Experts answer your COVID-19 questions: ”I have severe asthma and hypertension, but I have a strong immune system. Does that make me any less likely…

Have a question about coronavirus, also known as COVID-19?

We will ask the experts.

Send questions to tribdem@tribdem.com.

Can coronavirus testing be done anonymously, similar toSTD testing?

The answer:

At this time, all COVID-19 testing requires an order from a health care provider, and the specimen must be collected by someone trained to do it, such as a nurse. The ordering physician shares the test results with the patient. So it is not a fully anonymous process, currently.

But health care providers work diligently to protect your personal health information, so you can feel confident getting a test if it is recommended.

Emily Korns, director of marketing communications, Conemaugh Health System

I am a67-year-old woman, active and in good health. I rent my basement to a traveling nurse who is working at a local ER. She has already had one COVID-19 scare and was quarantined until her results came in thankfully negative.However, she could of course become positive at any time. Should I be concerned?

The answer:

If this nurse is compliant with Department of Health and CDC recommendations including personal protective equipment, proper hand washing hygiene, and if she is following hospital ER infection protocols, the risks to others including yourself should be minimal.

You have already established separate living areas if the nurse is in your basement. Practice social distancing and good hand washing, and frequently clean surfaces you may both touch. I also recommend you both wear face masks when in the same area of the house.

Finally, we should all be thankful for nurses and all health care personnel for their care.

Dr. David Csikos, chief medical officer, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

I am hearing more and more that this virus causes clotting in the body causing strokes and organ failure due to bodies being riddled with clots. But we cant take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Ibuprofen, which have been known to thin the blood and prevent clotting. What can we do to prevent the clotting aspect of this virus?

The answer:

In our cases locally, we have not yet seen the severe clotting described by the reader, or deaths attributed to clots or pulmonary embolism, but we recognize this is a complication.

Most likely, this level of clotting is due to sepsis brought on by a very severe form of the infection. In the hospital, patients may be prescribed a medication, such as heparin to avoid clotting. For the average patient at home with a mild or moderate case of COVID, anti-clotting therapy doesnt seem to be indicated.

If you have a personal history or family history of blood clots, this is important information to share with your primary care physician or your emergency care provider. With COVID-19 or any condition where you may be inactive due to illness, its a good idea to try to move around a bit to keep blood flowing, even if its just getting up to walk around the couch.

Dr. Uchenna Okereke, infectious disease specialist, ConemaughPhysician Group.

Im a 50-year-old male with severe asthma and hypertension. Both diseases are well controlled with medications. I realize that I havetwo high risk factors for COVID-19 complications if I became infected. However, I never get sick. Given that I have a strong immune system, does that make me any less likely of becoming infected with COVID-19?

The answer:

It is important that your asthma and hypertension are both well controlled, and that you have a good immune system. Patients that are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised are at a higher risk of infection and complications.

However, there are other important contributing factors including behavior (contact length and frequency), virulence of the virus and environment (crowding, poor air quality and pollution). Therefore, immune status is not the only determining factor whether or not you become infected with COVID-19.

Dr. David Csikos, chief medical officer, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

Im 67 and was diagnosed with the virus abouttwo weeks ago. Im quarantined and have shortness of breath, but have been toemergency room twiceand all tests are good. How long does it take for symptoms to subside?

The answer:

There are no specific answers for duration of illness or exact recovery time, and each patient is different. Those with milder symptoms may recover in 7-10 days. Others with more moderate or severe symptoms may take 3 to 4 weeks.

I also read medical reports of patients who were hospitalized with significant complications and were subsequently discharged, but were still not completely recovered at 10 weeks or longer.

I certainly hope that your symptoms resolve soon, and it is very important that you follow up with your treating physician.

Dr. David Csikos, chief medical officer, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

A reader of The Tribune-Democrat asked:

Does spraying the soles of my shoes with bleach without wiping kill the coronavirus instantly, or does It take some time? Is there a better way to clean them to prevent the virus from spreading into the house?

The answer:

COVID-19 is spread via respiratory droplets and anything that those droplets get on. The term for this is fomite transmission.

Research has shown that the virus can survive on surfaces for a few hours to a few days, depending on the surface. A disinfectantsuch as bleach will destroy the virus. You may spray with a bleach solution (1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water) or use a household disinfectant spray (such asLysol) and allow the shoes to dry. This can take a few minutes.

Another option that can be done is to wipe the shoes down with a hydrogen peroxide wipe (it only takes 30seconds for these wipes to kill). Lastly, you may use a 70% alcohol-based solution to wipe the shoes down and allow them to dry (this can take up to a minute).

If you are worried about bringing the virus into the house, you may want to spray the shoes outside your home and bring them in after the 30-180 seconds has passed. Thats what I do!

Jill D. Henning, associate professor of biology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

If someone is asymptomatic yet positive for COVID-19, how long would they be considered contagious?

The answer:

Great question.

If you test positive:

Notify your close contacts and let them know they should quarantine at home for 14 days. This includes your family members.

Self-isolate in your home until each of the following conditions are met:

1. It has been at least 7 days since your symptoms first appeared, AND

2. It has been at least 3 days since you have not had a fever (without using fever-reducing medications) and your respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) are improving.

Dr. David Csikos, chief medical officer, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

We have all these stories of how many caughtthe coronavirus and how many deaths have been recorded, but not one single number on people who have recovered from it.Is there an accurate estimate of COVID-19 recoveries in Pennsylvania?

The answer:

An accurate figure does not exist. They may start collecting hospital discharges, but since only 10% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases end up in the hospital, it doesnt mean that much. They arent really recovered when they are sent home anyway.

If someone gets a positive test, stays home while the illness runs its course and returns to the self-distancing world, that person is not being checked or reported as recovered. Not to mention hundreds, probably, who get mild symptom but are just being told to stay home, and then recover without even testing. They arent even showing up on the daily positive report.

Randy Griffith, health care reporter, The Tribune-Democrat

Should we be concerned, as we soon turn on our air conditioning, about airborne spread of coronavirus?

Answer:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is droplet transmission. The airborne droplets travel through the air and can make it about six feet. When you add an air conditioner, you are adding strong airflow into the equation. This would allow the airborne droplets to travel farther.

If you are using the air conditioner in your home and no one in your household is sick, then you dont need to worry about transmission. What can be of concern is, if social distancing is lessened and you are in a public building with air conditioning with a symptomatic (or asymptomatic) COVID-19 patient, the six-foot rule may not help. The air flow from the air conditioner would allow the droplets to transfer farther than the average of sixfeet.

Reference: Lu J, Gu J, Li K, Xu C, Su W, Lai Z, et al. COVID-19 outbreak associated with air conditioning in restaurant, Guangzhou, China, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jul [4/15/20]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2607.200764

Jill D. Henning, associate professor of biology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

"What if my car inspection is due? Is there a grace period? I really don't want to take my car to a shop right now."

The answer:

For driver licenses, photo ID cards and learner's permits scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through April 30, 2020, the expiration date is now extended until May 31, 2020.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website (https://www.penndot.gov/pages/coronavirus.aspx).

"When in a risky area (such as a store), you might encounter someone within the 6-foot recommendationwho is sneezing, coughing or simply asking for your help, and you could feel compromised and at risk.

"Would more personal immediate actions reduce the COVID-19 risk, aside from the obvious of keeping your mouth closed or wearing a mask or goggles?

"Although unorthodox to some, would blowing your nose (carrying tissues) and/or blinking your eyes, despite no real need to, mitigate being infected if the virus is airborne followed by a thorough washing of your hands, mouth, nose and eyes (area or drops) when possible?"

The answer:

An excellent and practical question.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain grocery stores and pharmacies, and especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

The right way to wear a face covering or mask is to cover your entire nose and mouth, which means that the face mask should be tight-fitting underneath your chin. It will be less effective if you remove it from your face when youre in a crowded store,such as to speak to someone.

An important takeaway from the CDCs message is that covering your face when you leave the house must not replace thoroughly washing your hands.

Its also worth emphasizing that sewing your own face mask may not prevent you from acquiring the coronavirus in a high-risk situation,such as lingering in crowded places.

Dr. David Csikos, chief medical officer, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

"Can I catch COVID-19 from my cat or my dog?"

The answer:

There have been some studies that are looking into whether domesticated cats and dogs can get SARS-CoV2. These results indicated SARS-CoV2 could replicate in cats and that SARS-CoV2 could be transmitted via respiratory droplets between cats, though it appears that it is not highly contagious between cats.

They also show that dogs are not really susceptible to the infection.

These studies show that cats can catch it from you, but none have shown that cats can transmit the virus to humans. That work has not been done, so the answers is we don't know yet.

The best approach right now for cat owners is to keep their indoor cats inside and their outdoor cats outside.

For more information check out this article in Nature: http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00984-8. It is a good summary of the work that has been done so far.

Jill D. Henning, associate professor of biology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

"I would like to know if its normal for a person to experience symptoms (day 1) and feel better over the next few days, only to experience those same symptoms on day 10-11 that were far worse."

The answer:

Another excellent question.

Patients may have a mild common cold-like illness and/or an uncomplicated upper respiratory viral infection with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, muscle pain, sore throat, shortness of breath, nasal congestion or headache. Rarely, patients may initially have diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

The above symptoms may improve, or progress in 7-10 days to a severe viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress depending upon the immune status of the patient, age, and other chronic underlying medical conditions.

David Csikos, chief medical officer, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

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Experts answer your COVID-19 questions: ''I have severe asthma and hypertension, but I have a strong immune system. Does that make me any less likely...