Florida’s economy should not be re-opened on May 1st, 2020 – a local medical professional’s point of view
by Zack Brundage
Photo: Lisa Brundage
According to the Florida Dept of Health, as of April 23rd there have been nearly 29,000 reported cases, 4500 hospitalizations and 960 deaths from Covid-19 in the State of Florida.
As these numbers increase daily, local health professionals are extremely concerned that the governor is rushing too quickly to remove “safer at home” restrictions and reopen the state’s economy. Lisa C. Brundage is the Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, Florida. She is extremely worried that thousands of people will needlessly perish if businesses reopen too quickly. “Fathers, mothers and even children will die.”
Those in favor of easing the current restrictions believe that Florida is better prepared to handle Covid-19 today than it was six weeks ago. Brundage disagrees. “With a continued shortage of personal protective equipment, medical professionals risk their own health treating patients. If too many healthcare professionals become infected and are unable to work, who is going to treat the sick?”
Given that the virus is highly contagious and that the medical profession is unclear exactly how it is transmitted, Brundage believes that people are far safer at home until extensive daily testing is available. “As studies have shown that the incubation period is close to 14 days, people can be highly contagious, spreading it to others, well before they show symptoms.” Having the ability to test all workers on a daily basis will allow those infected to immediately self-isolate.” The instant self-isolation will reduce the need for everyone to stay home and businesses can return to a semblance of normalcy.
Lisa C Brundage has her masters degree in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mrs. Brundage has over 25 years in critical care and infection control hospital leadership experience and has worked for both the Tenet Healthcare and HCA Corporations.
Zack Brundage
