Diagnostic Testing: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Presence or Absence of the virus. This is a done by looking for viral RNA. Obtained with a nasal or throat swab. One test company also provides fecal sample testing.
A positive test confirms that you have the Covid-19 virus.
A negative test indicates that you do not have the virus OR that you are in the initial stages of viral infection. During initial stages of infection, viral counts are low and may cause a false negative result. If you have symptoms and test negative, a repeat test 1-2 weeks later is important to confirm test results.
Sample collection. Samples can be obtained via oral or nasal samples. Most tests are limited to hospitals and public health institutions.
Fecal PCR testing. There is evidence that the Covid-19 virus may continue to shed via the fecal route up to 5 weeks after clearance in the respiratory system. This test is available with physician ordering only. A fecal PCR test is not officially diagnostic for Covid-19, but may help determine:
If a Covid-19 patient continues to be a risk to others.
Help determine transmission risk from an asymptomatic person with possible viral exposure.
Possible infection in someone with Covid-19 symptoms.
Immune reaction testing: Immunoglobulin IgM/IgG. Currently only FDA approved tests are available and are limited. Testing availability should increase in the near future.
This blood test evaluates an immune response to the virus. Immunoglobulins are important immune proteins that react to infection.
It is NOT diagnostic for viral infection. It is NOT diagnostic for immunity.
This
test evaluates for an early or ongoing immune response to viral exposure.
IgM. IgM immunoglobulins rise from ~ day 7 to 21 days after initial infection. IgM does not remain in the body after this initial infectious stage.
IgG. The body starts building IgG immunoglobulin ~14 days after initial infection and remains for longer periods of time. It is unknown how long IgG remain elevated after exposure to Covid-19.
At the time of this article, Crush the CurveIdaho offers an IgG test to anyone who wants to be tested for ~$100. Their test may be helpful to determine an immune response, but only 13 days after a positive PCR test or 17 days after symptoms start. It is not reliable for people who never had symptoms. Click HERE to sign up for a test.
Because test supplies are limited, Covid-19 diagnostic testing continues to be reserved for people with symptoms or high-risk populations. Read CDC symptom list HERE.
If you suspect you have a
Covid-19 infection, here is what you can do to get a diagnostic test.
Call your physician office to determine if they are testing patients.
If your physician is not offering a test, you may go to a drive up test centers.
Southwest Idaho Residents. Central District Health has a list of drive-up testing locations. Please see each location for their criteria for testing. Prices vary.
Malheur CountyResidents. Malheur County Health Department is beginning to provide Drive-up test centers on specific days. New test sites locations are provided via press releases HERE
To determine if you are eligible, please look at the criteria HERE.
The next drive up test site for Malheur residents is in Vale. See bilingual Flyer HERE
Thursday, May 14, 2020
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wadleigh Park Parking Lot.
Cost: Free. You must be a Malheur County resident.
The last month of
stay at home orders has been a challenge for everyone. Now that states are starting to re-open, it
is important to keep yourself and those around you safe.
I hope the following
information helps answer questions and guide you in the following months.
With the economy starting to re-open, does
this the Covid-19 virus is gone?
How many cases are there in my county?
Should I continue to social distance?
Am I at risk if I’m not over 65?
Shouldn’t we get it over with and get the
virus already?
Can we beat this virus?
Should I get tested?
Are tests available and what does testing
mean?
If I’ve had Covid-19, am I immune and can I
pass it to others?
1. Since the economy is starting to open, does this mean the Covid-19 virus is gone?
No, the virus is not
gone. However, it is theorized that due to most people experiencing mild
symptoms, most infections are not tested and infection numbers are under
reported. Fortunately, Idaho and Oregon
have relatively few cases of the virus and the infection numbers are
stabilizing.
2.How many cases are there in my area?
The following May 10, 2020 data was obtained from John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Click HERE to see up to date information.
Oregon
(stats based on 2019 Population 4,217,737)
3228 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 127 deaths.
Positive tests: 4.2% of the those tested
4% mortality of confirmed cases.
Malheur county reports 14 confirmed cases and zero deaths.
Tested (PCR): 75,450, representing 1.8 % of the total state population
Idaho
(stats based on 2019 population of 1,787,065)
2230
confirmed Covid-19 cases and 67 deaths.
Positive
tests: 6.4% of those tested.
3%
mortality of confirmed cases.
Tested
(PCR): 31,961, representing 1.8 % of the state population.
County
data in Southwest Idaho
Ada
county reports 733 cases and 19 deaths
Boise
county reports 0 cases and 0 deaths
Canyon
county reports 272 cases and 6 deaths
Gem
county reports 16 cases and 0 deaths
Owyhee
county reports 8 cases and 0 deaths.
Payette
county reports 17 cases and 2 deaths
Washington
county reports 1 case and 0 deaths
3. Should I continue to social distance?
Yes.
As
business open, some people may feel that social distancing measures are not
needed. This is a misguided assumption. The virus is highly infectious. Continuing safe social distancing measures
will help reduce the spread of infection and ensure an open economy.
The
best way to reduce viral transmission is for EVERYONE to practice preventative
measures:
Social distancing: maintain at least 6 feet
from other people.
Wear a facemask in public covering both nose
and mouth.
Washing hands with soap for 20 seconds after
being in public.
4. Am I at risk if I’m not over 65?
There
are more total cases of Covid-19 for those age 49 and younger, but the
mortality rate is higher for those ages 50 and greater.
Idaho cases and deaths per age group. ( May 9, 2020 click HERE to see source )
Age
Idaho Cases
Deaths
/ % total Deaths
18-29
460
0
deaths / 0 %
30-39
352
0
deaths / 0 %
40-49
362
0
deaths / 0 %
50-59
368
2
deaths / 3%
60-69
282
9
deaths / 13.4%
70-79
162
13
deaths / 19.4%
80+
154
43
deaths / 64.2%
Younger
people may feel safe from the disease’s mortality rate, but younger people have
developed blood clots or died from Covid-19 and there is a risk of transferring
the virus to others. Risk factors that may worsen Covid-19 symptoms for every
age group include smoking, vaping, diabetes, and asthma.
5. Shouldn’t we get it over with and get the virus already?
There
is an argument to open the economy and let the population be exposed to the
virus to develop community-wide immunity.
The problem with this argument is the lack of evidence about how strong
immunity occurs after exposure.
Furthermore, it is unknown the long term health concerns after viral
exposure. Blood clotting may be an acute symptom, but it is not known if there
are lingering effects of the virus. Patients who survive the disease after the
use of a ventilator may experience long-term heart and lung damage. Preventing the disease means preventing
long-term health consequences.
Additionally,
current viral hotspots of the virus where social distancing was not implemented
(ie, meat packing plants and prisons) demonstrate rapid viral spread followed
by numerous deaths. The virus then spreads
to the greater adjacent communities, putting more susceptible individuals at
risk.
It
is extremely difficult to protect vulnerable populations such as older persons,
those with inflammatory disease, and those with immune deficiency disease.
Without everyone participating in social distancing, people may die.
Social
distancing will reduce the time the virus remains in our communities. Until we have universal testing, contact
(exposure) tracing, and isolation of those effected or exposed, the virus will
continue to spread.
6. Can we beat this virus?
Yes, with discipline and time. The Smallpox eradication story is a profound lesson of a collective will to eradicate disease. Smallpox ravaged the world for millennia (it is found in Egyptian mummies) and yet many Millennials may be unaware that their parents were vaccinated against it. (For those millennials reading this: ask a Baby Boomer about their distinctive smallpox vaccine scar.)
Depending
on the strain, Smallpox had a 30-90% fatality rate. Most people died about 2
weeks after contracting the virus. Smallpox killed hundreds of thousands
yearly. For those who survived, many were blind and scarred for life. Smallpox was a monster compared to Covid-19.
Small
pox was eradicated in 1977. Eradication of this millennia old, rampant, lethal
virus was accomplished with vaccination, identification and isolation of infected
individuals, and isolation of those exposed.
We can deal with the Covid-19 virus. We know how to
Diagnostic Testing: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Presence or Absence of the virus. This is a done by looking for viral RNA. Obtained with a nasal or throat swab. One test company also provides fecal sample testing.
A positive test confirms that you have the Covid-19 virus.
A negative test indicates that you do not have the virus OR that you are in the initial stages of viral infection. During initial stages of infection, viral counts are low and may cause a false negative result. If you have symptoms and test negative, a repeat test 1-2 weeks later is important to confirm test results.
Sample collection. Samples can be obtained via oral or nasal samples. Most tests are limited to hospitals and public health institutions.
Fecal PCR testing. There is evidence that the Covid-19 virus may continue to shed via the fecal route up to 5 weeks after clearance in the respiratory system. This test is available with physician ordering only. A fecal PCR test is not officially diagnostic for Covid-19, but may help determine:
If a Covid-19 patient continues to be a risk to others.
Help determine transmission risk from an asymptomatic person with possible viral exposure.
Possible infection in someone with Covid-19 symptoms.
Immune reaction testing: Immunoglobulin IgM/IgG. Currently only FDA approved tests are available and are limited. Testing availability should increase in the near future.
This blood test evaluates an immune response to the virus. Immunoglobulins are important immune proteins that react to infection.
It is NOT diagnostic for viral infection. It is NOT diagnostic for immunity.
This
test evaluates for an early or ongoing immune response to viral exposure.
IgM. IgM immunoglobulins rise from ~ day 7 to 21 days after initial infection. IgM does not remain in the body after this initial infectious stage.
IgG. The body starts building IgG immunoglobulin ~14 days after initial infection and remains for longer periods of time. It is unknown how long IgG remain elevated after exposure to Covid-19.
Crush the CurveIdaho offers an IgG test to anyone who wants to be tested for ~$100. Their test may be helpful to determine an immune response, but only 13 days after a positive PCR test or 17 days after symptoms start. It is not reliable for people who never had symptoms. Click HERE to sign up for a test.
9. If I’ve had Covid-19, am I immune and can I pass it to others?
Unfortunately, the strength
and duration of immunity created after exposure to Covid -19 is unknown.
It is ASSUMED that one may become immune to the
disease and not contagious. Unfortunately, this assumption has not yet been
proven. It is hoped that survival of a Covid-19 infection will impart immunity
to this viral strain for most people
Vitamin C may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients: a meta-regression analysis. February 2020. Find Article at https://doi.org/10.1186/s40560-020-0432-y
Hydrocortisone, Vitamin C, and Thiamine for the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Retrospective Before-After Study. Chest: June 2017. Volume 151, Issue 6, Pages 1229–1238 PMID: 27940189 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.11.036
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians press release on the use of intravenous Vitamin C for treatment of Covid-19. Click HERE
More may be known about the effectiveness of intravenous Vitamin C after September 2020. Click HERE to read about a current IV Vitamin C trail.
Disclaimer:
Vitamin C is not a cure for Covid-19.
Dr. Rodgers does not provide Vitamin C infusions or injections.
Idaho Naturopathic Medicine and Rosehill Wellness are taking the following precautions to ensure your safety during the Covid-19 crisis.
Offering video remote consults or phone visits as alternatives to in-person visits. Both Tele-health Video and Telephone visits can be booked from idnatmed.com or your patient portal. Tele-health Video visits require the patients to have access to video access on a phone or computer. Phone visits are available for established patients only.
We encourage remote access visits, but we are open in office on a limited basis. In the office we are sanitizing all surfaces, doorknobs light switches, etc. before and after each patient visit. Sanitizing all medical equipment after each patient visit.
Taking temperatures of all patients presenting to the office.
Acupuncture visits are available extremely limited for acute pain only, and for patients who do not have any of the risk symptoms/exposures. Please see below.
What we ask of you:
Please do not show up early to the
office. Wait in your vehicle until your appointment time. This will reduce
exposure to yourself and others.
Do NOT present yourself to the office
if have the following risk symptoms/exposures:
You have been in contact in the last 2 weeks with anyone exposed to Covid-19.
You are returned from a geographic area with an active Covid-19 outbreak within 14 days of your appointment.
You have cold and/or flu symptoms within 14 days prior to your appointment.
You have or had a fever within 14 days prior to your appointment.
Click here for Center for Disease Control information about what to do if you are sick.
If you meet the criteria listed above, please obtain a Covid-19 test.
Testing is important for those who have been exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, at the time of this newsletter, there is no local or state coordinated testing program. If the virus continues to spread, the criteria and opportunities for testing and testing may change.
Dr. Rodgers does not provide Covid-19
testing.
Current guidelines provide testing only for those have a fever, cough, sinus discharge, body aches, shortness of breath AND had known contact with a Covid-19 patient or traveled in affected geographic areas, OR severe respiratory distress without a known source of exposure.
If you meet these criteria:
If you HAVE a primary care medical
provider: CALL your provider and ask if they provide testing.
IF you DO NOT have a primary care medical provider: PrimaryHealth urgent care centers and many St. Luke’s and St.Alphonsus urgent care facilities are providing testing. You need to CALL a facility near you to determine if testing is available on a walk-in basis.
Testing is important to determine if
one needs to socially isolate or quarantine to reduce transmission of
Covid-19. Even if most people experience only mild symptoms, the risk of
transmission is for those who may experience life-threatening symptoms.
Covid-19 is a new coronoavirus respiratory disease that is
spreading worldwide.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms can vary from mild respiratory symptoms to pneumonia, respiratory failure and septic shock. It is thought that most people will experience mild symptoms. It is also theorized that people with compromised immune systems and respiratory weakness may be more susceptible to more severe disease .
Testing and vaccine prevention are not currently available. Treatment options do not exist to eradicate the virus, but focus on supportive care for the complications of the disease.
So, that leaves us all wondering what to do to prevent
getting ill.
In my opinion, the best thing you can do is to improve your
immune system.
Click here for a list of actions you can take to improve your immune system and reduce exposure to the virus.
To get the latest science-based information about this virus, visit the CDC: Click here