COVID-19 Updates: What We've Learned (S3:E58)

Months of progress in the United States has been overshadowed by a subsequent resurgence of COVID-19 cases, with areas in the south and west experiencing their first strong wave of cases. In the wake of this trend, Texas Children’s Hospital announced they are admitting adult patients to help with surge capacity in Houston.

As pediatric providers, we are considering ongoing PPE preparedness for an unknown future, what the latest literature is telling us about the virus in kids and what a vaccine or treatment option might look like.

Listen to a pediatric infectious disease expert discuss what we’ve learned about COVID-19 in pediatrics

In this episode, we will delve into these topics and more as we unpack what we’ve learned about COVID-19 in pediatrics with Sam Dominguez, MD. Dr. Dominguez is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• An update on the current epidemiology of COVID-19
• Variations in lifting restrictions among states
• What the literature shows about which strategies help mitigate transmission: hand hygiene, face coverings and social distancing
• The importance of stressing that COVID-19 is not a political issue, but a public health issue; people should follow public health recommendations
• The role of young adults in spreading the virus in hotbed states
• Differences in the role of presymptomatic versus asymptomatic people in spreading the virus
• The availability of COVID-19 tests throughout the U.S
• A recently discovered virus mutation and what it means in terms of transmission and infection
• The status of vaccine development
• The durability of the immune response to the coronavirus
• Key steps we can take to avoid a resurgence: social distancing at 60% with higher levels for those at high risk
• Ways to travel safely if you plan to go on a vacation

Find this helpful resource discussed in the podcast: COVID-19 Risk/Benefit Gauge from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Treatment of infectious diseases at Children’s Colorado

Our pediatric experts in the Infectious Disease Program at Children's Colorado provide a breadth of expertise ranging from laboratory-based research to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Pediatricians can treat many infectious diseases, but when unique or different symptoms are present, it’s important to refer to a pediatric specialist. We are prepared and ready to treat patients with suspected or confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus. Our clinical staff has been specially trained on how to identify, isolate and treat patients with this and other contagious illnesses.

Refer a patient to Children’s Colorado.