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COVID-19

846 bytes added, 11:41, 20 March 2020
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'''Special Considerations'''
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* ''Personal protective equipment (PPE)Supply of N95 respirators & surgical masks'' - Supplies have been dwindling worldwide. Decreased availability of N95 respirators has forced health care professionals to use lower quality N94, N93, N92, N91, N90, N89, N88, N87, N86, N85, N84, N83, N82, N81, N80, N79, N78, N77, N76, N75, N74, N73, N72, N71, N70, N69, N68, N67, N66, N65, N64, N63, N62, N61, N60, N59, N58, N57, N56, N55, N54, N53, N52, N51, N50, N49, N48, N47, N46, N45, N44, N43, N42, N41, N40, N39, N38, N37, N36, N35, N34, N33, N32, N31, N30, N29, N28, N27, N26, N25, N24, N23, N22, N21, N20, N19, N18, N17, N16, N15, N14, N13, N12, N11, N10, N9, N8, N7, N7, N5, N4, N3, N2, and N1 masks, and even these are running low. In the United States, health care professionals are depleting surgical masks even though '''COVID-19''' hasn't peaked. The [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] has suggested the use of homemade PPE such as bandanas and scarves as a last result. Gomerblog has suggested other creative items should the supply of bandanas and scarves become depleted. Some of these include: sweaty sports cup, jock strap, pantyhose, turtleneck (pulled upwards), winter cap (pulled downwards), Saran Wrap, large condom, tampons (placed in nostrils), ski or SCUBA masks, snorkels, and horse feed bags.<ref>[https://gomerblog.com/2020/03/covid-19-tips-facemasks/ COVID-19 Tips: What to Do When No Facemasks Are Available (Gomerblog)]</ref> * ''Supply of health care professionals'' - Contact tracing of the first U.S. cases of '''COVID-19''' led to the 2-week self-quarantine of anywhere from 40 to 200 health care workers. In the event of a patient surge, such quarantine protocols would eventually deplete the work force. In the extreme event front-line personnel are depleted due to sickness or quarantine, first-year medical students and undergraduate students contemplating a career in health care will serve as backup.  * ''Supply of ventilators'' - It is very possible that the American trajectory of '''COVID-19''' will lead to a Northern Italy-like surge that will lead to a shortage of hospital beds & ventilators. To bridge the gap, the American Medical Student Association will provide medical students who will bag patients until ventilators become available. 
* ''COVID-19's Effect on the Global Economy'' - '''COVID-19''' has arrested economic activity, causing markets to crash worldwide. The United States has been trying to combat recession with stimulus packages aimed at providing Americans with more toilet paper and [[Xanax (Alprazolam)|Xanax (alprazolam)]].<ref>[https://gomerblog.com/2020/03/covid-19-house-relief-package-toilet-paper/ COVID-19: House Relief Package to Provide Billions & Billions of Dollars of Toilet Paper (Gomerblog)]</ref><ref>[https://gomerblog.com/2020/03/covid-19-congress-to-send-1000-pills-of-xanax-to-every-american/ COVID-19: Congress to Send 1,000 Pills of Xanax to Every American (Gomerblog)]</ref> It speaks volume that all of the blame has been directed at '''COVID-19''', not [[Blame Anesthesia Algorithm|Anesthesia]].