JUNE 5-7, 2020 STRIVE ON

More than 6.1 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID 19. I do believe this number is much higher. There are more than 373,000 dead because of COVID 19. I feel the numbers will rise. The use of ,masks, gloves, and social distancing is part of the NORM for a long period of time. I imagine a T-shirt being sold in months to years to come stating , “ I survived COVID 19 . “ The United States has become the worst affected country to date. However you see the numbers and deaths n countries like Brazil and Spain have heightened whereas Sweden reports no new deaths for the first time in eleven weeks.

Those individuals with chronic health condition as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disease and much more need to return to see their doctors. While you are hopefully adhering to you medications, you need to get your regular blood work as well as COVID antibody testing. I offer the most comprehensive testing by BioTek Laboratories for IgG and IgM antibodies to COVID 19 in both New York City and Fairfield offices.

Life goes on. I am saddened by the lives lost. I have witnessed death in the front lines. I have lost patients and friends to COVID. We all have been affected in some way by this pandemic in the last 3-4 months. Many of us have been affected financially. I do hope and believe the virus is getting weaker . We must be diligent in our own lives with our health. Find out what you can do to boost your own immune system.

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 4, 2020 COVID TESTING

There is a need for daily increase in testing We have come far. From officials that started testing in the beginning of the pandemic in March there were about 5,270 tests done daily nationally. By the end of May the number has increased to over 400,000 tests done per day nationally per the COVIUD Tracking project. If we are to reopen in these phases there needs to be over 900,000 tests done daily. We have come far but more needs to be done. Per Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of public Health Laboratories, “ Week after week things do a little better.”

I do realize that there is much in the news that is overshadowing COVID right now. I do know that “ Racism in any form is never okay and should never be tolerated. “ I feel sad as an American at this moment. However I do not want to lose focus on a health crisis . As we protest racism is pose a dire health threat for continuation of the spread of this virus. You have seen thousands of people throng to the streets. Some are masked and some are unmasked. These are among the largest public gatherings since the country’s shutdown We must use caution. If you are to protest, do it with a mask. The risk of transmission is low in open spaces, but wherever there is a gathering, the risk gets higher. “ We can have peaceful protests which are needed right now. The risk of this pandemic should NOT keep people away from peaceful protesting against racism.

When violence, looting and fires erupt, the use of law enforcement measures as tear gas, smoke and other irritants could make people more susceptible to infection and worsen health conditions per health officials

There is a potential for a increase in COVID cases. Be smart Wear a mask

Until tomorrow…

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JUNE 3, 2020 PANDEMIC

Pandemics are not new. Historically there have been many. During the quarantine besides needlepointing I have caught upon reading. I love biographies and historical accounts in addition to many books on plants/herbs/flowers. I have caught on three series- The Borgias, The Medicis, and DaVinci’s Demons. There are many plaques seen in these series throughout Europe and Italy. We had the Black Plaque , the Bulbonic Plaque that unleashed horrific deaths . In the face of epidemic it was always done to quarantine the sick

The ‘ modern’ equivalent is the quarantine the healthy or the general population. This would flatten the curve. It did its purpose but is highly unsustainable for long periods of time. We have done this The next idea would be to mass vaccinate. I have a story to tell you In the 1980’s there was talk that a preventable vaccine would be ready for the current HIV epidemic of that time. It would take two years. To date, this NEVER materialized. I don’t know what will happen with a COVID 19 vaccine. When will it be ready? Those that have been sick will develop antibodies and be immune. So while we are waiting for a vaccine the immunity we must deal with is person to person viral transmission. This is called herb immunity It will take years. But so what. I suspect since drugs for COVID are being investigated and taking a longer than predicted time—the same will happen with a vaccine.

The question is : Would you want to be vaccinated? A new vaccine? You must research what is in a vaccine today. Are there heavy metals in vaccines? Yes. Are there are other viruses in a vaccine? Yes

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 2, 2020 TREATMENT FOR COVID

I have seen firsthand what to do and what not to do in COVID cases. First of all, there are the serious COVID cases where oxygenation, IV pressors agents as dopamine and ventilation is required. Many of those that did require ventilation did not live. There is about a 87-91 % mortality.

For those that are ill but do not require ventilation. I have used IV hydration with Vitamin C, other minerals especially zinc, and vitamins. After a high dose infusion of 10 grams or more I usually give the best antioxidant . This antioxidant is gluthathione. Hydration is so important in COVID infection. I have seen many patients whom have residual coughing, fever and aches post their initial infection.

In our New York City Fairfield offices we are offering our antioxidant hydration drips.

We do know from SARS ( 2002-2003) that steroids should NOT be used as it will prolong viral shedding. We also know that ganciclovir and ribavirin simply do NOT work. There are other RNA polymerase inhibitor under investigation: Remdesvir, Favipravir and Periclovir. Both interferon alpha and beta are being investigated. The mechanism of action of chloroquine is not known and still being studied.

Nitazoxanide is also being investigated

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 1, 2020 LARRY KRAMER

This month , Larry Kramer would have been 85. He died last week. In the early 1980’s a young man was reading an essay called “1,112 and Counting. “ That young man then age 23 was me. It provoked so much emotion. Anger, fury and rage over a misunderstood disease affected gay men called GRIDS ( Gay Related Immune Deficiency), now called AIDS. It created fear , sadness and anger. Anger over a political President who was doing nothing about these men dying both in San Francisco and New York City. I watched my friends die- countless young talented men. He brought AIDS to the forefront. His semi autobiographical play “ Normal Heart’ brought tears to my eyes . In 2014, then adapted into a HBO film allowed a generation of young gay men to experience what we went through. He co founded GMHC ( Gay Men’s Health Crisis) which was a leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. He is a man that WE should never forget. He changed the ‘face’ of AIDS

The number of AIDS death in the beginning were staggering. Globally there are 32.7-44 million living with HIV at the end of 2018. 32 million people have died of HIV.

Today we have another pandemic, COVID 19 where more than 100,000 have died in a short time. I feel by August 2020 there will be 125-130,000 deaths.

Please continue to wear face mask and practice social distancing

Until tomorrow…

MAY 29-31, 2020 WHAT TO LISTEN TO

Today, with extra time on your hands .. you should start listening to podcasts, TED talks and any other information regarding COVID. Translating science into clinical practice is not an easy task. It is especially difficult at this time when people who shouldn’t be discussing science are discussing these topics. This includes medication being used, vaccines in the work and that antibody testing should be done. ee need to communicate properly to our patients. It is so important at tis time during a pandemic crisis.

Quarantine and civil liberty is a hot topic being discussed these days. This is a complex difficult subject for all involved. Bioethics and COVID is so important. I recently heard Dr Jeffrey Dobken, MD MPH speak on these topics. He is not a lawyer but a clinical doctor. You can listen to this webnar on YouTube sponsored by the Association of American Physicians.

“I think it is a grand idea, and I hope someday Americans might try it’ said Gandhi on American Democracy.

This is what I needed to hear. He discussed ethics and bioethics concerning this pandemic of COVID 19. Goodness and badness are always discussed These have been discussed for centuries He discussed significant cases as the Tuskagee Syphilis Study ( 1932-1972) , Willowbrook Study and the Belmont Report ( 1979 )

I urge you to listen to this YouTube presentation It shed light on bioethics during this pandemic

Until tomorrow…

MAY 28, 2020 THE VIRUS IS NOT TIRED

I saw a FaceBook post that said, “ Even though I’m positive for antibodies... when I venture out, I’m still conscious of being safe. Take nothing for granted .” This is a well informed smart individual. The post then reads ‘ We have entered the most dangerous part of this pandemic. We are all tired of physical isolation, The virus is not tired.

This is so true. Although for the last two days the number of deaths in NYC has been 73 and 74, we are far from over. While we NYers have flattened the curse and hospital admissions, ventilator use, and number of COVID deaths in New York City are declining- we are not done and the virus doesn’t sleep. Just look at the other states where there are increasing numbers and deaths. Twenty states posted increases in new cases for the week ending May 24th As isolation dwindles and phases begin to open — we will see another peak. This is for certain .

As a physician who volunteered I want to acknowledge our health care workers as 62,000 physicians , nurses and other health care workers have COVID 19 and at least 291 have died. This is tragic.

The CDC is warning individuals that positive results on the current antibody testing are wrong over half the time. This is why this FaceBook post was important - despite being positive - still be protected, and be safe. Some countries are limiting health care workers among COVID 19 patients as we cannot afford more deaths among our front line health care workers.

Be smart … Wear a mask, use gloves when necessary and continually isolate as your city is starting to open up. Do not be part of the second wave of cases

Until tomorrow…

MAY 27, 2020 ANTIBODY TESTING

The corona virus antibody testing may not be as reliable as we thought. The CDC says the test to determine if people have immunity to CPOVID 19 might be wrong in 50 % of the cases. This is dangerous. If a pers9n gets a test and is false positive, the person will think they are immune to COVID 19 and they are not Therefore they could get the infection. The CDC states the test should not be used in policy decision making when people should return to work.

With this inaccuracy the test should not be used at all. We are the United States- let’s get our act together. There is a difference in quantitative and qualitative testing. The lab BioTek which I believe is the most accurate for Ig G and IgM testing was not allowed to be done in the state of New York. Recently with persistence of the lab and the NYS government it can be used in New York

I am proud to announce I will be doing this test in my New York Office starting June 1st This is the same test I used in my CT office. I had patients drive to CT to get the test at the beginning of the pandemic.

The government needs to focus on antibody testing. There are many tests out there as discussed above . Our NYC office at 115 East 57th Street SUITE 1510 now has IgG & IgM COVID-19 Antibody testing available. BioTek is using and FDA authorized test with a specificity of 97.5% and a sensitivity of 95.6%. This test differs from the nasal swab, which only looks at active infections. While this is a new test, and we are learning more every day, antibody testing for viral infections can help identify both active and past infections. We are seeing more and more individuals who have had past infections with mild or no symptoms. Having a past infection can potentially mean one has some level of immunity now. Some patients who are IgG positive are asymptomatic never even had COVID symptoms.
Think you were exposed to COVID-19 or got sick months ago? You might be a good candidate for this test. Please contact our office at 212 421 3202 717-1339 or assistance@fratellonemedical.com to schedule your blood draw. The test costs $175 up front. We will provide a copy of this bill. We are being told insurances will reimburse for the testing. We are spacing patients out, to minimize any contact when entering our office. We ask that patients wear masks, and gloves if you have as well.

Until tomorrow…