Michigan Medicine infectious disease specialist Dr. Sandro Cinti says the spread of COVID-19 is progressing as expected and expects continued movement with a continued increase in cases in the next week to week-and-a-half.
WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Dr. Cinti, who shares the latest information about the virus and its spread and impact on our community and lives.
Dr. Sandro Cinti says mitigation efforts, such as "stay home stay safe," may need to remain in place for the next month to two months to stop its spread. He adds it is difficult to predict the peak as they continue to study what impact mitigation efforts are having on slowing the curve but believes we are a week to a week-and-a-half away from the peak. He says they continue to see an increase in cases at Michigan Medicine but says so far they are able to keep up with demand. He expects the Ann Arbor medical system to be full or at capacity in the next week or two adding they are trying to prepare for that.
Dr. Cinti says he is now supporting the advice to wear a mask if you have to go out in public, even though there is no scientific evidence to show doing so can combat the virus but believes there may be some benefit to doing so. He says, of course, wear a non-medical mask leaving them for the doctors and nurses dealing directly with infected patients.
Dr. Cinti points out that at least 95 percent or higher of the people who get the virus will survive. He says it's when they need to be hospitalized they are struggling and require more help often ending up in intensive care units or end up on a ventilator. He says research is likely continuing around the clock to find a vaccine but still estimates that to take 18 months, adding there is really no proven treatment at this time.
He emphasizes continued mitigation efforts and staying home will likely have an impact on reducing the rate of coronavirus infection.
Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support. Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu
