As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious disease expert at Wake Forest Baptist Health, shared a mixed review of the state of epidemic affairs while disclosing he would be in favor of a statewide ordinance of requiring face coverings.On Thursday, Dr. Ohl told reporters and livestreaming audience members that COVID-19 cases numbers and hospitalizations were on the rise, while cases found in nursing homes and intensive care units were going down.Dr. Ohl stressed the importance of wearing a face covering as a way forward in both an economic and public health sense.“This is our ticket for getting our numbers back down again and pushing our curve back down without all the pain that we get with lockdowns, shelter-in-place and staying at home,” Dr. Ohl said. “We all can help by personally just wearing a mask. Put the politics aside. The virus knows no politics. Let’s use our masks, particularly indoors.”Dr. Ohl said the need to wear a mask lessens if someone is outdoors, alone or is able to significantly social distance from other people.The city of Raleigh announced it would, starting Friday afternoon, implement a mask mandate. Dr. Ohl says he supports this move and is in support of a statewide mandate requiring face coverings.On reopening schools, Dr. Ohl said he is optimistic.“I think we’re going to be able to get our schools open in the fall,” Dr. Ohl said. “Because children don’t get infected as often and their infectivity is lower.”On possible treatment for COVID-19, Dr. Ohl said he is also hopeful for results on studies conducted in England using steroids which are used to reduce inflammation.“The mortality that they reported was down a third in the ICU patients,” Dr. Ohl said. “So that means that you would only have to treat eight people to see one less death, and that’s pretty significant in the world of medicine.”On summer plans, Dr. Ohl said international travel is still tricky, especially with some countries required people traveling from the United States must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. He said “domestic travel may be a little bit easier,” citing shorter flight times, but says people should still wear face coverings even when visiting family like grandparents.Many Triad schools are beginning fall sport training on July 6th. Dr. Ohl said for this to be safe, there must be “modifications” made. “So I think the training and things during the summer, I think there will be a lot of places that will be able to pull that off but they will have to be careful for how they do it,” Dr. Ohl said.Still Dr. Ohl warned again large gatherings including football games, conventions, rallies, marches, and weddings. Dr. Ohl said so far he hasn’t been made aware of an increase in cases due to recent Triad protests.Dr. Ohl had a stern message to those who intentionally chose not to wear a mask. “The problem is you’re accepting the risk for you and you’re accepting the risk for the people around you,” he said.Because of the rising cases and hospitalizations in the state, Dr. Ohl does not recommend North Carolina to move into phase three of reopening.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious disease expert at Wake Forest Baptist Health, shared a mixed review of the state of epidemic affairs while disclosing he would be in favor of a statewide ordinance of requiring face coverings.
On Thursday, Dr. Ohl told reporters and livestreaming audience members that COVID-19 cases numbers and hospitalizations were on the rise, while cases found in nursing homes and intensive care units were going down.
Dr. Ohl stressed the importance of wearing a face covering as a way forward in both an economic and public health sense.
“This is our ticket for getting our numbers back down again and pushing our curve back down without all the pain that we get with lockdowns, shelter-in-place and staying at home,” Dr. Ohl said. “We all can help by personally just wearing a mask. Put the politics aside. The virus knows no politics. Let’s use our masks, particularly indoors.”
Dr. Ohl said the need to wear a mask lessens if someone is outdoors, alone or is able to significantly social distance from other people.
The city of Raleigh announced it would, starting Friday afternoon, implement a mask mandate. Dr. Ohl says he supports this move and is in support of a statewide mandate requiring face coverings.
On reopening schools, Dr. Ohl said he is optimistic.
“I think we’re going to be able to get our schools open in the fall,” Dr. Ohl said. “Because children don’t get infected as often and their infectivity is lower.”
On possible treatment for COVID-19, Dr. Ohl said he is also hopeful for results on studies conducted in England using steroids which are used to reduce inflammation.
“The mortality that they reported was down a third in the ICU patients,” Dr. Ohl said. “So that means that you would only have to treat eight people to see one less death, and that’s pretty significant in the world of medicine.”
On summer plans, Dr. Ohl said international travel is still tricky, especially with some countries required people traveling from the United States must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
He said “domestic travel may be a little bit easier,” citing shorter flight times, but says people should still wear face coverings even when visiting family like grandparents.
Many Triad schools are beginning fall sport training on July 6th. Dr. Ohl said for this to be safe, there must be “modifications” made.
“So I think the training and things during the summer, I think there will be a lot of places that will be able to pull that off but they will have to be careful for how they do it,” Dr. Ohl said.
Still Dr. Ohl warned again large gatherings including football games, conventions, rallies, marches, and weddings. Dr. Ohl said so far he hasn’t been made aware of an increase in cases due to recent Triad protests.
Dr. Ohl had a stern message to those who intentionally chose not to wear a mask. “The problem is you’re accepting the risk for you and you’re accepting the risk for the people around you,” he said.
Because of the rising cases and hospitalizations in the state, Dr. Ohl does not recommend North Carolina to move into phase three of reopening.
