#323: COVID-19 & SARS-CoV-2 with Rizwan Sohail, MD

Dr. Rizwan Sohail is an infectious disease specialist based at the Mayo Clinic, where he holds a joint appointment with the divisions of Infectious Diseases and Cardiovascular Diseases.

He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago and then a Fellowship in infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic.

In This Episode We Discuss

• Distinguishing between COVID-19 (disease) and the actual novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2)
• What is different about this specific coronavirus compared to others
• This coronavirus has a respiratory droplet transmission
• The difference between respiratory droplet and airbourne transmission
• Time from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to symptom
• The disease mechanism
• Current case reports on those hospitalized
• In those who have recovered, do we know yet whether they can be reinfected or if they have established immunity?
• Is the severity of the disease impacted by the length or magnitude of the exposure?
• On average, for someone infected how many people will they likely infect.
• How it compares to other viruses in terms of lethality and transmissibility
• Why social distancing (and potentially self- isolation) is so important
• Impact on healthcare system
• Mortality rate is not inherent to the virus alone, but mediated by how the healthcare system holds up, as well as population demographics, etc.
• Response needed now: a) public health/governmental; b) individuals (context dependent)