Hello Doctor. I Am An Active 54 Year Old Woman,

Posted on Mon, 4 May 2020

Question: Hello Doctor. I am an active 54 year old woman, non-smoker, 115lbs. I have controlled high blood pressure (very high, but controlled by RX), moderate asthma (singular/inhaler) and a defective aortic heart valve (just monitored at this time). I have difficulty breathing after two flights of stairs or even jogging a block, but I exercise regularly and just listen to my body (and take meds). I am working as a PCT in an emergency room. My family doctor wrote a note to employer stating I am at high risk working in the emergency room as a tech, but Human Resources states that PPE and safety precautions are being taken so risk isn’t higher than working in any other area, which I found laughable after work many recent 12 hour days around a lot of COVID19 patients, cleaning those rooms, being in core with nurses/doctors who are testing and treating COVID patients. CDC states my underlying conditions are high risk factors and could make Covid recovery very difficult and create respiratory complications. CDC recommends people considered high risk to avoid crowds/public and stay home if possible. My question for you: Based on your experience and knowledge on COVID, do you believe working 12 hour shifts in the ED as a PCT and wearing PPE/taking safety precautions would remove most or all of the high risk factors of me getting Covid when I am in contact (6ft) with Covid patients throughout the shift and cleaning the Covid patient rooms? I am extremely worried that if I get this virus, I will have difficulty beating it with my respiratory/BP and heart issues... and our doctors are not yet giving chloroquine or other “potentially” helpful prescriptions if you contract the virus. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. The employer is leaving it up to me, but they are jnot acknowledging that my family doctor feels it is a high risk environment to work in at this time with my underlying conditions. Thank you!

Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You are surely prone for COVID 19 in such high risk environment

Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor"service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and here is my opinion.

Being a female of advanced age and presence of risk factor comorbidities like hypertension and and heart disease,it makes you very prone for COVID 19 and in my opinion, you shouldn't be posted in high exposure areas like ER.

Wearing of PPEs,taking all precautions and mantaining good hand hygiene are important but this is a virus with very high infectivity and prone people should be kept away as far as possible.

Even if they are being deputed,they should have longer duty hours followed by a long quarantine period.
For example 48 hours duty and then 4 day off.
This helps to shed off extra viral load.

Preliminary studies have shown that Hydroxychloroquin has a role in prophylaxis and treatment of COVID 19.
Many more studies are needed to validate this but through out the world,many health care workers are being given HCQS prophylaxis.
400 mg twice a day,post meals on the initial day followed by 400 mg once every week for 3 weeks is being practiced.

I would advise you to mantain best of hand hygiene by repeated hand washing with soap and hot water(atleast for 20 secs),use of alcohol based sanitizers,practice social distancing and use of N95 Masks.

Keep your moral high,have nourishing diet,increase the use of ginger,garlic,turmeric,besil,black pepper in diet(said to improve immunity),keep yourself well hydrated,take commercially available preparations of multivitamin and omega 3 supplements and don't be sleep deprived.

Hope that I have answered your query.

Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T