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Poinciana
Hopefully this column finds everyone heeding the stay at home order issued by Osceola County. If you have any doubts that COVID-19 is real and is here, Dr. Donald Elton, a pulmonary and critical doctor with Florida Lung, Asthma & Sleep Specialists practicing in Poinciana and Celebration stated on Friday, March 27, “that at this moment there are dozens of Poinciana residents either confirmed or strongly suspected of being sick with COVID-19. Many are with mild illness and are under instructions to quarantine at home, while others are hospitalized and some are even in critical condition right here in Poinciana.”
Dr. Elton continues, “Unfortunately, the majority of the people who already have COVID-19 are those who are enjoying their time socializing, shopping, and working in many local businesses. Many will become our patients in the next two weeks.”
We expect things to get much worse before they get better. All of the hospitals serving this area are working hard to expand their capacity in ER’s, inpatient medical beds, intensive care units, and even creating more morgue space for those who won’t survive.
Patients with this disease can feel great in the morning and be on life support before midnight.
Most of the hospitalized patients, a few days ago, were probably with you at the supermarket, stores, restaurant, bus, taxi, or gas station. We know you can become infected breathing droplets from a cough even 6 feet away but there are many experts that believe you can pick up the infection from touching any surface touched by an infected person many hours earlier.
The patients we see today were infected 1-2 weeks ago and the patients we will see 2 weeks from now are out shopping and looking for COVID-19 today. The virus will not come to visit you, you have to go find him.
The official numbers published by the government are several days behind. The case load in the community increases by about 40 percent per day with doubling every few days.
There are many people in Poinciana with family in New York City where half of the cases in the nation are reported. Those who travel between NYC and here increase the risk of propagation.
There are many ways to get your groceries, supplies or even restaurant food delivered to your door.
There is no reason to leave your house to eat.
Please stay home! This means you.
Wash your hands after touching anything in public and do it before you touch your eyes or face or mouth. Avoid the sick or people with health problems that are at higher risk of dying if you infect them. Look at the news from New York to see the future of Florida.
These words are not meant to instill fear or create a continuing mad toilet paper dash. The purpose is to have residents in Poinciana and everywhere not to take this pandemic lightly. As of this writing, Osceola County is under a “Stay-at-Home” Order. Heed that order. The sooner we can control the coronavirus spread, the less lives may be lost do this disease and the sooner we may be able to get back to our normal life’s.
The “Stay-at-Home” Order allows only essential workers to continue their job. You may go out to the grocery store and pharmacy.
#StayHome
If you have any Poinciana news or information that you would like to share, call Lisa Concepcion at 407-319-9700 or email news@osceolanewsgazette.com.
