♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME TO CORONAVIRUS A LIVE COMMUNITY FORUM HERE ON PBS FORT WAYNE.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.

I'M MARK EVANS.

DURING THE NEXT HOUR YOU WILL HEAR FROM EXPERTS WHO WILL ADDRESS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS AND PROVIDE UPDATES TO HELP US ALL COPE AND RESPOND AND DO OUR PART DURING THESE DAYS.

OUR GUESTS TONIGHT INCLUDE FORT WAYNE MAYOR TOM HENRY, ALLEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER NELSON PETERS, ALLEN COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR.

DEB MCMAHAN AND MANY OTHERS.

THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, WE INVITE YOU TO CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ON THE PHONES, IN OUR STUDIO, AND OF COURSE WE'LL BE TAKING THOSE CALLS IMMEDIATELY.

AND ON THE PHONE BANK AS A MATTER OF FACT WE HAVE DR.

RAJU, DAWN DAVIS, A REGISTERED NURSE.

DR.

RAJU IS FROM TLC DENTAL.

DAWN DAVIS, THE REGISTERED NURSE, FORT WAYNE MEDICAL SOCIETY ALLIANCE.

WE HAVE DR.

PAUL BOJRAM, IU HEALTHCARE, PJ BOJRAM, KYLE DAVIS, GRANT ADAMS, MICHAELA CAMPBELL, ALL OF FORT WAYNE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

WE THANK THEM FOR BEING THERE TONIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS, CALL THOSE IN RIGHT NOW.

I NEED TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

THAT WAS A LOT TO SAY.

WITH ME TONIGHT IS DR.

JAMES CAMERON.

HE IS A NEO NATOLOGIST.

YOU WORK WITH BABIES.

>> I DO.

>> WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL WHEN A MOTHER WHO HAS COVID-19 AND SHE HAS A BABY?

>> EVERY HOSPITAL HAS A DIFFERENT MAKEUP OF THEIR OB UNIT.

BUT THE FIRST STEP IS UNFORTUNATELY THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE SEPARATE THE MOM AND THE BABY FOR THE HOSPITALIZATION, AT LEAST UNTIL WE KNOW THAT THE MOM IS OR IS NOT INFECTED.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT IMPACTS THE NEWBORNS, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> HOW ARE THE MOTHERS DEALING WITH THAT?

DO THEY UNDERSTAND?

OR DO YOU HAVE SOME PUSHBACK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK IN THE INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO ADDRESS IT AT THIS POINT, THE PARENTS HAVE BEEN VERY UNDERSTANDING.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU CARE FOR THE BABIES AFTER THEY ARE BORN AS WELL?

>> YES.

>> OKAY, WHAT KIND OF TESTING IS BEING DONE TO SEE IF THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE THE CORONAVIRUS AS WELL?

>> IF WE HAVE A NEWBORN THAT HAS TO BE TESTED, WE WILL TEST THEM TYPICALLY AT 24 HOURS, SOONER IF WE NEED TO, AND THEN WE WILL REPEAT THAT.

IT WILL BE THE DNA TESTING -- EXCUSE ME, THE TESTING FOR RNA.

>> WHAT'S THE FOLLOW-UP AFTER THAT FOR THE BABY AND MOTHER?

>> THE SAME PROTOCOL.

>> SO ARE WE SEEING MANY CASES WITH MOTHERS HAVING THE COVID-19 VIRUS?

>> FORTUNATELY, TO THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT HAD VERY MANY EXPERIENCES WITH THAT, WHERE WE'VE HAD TO EITHER RULE IT OUT OR ACTUALLY ADDRESS IT HEAD ON.

>> AND PRACTICES IN HOSPITALS I'M RESTING ASSURED ARE PREPARED FOR THAT JUST IN CASE?

>> EVERY HOSPITAL HAS A PLAN IN PLACE FOR IT, YES.

>> VERY GOOD, DR.

CAMERON.

WE WILL BE TALKING TO YOU MORE.

WE WILL BE FIELDING YOU AND I BOTH QUESTIONS FROM THE PHONE BANK.

IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S GO TO BRUCE WITH ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL GUEST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MARK, DR.

CAMERON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

WITH ME HERE ON THE SET IS DR.

TAMMY TOSCOS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES AT PARK VIEW HEALTH.

NEXT TO TAMMY IS OUR GOOD FRIEND DR.

DEB MCMAHAN, ALLEN COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

DEB, THE QUESTION YOU'RE ANTICIPATING, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

OUR CASES CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

WE'RE UP TO 416 CASES NOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY, 35 DEATHS, DUE TO COVID.

WE HAVE NOT PEAKED YET.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

THEY ARE REALLY PREDOMINANTLY ALMOST EQUAL MALE AND FEMALE.

66% HAPPEN IN THE WHITE POPULATION.

26% PLUS IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION.

THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

AGE IS PREDOMINANTLY IS 50 AND OVER AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE REMAINED PRETTY CONSISTENT OVER THE WHOLE SITUATION.

>> I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A FEW OF US WATCHING TONIGHT WHO FELT THAT THE EXPECTATION WOULD BE WE'D START TO SENSE A BEND OR WE WERE GIVEN -- OF COURSE THE ORGANISM WILL DO PERHAPS AT WHATEVER IT SO CHOOSES, BUT FROM YOUR SENSE, ARE WE THEN STILL THIS FAR AWAY FROM FLATTENING,?

THIS FAR AWAY?

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A WHILE BECAUSE THERE'S SO FEW PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY HAD THE INFECTION, ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 20 PERCENT OF YOUR POPULATION, DEPENDING ON THE STUDY YOU READ, HAVE BEEN INFECTED.

THERE'S STILL A STEADY STATE -- YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO ACHIEVE A STEADY STATE TO ME IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING EXPOSED AND BEING INFECTED.

I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE.

I THINK WHEN WE START LIFTING THE RESTRICTIONS, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE AN UP TICK IN CASES, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS STILL OUT THERE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AGAIN ARE THINKING THAT SOMEHOW THAT WE'VE SHELTERED IN PLACE AND THAT MADE THE VIRUS BURN OUT.

NO, THE VIRUS IS STILL THERE.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN OR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE OUR RISK, SO I'M AFRAID ONCE WE START LIFTING THE RESTRICTIONS, WE WILL SEE MORE CASES.

HOPEFULLY NOT MANY, THOUGH.

>> AND TAMMY, YOU WERE NODDING YOUR HEAD IN AGREEMENT, IN YOUR STUDIES, BRINGING YOUR SKILL SETS INTO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CORONAVIRUS, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FROM YOUR HEALTH SERVICES PERSPECTIVE, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN LEARNING SO FAR ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN TAKING?

>> WELL, WE STARTED A COMMUNITY-NEEDS SURVEY AT THE BEGIN OF THE EPIDEMIC, BEFORE WE WENT INTO SHELTERING, AND FROM THAT SURVEY, WE LEARNED THAT MUCH OF OUR COMMUNITY WOULD START TO STRUGGLE AFTER TWO TO FOUR WEEKS OF NOT RECEIVING A PAYCHECK.

SO WE USED THAT DATA AND WORKED WITH PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE THEN ABLE TO ORCHESTRATE HOW THEY WERE GOING TO USE THEIR RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE, AND NOW WE'RE LAUNCHING -- LAST NIGHT WE LAUNCHED ANOTHER SURVEY, AT THE SAME LINK, SO IF PEOPLE FILLED IT OUT BEFORE, WE WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO GO BACK AND FILL IT OUT AGAIN BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE IF PEOPLE -- PEOPLE'S NEEDS ARE BEING MET, AND IF THEY ARE BEING MET, HOW ARE THEY BEING MET, AND THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED BY PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS.

WE COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY, CITY OFFICIALS ALSO WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS AND HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, ALL CAME TOGETHER IN FORMING THE QUESTIONS FOR THE SURVEY.

>> AND WE'RE SEEING ALL OF THIS.

HOW CAN FOLKS ACCESS THAT SURVEY, COMPLETE IT AND BECOME A PART OF YOUR STUDY?

>> YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE ALLEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN GO TO THAT URL THAT'S ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW AND LOVE FOR YOU TO GO DO THAT RIGHT NOW, COVID SURVEY.

TAKE THAT.

IT'S ABOUT THREE MINUTES TO FILL IT OUT.

THAT INFORMATION IS ALL ANONYMOUS.

WE ARE SHARING IT WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY, AND OUR MAIN EMPHASIS IS TO FIND OUT IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE, KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON, HAVE THE MEDICINES THAT THEY NEED, THE CARE THAT THEY NEED, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYBODY SO PLEASE GO OUT AND TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE THAT.

>> YOUR TARGET IS FAMILIES, BUSINESSES?

YOUR TARGETS THEN ARE FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, OTHER?

>> OUR TARGETS ARE REALLY FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE SURVEY IS SET UP SO THAT YOU CAN EVEN COMPLETE IT FOR SOMEBODY WHO ISN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE IT FOR THEMSELVES.

I HAVE A MOTHER WHO IS 87, AND I COMPLETED THE SURVEY ON HER BEHALF BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET TO FILL THE SURVEY OUT.

>> UH-HUH.

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE THIS SURVEY.

THE FIRST SURVEY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO PEOPLE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO ACTUAL ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS THAT TAMMY WAS TALKING ABOUT.

WE KNOW THAT SHELTERING IN PLACE AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, YOUR MAYOR, YOUR PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS, YOUR BUSINESSES ALL WANT TO HELP GET THIS COMMUNITY BACK ON ITS FEET, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

SO WE NEED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS, SO WE NEED TO KNOW HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE THAT MONEY IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO HELP US GET BACK ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY?

UNLESS YOU FILL OUT THAT SURVEY, WE'RE ALL JUST GUESSING.

THE FIRST SURVEY WAS REALLY HELPFUL.

I THINK YOU WILL HEAR THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER TALK ABOUT THAT, HOW IT WAS HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST BE HEALTHY AND SAFE WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

NOW, WE WANT TO RECOVER.

NOW WE'RE IN PHASE TWO, LIVING WITH COVID.

NOW WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO FOR THE NEXT STEPS TO HELP YOU GET BACK TO NORMAL ECONOMICALLY?

>> UH-HUH.

YOU PROBABLY HAD SOME HYPOTHESES OF YOUR OWN YOU WERE TESTING GOING INTO THE FIRST SURVEY.

DID THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY VALIDATE OR ALTER SOME OF THE THOUGHTS YOU HAD GOING?

>> I THINK THAT GOING INTO THE SURVEY, WE MADE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHERE WE WOULD SEE ISSUES WITH ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE OR HAVING FINANCIAL SOLVENCY, BUT WHAT WE SAW WAS A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE ACROSS OUR AREA, JUST I THINK REALLY SURPRISED SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH ON JUST HOW WIDESPREAD THAT FINANCIAL SOLVENCY ISSUE WAS.

>> I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ECONOMICALLY FRAGILE.

I MEAN, TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WITHIN, YOU KNOW, ONE TO TWO PAYCHECKS OF REALLY HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS, THAT WAS KIND OF SURPRISING TO SEE, WHAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC FRAGILITY RELATIVE THEN TO OTHER MEDICAL FRAGILITY, SUCH AS, PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, CHRONIC CONDITIONS, FOLKS WHO ARE ON PRESCRIPTIONS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE FOUND THROUGH OUR SURVEY THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE MORE FINANCIALLY FRAGILE HAD GREATER NEEDS FOR MEDICATIONS.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ACCESSING MEDICATIONS, LIKE HYPERTENSION MEDICATIONS, MEDICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, AND SO THAT THAT WAS A BIG FINDINGS FROM OUR PRIOR SURVEY.

>> AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS KIND OF FIRST PERSON DATA, IF YOU WILL?

I MEAN GENERATED OUT BY ZIP CODE AND THINGS OF THAT ORDER OF MAGNITUDE WHEN YOU GET THE KIND OF REPORT BACK FROM TAMMY ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> SELFISHLY, IT LETS YOU KNOW IT IS SUCH A GREAT THING TO HAVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHERE TO PRIORITIZE THE FEW RESOURCES YOU HAVE.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ALL FOLKS BUT YOU CAN'T.

IF YOU HAVE $100, YOU WANT TO SPEND IT WISELY, BUT AGAIN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

SO I THINK WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF -- >> YES.

>> -- WHERE OUR COMMUNITY WAS RIGHT WHEN THIS STARTED AND NOW WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR COMPARISON.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF SURVEY.

WE WERE APPROACHED BY CLEVELAND CLINIC AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO SHARE OUR SURVEY QUESTIONS WITH THEM SO THAT THEY COULD REUSE THEM BECAUSE THAT ADDS STRENGTH TO FINDINGS, ACROSS THE STATES, BUT JUST TO TAP ON TO WHAT DR.

MCMAHAN SAID, SPENDING THAT $100, IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE COORDINATED, AND THE CITY IS COORDINATED BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THESE BUCKETS OF MONEY, AND WHAT'S BEEN SO WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS WE'VE HAD ALL THOSE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE HELPING US DESIGN THE SURVEY QUESTIONS SO THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THEY CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS IN AN ORCHESTRATED MANNER.

>> THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS SURVEY.

IT IS A AVAILABLE, JUST A FEW CLICKS AT THE ALLEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE LOOK FOR THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT ALL THANKS TO TAMMY.

WE WILL TALK TO JESSICA PATER LATER.

TAMMY TOSCOS IS THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AT PARK VIEW HEALTH.

DEB MCMAHAN WILL BE BACK AS WELL.

LET'S GO OVER TO WHERE JENNIFER BLOMQUIST IS SITTING TONIGHT AND SAY HI TO HER.

>> THANK YOU, BRUCE.

WITH ME A FACE -- GOSH, YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE SHOW I THINK EVERY WEEK SINCE WE STARTED.

IT IS OUR SIXTH WEEK.

>> SIXTH WEEK.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN HELPING AT THE PHONE BANK A LOT.

>> YES.

>> THIS IS DR.

RAVI RAJU, OBSTETRICIAN, GYNECOLOGIST WITH WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVANTAGE IN FORT WAYNE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US OUT AND ANSWERING PHONES.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FIRST QUESTION TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU WERE ON PHONES LAST WEEK, AND SOMEBODY CALLED TO ASK YOU ABOUT PREGNANCY AND COVID-19, AND YOU KIND OF WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THIS PERSON BROUGHT UP.

>> YES.

LAST WEEK DURING OUR PHONE DISCUSSION, I MENTIONED ABOUT A STUDY WHICH CAME OUT OF NEW YORK WHERE THE PREVALENCE OF COVID-19 IS DEFINITELY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN ALLEN COUNTY AND FORT WAYNE, AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY IS AMONG THE 215 PATIENTS THEY TESTED, FROM MARCH 22ND TO APRIL 4TH, THEY TESTED EVERYBODY WHO HAD A BABY DURING THAT TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OUT OF THAT, FROM SCREENING BY A TEMPERATURE QUESTIONNAIRE, ONLY FOUR SCREENED POSITIVE AND THE REST 211 WERE NEGATIVE.

BUT THEN THEY SHORTLY FOUND OUT THAT AMONG THE NEGATIVE SCREENED ONE, 29 WERE ACTUALLY POSITIVE ON THE NASAL SWAB.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> SO I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY THAT HEY, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NUMBER BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT, 29 OUT OF THE TOTAL 33 WHO WERE POSITIVE WERE TOTALLY ASYMPTOMATIC.

THAT MEANS CLOSE TO 87 TO 88 PERCENT ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

THAT'S WHERE OUR PUSH FOR THE LOCAL HOSPITALS WAS, TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE A UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS FOR THE NURSING STAFF AND THE OB DOCTOR AND ANY NEONATOLOGIST OR ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH A WOMAN WHO IS PUSHING, AND C-SECTION ESPECIALLY WITH GENERAL ANESTHESIA.

I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT EVERYBODY FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING.

>> SURE.

>> AND ALL THE PRECAUTIONS THEY NEED TO TAKE AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS WE'RE TAKING.

SOMEHOW THAT PERSON WHO SENT AN E-MAIL THOUGHT I WAS MAKING LIGHT OF THE STUDY WHICH ACTUALLY WE WERE USING THE STUDY TO CONVEY TO PEOPLE HEY, THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS.

ONE THERE A LOT OF ASYMPTOMATIC WOMEN WHO ARE HAVING BABIES SO WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND THE OTHER STAFF AND THE BABY, AND THE SECOND ONE IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE FLIP SIDE, MOST OF THE MOMS WERE COMING ASYMPTOMATIC, HEALTHY, HAVING A BABY AND GOING HOME.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THAT'S THE BRIGHT SIDE.

SO VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE REALLY GETTING BAD SYMPTOMS AND HAVING BAD OUTCOMES.

>> WHAT ARE THEY DOING AT THE LOCAL HOSPITALS?

I KNOW BEFORE THE SHOW YOU SAID THEY STILL ALLOW THE PARTNER, DAD, TO GO WITH THE WOMAN IN THE HOSPITAL, BUT ONCE THEY GO IN, I MEAN, ARE THEY SCREENED?

>> YES.

>> SO IN BOTH THE SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY PARK VIEW SYSTEM AND THE LUTHERAN SYSTEM, WE'RE TRYING TO SCREEN PATIENTS DURING THEIR PRENATAL VISITS.

WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE TESTING YET, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO SCREEN WITH SYMPTOMS.

IF THERE'S ANY SUSPICION, THEN WE WILL GET FURTHER CONFIRMATION TESTS.

THESE PATIENTS WERE NOT CLOSE TO THEIR DELIVERY TIME ARE EASIER FOR US TO SCREEN AND GET TESTED SO WE WILL HAVE MORE INFO BEFORE THEY GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> OKAY.

>> ONCE THEY GET TO THE HOSPITAL, USUALLY IF THEY'RE KNOWN OR SUSPECTED COVID-19 POSITIVE, OR PERSON UNDER INVESTIGATION, THEY HAVE A PROTOCOL.

THEY COME TO A SEPARATE DOOR.

THERE'S ONE NURSE WHO GOES IN, BRINGS THEM BACK TO THE ROOM, AND THERE'S USUALLY ONE SUPPORT PERSON BECAUSE DELIVERY IS STILL A FAMILY EVENT.

>> YEAH.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT OUT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE STILL HAVE ONE SUPPORT PERSON COMING AND SPENDING ALL THE TIME WITH THE MOM UNTIL THE MOM AND THE BABY GO HOME.

>> IT'S GOT TO BE SCARY FOR THE -- I MEAN, YOU'RE STILL SEEING PATIENTS BECAUSE THAT'S ESSENTIAL DURING PREGNANCY, BUT ARE A LOT OF THEM REALLY NERVOUS?

WHAT'S VIBES ARE YOU GETTING?

>> YES, AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME PATIENTS WHO WANTED TO TALK TO US ON THE PHONE ON VIRTUAL VISITS, ESPECIALLY MOMS WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD BABIES BEFORE, AND THEY FEEL THE BABY MOVE.

THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO STAY HOME AND DISCUSS WITH US ON THE PHONE OR THE COMPUTER.

OTHERS WE HAVE TAKEN PRETTY MUCH AS MUCH PRECAUTIONS AS WE CAN, LIKE THE PATIENT ACTUALLY CHECKS IN ON-LINE AND SHE SITS IN THE CAR, AND WHEN MY NURSE IS READY, WE CALL HER, AND SHE WALKS IN.

>> OKAY.

>> WE TAKE HER TO THE ROOM, TAKE CARE OF HER, AND WE ALL HAVE MASKS, AND THE ROOMS WITH CLEANED FEW TIMES A DAY, TOTALLY, AND AS SOON AS SHE'S DONE, SHE WALKS BACK, AND WE CALL AND GIVE HER THE APPOINTMENT TIME, SO OUR CONTACT TIME WITH ANY PERSON OUTSIDE INCLUDING OUR OFFICE IS MINIMAL F >> YEAH.

>> MOST OF US ARE NOT TRYING TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AND COMING BACK TO THE OFFICE.

IF YOU ARE ON CALL, YOU ARE STAYING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THE DOCTOR WHO IS IN THE OFFICE IS STAYING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE OFFICE.

>> ONE THING I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT UNTIL YOU BROUGHT IT UP IN OUR DISCUSSION BEFORE THE SHOW, CAN MOMS BREAST FEED?

I MEAN IF THEY DON'T TEST POSITIVE, IS IT OKAY?

>> AGAIN, THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S STILL BABY AND THE MOM, WE WANT THEM TO BOND AND HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE RIGHT AWAY.

BUT IF THEY'RE COVID-19 POSITIVE OR SUSPECTED, THEN IT'S UP TO THE MOM AND DISCUSSION WITH THEIR OB DOCTOR AND THE PEDS DOCTOR TO SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

IF POSSIBLE, SEE IF THEY CAN PUMP AND SOMEBODY ELSE HEALTHY BREAST FEED THE BABY.

IF THE MOM STILL WANTS TO BREAST FEED, WE HAVE PRECAUTIONS AND PROTOCOL WHERE SHE CLEANS THE BREAST AND HANDS AND BREAST FEEDS AND THEN THE BABY IS PUT IN ISOLATION RIGHT AFTER THAT TO KEEP AS MUCH AS SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF GETTING COVID-19 TO THE BABY.

>> STRANGE WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN THESE DAYS.

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR.

RAJU.

SO NICE TO WORK WITH YOU EVERY WEEK.

I'M GOING TO TOSS IT OVER TO MARK.

MARK, YOU HAVE SO MANY FOLKS ON THE PHONE BANK.

DR.

RAJU PROBABLY FEELS OUT OF PLACE.

>> HE PROBABLY DOES.

HE'S BEEN WITH OUR PHONE BANK AND WITH ME FOR THE LAST SIX WEEKS.

AND WE HAVE OF COURSE DR.

JAMES CAMERON, A NEONATOLOGIST WHO WORKS WITH BABIES.

THE NUMBER IS ON YOUR SCREEN.

ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL CALL IN AND GET THOSE ANSWERS TONIGHT.

WE HAVE MANY QUALIFIED PEOPLE AT OUR PHONE BANK.

DR.

CAMERON, WE DID HAVE A QUESTION IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.

A MOTHER WHO HAS A TODDLER IS ASKING ABOUT MASKS IN INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

YES OR NO?

>> SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE MASKS ARE ONLY USED FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE OVER 2 YEARS OF AGE, SO THE BABIES UP TO 2 YEARS SHOULD NOT BE WEARING A MASK.

>> OKAY.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

WHAT OTHER PRECAUTIONS CAN WE TAKE FOR THEM?

>> WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE MASK IN GENERAL AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT THIS ON THE FACE, IT BECOMES A HAZARD FOR THE BABY.

IT'S A RISK OF STRANGULATION, RISK OF SUFFOCATION.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE THE MASKS ON, YOUNG CHILDREN INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

AS THEY GET OLDER, THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

THE BEST WAY IS DOING THE EXTREME OF SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THE BABY.

NUMBER ONE, THEY SHOULDN'T BE OUT WITH THE CHILD ANYWAYS.

BUT IF YOU ARE AT THE GROCERY STORE, IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO PICK UP SOME NECESSARY SUPPLIES, AVOID THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN BIG GROUPS.

DON'T LET THE PEOPLE COME UP AND SAY THAT'S A REALLY CUTE BABY.

THEY ARE ALL GOING TO DO IT ANYWAYS.

>> I HAVE SEEN SOME MOTHERS WITH THE BABY CARRIERS ACTUALLY HAVE A DRAPE OVER THEM.

YOU KNOW THERE'S A BABY IN THERE.

IS THAT A HELPFUL THING?

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING INTO THE SUMMER PRETTY SOON SO I'M NOT SURE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BE USED.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

ANOTHER QUESTION THAT JUST CAME IN FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, THOSE WHO ARE SICKLY, OVER THE AGE OF 60, SO ON AND SO FORTH, ONCE THE STAY AT HOME ORDER HAS BEEN LIFTED, WHAT PRACTICES THAT THEY'RE DOING NOW SHOULD THEY CONTINUE?

>> SO WE'RE GOING INTO SORT OF HOPEFULLY THIS POST PEAK PERIOD SOON, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP THOSE, WE HAVE USED THOSE SOCIAL DISTANCING TO DECREASE THE SPREAD.

PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE WILL PROBABLY WANT TO STAY AT HOME TO THE EXTENT THEY CAN, GOING OUT WHEN NECESSARY, NOT HAVING GET TOGETHERS.

THEY WILL WANT TO BE TOGETHER WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT AS THE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE OUT, YOUNG BEING 40 YEARS OLD, 50 YEARS OLD, THEY'RE GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE ASYMPTOMATIC, AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THERE ARE A LARGE PORTION OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE SHOWING NO SYMPTOMS.

YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT SOMEONE MIGHT STILL HAVE THE VIRUS AND STILL BE ABLE TO SPREAD TO IT THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

THEY SHOULD STAY AT HOME WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE.

THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE MAKING SURE TO WASH THEIR HANDS, GOOD HAND WASHING IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY.

>> OF COURSE.

>> TALK ABOUT THE FACE MASKS, THE CLOTH FACIAL COVERINGS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT NOT NECESSARILY TO PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING SICK BUT TO HELP YOU FROM SPREADING IT IF YOU ARE ASYMPTOMATIC OR IF YOU'RE SICK AND GOING TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL GATHER MORE QUESTIONS AND COME BACK TO YOU.

A COUPLE OF DIGNITARIES ARE WITH BRUCE HAINES.

>> IT'S IMPROVED MY POSTURE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO WELCOME THE MAYOR TOM HENRY AND ALLEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER NELSON PETERS.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS, AGENCIES, NEIGHBORS, CITY AND COUNTY COME TOGETHER, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO COME TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE DURING A PANDEMIC?

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE COLLABORATE FAIRLY WELL ON A ROUTINE BASIS, AND IT DOESN'T REALLY TAKE A PANDEMIC FOR US TO COME TOGETHER DO THAT.

BUT I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO DO THAT AND THAT WE ALLOW FOR SOME GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE.

EARLY ON THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS CAME TOGETHER AND SAID LOOK, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT COMPLETE ANARCHY IN THE COUNTY, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS THE COMMON GOAL, AND THAT IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT THE CITIZENS OF FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY ARE FACING.

>> TOM?

>> I THINK NELSON IS CORRECT.

WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS, EVER SINCE BOTH OF US TOOK OFFICE.

AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT NOW OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS TAKEN A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT OUR CITIZENS REALIZE THAT BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO BE TRANSPARENT.

WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO INVOLVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN A LOT OF OUR DECISION MAKING, THAT SITTING DOWN AND CALLING TOGETHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO CREATE TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE NOW SURFACED AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, IT WAS PRETTY EASY.

MOST PEOPLE ACCEPTED THE REQUEST READILY.

THEY WANTED TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY KNEW WE WERE SINCERE ABOUT THE REQUEST.

AND THE AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT BY THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

>> I KNOW THAT JUST SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN WITH A TRASHCAN, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE CARD THAT SAYS JUST STICK TO THE CONTAINERS, YOU KNOW, AND AS SOMETHING TO MAKE THAT ASPECT OF LIFE RUN EASIER.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHILE YOU THINK OF AN EXAMPLE, THAT WAS FROM A COUNTY STANDPOINT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE FINDING YOU'RE NEEDING TO BRING TO THE FORE NOW OR ALTER IN SOME WAY BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS IN >> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A BIG CHANGE IN SERVICES.

>> OKAY >> THERE'S A BIG CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE SERVICES, IN TERMS OF PERMITTING, BUILDING PERMITTING.

>> OKAY.

>> BASICALLY PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING INTO THE OFFICE NOW.

THEY'VE LEARNED THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PROCURE BUILDING PERMITTING THROUGH AN ON-LINE APPLICATION.

A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE WITH ONE ANOTHER OR WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE ARE HAPPENING THROUGH VARIOUS VIDEO PLATFORMS, SO THE SERVICES AREN'T REALLY CHANGING IN AND OF THEMSELVES OR THE PROVISION THEREOF, JUST THE WAY THAT WE'RE GETTING THEM OUT.

>> AGAIN, NELSON'S RIGHT.

THE UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME SUCH A TOOL NOW IN THE WHOLE COMMUNICATION EFFORT.

BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED, THE CITY AND COUNTY BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED.

THAT I THINK PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A PANIC SITUATION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE, BUT ONCE THEY FOUND OUTs THAT WE WERE ALL EASILY ACCESSIBLE -- ONCE THEY FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE ALL EASILY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, NOW IT'S BECOME ALMOST A WAY OF LIFE.

IN FACT WE WERE TALKING PRIOR TO THE SHOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN WHEN THINGS BEGIN TO GET BACK TO A NEW NORMAL, IF YOU WILL, I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THE NEW UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA WON'T STICK AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL NOW BE ZOOMING AND THEY WILL NOW BE DOING OTHER TYPES OF FACEBOOKING AND SO ON AS A PART OF THEIR REGULAR COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND THE COMMUNICATION WITH GOVERNMENT.

>> AND SO AS CLOSE BECOMES KIND OF OPEN, PARTIALLY OPEN, ON THE WAY TO PERHAPS BEING TOTALLY OPEN WITH SOME OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS, WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND AS FAR AS SOME OF THE JOYS AND CONCERNS RELATED THAT?

WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DO THAT ON A VERY MEASURED APPROACH.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR AND SOME OF THE MIDWEST GOVERNORS ARE LOOKING AT A PLAN THAT TALKS ABOUT NOT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN AS MUCH AS HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN.

SO SOME OF THOSE JOYS AND CONCERNS MAY INCLUDE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS INTERNALLY.

DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR THE EMPLOYEES?

HAVE WE SET UP THE APPROPRIATE BARRIERS FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO THE BUILDING?

ARE WE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MOVING TOWARDS A NEW NORMAL SERVICES IN THE WAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE FORMERLY BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO.

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING TODAY THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE 6 MILLION PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, OF PPE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WHEN BEFORE IT WAS 2 TO 3 MILLION.

SO I THINK -- I THINK WHAT HE IS TELLING US IS AS OUR BUSINESSES OPEN UP, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT.

I NOTICED NOW THAT IN SOME STATES THE SMALLER BUSINESSES, BARBERSHOPS, HAIR SALONS, TATTOO PARLORS, AND OTHER PLACES ARE BEGINNING TO OPEN UP, BUT IN EVERY CASE, THEY ARE REQUIRING PPE UTILIZATION, SO YOUR BARBER IN THE FUTURE MAY VERY WELL BE WEARING A MASK AND GLOVES OR A HAIRSTYLIST.

I THINK WE WILL BE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THAT, AS A WAY OF LIFE FOR UNFORTUNATELY I THINK QUITE A FEW MONTHS TO COME.

THE BIGGEST FEAR RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE GO TOO QUICKLY INTO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE THINK IS NORMAL, AND WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS A SPIKE BECAUSE IF IT SPIKES, AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED FOR IT, IT COULD BE WORSE THAN IT IS NOW.

>> AND YOU'RE NODDING IN AGREEMENT.

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, NELSON?

>> WELL, IT JUST GOES BACK TO THE MEASURED APPROACH THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

I THINK IF, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPEN, IT ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEASURE THE RESULTS FROM THAT MOVEMENT, AND IF THE RESULTS ARE SUCH THAT MAYBE WE'VE GONE TOO FAR, IT IS A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO PULL BACK A PIECE OF THAT HAVING MOVED FORWARD THAN MOVING EVERYTHING FORWARD AT ONCE, SO AGAIN, IT BECOMES A QUESTION OF NOT WHEN WE GET BACK, BUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

>> YEAH.

LET ME ASK YOU VERY QUICKLY.

WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE CITY.

WE HAVE AN ACTIVE COUNTY.

WE HAVE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WITH ACTIVE CITIES.

WHAT DO YOUR COLLEAGUES SHARE?

WHAT DO YOU FIND AS A REGIONAL CITY, A REGIONAL FORCE, YOU KNOW?

ARE WE ALL GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN TOGETHER?

IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING AGAIN THAT GETS MEASURED AND PHASED IN?

NELSON, I WILL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A GREAT REGIONAL COOPERATIVE EFFORT HERE IN NORTHEAST INDIANA.

THE MAYOR AND I ARE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE NORTHEAST INDIANA REGIONAL MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS CAUCUS.

AND WE COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THINGS JUST LIKE THIS.

I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IS PRETTY MUCH IN AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE GOT TO SORT OF SIT BACK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM THE STATE LEVEL, SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTS HAPPENS AND THEN SORT OF REACT ACCORDINGLY.

>> TOM, YOU GET THE LAST WORD.

>> TO THE GOVERNOR'S CREDIT, HE HAS A STAFF DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH ALMOST NOBODY BUT MAYORS.

THEY CALL US ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND ONE THAT WORKS WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SO THE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE, AND I THINK IT IS WORKING.

AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE EARLIER SEGMENT, FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY ARE BECOMING REAL WELL KNOWN IN THIS STATE FOR AN AREA THAT'S AHEAD OF THE GAME.

THAT'S A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN.

>> MINE IS THE POSITION SITTING NEXT TO TWO GENTLEMEN WITH A LOT OF LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE, WHICH WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALLEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER NELSON PETERS, FORT WAYNE MAYOR TOM HENRY, GENTLEMEN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

CONTINUED GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S GO TO JENNIFER NOW.

>> THANK YOU, BRUCE.

ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE WITH ME TONIGHT IS DR.

JAY FAWVER.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU EVERY WEEK.

I REALLY ENJOY THIS SEGMENT AND ALL OF YOUR ADVICE.

OF COURSE HE'S A PSYCHIATRIST HERE IN FORT WAYNE.

ONE THING YOU WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS SLEEP.

NOW, I'M SLEEPING BETTER.

I SEE ALL THESE THINGS ON TV.

PEOPLE ARE UPSET, NERVOUS, NOT SLEEPING WELL.

I'M SLEEPING MORE SOUNDLY BECAUSE I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO GET UP AT LIKE 5 A.M.

AND MAKE SIX LUNCHES AND DASH OUT THE DOOR.

>> ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

I'M HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING BETTER SLEEP, AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GETTING MORE SLEEP NOW, BUT REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN THOSE GOOD HABITS LATER ON BECAUSE -- >> YEAH.

>> LET'S SAY YOU ARE GETTING AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP NOW.

AND YOU FEEL BETTER.

>> YEAH.

>> MAYBE YOU SHOULD DO THAT IN THE FUTURE TOO.

AND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO GET TO SLEEP EARLIER?

YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO MAYBE TURN OFF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

YOU NEED TO START WINDING DOWN EARLIER AND TRY TO GET THAT EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE SLEEP NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED TO GET UP AS EARLY PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING FROM HOME SO THEY DON'T NEED TO MAKE THE DRIVE TO WORK.

>> AND DON'T NEED TO REALLY LOOK GREAT UNLESS YOU ARE DOING A ZOOM I GUESS.

AT LEAST FROM THE WAIST UP YOU NEED TO LOOK DECENT.

>> THERE'S WAYS YOU CAN GET MORE SLEEP NOW.

I'M NOTICING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY'RE REMEMBERING THEIR DREAMS MORE.

AS YOU SLEEP LONGER, YOU THE END TO HAVE A LONGER DREAM PHASE.

YOU REMEMBER IT WHEN YOU WAKEN DURING THE DREAM PHASE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED DON'T DREAM AS MUCH AS.

NOW THEY ARE DREAMING MORE AND THEY ACTUALLY KIND OF LIKE IT.

>> IT IS NICE, A SLOWER PACE FOR EVERYBODY, IT WAS UNEXPECTED.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, I WORRY ABOUT TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THAT SCHEDULE.

YOU KNOW, THE KIDS -- EVEN MY NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET, THEY ARE ALWAYS LIGHTS OUT AT 9:00.

LAST NIGHT THEY WERE UP TILL LIKE 11:00.

I COULD SEE THE LIGHTS ON.

I THINK EVERYONE'S KIND OF FALLING INTO THAT SUMMER VACATION MODE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO -- BUT WE'RE GOING INTO SUMMER VACATION ANYWAY.

>> YEAH, WE ARE.

AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE FROM A WORK STANDPOINT, WE'RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> YEAH.

>> SO YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER ON THE FRONT END OF THIS, WHERE WE'RE GETTING MORE STAY AT HOME ORDERS, AND WE'RE SHELTERING AT HOME, THAT WAS A STRESS FOR US, AND A STRESS IS A CHANGE.

>> YEAH.

>> NOW AS WE START GOING BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, ON A MORE ROUTINE BASIS, THAT WILL BE A CHANGE TOO.

THAT'S A STRESS.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MODULATE THAT STRESS AND BE ABLE TO TOLERATE IT AND GET BACK TO OUR USUAL ROUTINE, BUT REMEMBER THE GOOD HABITS THAT YOU DEVELOPED WHILE YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS SHELTER AT HOME.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, I THINK.

>> YEAH.

>> WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE NEW NORMAL.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

I DON'T THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THAT LOOKS LIKE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK FOR SOME FOLKS, IT MAY BE A LITTLE NERVE-WRACKING OR SCARY BECAUSE IT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CLEAR PICTURE.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> AS YOU HEARD FROM MAYOR HENRY AND COMMISSIONER PERIO ER PETER, WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

I'M EXCITED ANN IT BECAUSE I LOVE THE INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY THAT'S COMING OUT OF THIS, FOR INSTANCE, VIRTUAL HEALTH IN MEDICINE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO TALK TO PATIENTS ON THEIR SMART PHONES OR TABLETS, THAT'S MADE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON ACCESS AND REVOLUTIONIZING HOW WE DELIVER HEALTHCARE BECAUSE WE CAN TALK TO PEOPLE FACE-TO-FACE ON THEIR SMART PHONES AND DEVICES.

WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DO THAT BEFORE.

PEOPLE SAY WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT BEFORE?

WELL, THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED A LOT OF THESE RESTRICTIONS AS OF MARCH 6TH.

WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT NOW.

MY HOPE AND EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO DO SO.

PATIENTS LOVE IT.

THEY ARE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO TAKE A HALF DAY OFF WORK TO GO SEE THEIR DOCTOR.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE TO MY OFFICE, DON'T HAVE TO SIT IN MY LOBBY.

I CAN TALK TO THEM.

IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, WE HAVE GONE OVER DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE TIME SPENT AND THE OUTCOME.

IT IS WORKING OUT REALLY WELL.

>> I DID ONE THIS WEEK WITH MY SON.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO SEE A DOCTOR.

WE HAVE SEEN HER BEFORE.

THIS WAS KIND OF A FOLLOW-UP.

I WAS A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT IT, AND IT WENT GREAT.

I COULD TELL MY SON WASN'T AS NERVOUS.

HE WAVED TO HER A COUPLE TIMES.

AS LONG AS HE'S NOT GETTING A SHOT, HE'S FINE.

>> SEEING THE PATIENT'S MANNERISMS AND BEHAVIORS, YOU FEEL SO MUCH MORE CONNECTED WHEN YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY FACE-TO-FACE AS OPPOSED TO TO JUST TALKING THEM ON THE PHONE.

THIS IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT GOES DOWN THE ROAD.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF IT CONTINUES FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEFORE APRIL TENDS TO BE A MONTH WHERE WE SEE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SUICIDES >> APRIL, SOMETHING WAS JUST RELEASED TALKING ABOUT MAY BEING A HIGH RISK FOR SUICIDE.

IF YOU SLEEP POORLY, YOU ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6:00 A.M.

IT IS DARK, THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE AROUND, YOU ARE ALONE.

WHEN YOU ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED, YOU TEND TO LOSE REASON.

ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE IS BECAUSE THEY LOSE REASONING AND THEY LOSE LOGIC, SO IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP, DURING THOSE DARK DISMAL HOURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THAT'S WHEN YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SLEEPING ARE AT A THREE TIMES HIGHER RISK, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE MONTH OF APRIL AND PERHAPS THE MONTH OF MAY, IF YOU DO ANALYSIS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS OF PEOPLE COMMITTING SUICIDE, IT WAS MAY THAT PUT THEM AT HIGH RISK.

WE NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON PEOPLE.

THIS IS WHY IN MY FIELD IN PSYCHIATRY, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE IN TELEMEDICINE AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO SEE US.

>> IT IS NICE THEY CAN STILL HAVE CONTACT WITH YOU.

JAY HAS HIS SHOW ON MONDAY NIGHTS.

IT'S BEEN CALLED MATTERS OF THE MIND, BUT NOW IT IS A MENTAL HEALTH ROUNDTABLE DURING THIS CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.

IT IS MONDAY AT 7:30.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE A BUNCH OF GUESTS WITH YOU.

>> YES, A COUPLE GUESTS WITH ME, THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

>> SUPER.

CATCH THAT ON MONDAY AT #:30.

-- 7:30.

I'M GOING TO TOSS IT BACK TO MARK.

>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

I CAN SAY OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

EVEN IF IT IS A QUESTION YOU DON'T THINK THEY CAN ANSWER, WE CAN FIND THE RESOURCE FOR YOU.

THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN 866-969-2721.

DR.

JAMES CAMERON IS WITH ME TONIGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN FIELDING CALLS FROM OUR PHONE BANK.

WHERE DO I START?

HOW ABOUT THIS ONE, THIS IS FROM ANN BY THE WAY.

IN THE NEWS IS INFORMATION ABOUT NURSES AT VETERANS HOSPITALS PROTESTING OUTSIDE HOSPITALS FOR THE LACK OF THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AKA PPE.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN DIRECT QUESTIONS OF HOW TO GET HOME MADE MASKS TO THESE HEALTHCARE WORKERS OR FIND OUT OF HOME MADE MASKS OR SOMETHING THEY ARE ALLOWED TO USE?

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS QUESTION.

>> SURE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH VETERANS ADMINISTRATION.

IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE HEALTH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE NOBODY WAS PLANNING ON HAVING TO BURN THROUGH THIS MUCH PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, THE MASKS ESPECIALLY OVER THE COURSE OF AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

IN THE PAST WHEN YOU NEEDED SOME MASKS, YOU ORDERS MORE.

RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT HOSPITALS THAT ARE COMPETING WITH STATES THAT ARE COMPETING WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, AND SO IT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM.

BUT FROM THE HOME MADE MASK ASSISTANT EVER -- HOME MADE MASK STANDPOINT, IF YOU WANT TO DONATE THOSE, REACH OUT TO EACH HOSPITAL DIRECTLY.

IT IS NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE FOR THE HOME MADE MASKS TO BE USED ON THE FRONT LINE.

THEY NEED TO HAVE A MEDICAL GRADE MASK OR N 95 THE ONES THAT ARE ABLE TO FILTER OUT THE VIRUS PARTICLE, BUT THE MASKS ARE ABLE TO BE USED IN SOME OTHER AREAS.

>> THOSE TYPES OF MASKS THAT THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE WEARING, HOW DO THEY DIFFER?

MORE FILTERING DEVICES, THE MATERIAL, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THOSE?

>> THE MATERIAL THAT'S USED FOR THEM IS QUITE DIFFERENT.

THE N 95s WILL FILTER OUT MUCH SMALLER PARTICLE THAN WHAT THE REGULAR SURGICAL MASK WILL AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN THE CLOTH FACED COVERING WILL FILTER OUT.

THE N 95s FIT VERY TIGHTLY ACROSS THE FACE.

IT IS MEANT SO ALL THE AIR THAT GOES INTO THE MOUTH AND THE NOSE IS FILTERED THROUGH THE MASK AS OPPOSED TO COMING FROM THE SIDES AS YOU COULD IMAGINE COULD HAPPEN WITH THESE.

>> HERE COMES ANOTHER QUESTION.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

JIM SAID THAT HE IS SEEING GROCERY CARTS SANITIZERS AT LOCAL SUPERMARKETS AND BIG BOX STORES.

PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE THE SPRAY BOTTLES AND THE PAPER TOWELS.

>> SURE.

>> IS THAT REALLY DOING ANY GOOD?

IS THAT MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

>> I WOULD SAY YES.

WE KNOW THE VIRUS WILL LIVE ON SURFACES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE'S BEEN REPORTS OF IT UP TO THREE HOURS.

IT DEPENDS ON THE SURFACE THAT IT'S BEING SPREAD TO, AND THE METALS WE KNOW IT IS LASTING ON THE SURFACES FOR QUITE A FEW HOURS.

>> THAT'S NOT A FREE TICKET TO GO BACK TO YOUR CAR AFTER YOU SHOP AND PUT YOUR HAND ON YOUR FACE OR WHATEVER.

YOU STILL NEED TO FOLLOW PRECAUTIONS.

>> RIGHT.

THESE GROCERY STORES ALSO HAVE HAND SANITIZER AVAILABLE, SO YOU WILL WANT TO USE THAT.

I WOULD HAVE SOME IN YOUR CAR SO WHEN YOU GET INTO THE CAR, AFTER YOU OPEN THE DOOR, YOU CLEAN YOUR HANDS OFF BEFORE YOU TOUCH YOUR STEERING WHEEL.

>> THAT'S WHAT I DO.

GOOD ADVICE.

THANK YOU, DR.

CAMERON.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK OVER TO OUR HEALTH LINE SET WITH GENERAL FOR BLOMQUIST.

>> THANK YOU, MARK.

-- WITH JENNIFER BLOMQUIST.

>> THANK YOU, MARK.

THIS IS DR.

TRENT TOWNE, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHARMACY PRACTICE WITH MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF PHARMACY.

YOU KNOW THE WHOLE SCENE ABOUT ALL THESE MEDICATIONS AND WHY DON'T WE START WITH THE ONE -- AND YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THIS PROGRAM BEFORE, AND NOW WE'RE HEARING CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT IT, THE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THE SUPER DRUG.

>> IT KIND OF CAME OUT, AND THERE WAS A NUMBER OF STUDIES.

WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING NEW STUDIES TO COME OUT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STUDIES PUBLISHED OF THE UNITED STATES PATIENTS.

IT WAS DONE IN THE VETERANS HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

IT'S RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES.

RETROSPECTIVE BASICALLY MEANS THAT IT WASN'T -- DIDN'T INVOLVE AN INTERVENTION THAT THE DOCTORS DID OR THE RESEARCHERS DID, BUT WE LOOK BACK AT THEIR RESULTS.

>> OKAY.

>> SO IT'S MOSTLY ALL MALE PATIENTS BECAUSE IT'S A VETERANS HOSPITAL, OLDER PATIENTS.

70% WERE ACTUALLY BLACK WHICH WE'RE FINDING IS, YOU KNOW, AMONG THE BLACK POPULATION WE'RE SEEING VERY SEVERE DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.

SO THEY LOOKED AT THIS, AND THEY LOOKED AT PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE WITH STANDARD OF CARE, HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE WITH AZITHROMYCIN AND STANDARD OF CARE AND PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED STANDARD OF CARE ALONE.

THE PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE DIED AT A RATE OF ALMOST TWO TIMES THAT OF PATIENTS THAT RECEIVED JUST SIMPLY STANDARD OF CARE WHICH IT'S LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

IT SOUNDS A LITTLE CRAZY.

YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE STUDY DESIGN.

IT WAS A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

IF WE THINK ABOUT IT, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THERAPIES THAT WE THINK MIGHT WORK TO OUR SICKEST PATIENTS.

IF WE LOOK BACK IN THAT STUDY, THE BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, THEY WERE A SICKER BUNCH.

THE RESEARCHERS TRIED TO CONTROL FOR THAT.

THEY WENT BACK AND KIND OF CONTROLLED SOME VARIABLES IN THE STUDY, AND GUESS WHAT THEY STILL FOUND?

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE STILL HAD A HIGHER RATE OF DEATH.

>> WOW.

>> SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE USE DECREASE AS A RESULT OF THE STUDY, NOT A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TOSS SOME WATER ON THE FIRE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, I THINK.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER DRUG WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT.

YOU REFER TO THIS VIRUS AS A BEAST, UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN.

AND I THINK PEOPLE AT HOME ARE JUST THINKING WELL, COME ON, ALL THESE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE DOING THIS RESEARCH, CAN'T WE COME UP WITH SOMETHING?

BUT CAN YOU GET ACROSS THE MESSAGE THAT THIS IS LIKE YOU SAID UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE EVER SEEN?

>> I USED TO TELL MY STUDENTS IN CLASS, THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THE WORST I THINK OF THAT YOU CAN GET IS A PULMONARY INFECTION IS INFLUENZA.

GET YOUR VACCINES.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO GET ALL YOUR VACCINES WHETHER IT'S PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE OR INFLUENZA VACCINE, BUT THEN THIS THING CAME ALONG, AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST CAUSES A SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE THAT'S MAGNITUDES ABOVE INFLUENZA.

IT LASTS SO LONG.

PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.

IT'S SCARY.

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE DO HAVE THAT SCARE -- I CAN TELL YOU FROM HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WE LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, WOW.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S JUST SHOCKED EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THE VIDEOS, THE VIDEO ON TV OF SOMEBODY STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.

IT IS FRIGHTENING TO SEE THAT.

THERE'S ANOTHER DRUG YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

REMDESIVIR, FORGIVE ME IF I DIDN'T PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY.

IT'S AN ANTI-VIRAL DRUG?

>> IT IS AN ANTI-VIRAL DRUG.

IT IS EXPERIMENTAL.

IT IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED.

I THINK THERE'S SEVEN STUDIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT ARE ONGOING.

THERE WAS A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ON THE COMPASSIONATE USE.

WE TALKED ABOUT COMPASSIONATE USE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TOO.

IT IS PREAPPROVAL OF THE DRUG, VULNERABLE POPULATION, NOT REALLY SPECIFICALLY FOR A STUDY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT HAD SOME REAL SPLASHY RESULTS BECAUSE IT SAID 70% OF PATIENTS EXPERIENCED CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT.

>> OKAY.

>> NOW NOT A CONTROLLED TRIAL.

>> SURE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY PICKED THE PATIENTS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO INCLUDE, SO SLIGHTLY OPTIMISTIC.

>> I KNOW ONE OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GAVE ME, IT JUST SAID YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY ARE TREATING A COVID-19 PATIENT, IT IS LIKE A RACE AGAINST TIME.

SO THEY TEND TO GIVE PEOPLE WHATEVER THEY THINK IS GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO DETERIORATE LESS QUICKLY.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER INTERESTING THINGS WE'RE SEEING WITH THESE TRIALS IS IT MAY NOT BE JUST ABOUT THE DRUG WE CHOOSE.

>> OKAY.

>> IT MAY BE ABOUT WHEN WE IMPLEMENT THAT DRUG.

DO WE GIVE IT TO YOU ONCE YOU'RE GETTING REALLY SICK?

OR DO WE GIVE IT TO YOU WHEN WE FIRST SUSPECT THAT YOU'RE SICK?

THAT'S HOW WE USUALLY TREAT A LOT OF INFECTIONS.

AS SOON AS YOU ARE SICK, WE GIVE YOU AN ANTIBIOTICS, GIVE YOU AN ANTI-VIRAL.

>> USUALLY RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING.

>> WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT ON THIS, UNTIL WE'RE GETTING HINTS THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO GIVE IT TO YOU BEFORE YOU GET TO THE SYNDROME THAT MAY REQUIRE VENTILATOR, HOSPITALLIZATION IN THE ICU.

>> FOLKS ARE WATCHING, AND IF THEY KNOW SOMEBODY OR HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE TO COME DOWN WITH THIS, IS THIS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD ASK THE TREATING PHYSICIAN ABOUT?

>> THE PROBLEM IS IT IS STILL EXPERIMENTAL.

>> IT'S REALLY NOT AVAILABLE.

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE FACILITY AND THE STUDIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THAT FACILITY.

NOT EVERY FACILITY AND CERTAINLY RELATIVELY FEW NUMBER OF FACILITIES RIGHT NOW ARE PART OF THE TRIALS THAT ARE ENROLLING PATIENTS INTO THIS.

NOW HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME EARLY DATA HERE IN ABOUT A WEEK.

>> OKAY.

>> THEN SOME MORE DATA IN MAY.

THESE ARE PHASE THREE TRIALS.

TRIALS THAT ARE ONGOING RIGHT BEFORE A DRUG IS USUALLY APPROVED BY THE FDA.

CROSS YOUR FINGERS, IF IT GETS APPROVED, THEN IN THEORY IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REALLY ANYONE IN ANY HOSPITAL.

BUT THAT WOULD TAKE APPROVAL.

>> YEAH.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> A VERY LONG ROAD.

>> UNFORTUNATELY.

AND GOOD THING TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN COME BACK AND TELL US EVERY WEEK MORE INFORMATION.

VERY HELPFUL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR.

TRENT TOWNE.

OVER TO BRUCE NOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JOINED HERE NOW BY JESSICA PATER.

A BEHAVIORAL AND DIGITAL HEALTH RESEARCH SCIENTIST.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HER FROM A PRIOR SHOW.

SHE IS OUT OF PARK VIEW HEALTH SITTING NEXT TO ALLEN COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSIONER DEB MCMAHAN.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, IF YOU JOINED AS THEY SAY IN PROGRESS, YOU MAY HAVE MISSED TAMMY'S INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> THIS WAS ONE LAUNCHED LAST MONTH.

VOLUME TWO IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT NOW, YES, SIR.

>> AND YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS ALREADY.

>> YEAH, WE'VE HAD 58 NEW SURVEYS COME IN AS OF TAMMY'S APPEARANCE EARLIER, SO PEOPLE ARE HEARING THE CALL AND LOGGING IN AND TAKING THE SURVEY, WHICH IS GREAT.

>> AND WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONNAIRES -- WE SEE IT UP ON THE SCREEN NOW.

THIS IS LIKE LIVE AND REAL-TIME HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING TO GATHER?

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GAIN FROM THIS?

>> RIGHT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO GATHER HOW OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS ARE EVOLVING AS COVID CONTINUES TO KIND OF TAKE HOLD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND DEFINITELY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

WE ARE TRYING TO ASSESS WHAT FINANCIAL NEEDS, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, HEALTHCARE NEEDS ARE, SO THAT WE CAN THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH DR.

MCMAHAN AND HER OFFICE AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPY AND LOCAL NONPROFIT GROUPS AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT USE THAT DATA TO MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS AND PLANS FOR HOW WE WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT'S WONDERFUL ABOUT IT IS OF COURSE IT'S VERY HYPER FOCUSED.

>> CORRECT.

>> THIS IS WITHIN ALLEN COUNTY, BROKEN UP BY ZIP CODE.

THIS SEEMS ALSO AS A WAY TO EITHER AFFIRM OR ADJUST THINKING GOING IN.

>> CORRECT.

>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

WHAT ASSUMPTIONS HAVE SHIFTED SINCE THE FIRST TEST LAST MONTH?

>> SO TO CLARIFY, ONE THING IS WE'RE HOPING TO GET RESPONSES FROM ALL OVER NORTHEAST INDIANA BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH AN INTERCONNECTED REGION.

BUT WE ARE LOOKING DOWN TO THE ZIP CODE LEVEL IN THE SURVEY.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY TELLING WAS JUST HOW REGARDLESS OF WHAT ZIP CODE YOU LIVE IN, THERE'S FINANCIAL FRAGILITY ALL OVER, ALL OVER OUR REGION, ALL OVER OUR CITY, SO SOME OF THE HYPOTHESES THAT CERTAIN ZIP CODES WERE MORE FINANCIALLY FRAGILE THAN OTHERS WAS COMPLETELY DISPLACED THROUGH THE RESPONSES.

WE GOT OVER 5700 RESPONSES TO THE FIRST SURVEY WHICH WAS FANTASTIC.

>> IN FACT, I'M WANTING TO SHARE SO BOTH OF YOU CAN REACT TO THIS.

THESE ARE SOME INITIAL RESULTS FROM THOSE THAT HAVE JUST COME THROUGH.

THESE ARE SURVEY RESULTS FROM ROUND ONE.

IN FACT, THE ONE WHERE EVEN ON THE FIRST ONE, THAT 98%OVER THOSE RANKING FOOD OF COURSE AS THE HIGHEST NEED, BUT WHERE WE MIGHT THINK FOOD BANK, YOUR RESPONDENTS SAYING NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR OR FAMILY.

>> CORRECT, YES, SO WE SAW A LOT OF DIFFERENCES ACROSS THE REGION IN WHERE THEY WERE GETTING -- WHERE THEY WERE LOOKING -- OR WHERE THEY FELT COMFORTABLE GOING TO.

IN THE NEW SURVEY, WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET INPUT INTO ARE THESE NEEDS BEING MET?

ARE YOUR NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD, WITH YOUR UTILITIES, WITH YOUR RENT AND MORTGAGE?

ARE YOUR NEEDS BEING MET?

AND IF THEY ARE BEING MET, WHAT ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT GROUPS ARE YOU GOING TO TO SEEK HELP?

ARE YOU GOING TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

ARE YOU USING LOCAL NONPROFITS?

ARE YOU GOING TO YOUR CHURCH, TO THE GOVERNMENT, FOR GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS?

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GET MUCH MORE KIND OF FINE-TUNED UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THOSE NEEDS ARE AND HOW THOSE ARE BEING MET THROUGH THIS SURVEY.

>> AND SO AS I STAND CORRECTED, IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED AGAIN, THIS IS AROUND THE REGION, NOT JUST AROUND THE COUNTY.

SOMEWHERE AROUND YOUR HOUSE YOU MAY HAVE A DEVICE THAT WILL GET YOU OVER TO THE ALLEN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE WHERE IF YOU KEEP SCROLLING, YOU WILL FIND THE LINK TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER SUMMARY STATEMENTS FROM THE INITIAL TAKE OF THE SURVEY.

THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS YOU WOULD PULL IT UP ON YOUR SCREEN.

AS YOU'RE DOING THAT, A QUICK QUESTION OR TWO FOR DR.

MCMAHAN.

REPORTED THIS WEEK THE STATE IS IN A SWAB SHORTAGE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> OPENING THE ECONOMY OR CLEARING OUR OWN MIND, WE KEEP HEARING TESTING, TESTING, TESTING, WHAT'S THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THE SWAB SHORTAGE HERE?

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT ACTUALLY OUR TESTING IS STABLE HERE BECAUSE WE REACHED OUT TO OUR LOCAL PROVIDERS AND ACTUALLY IT'S BEEN STABLE HERE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN NEXT WEEK WE WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF ACCESSING EITHER THE SWABS OR THE MEDIUM OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT TESTING IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPECTATIONS THAT AREN'T REALLY EVER GOING TO BE MET UNTIL PROBABLY SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN WE FINALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THE TESTING SUPPLIES THAT WE NEED, BOTH IN THE SHORT-TERM, THE SWAB, AND IN THE LONG-TERM, THE ANTIBODY TEST.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE BEFORE WE REALLY GET THOSE PERFECTED.

IN FACT, THERE'S A LOT OF MISUSE FOR THE ANTIBODY TESTS.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE BEING SOLD THAT ARE REALLY NOT READY FOR PRIME-TIME YET.

SO WHETHER IT'S A SWAB OR WHETHER IT'S A BLOOD TEST, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE FIRST, NUMBER ONE, IT IS A VALIDATED TEST, THAT YOU ARE GETTING IT FROM A KNOWN PROVIDER, AND AGAIN, THESE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES WITH TESTING JUST KEEP COMING UP.

>> YEAH, BIG DAY IN INDIANAPOLIS, GOVERNOR SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ALLOW HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO RESUME ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES AS LONG AS THEY ALSO HAD SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF PPE AND FOLLOWED BEST PRACTICES.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS GOOD.

I THINK WE NEED TO AGAIN WE NEED TO LEARN TO COEXIST WITH COVID.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING THIS TIME WHILE WE'VE BEEN IN THIS SHELTER IN PLACE MODE TO LOOK AT THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, WHETHER THEY BE HEALTHCARE, WHETHER THEY BE A RESTAURANT, FACTORY, WHAT DO YOU DO -- AND IT'S JUST LIKE YOU HEARD THE COMMISSIONER AND THE MAYOR SAY.

IT IS NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES OR WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE ACCESS -- OR OPEN ACCESS, WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT IS HOW ARE YOU DOING THEM?

YOU SHOULD BE DOING THEM DIFFERENTLY IN THE AGE OF COVID.

HOPEFULLY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING THIS TIME TO LOOK AT THEIR PRACTICES AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO START DOING ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, WHEN WE START OPENING GROCERY STORES AND NAIL SALONS AND ALL THOSE PLACES THAT PEOPLE CAN DO IT SAFELY AND WE DON'T HAVE A BIG UP TICK IN OUR NUMBERS.

>> JESSICA, THE FINAL 20 SECONDS, YOUR APPEAL TO HAVE FOLKS TAKE YOUR SURVEY.

>> SO AS WE KEEP GOING, NEEDS CHANGE, AND THE POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY NEED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE.

THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TAKE THE SURVEY AND LET YOUR NEEDS BE KNOWN.

>> YOU DO THAT OVER AT THE ALLEN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEBSITE, SCROLL DOWN, FIND THE SURVEY, AND WE WILL ALL BE BETTER OFF THANKS TO YOUR INPUT THERE.

THAT'S ALL THAT INFORMATION.

JESSICA PATER IS BEHAVIORAL AND DIGITAL HEALTH RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT PARK VIEW HEALTH.

DR.

DEB MCMAHAN IS ALLEN COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND ALL AROUND GOOD SOUL AS JESSICA IS AS WELL.

LET'S HEAD BACK OVER TO MARK NOW AND WRAP UP THE HOUR.

>> THANK YOU, BRUCE.

WE'VE BEEN SURROUNDED BY MANY PROFESSIONALS IN THE HEALTH FIELD, AND WE ARE THANKFUL THEY HAVE BEEN HERE, OUR GUESTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON THE PHONE BANK, DR.

JAMES CAMERON FOR BEING MY GUEST.

DR.

JAY FAWVER WILL HAVE A SHOW 7:30 ON MONDAY, MENTAL HEALTH ROUNDTABLE.

THOSE HAVE BEEN VERY VERY INTERESTING.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00, WE WILL BE BACK HERE FOR MORE ON THE CORONAVIRUS, A COMMUNITY FORUM.

UNTIL THEN, STAY SAFE AND BE WELL.

THANK YOU.

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