8 Ball In The Wind

Friday, May 15, 2020

Covid has Postponed Mt St Helens Ride




As with everything else this year, COVID-19 has caused long-standing plans to be changed.  We haven't canceled the ride, but we have postponed it until July.  It won't have the same meaning as riding up virtually on the anniversary date, but the weather should be much better.  I have a suspicion that there will be some people who may still ride up by themselves.  But the forecast is for rain and possible thundershowers.  I have a feeling that I am not even going to bother pulling the tarp off of Gypsy on Sunday morning.  I have made that run in rain many times, and with everything going on this year, I don't think I am going to push my luck and risk getting sick by making a 200-mile ride up to the mountain in the rain.  I just don't want to risk getting sick and losing time during my campaign for the legislature just to ride up most of the way to the mountain to a closed gate and turn back.  I'll say a prayer of remembrance like I do every year on Sunday morning.  But I am pretty sure I won't be riding up there and making that choice has really bummed me out.  Even though I know it is the right thing to do.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Thursday, May 7, 2020

We are at risk of losing medical personnel and facilities due to COVID proclamations.




As we move deeper into this sudden economic chasm that has appeared in our state due to the COVID pandemic, it brings questions to mind regarding the efficacy of the course we remain locked onto.  When the Governor first issued his state of emergency proclamation, it was to “flatten the curve” of infections so as to not overwhelm and inundate our hospitals and medical services.  By flattening the curve; according to the many virologists, immunologists, and other Drs. I have been listening to over the past few weeks we aren’t stopping the virus’ effects, only slowing them down.  The threat of this virus is still there, out in the environment.  However, according to these Drs., remaining in lockdown indefinitely is not realistic or even necessarily a good idea.  Remaining in self-isolation, in a heavily sanitized home environment is more likely to weaken our immune system due to reduced contact with even many common viruses and bacteria that we need to maintain a strong and healthy immune system.  So if we remain in lockdown for a further period and begin to attempt to restore our earlier activities in a mass movement it is highly likely that many people will become ill from a number of illnesses out in the environment due to a weakened immune system.  This could indeed cause a spike in ER visits and possible hospitalizations.
This brings us to the current condition of many hospitals in our state.  In order to reduce the risk of overwhelming our hospitals, clinics, and other medical services, the Governor’s emergency proclamation ordered all “elective” surgeries and procedures to be halted.  The concept was to ensure that facilities were available if needed for COVID patients.  However, we are now facing a situation where hospitals are very nearly empty and have little in the way of revenue coming in.  Many of the hospitals in Washington have begun to seriously consider furloughing staff, cutting the hours of others. This includes Drs. And nurses, not just support staff in the hospital.  Some hospitals have even noted that they are within sight of a situation where they may have to close their doors, especially in some of the more rural parts of the state.  My question is this, how can hospitals be expected to be ready for a spike in COVID cases, if they are understaffed, or even forced to close?
By definition, most procedures and surgeries that are not of an emergent nature are “elective”.  It is my strong belief that only a doctor can decide if a procedure or surgery is necessary.  The ban on elective surgeries at this point in time should be relaxed for at least two reasons.  This would allow doctors to better serve the health of their patients and assist in prolonging and saving lives.  It would also provide hospitals with the inflow of revenue that can keep them operating, and prevent their financial collapse.  It will do no one any good in the middle of the prolonged pandemic that this lockdown has created, to risk reducing the ability to provide healthcare by causing hospitals to furlough medical staff or close their doors.
A majority of doctors that I have been listening to over the past few weeks that are discussing this situation seem to have a common basis of understanding that they are speaking to.  While the upper echelon of government health officials and the main stream media are primarily appearing to be focused on the number of confirmed cases and deaths, these doctors are pointing out the results of studies and testing that seems to show the actual number of cases of COVID to be up to fifty times higher.  This results in a fatality rate not too dissimilar to that of a bad flu season (the 2017-2018 flu for example resulted in approximately 60,000 deaths in the US).  Currently, upwards of 90% of the current fatalities of COVID are senior citizens, especially in long term care facilities, and those with pre-existing health issues that are exacerbated by a respiratory infection.  It seems that an extremely low percentage of fatalities without some underlying health issue are below 50 years of age.  Therefore, it would seem advisable, after listening to these doctors, to allow those with the least risk of adverse reaction to the disease to go back to work in a managed, health positive ad responsible manner.  While allowing medical facilities to resume “elective” procedures with the benefit of saving and prolonging lives, as well as remaining staffed and available if there is a sudden spike in COVID infections. 
This should have the two-pronged effect of beginning to restore our citizens’ health and our economy to a much stronger and more vibrant condition that either currently possesses.
Thank you.