Sherman R. Frederick
Marinscope
How many questions are there in Northern California about Omicron?
Well, if the “Lunch With A Doc” video conference hosted by Sen. Mike McGuire last Friday is any indication, there are plenty with an added pinch of confusion.
At the event, Sen. McGuire, sounded more like a game show host than the moderator for a sober medical Q&A. Viewers on social media submitted some 2,500 questions for Dr. Timothy Brewer of the UCLA School of Medicine to answer.
McGuire fired off questions to Brewer in rapid fashion to get as many of the questions addressed as possible.
The bottom line? There was no bottom line, just a lot of pieces of random advice for people who the doctor said will face the COVID-19 virus for many, many months to come.
The No. 1 thing for people to do, Dr. Brewer emphasized through the session, get vaccinated and get a booster.
Also, wash your hands frequently and wear a mask when you are near people for more than a few minutes at a time.
“Everyone eligible for a booster should get one,” Dr. Brewer told the “Lunch With A Doc” event. The numbers could not be more self-evident.
Unvaccinated Californians right now are four more times likely to get the virus. And if they get it they are 21 more times likely to die.
Dr. Brewer did not mince words when it came to the idea that the virus would go away.
“I don’t think it will disappear,” he said. “We’re going to end up living with the virus for a long time.”
Going forward he told Californians that “it’s all about taking steps to protect yourself. The single most important thing you can do is get vaccinated.”
Get the booster if you need it, he said. Wash your hands frequently, mask-up when around people and be cognizant about touching your face.
“You do have some control.”
Some of the questions that peppered the doctor from the McGuire audience came in rapid fire.
Question: Do you wear a mask outdoors?
Dr. Brewer: I don’t wear a mask when I walk my dogs or ride my bike. But, if I am outside in a line waiting to get into a venue, I mask-up.
Question: If someone in the house gets COVID, must everyone quarantine, or can the kids go to school?
Dr. Brewer: By definition, everyone in the house could be exposed. Isolate the sick person. If you are vaccinated and asymptomatic, you have not been exposed. If you are unvaccinated, then “yes” you do have to quarantine.
Question: If I get it, will I lose my sense of smell?
Dr. Brewer: About 20% of the people who get COVID at least temporarily lose their sense of smell, data shows.
Question: Will future variants be less dangerous?
Dr. Brewer: No. They could be less dangerous, but not necessarily so. We just don’t know the future.
Question: Is it safe for an older person to go to the grocery store.
Dr. Brewer: I wear an N-95 mask and keep my grocery cart between me and others. I also wash my hands when I get home.
Question: Are vaccination mandates wrong?
Dr. Brewer: That’s a political question. Medically, get vaccinated, boosted and practice good health routines.
Question: Should I postpone surgery?
Dr. Brewer: Talk to your doctor as there are too many variables to answer that in a forum such as this one.
Dr. Brewer ended the session by saying that life going forward is going to be a constant risk/benefit calculation.
“We can’t give up hope and get angry or panic. We just keep plugging away with the things we know that work.”
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