SATURDAY, IT BEGINS AFTER THE SYSTEM LINGERS MONDAY INTO TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
JAMIE: OK, IN TODAY’S HEALTH HEADLINES, WE ARE FOCUSING ON TWO BIG TOPICS, THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND TICKS.
STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR.
BENJAMIN CHAN IS JOINING US LIVE VIA SKYPE RIGHT NOW.
DR CHAN, LET’S START WITH THOSE TICKS.
IT’S SOMETHING GRANITE STATERS SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AS THEY SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS.
WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING TICK BITES?
DR. CHAN: IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT COVID-19 ISN’T THE ONLY RISK TO PEOPLE’S HEALTH.
IT’S A TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE THE SNOW HAS A MUCH MELTED, IT’S GONE.
WHEN THAT HAPPENED, TICKS COME OUT.
ANYBODY THAT’S OUTDOORS IS AT RISK OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH TEXT AND TICK BITES -- TICKS AND TICK BITES.
THE BLACK LEG AND TICK, FORMERLY CALLED THE DEER TICK, ESPECIALLY.
THERE ARE STEPS PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE TO PREVENT THESE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS.
THE EASIEST OBVIOUSLY IS TO AVOID HABITATS WHERE THEY CAN LIVE.
THIS INCLUDES WOODED, GRASSY, BRUSHY AREAS.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUTDOORS IT IS IMPORTANT TO WEAR LONG PANTS AND SLEEVES.
IT’S EASY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS COOLER BUT IT REMAINS IMPORTANT AS THE WEATHER GOES UP.
WE RECOMMEND INSECT REPELLENT EFFECTIVE AGAINST TICKS BE APPLIED TO EXPOSED SKIN.
FORMULATIONS WITH DEET ARE EFFECTIVE BUT THERE ARE OTHER FORMULATIONS, LIKE INSECT OIL OF EUCALYPTUS IT -- EUCALYPTUS INSECT OIL.
AND IF SOMEONE IS WEARING CLOTHING OUTDOORS, ARE WORKING OUTDOORS FOR A LONG TIME, WITH SPRING CLOTHING, THEY SHOULD SPRAY THE CLOTHING WITH SPRAYS.
THAT CAN BE HELPFUL.
THERE ARE PERSONAL CHECKS PEOPLE CAN TAKE.
TAKE CHECKS ON THEMSELVES -- TICK CHECKS ON THEMSELVES, THEIR CHILDREN AND PETS.
THROWING LOOSE CLOTHES INTO THE DRYER ON HIGH FOR 10 MINUTES WILL KILL THE TICKS.
DRIVING THEM OUT IN THE DRYER IS THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE THE TEXT FROM CLOTHING.
JAMIE: ALL RIGHT, DR., ENOUGH OF THE CRITIQUE PROBABLY VIDEO.
LET’S GET TO THE NEW CRISIS.
99 CASES YESTERDAY, A PUNCH IN THE GUT, BUT YOU SAID IT’S NOT A SURGE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
>> WE ARE REPORTING THE NUMBER OF NEW POSITIVE CASES EVERY DAY.
SIMPLY REFLECTING THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TESTED AND IDENTIFIED.
WE BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS LUCK -- LIKELY MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT’S BEEN TESTED ON AND REPORTED ON A DAILY BASIS.
YOU ARE CORRECT THAT 99 YOU PEOPLE WERE DIAGNOSED WITH COVID 19 YESTERDAY.
THAT IS HIGHER THAN WE TYPICALLY WILL PORTED, BUT I THINK IT INCREASE -- INDICATES IT TESTING . JAMIE: AND WHAT KIND OF SYMPTOMS RIGHT NOW SHOULD PEOPLE BE
WATCHING OUT FOR?
DR. CHAN: FOR COVID-19, IT CAN BE PRETTY VARIED.
IT COMMONLY PRESENTS WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION, SORE THROAT, DIFFICULTY BREATHING, ALTHOUGH THAT ONLY OCCURS LATER.
PEOPLE CAN BEGIN WITH MILD, FLULIKE ILLNESSES.
MUSCLE ACHES, FATIGUE, POSSIBLY EVEN FEVER.
ONE OF THE NEW THINGS WE ARE FINDING ABOUT IS PEOPLE CAN LOSE THEIR SENSE OF TASTE AND SMELL.
THESE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS.
AS PEOPLE ARE FEELING ILL, THEY SHOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, TRYING TO RAMP UP THE ABILITIES OF THOSE IN THE FACILITY TO BE ABLE TO TEST WHOEVER IS SYMPTOMATIC.
NOT JUST DO I -- UNDERSTAND HOW