Anonymous
Emergency Room of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (Photo: Cottage Health)
The below letter was written by two Emergency Room Physicians at Cottage Hospital
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are Emergency Physicians at Cottage Health. We live and work in this community, so we are also your neighbors, friends, and the local doctors who may diagnose your child’s ear infection at 3 a.m., or fix your broken wrist.
These are trying times and nowhere is the anxiety and stress felt more than in the Emergency Room. We are the frontlines of this fight. Every day we are seeing increasing numbers of sick patients with COVID-19. Some are walking and talking and go home safely to recover. Others are very ill and need to be admitted to the hospital for care, some in the intensive care unit. Every day we are seeing more and more of these cases.
We are inundated with news, updates, emails and social media posts regarding the virus. People are talking about the availability of tests, debating about how serious our situation will get. The reality is that COVID-19 is here. This virus is spreading. And the situation will likely get worse before it gets better.
This is not a political issue, not a liberal or conservative issue. This is a human issue. Regardless of your income or immigration status, every one of us is affected by this pandemic.
For the sake of our community, we implore each of you to do your part to heed the warnings of our public health physicians. Stay home, wash your hands often, sanitize the surfaces you touch, and practices social distancing. It is up to each and every one of us to do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19. If you are young, healthy and fearless, don’t do it for you, do it fo your mother or father or grandparent. They are the ones who will suffer and potentially die as the virus spreads.
If you are experiencing symptoms, assume that you have COVID-19. Isolate at home, rest, hydrate, and if necessary contact your physician by phone or use a virtual health app. If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, weakness or have significant co-existing medical conditions, some to the Emergency Room. If you are well and fearful that you may have been exposed – stay home and quarantine yourself. You arent going to be tested. There arent enough supplies to test everyone.
Although N95 masks and personal protective equipment are in limited supply, rest assured that the physicians and nurses of our community are committed to serving the needs of our patients. If supplies run out, we will find ways to keep going. We will still be here. We will continue to care. To us this is more than a job in our community, it is a duty we chose to care for and serve our friends, families, and neighbors.
Together, we will get through this crisis. It is times like this that bring out the best in use. Please make a phone call to check in with your family, friends, and neighbors. Help those who need help. And we will look forward to the day when we can share a handshake or a hug again. Until then, let us all do our part to combat COVID-19.
Respectfully,
Key point – this is NOT political. I see so many arguments across social media about this and it sickens me. There are still many, many people out there who believe that this is being blown out of proportion for political gains by one side or the other. Regardless of any exploitation of the virus by politicians, the fact remains: this is deadly and serious. Time to put politics aside and do what the pros are asking us to do.
It would be great if this translated into Spanish too.
Is anyone else listening to the conference? No businesses should be providing seating even while people are waiting
I can’t believe there are people who still want deltopia to happen
Deltopia? What are you talking about? NO ONE wants it to happen except the kids who love to party there. This would actually be a great opportunity for the cops to go out and spread the word and warning about citations for social distancing.
That’s what I meant by there are people who still want it to happen
Where were they talking about Deltopia?
The press conference
Happy National Doctors Day. #staythefhome
Happy national drs day
Other countries are taking the new rules a lot more seriously. Here is a look at how they enforce “social isolation” in India. I fear some would like to see this level of enforcement implemented here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tqHVb3DBpI
CHIP – Oh dear! If a one thumbs up, 55 view, youtube video says it’s true, then it must be! Thank you for shedding light on this atrocity that isn’t clearly a faked video that literally only 55 people on the planet have bothered watching…well including me now. You should write a letter to India!
Just stay home