:09:55,495 --> 00:09:58,498 Your sense of when we will have tests at that scale. 254 00:09:58,498 --> 00:10:01,301 The amount of tests that you all, as professionals, need. 255 00:10:01,301 --> 00:10:03,403 - I think within two weeks. - Within two weeks? 256 00:10:03,403 --> 00:10:04,237 Within two weeks, okay. 257 00:10:04,237 --> 00:10:05,505 Let's go to Bill. 258 00:10:05,505 --> 00:10:09,209 - Dr. Hysmith, some people... 259 00:10:10,577 --> 00:10:15,048 are taking one view that this is the end of the world, 260 00:10:15,048 --> 00:10:18,318 some people are taking the view that, what's the big deal, 261 00:10:18,318 --> 00:10:21,421 this is just flu like we experience all the time. 262 00:10:21,421 --> 00:10:25,625 This is not your normal flu, is it? 263 00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:26,926 - No, yeah that's a true statement. 264 00:10:26,926 --> 00:10:29,529 I think that we have seen examples 265 00:10:29,529 --> 00:10:31,164 of this in Europe already, 266 00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:32,966 we've seen it in the United States already, 267 00:10:32,966 --> 00:10:34,100 in some of the experiences 268 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:36,102 some of the communities are having. 269 00:10:36,102 --> 00:10:38,505 Simply, the amount of healthcare resources 270 00:10:38,505 --> 00:10:42,108 that this is requiring is 271 00:10:42,108 --> 00:10:45,812 really not something that we see normally, with influenza. 272 00:10:47,213 --> 00:10:50,984 The severity of the illness in older individuals, 273 00:10:50,984 --> 00:10:52,352 or those with chronic diseases, 274 00:10:52,352 --> 00:10:54,954 has put a real strain on the healthcare system 275 00:10:54,954 --> 00:10:56,823 in many parts of the country, 276 00:10:56,823 --> 00:10:59,726 so I think that we definitely need to take this seriously. 277 00:10:59,726 --> 00:11:03,096 I think that young, healthy individuals 278 00:11:03,096 --> 00:11:05,765 still need to practice social distancing. 279 00:11:05,765 --> 00:11:08,201 We realize that we have severe disease 280 00:11:08,201 --> 00:11:10,203 in those individuals as well, but the big thing 281 00:11:10,203 --> 00:11:13,506 is transmitting that to someone that is elderly 282 00:11:13,506 --> 00:11:16,576 or has an immune compromising condition. 283 00:11:16,576 --> 00:11:19,012 - Dr. McCullers, what about a vaccine? 284 00:11:19,012 --> 00:11:22,916 And does the development of a vaccine suggest 285 00:11:22,916 --> 00:11:26,753 that COVID-19 is 286 00:11:26,753 --> 00:11:29,689 not going to vanish when this is all over? 287 00:11:29,689 --> 00:11:32,258 - So, we know the virus isn't going away. 288 00:11:32,258 --> 00:11:34,460 It's spread enough around the world 289 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:37,730 that it's gonna be here for some time with us. 290 00:11:37,730 --> 00:11:40,366 Vaccines are really, really difficult to make. 291 00:11:40,366 --> 00:11:41,868 Let me just say that. 292 00:11:41,868 --> 00:11:44,237 We've been working on SARS vaccines in the United States 293 00:11:44,237 --> 00:11:47,473 and worldwide for 17 years, we don't have a vaccine. 294 00:11:47,473 --> 00:11:49,309 We've been working on a vaccine for RSV, 295 00:11:49,309 --> 00:11:52,412 which infects babies, for 50 years, we don't have a vaccine. 296 00:11:52,412 --> 00:11:56,449 So, I think there's hope that we can develop a vaccine 297 00:11:56,449 --> 00:11:58,184 to this, but it's not assured. 298 00:11:58,184 --> 00:12:00,386 Now, the good thing about the SARS experience, 299 00:12:00,386 --> 00:12:02,155 is we do have some vaccines that are coming 300 00:12:02,155 --> 00:12:04,424 into very early, you know, human trials. 301 00:12:04,424 --> 00:12:06,426 So some candidate vaccines. 302 00:12:06,426 --> 00:12:08,261 We're able to rapidly adapt those 303 00:12:08,261 --> 00:12:10,296 because the viruses are so similar, 304 00:12:10,296 --> 00:12:13,199 and get coronavirus vaccine trials for the new strain 305 00:12:13,199 --> 00:12:15,902 into trials very, very quickly. 306 00:12:15,902 --> 00:12:18,504 It still is an 18-month to two-year process, 307 00:12:18,504 --> 00:12:20,139 even if it works, and we're not assured 308 00:12:20,139 --> 00:12:21,407 that it's gonna work. 309 00:12:21,407 --> 00:12:25,011 - So Dr. Hysmith, your thoughts on a vaccine, 310 00:12:25,011 --> 00:12:29,315 and also, a bit about hearing the word vaccine, 311 00:12:29,315 --> 00:12:30,984 and kind of looking at that as, 312 00:12:30,984 --> 00:12:34,387 oh, okay, well that's on the way. 313 00:12:34,387 --> 00:12:36,589 So, we don't have to change behavior. 314 00:12:36,589 --> 00:12:40,460 Quite obviously, we are having to change behavior. 315 00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:42,795 - Right, yeah, I think that definitely in this point 316 00:12:42,795 --> 00:12:44,897 we have to change our behavior, if not, 317 00:12:44,897 --> 00:12:47,433 we're gonna overwhelm our healthcare system 318 00:12:47,433 --> 00:12:51,104 with the illnesses that the elderly 319 00:12:51,104 --> 00:12:53,306 and those with chronic medical conditions will have. 320 00:12:53,306 --> 00:12:55,408 I think the vaccine is great, and that's something 321 00:12:55,408 --> 00:12:57,644 that we can look forward to in the future. 322 00:12:57,644 --> 00:12:58,845 But right now, we have to deal with 323 00:12:58,845 --> 00:13:00,413 what's going on currently. 324 00:13:00,413 --> 00:13:02,348 And if we don't practice these measures 325 00:13:02,348 --> 00:13:05,618 that the CDC has recommended, we're going to 326 00:13:05,618 --> 00:13:07,453 overwhelm our healthcare system. 327 00:13:07,453 --> 00:13:10,323 - Do you think this changes our healthcare system? 328 00:13:11,858 --> 00:13:15,595 Aside from the virus, aside from the medicine, 329 00:13:15,595 --> 00:13:18,598 is the structure of our healthcare system changing, 330 00:13:18,598 --> 00:13:21,067 or should it change as a result of this? 331 00:13:21,067 --> 00:13:22,268 - That's an interesting question. 332 00:13:22,268 --> 00:13:23,903 I think I would like to see it change 333 00:13:23,903 --> 00:13:25,405 as a result of this going forward. 334 00:13:25,405 --> 00:13:28,307 I think there definitely can be opportunities 335 00:13:28,307 --> 00:13:31,244 for more collaboration, around the community, 336 00:13:31,244 --> 00:13:33,212 amongst all of our healthcare facilities, 337 00:13:33,212 --> 00:13:35,448 and amongst our healthcare enterprise 338 00:13:35,448 --> 00:13:37,450 as a whole in the city. 339 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:39,952 I think that for a long time we discussed 340 00:13:39,952 --> 00:13:41,554 the healthcare system in the United States, 341 00:13:41,554 --> 00:13:44,357 and I think this is the perfect opportunity 342 00:13:44,357 --> 00:13:46,259 for that to change, going forward. 343 00:13:46,259 --> 00:13:47,760 I can't say how it would, 344 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,730 but I think that this is the perfect opportunity for that. 345 00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:53,700 - Mhm, Dr. McCullers, your thoughts on that? 346 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:56,903 - So, I think this is an opportunity for us as a country 347 00:13:56,903 --> 00:13:58,871 to kinda revisit how we do healthcare. 348 00:13:58,871 --> 00:14:03,342 We have been divesting in the public health infrastructure 349 00:14:03,342 --> 00:14:05,878 and in primary care since the 1940s 350 00:14:05,878 --> 00:14:08,414 when we really rallied around tuberculosis 351 00:14:08,414 --> 00:14:10,483 and preventing transmission of that, 352 00:14:10,483 --> 00:14:12,752 as well as mosquito-bourne illnesses. 353 00:14:12,752 --> 00:14:15,555 And, particularly in the last 5 to 10 years, 354 00:14:15,555 --> 00:14:19,425 we've seen a divestiture and really a lack of respect 355 00:14:19,425 --> 00:14:22,562 for, and acknowledgement, of the public health officials 356 00:14:22,562 --> 00:14:25,131 and the experts that really would help us 357 00:14:25,131 --> 00:14:26,599 prepare for this sort of thing. 358 00:14:26,599 --> 00:14:30,002 So, 15 to 20 years ago, I worked with the US Congress, 359 00:14:30,002 --> 00:14:33,039 with WHO, to work out pandemic preparedness plans, 360 00:14:33,039 --> 00:14:35,007 our strategic national stockpile. 361 00:14:35,007 --> 00:14:37,143 Since that time, there's just been a degradation 362 00:14:37,143 --> 00:14:38,778 of our ability to respond. 363 00:14:38,778 --> 00:14:40,313 So I think this is a call to say, 364 00:14:40,313 --> 00:14:42,682 after we get through this, we really need 365 00:14:42,682 --> 00:14:45,251 to build that back up and make that our primary focus 366 00:14:45,251 --> 00:14:48,221 to prevent this sort of thing, and prevent just the normal 367 00:14:48,221 --> 00:14:50,656 chronic diseases that we see everyday 368 00:14:50,656 --> 00:14:52,625 that are preventable if we put the resources in 369 00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:55,061 up front, instead of waiting till they're present 370 00:14:55,061 --> 00:14:57,563 and trying to treat the results of them. 371 00:14:57,563 --> 00:14:58,798 - I was thinking about this 372 00:14:58,798 --> 00:15:00,333 as we were getting ready for the show. 373 00:15:00,333 --> 00:15:03,503 It has felt, over the last, I don't know, weeks. 374 00:15:03,503 --> 00:15:05,872 It's like a slow motion Katrina. 375 00:15:05,872 --> 00:15:08,474 Where you kind see the storm coming, 376 00:15:08,474 --> 00:15:10,309 it's like, oh yeah, we get storms all the time. 377 00:15:10,309 --> 00:15:11,611 We get flu outbreaks all the time, 378 00:15:11,611 --> 00:15:12,879 we always live through those. 379 00:15:12,879 --> 00:15:15,181 And then people, as it's getting closer, 380 00:15:15,181 --> 00:15:17,717 start saying this is a different kind of storm. 381 00:15:17,717 --> 00:15:19,185 And then it hits. 382 00:15:19,185 --> 00:15:21,120 And suddenly, and you know, I remember with Katrina, 383 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,556 there was this sense that everyone was waiting 384 00:15:23,556 --> 00:15:24,991 for the federal government to come in, 385 00:15:24,991 --> 00:15:27,794 for some days, and then suddenly the locals realized, 386 00:15:27,794 --> 00:15:28,861 they're not coming. 387 00:15:28,861 --> 00:15:30,830 We gotta do it ourselves. 388 00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:33,332 Is that where we are, where you feel like we are, 389 00:15:33,332 --> 00:15:35,134 in Memphis, in Shelby County, 390 00:15:35,134 --> 00:15:35,935 as a state, 391 00:15:35,935 --> 00:15:37,904 that it's really up to Memphis and Shelby County 392 00:15:37,904 --> 00:15:40,506 to make the good decisions, and get help 393 00:15:40,506 --> 00:15:42,308 from the state and federal government where it comes. 394 00:15:42,308 --> 00:15:44,510 Whereas I think, people seem to have expected 395 00:15:44,510 --> 00:15:46,212 the federal government was gonna lead on this, 396 00:15:46,212 --> 00:15:47,980 and you all would follow their lead. 397 00:15:47,980 --> 00:15:49,782 - So I think there's some elements of that. 398 00:15:49,782 --> 00:15:51,684 Certainly, we were supposed to have 399 00:15:51,684 --> 00:15:54,854 a strategic national stockpile that had, you know, 400 00:15:54,854 --> 00:15:57,824 95 million and 95 masks for instance, 401 00:15:57,824 --> 00:15:59,258 and it did at one time. 402 00:15:59,258 --> 00:16:01,127 It now has 12 million, because Congress 403 00:16:01,127 --> 00:16:02,995 has not appropriated to fill that up. 404 00:16:02,995 --> 00:16:05,164 We don't have enough ventilators at the federal level. 405 00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:06,899 We've had a very poor federal response 406 00:16:06,899 --> 00:16:07,834 the last three months. 407 00:16:07,834 --> 00:16:10,002 Those are all very, very true. 408 00:16:10,002 --> 00:16:12,038 And we're having to do many of those things now locally. 409 00:16:12,038 --> 00:16:13,940 In terms of, setting up our own testing. 410 00:16:13,940 --> 00:16:15,741 Okay, so you would have thought the federal government, 411 00:16:15,741 --> 00:16:17,543 through the health departments would have 412 00:16:17,543 --> 00:16:19,145 been able to manage that, well they've not been able 413 00:16:19,145 --> 00:16:21,347 to manage that, we're having to do it ourselves. 414 00:16:21,347 --> 00:16:23,916 At the same time, you don't want every town 415 00:16:23,916 --> 00:16:26,185 and municipality making their own rules 416 00:16:26,185 --> 00:16:28,654 and doing their own thing, because we are a country 417 00:16:28,654 --> 00:16:31,424 and a population that has so much interconnection 418 00:16:31,424 --> 00:16:33,426 that if my neighbor is doing something crazy, 419 00:16:33,426 --> 00:16:34,861 it's going to impact me. 420 00:16:34,861 --> 00:16:37,029 And again, we should be having the federal government 421 00:16:37,029 --> 00:16:39,832 help us make those decision and set some of those rules. 422 00:16:39,832 --> 00:16:42,969 - To that end, well let's talk about 423 00:16:42,969 --> 00:16:44,503 Le Bonheur for a second. 424 00:16:44,503 --> 00:16:45,905 Le Bonheur, they announced, like maybe it was yesterday, 425 00:16:45,905 --> 00:16:49,909 sometime this week, that their visitations 426 00:16:49,909 --> 00:16:51,444 for people who are in there for whatever, 427 00:16:51,444 --> 00:16:53,646 a broken leg, or whatever they've got going on. 428 00:16:53,646 --> 00:16:55,615 Only two healthy adults and caregivers, 429 00:16:55,615 --> 00:16:57,550 y'all are gonna screen them before they come in 430 00:16:57,550 --> 00:16:59,685 to make sure their temperature and so on. 431 00:16:59,685 --> 00:17:02,655 The volunteer program at Le Bonheur is shut down. 432 00:17:02,655 --> 00:17:04,323 Postponing elective surgery. 433 00:17:04,323 --> 00:17:05,725 I thought that was interesting, 434 00:17:05,725 --> 00:17:07,793 you've heard that nationally, why is that important, 435 00:17:07,793 --> 00:17:09,562 postponing elective surgery? 436 00:17:09,562 --> 00:17:11,130 Go ahead. - There's been a bit of debate 437 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:13,065 about postponing elective surgeries 438 00:17:13,065 --> 00:17:15,268 and how far you go with that, and what really is 439 00:17:15,268 --> 00:17:16,702 an elective surgery, right? 440 00:17:16,702 --> 00:17:20,339 So, if we don't do an elective surgery right now, 441 00:17:20,339 --> 00:17:22,909 does that person then develop a bad outcome 442 00:17:22,909 --> 00:17:25,578 because of the timing of the surgery is disrupted? 443 00:17:25,578 --> 00:17:27,346 Does it become an emergent surgery, 444 00:17:27,346 --> 00:17:29,715 where it's much more difficult to deal with it. 445 00:17:29,715 --> 00:17:33,319 So, there's urgent, versus non-urgent surgeries. 446 00:17:33,319 --> 00:17:35,621 There's unnecessary, or nice surgery, 447 00:17:35,621 --> 00:17:37,657 like cosmetic surgery for instance. 448 00:17:37,657 --> 00:17:38,791 That you maybe don't need to do. 449 00:17:38,791 --> 00:17:40,760 But then really, where's that gray area, 450 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,828 where you need to do it, but do you need to do it now, 451 00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:44,564 and do you have worse outcomes if you don't do it now? 452 00:17:44,564 --> 00:17:47,433 - And I ask that in part, not that I know 453 00:17:47,433 --> 00:17:49,669 where that bar should be, but back to this notion 454 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:50,903 of a coordinated response. 455 00:17:50,903 --> 00:17:53,806 That's Le Bonheur's rules, but I mean, 456 00:17:53,806 --> 00:17:56,042 are those the same rules for Methodist, 457 00:17:56,042 --> 00:17:57,310 even though y'all are under Methodist. 458 00:17:57,310 --> 00:17:58,577 Is that the same for Regional One, 459 00:17:58,577 --> 00:18:00,246 is that the same for Baptist, and so on. 460 00:18:00,246 --> 00:18:02,448 I mean, are different hospitals having different rules, 461 00:18:02,448 --> 00:18:04,083 and is that problematic? 462 00:18:04,083 --> 00:18:06,652 - I think most of the hospitals are following 463 00:18:06,652 --> 00:18:09,388 the idea that you're gonna cancel elective surgeries, 464 00:18:09,388 --> 00:18:11,190 but they're leaving it up to their experts, 465 00:18:11,190 --> 00:18:13,259 which are the surgeons themself to say 466 00:18:13,259 --> 00:18:15,294 which of those are essential versus non-essential. 467 00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:17,697 Which do we cancel, which do we not cancel. 468 00:18:17,697 --> 00:18:19,765 I think that's pretty much uniform doing that. 469 00:18:19,765 --> 00:18:21,667 The one little difference is, you know, 470 00:18:21,667 --> 00:18:24,904 hospital based surgery versus outpatient center. 471 00:18:24,904 --> 00:18:27,173 Do we wanna keep some of the outpatient center surgeries 472 00:18:27,173 --> 00:18:30,042 going so you don't have those get into the hospital later 473 00:18:30,042 --> 00:18:31,711 and fill up beds, that's one of the debates 474 00:18:31,711 --> 00:18:33,145 we're having right now. 475 00:18:33,145 --> 00:18:34,447 - Okay, about seven minutes left, go back to Bill. 476 00:18:34,447 --> 00:18:37,717 - All right, I wanna go back to one of 477 00:18:37,717 --> 00:18:40,386 the more basic points about testing. 478 00:18:40,386 --> 00:18:44,724 Does everyone need to be tested in this? 479 00:18:44,724 --> 00:18:48,160 In other words, should an employer send 480 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,564 all of their employees in, once there are enough tests, 481 00:18:51,564 --> 00:18:54,333 or as we get more tests. 482 00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:56,602 To have everyone tested to make sure the workforce 483 00:18:56,602 --> 00:18:58,971 is safe, because I would imagine that's no guarantee 484 00:18:58,971 --> 00:19:01,807 that someone's not gonna get this in the future. 485 00:19:01,807 --> 00:19:03,776 - Right, true, and I think this is 486 00:19:03,776 --> 00:19:07,013 a highly debated issue about who all should be tested. 487 00:19:07,013 --> 00:19:09,248 I think you raise a great point with the healthcare workers. 488 00:19:09,248 --> 00:19:12,318 One thing we're looking at pretty intently right now, 489 00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:14,654 intensely right now, is when we have, 490 00:19:14,654 --> 00:19:17,223 so we will be screening at all our Methodist facilities, 491 00:19:17,223 --> 00:19:19,625 we'll be screening all the visitors 492 00:19:19,625 --> 00:19:21,293 and all the associates that come in. 493 00:19:21,293 --> 00:19:23,462 So, if we have an associate that is 494 00:19:23,462 --> 00:19:25,297 screened positive for an illness, 495 00:19:25,297 --> 00:19:27,600 we need to be able to rapidly determine 496 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,137 that that associate does or does not have COVID-19. 497 00:19:31,137 --> 00:19:33,305 So that's gonna be one key piece of the testing, 498 00:19:33,305 --> 00:19:37,143 and I would say that all associates that have symptoms 499 00:19:37,143 --> 00:19:38,944 should be tested, that way we can get them back 500 00:19:38,944 --> 00:19:41,047 into the workforce as soon as possible. 501 00:19:41,047 --> 00:19:43,616 With regards to our community, 502 00:19:43,616 --> 00:19:45,284 I think that is a debated issue. 503 00:19:45,284 --> 00:19:47,186 I think that there are some communities that are 504 00:19:47,186 --> 00:19:49,488 looking at, sort of, you have symptoms, 505 00:19:49,488 --> 00:19:51,490 stay home, unless they're severe. 506 00:19:51,490 --> 00:19:52,992 But, I think there are other communities 507 00:19:52,992 --> 00:19:55,094 that are looking at everyone with symptoms 508 00:19:55,094 --> 00:19:56,829 should be tested, that way they can sort of 509 00:19:56,829 --> 00:19:59,832 stay away from, you know, grandma and grandpa, 510 00:19:59,832 --> 00:20:01,734 and young children and things like that. 511 00:20:01,734 --> 00:20:05,337 And I think that that's probably the way we're headed, 512 00:20:05,337 --> 00:20:08,007 is testing the majority of individuals that have symptoms. 513 00:20:08,007 --> 00:20:09,475 And I think that that's one way 514 00:20:09,475 --> 00:20:12,611 to sort of, better get the spread under control. 515 00:20:12,611 --> 00:20:13,879 - Hmm. 516 00:20:13,879 --> 00:20:18,417 Strategically, should we deal with COVID-19, 517 00:20:18,417 --> 00:20:21,921 the novel coronavirus, outside of the hospitals 518 00:20:21,921 --> 00:20:25,491 to ensure that the hospitals are not overwhelmed? 519 00:20:25,491 --> 00:20:28,494 - I think to the best ability we can, 520 00:20:28,494 --> 00:20:30,463 we should try to manage it outside of the hospital. 521 00:20:30,463 --> 00:20:32,798 Obviously, if you have a severe enough illness 522 00:20:32,798 --> 00:20:35,267 that you need to come into the emergency room, 523 00:20:35,267 --> 00:20:37,403 you're having trouble breathing, that sort of thing. 524 00:20:37,403 --> 00:20:40,306 Then, obviously, that follows a different criteria 525 00:20:40,306 --> 00:20:42,942 and you will have hospital care at that point. 526 00:20:42,942 --> 00:20:45,377 But I think, for the most part, this should 527 00:20:45,377 --> 00:20:47,346 be something that we can manage 528 00:20:47,346 --> 00:20:49,115 on the outside of the hospital. 529 00:20:49,115 --> 00:20:51,117 - And by outside, is that sort of screening tents, 530 00:20:51,117 --> 00:20:52,351 and screening locations? 531 00:20:52,351 --> 00:20:54,620 I mean, what is outside, if it's not inside, 532 00:20:54,620 --> 00:20:55,454 what is outside? 533 00:20:56,922 --> 00:20:59,191 - Let me clarify that, I was thinking of your question 534 00:20:59,191 --> 00:21:00,793 as being should all of these individuals 535 00:21:00,793 --> 00:21:02,428 come to the emergency department, that sort of thing. 536 00:21:02,428 --> 00:21:04,830 And that is definitely not the model 537 00:21:04,830 --> 00:21:06,265 that we are proposing. 538 00:21:06,265 --> 00:21:08,234 It would be more of these outpatient screening-type 539 00:21:08,234 --> 00:21:11,237 centers, where we're not directing these 540 00:21:11,237 --> 00:21:14,507 people to come to the emergency department for screening. 541 00:21:14,507 --> 00:21:15,741 - Five minutes here. 542 00:21:15,741 --> 00:21:18,611 Let me walk through just some basic stuff. 543 00:21:18,611 --> 00:21:21,213 And people have read this, but I think it's helpful 544 00:21:21,213 --> 00:21:22,748 that somebody who is maybe their neighbor, 545 00:21:22,748 --> 00:21:24,416 and from a local hospital to go through. 546 00:21:24,416 --> 00:21:26,886 Just, so...symptoms. 547 00:21:26,886 --> 00:21:28,888 What are those symptoms that should 548 00:21:28,888 --> 00:21:30,923 concern someone, or not concern someone? 549 00:21:30,923 --> 00:21:32,625 - So one of the important things to realize, 550 00:21:32,625 --> 00:21:34,226 the symptoms are fairly distinct. 551 00:21:34,226 --> 00:21:37,096 It's fever, cough, and then lower respiratory 552 00:21:37,096 --> 00:21:39,431 difficulty breathing, or chest pain. 553 00:21:39,431 --> 00:21:40,666 Really lower respiratory. 554 00:21:40,666 --> 00:21:42,902 This virus doesn't have a lot of the typical 555 00:21:42,902 --> 00:21:45,371 runny nose and congestion, things that we see 556 00:21:45,371 --> 00:21:47,740 with flu and some other cold viruses. 557 00:21:47,740 --> 00:21:49,241 - All right, as we tape this on what, 558 00:21:49,241 --> 00:21:53,245 March 19th, I think here, if you feel those symptoms, 559 00:21:53,245 --> 00:21:54,513 what should you do? 560 00:21:54,513 --> 00:21:56,048 - You should call your physician, 561 00:21:56,048 --> 00:21:58,984 or you should call into somebody that you trust. 562 00:21:58,984 --> 00:22:02,254 And if it's mild, you're gonna be told stay home, 563 00:22:02,254 --> 00:22:03,923 manage yourself at home, don't come 564 00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:05,891 to the doctors office, don't go to the ED 565 00:22:05,891 --> 00:22:08,194 If it's serious, you can't breathe, 566 00:22:08,194 --> 00:22:10,529 you're having trouble with your breathing, you're worried, 567 00:22:10,529 --> 00:22:12,531 then you go to the ED, but call ahead 568 00:22:12,531 --> 00:22:14,300 to the ED to tell them you're coming. 569 00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:16,068 - Difficulty breathing, just to clarify, 570 00:22:16,068 --> 00:22:17,536 is different than a cough? 571 00:22:17,536 --> 00:22:19,738 Just, for a layman, layperson, 572 00:22:19,738 --> 00:22:22,308 the difference between a cough, even a bad cough, 573 00:22:22,308 --> 00:22:24,977 and the lower respiratory that you're talking about? 574 00:22:24,977 --> 00:22:26,445 - All right, so a lot of us are coughing right now 575 00:22:26,445 --> 00:22:28,347 because allergy season is coming in, 576 00:22:28,347 --> 00:22:30,649 we got some nasal drip and things like that. 577 00:22:30,649 --> 00:22:31,884 So you're gonna have a cough. 578 00:22:31,884 --> 00:22:33,919 Difficulty breathing is typically chest pain, 579 00:22:33,919 --> 00:22:36,021 difficulty getting your air out, 580 00:22:36,021 --> 00:22:37,790 fast breathing, labored breathing, 581 00:22:37,790 --> 00:22:39,091 is what we're talking about. 582 00:22:39,091 --> 00:22:40,726 - If you don't have a doctor that you can call, 583 00:22:40,726 --> 00:22:42,228 who do you call? 584 00:22:42,228 --> 00:22:44,330 - Well, I would normally say the Health Department, 585 00:22:44,330 --> 00:22:45,898 but the Health Department's being overwhelmed 586 00:22:45,898 --> 00:22:47,099 with calls right now. 587 00:22:47,099 --> 00:22:50,469 So this is again, is one of our gaps in care 588 00:22:50,469 --> 00:22:52,972 we have right now, that we have so many uninsured 589 00:22:52,972 --> 00:22:54,173 and who don't have a physician, 590 00:22:54,173 --> 00:22:55,741 they don't have somebody they can call. 591 00:22:55,741 --> 00:22:58,777 - Are the organizations, and I'm not endorsing here, 592 00:22:58,777 --> 00:23:01,580 but like Christ Community, like Church Health Center, 593 00:23:01,580 --> 00:23:03,115 some of those, are those places that people 594 00:23:03,115 --> 00:23:05,351 without insurance, or without a regular doctor, 595 00:23:05,351 --> 00:23:07,152 should turn to? - They're really stepping up 596 00:23:07,152 --> 00:23:08,887 right now, so I do think, you know, 597 00:23:08,887 --> 00:23:10,256 what we call our federally qualified 598 00:23:10,256 --> 00:23:12,925 healthcare organizations like Christ Community, 599 00:23:12,925 --> 00:23:14,960 and others, are great places to think about. 600 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:16,262 - Is there a list of those that you 601 00:23:16,262 --> 00:23:17,529 could send people to, do you go to 602 00:23:17,529 --> 00:23:18,764 the Shelby County Health Department, 603 00:23:18,764 --> 00:23:20,266 they have a list of other alternatives 604 00:23:20,266 --> 00:23:22,668 for people to go, again, if they don't have a doctor? 605 00:23:22,668 --> 00:23:24,503 - I don't know that there's a comprehensive list. 606 00:23:24,503 --> 00:23:26,639 I have one myself, so I will put it up 607 00:23:26,639 --> 00:23:28,674 on our UTHSC coronavirus website. 608 00:23:28,674 --> 00:23:31,610 - Okay, and let me, if you were exposed 609 00:23:31,610 --> 00:23:35,481 to someone, if it turns out your child, your mother, 610 00:23:35,481 --> 00:23:37,950 your girlfriend, your husband, whatever it is, 611 00:23:37,950 --> 00:23:40,352 has it, you are exposed, what should you do? 612 00:23:40,352 --> 00:23:42,021 - Well first of all, I wouldn't panic. 613 00:23:42,021 --> 00:23:44,123 All right, so, we know for most people 614 00:23:44,123 --> 00:23:47,126 under the age of 60 this is fairly mild disease. 615 00:23:47,126 --> 00:23:49,395 If you're over 60, maybe there's a risk 616 00:23:49,395 --> 00:23:50,863 for a more severe disease. 617 00:23:50,863 --> 00:23:53,299 So, I would not panic, I would keep doing the same things 618 00:23:53,299 --> 00:23:55,000 we're doing with the social distancing, 619 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,669 and with you know, trying to take care of yourself 620 00:23:56,669 --> 00:23:58,871 and wash your hands, and then if you get sick, 621 00:23:58,871 --> 00:24:01,573 make sure your healthcare provider knows you were exposed. 622 00:24:01,573 --> 00:24:04,109 - If you get it, and people in Memphis have, 623 00:24:04,109 --> 00:24:05,711 and more probably than even know have it, right? 624 00:24:05,711 --> 00:24:07,813 That's part of the mystery 625 00:24:07,813 --> 00:24:08,647 and the murkiness of where we are. 626 00:24:08,647 --> 00:24:09,715 What are... 627 00:24:11,083 --> 00:24:13,319 It runs it's course, I'm acting like I'm a doctor here, 628 00:24:13,319 --> 00:24:14,553 but it runs it's course. 629 00:24:14,553 --> 00:24:16,322 What are the long term consequences for people? 630 00:24:16,322 --> 00:24:17,823 I mean, I've had the flu before, 631 00:24:17,823 --> 00:24:19,892 I've had the flu multiple times, is it like that? 632 00:24:19,892 --> 00:24:21,393 That it's a really miserable period of time, 633 00:24:21,393 --> 00:24:23,128 and then you just go about your life? 634 00:24:23,128 --> 00:24:24,496 Or is it long term damage? 635 00:24:24,496 --> 00:24:26,031 - Well, we think for most people 636 00:24:26,031 --> 00:24:28,233 it would be like the flu, and you're gonna be okay. 637 00:24:28,233 --> 00:24:29,735 There are some cases we're seeing now, 638 00:24:29,735 --> 00:24:31,704 including in young healthy adults who have it, 639 00:24:31,704 --> 00:24:33,839 where they're suffering lung damage 640 00:24:33,839 --> 00:24:36,408 that probably will be a chronic, respiratory issue 641 00:24:36,408 --> 00:24:37,643 for the rest of their lives. 642 00:24:37,643 --> 00:24:39,745 So, again, we're not seeing a lot of deaths 643 00:24:39,745 --> 00:24:42,047 in young adults, but we are seeing infections, 644 00:24:42,047 --> 00:24:43,282 we are seeing severe infections, 645 00:24:43,282 --> 00:24:44,650 we are seeing some of this damage. 646 00:24:44,650 --> 00:24:46,385 - Okay, just a minute left, Bill. 647 00:24:46,385 --> 00:24:47,219 - All right. 648 00:24:50,656 --> 00:24:55,060 Nobody alive now in our city has any memory... 649 00:24:56,695 --> 00:24:57,930 firsthand memory of what 650 00:24:57,930 --> 00:24:59,798 the Yellow Fever epidemics were like. 651 00:25:00,966 --> 00:25:05,037 From what you've both read about this, 652 00:25:05,037 --> 00:25:07,740 is this similar to that? 653 00:25:07,740 --> 00:25:10,275 - It's similar in that we're having to do 654 00:25:10,275 --> 00:25:11,944 the kind of social distancing. 655 00:25:11,944 --> 00:25:14,179 During Yellow Fever, everybody moved out to the country, 656 00:25:14,179 --> 00:25:16,548 for instance, and got out of the downtown. 657 00:25:16,548 --> 00:25:18,550 It's a little different in that we do have experts 658 00:25:18,550 --> 00:25:19,785 who can talk about it. 659 00:25:19,785 --> 00:25:20,986 Back then, nobody knew it was carried 660 00:25:20,986 --> 00:25:22,154 by mosquitoes, they worried about 661 00:25:22,154 --> 00:25:24,022 the miasma from the sewers 662 00:25:24,022 --> 00:25:25,891 and things like that being responsible. 663 00:25:25,891 --> 00:25:28,494 And so I think there was a lot more fear of the unknown. 664 00:25:28,494 --> 00:25:30,195 We still have that here, but I think 665 00:25:30,195 --> 00:25:31,864 we're hopefully able to mitigate that somewhat 666 00:25:31,864 --> 00:25:34,767 by going on TV and talking about it with the experts. 667 00:25:34,767 --> 00:25:37,069 - Dr. Hysmith, your thoughts on that? 668 00:25:37,069 --> 00:25:38,303 I mean, it's the first thing that 669 00:25:38,303 --> 00:25:40,406 comes to mind for many Memphians. 670 00:25:41,807 --> 00:25:44,910 - No, I think that Dr. McCullers says it spot on. 671 00:25:44,910 --> 00:25:48,580 I think that we just need to let our healthcare providers 672 00:25:48,580 --> 00:25:50,315 and our professionals in the community 673 00:25:50,315 --> 00:25:51,884 sort of guide the response to this, 674 00:25:51,884 --> 00:25:53,652 and know that there are people out there 675 00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:56,021 who are working on this very hard 676 00:25:56,021 --> 00:25:57,556 for the public's behalf. 677 00:25:57,556 --> 00:25:59,291 - All right, that is all the time we have this week. 678 00:25:59,291 --> 00:26:00,826 Thank you both for being here, 679 00:26:00,826 --> 00:26:02,561 particularly in this busy time, we really appreciate it. 680 00:26:02,561 --> 00:26:03,796 Thank you for joining us, 681 00:26:03,796 --> 00:26:05,264 that's all the time we have this week. 682 00:26:05,264 --> 00:26:06,765 Remember, you can get past episodes of the show 683 00:26:06,765 --> 00:26:09,668 at wkno.org, you can also get the podcast of the show 684 00:26:09,668 --> 00:26:12,037 on The Daily Memphian site, iTunes, Spotify, 685 00:26:12,037 --> 00:26:13,806 or wherever you get your podcasts. 686 00:26:13,806 --> 00:26:14,706 See you next week. 687 00:26:15,541 --> 00:26:18,277 [intense music] 688 00:26:32,491 --> 00:26:34,493 [acoustic guitar chords]