Dr. Alyssa Chapital, Medical Director for the Mayo Clinic, spoke to club members at the August 27 meeting about COVID protocols and the state of the pandemic in Maricopa County. "This country is on the mend," she said but cautioned "we will not get back to normal until we have a vaccine or there is no COVID at all." Currently, there are 150 vaccines undergoing clinical trials, three of which are in Phase 3. "We may have one by the end of the year," she said. Dr. Chapital encouraged club members to continue preventive measures -- wearing a mask in public, washing hands frequently, keeping a physical distance, and staying home as much as possible. She said there is a 67% chance of transmission when no protocols are in place versus 4% when masks and social distancing are employed. The upcoming flu season is a concern for health professionals; however, Dr. Chapital said we "could mitigate flu season if we continue to wear masks." |
