BY JULIE DOCKSTADER HEAPS

Assurances that the first positive COVID-19 test in Lincoln County is not “community-spread,” explaining the “evolution” in testing and triage, and dispelling myriad myths. All this and more was publicly discussed by local health officials this week as the virus crisis continues.

But with all the challenges facing these healthcare workers, one fact was emphasized – the constancy of change.

“That is because we’ve never been here before,” said Dr. Cris Krell of South Lincoln Medical Center. “This is a totally new disease and a totally new thing. We make our best decisions, and it if doesn’t work or doesn’t seem right, we keep changing them.”

Dr. Krell, chief medical officer at South Lincoln Medical Center in Kemmerer, and Tori Probst, vice president of nursing and leader of the incident command team at Star Valley Health, both addressed the spread of COVID-19 in the region along with testing and treatments, and the necessity of preventative measures. Dr. Krell spoke through a live Facebook presentation Thursday afternoon; Probst spoke with SVI Media’s Duke Dance for an audio interview over SVI Radio Network.

In speaking with Dance on Thursday, Probst assured the Star Valley community that the first positive COVID-19 was not a surprise to the incident team with Star Valley Health, and that policies and procedures were already in place.

“Star Valley Health has been working with state and local officials in regard to refining the process in anticipation of this day when we would get our first confirmed positive case. We knew it was coming.”

And through these procedures, Probst emphasized, public health officials in their investigation have concluded the contagion was not through “community spread.”

“Community spread means they don’t have a source of where this case may or may not have come from. That’s not the case in this instance,” she added, explaining that this means the investigation was able to trace where the individual may have been in contact with someone who tested positive.

What that also means, Probst related, is that public health does “a fantastic job” tracing and isolating anyone associated with the individual who has tested positive and unless you are contacted by public health, there is no cause for concern that you’ve been exposed.

In the meantime, Probst urged the community to continue abiding state and local recommendations about social distancing, nonessential travel, and isolating when appropriate.

So just keeping doing what you’re doing to slow the spread, she added. “I feel all [the recommendations] are key to decreasing the spread of COVID-19. I feel that not panicking and putting those things into play are appropriate at this time.”

In his Facebook presentation, Dr. Krell described the testing and triage system for COVID-19 as “an evolution. It’s just like anything you start that’s new.”

Because of recommendations to avoid face-to-face encounters as much as possible, the South Lincoln Medical Center clinic is working with as many patients as possible through video initial assessments.

If a physical exam is necessary after a set of questions on triage forms, then a patient is steered to the urgent care side of the clinic where a barrier is actually in place. And regular checkups are decreased now to appointments only when necessary. And prescriptions are, of course, being filled, Dr. Krell added.

To assess symptoms and to relieve the anxiety many have about the virus, he related that testing for influenza viruses, more common causes of pneumonia and bronchitis, and strep throat are done “in house” after a video triage calls for those tests. “We can get you the answers in two to four hours. If we don’t have anything there, we’re sending COVID tests.

Dr. Krell expressed appreciation for Star Valley Health donating some swabs and vials to South Lincoln in case of a shortage as more tests are conducted.

And results from the COVID-19 are returning quicker, thankfully, Dr. Krell said. Now, rather than five to seven days, it’s about 48 hours. “That’s improved a lot,” he added.

And he explained that South Lincoln Medical Center has a working relationship with BioFire, a diagnostics company in Salt Lake City that is working to improve respiratory tests on its diagnostics machines.

Yes, Dr. Krell related, they are aware of a new COVID test from Avid pharmaceuticals that may be able to provide results in minutes, pending FDA approval. However, he said the availability of those tests would be extremely limited.

In conclusion, Dr. Krell addressed the urgency of information from only trusted medical sources. He said there are myriad myths spreading around.

“Already today, I’ve had questions about, ‘Does ibuprofen make COVID ten times worse than it would be otherwise?’ No, that’s been pretty well thoroughly dispelled. Over 90 percent of the people [with COVID-19] have fever. What do you take for fever? They’re going to take Tylenol; they’re going to take ibuprofen.

“Some of those people are going to get worse,” Dr. Krell emphasized. “They’re probably got worse not because they took ibuprofen but just because they got worse.”

And don’t stop your blood pressure medication, he added. He explained that there has been no link between ace inhibitors and worsening COVID symptoms. And thus far, one blood type is not more susceptible to COVID-19 than other blood types.

“At this point, don’t panic. Don’t stop your blood pressure medication. Don’t throw your ibuprofen away.”

To listen to audio of Probst interview on svinews.com, click here. For the Facebook presentation from South Lincoln Medical Center, click here.