To the Editor:
I am a Westport resident. I also have the privilege and honor of serving as the Chief Quality Officer for the Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Health System, the largest health care provider in the state of CT.
As a resident and public servant, I feel obligated to respond to Fred Kuehndorf’s letter to the editor entitled, “Letter: ‘Giving Into Fear’ Re Keep Beach Parking Lot Closed” posted on Westportnow.com on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Mr. Kuehndor’s interpretation of the publicly available data on the COVID pandemic, as well as his citations of various news blogs, are inaccurate and do not reflect the opinion of subject matter experts at Yale, or at any other health care organizations (i.e. CDC, WHO, DPH).
Unequivocally, COVID-19 is much more invasive and fatal than influenza. Preliminary data suggests the mortality rate of COVID-19 global is between 1-4%.
This is 10-40 times that of influenza (well below
< 0.1%). In the US, there have already been over 75,000 COVID-19 deaths in the recent few months. We have only just begun on the slope down from the first peak. One’s risk of dying from COVID-19 is much higher than that of influenza.
To date, Fairfield County ranks #8 for total confirmed cases and #3 for deaths per capita in the US for COVID-19. We have been hit hard, despite concerted efforts at social distancing.
Mr. Kuehndorf’s calculated “infinitesimal” fatality rate for people under 50 assumes all 2.2 million people (under 50) in the state were infected with COVID-19. That is not the case.
There have been many deaths among young adults (less than 50 years of age) with no past medical history or chronic illness. Children have also become critically ill; requiring ICU hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. There are also reported deaths to the CDC among children. There is no such thing as a free pass with COVID-19.
We should absolutely be worried about a second wave that might be just as bad, or indeed worse, than the wave from which we are currently recovering. Multiple scientific models predict the highest peak in the fall following the relaxation of social distancing measures.
We are many months, likely a year or more, away from an effective vaccine, and likely many more beyond that before it is available to the population at large.
Most of our treatments are still under investigational study, and the likelihood of discovering a COVID-19 panacea is virtually zero.
Last but not least, I speak for my fellow health care workers who have tirelessly braved this pandemic for the past two months. If you saw what we witnessed inside our hospitals you would think twice before dismissing the concerns from the medical community at large, as well as those of our fellow concerned citizens.
People’s lives (whether elderly, young, chronically ill, or simply healthy) should always come first. We have to take great care, and operate with clear guidelines, before enjoying leisurely activities such as heading to the beach, or taking steps to reopen our businesses.
Most of our hospitals had to double or triple the size of our ICU’s. We were often short on available critical care ventilators. We are still in need of more intensive care nurses and physicians. This has been the most challenging health crisis in decades.
I believe those who penned and signed the petition for keeping the parking lots closed had no intention of admonishing those who wanted to enjoy the beach. Instead, they (like me) were likely more concerned about a sudden and ill-advised relaxation of social distancing practices — practices that have saved thousands of lives here in CT and Fairfield County.
I love the beach. I love Compo Beach. But let’s enjoy it without putting ourselves and others at risk. I agree that accosting children for not wearing a mask is wrong. Instead, let’s remind each other how important is it to wear a mask and how grateful we should be for those who do.
Steven Choi, MD, FAAP
Chief Quality Officer, Yale School of Medicine/Yale New Haven Health
Westport
