Hassoun On Coronavirus, Pt. 1

WAAY 31 is once more joined by infectious disease specialist Dr. Ali Hassoun to discuss coronavirus topics such as bars beginning to extend their hours, and potential danger as more schools begin to go back to in-person learning.

Hassoun, an infectious disease specialist at huntsville hospital to get a better understanding on our numbers.

>> dan shaffer: dr. hassoun, thank you for joining us again tonight.

>> dr. hassoun: thank you for having me.

>> dan shaffer: as you know governor kay ivey extended the mask order through november 8, do you think that was the right move with the numbers we're seeing?

>> dr. hassoun: absolutely.

I think we're going to need to extent -- extend that order until at least february or march >> dan shaffer: wow.

>> dr. hassoun: because we're going to need the masking and physical distancing.

It's essential at the moment because that's what we have currently to reduce the chances of infection and the spread in community.

Whether for the covid or the flu or other viral respiratory infections.

So it's very important to extend and continue that.

>> najahe sherman: dr. hassoun, the governor mentioned we've been very fortunate not to see the spike that we expected after labor day weekend.

But there are still 119 coronavirus inpatients in the huntsville hospital system.

Why do you think that we didn't see a spike like this -- this particular holiday like we did after, say, the 4th of july or the memorial day holiday?

>> dr. hassoun: i think part of it probably community wide there has been more toward using the mask and physical distancing as much as possible.

The other part is we are really not seeing severe infection that get detected versus a mild to moderate.

There's several possibilities in addition to are the people coming forward to be tested and get checked out.

So these three different possibilities is there.

>> dan shaffer: we just mentioned the 119 patients across huntsville hospital system and tonight we know almost 30% of those, about one in three, are in intensive care.

Besides obviously being in a worst condition, what are some often the fanningtors with this virus that put people in the i.

C.u.?

>> dr. hassoun: so in general those are -- have what we call multiple risk factors, including immune suppression or simple high blood pressure, heart disease, lung issues.

In addition to elderlies where they're usually more prone to complications.

Sometime delay in seeking medical attention.

Or coming to the hospital because they are afraid to come to the hospital, getting mixed and getting exposed.

So these are several possible factors get them into severe disease where they need i.c.u.

Admission or unfortunately intubated and being on the ventilator.

>> najahe sherman: alabama's abc board announced bars can now serve alcohol past 11:00 p.m.

In your opinion is this a recipe for disaster with the threats that bars pose for spreading the coronavirus?

>> dr. hassoun: i think it's very concerning they decided that because we've seen it in all other states.

Whenever they open it freely, even in other countries, and the best example, for example, the yune need kingdom, when they open it up completely there was increasing cases and they reversed back and went down to 11:00 or 10:00 p.m.

Where they need to cut down on it.

So people need to rethink that process because definitely bars, restaurants is a high risk of transmission and complications.

>> dan shaffer: we're going to turn our attention now to schools.

We learned west limestone high school is allowing students to switch to virtual learning after an increase in positive indications there.

If the school sees even one positive case, should they completely go virtual for two weeks or what number of cases do you think is that threshold before they make that switch?

>> dr. hassoun: yeah, i mean, for me really one case is very alarming because the exposure can be significant.

So if there is one case, whether you expose the kids or teachers or anybody surrounding them, there's going to be chance of 10 , 15 get infected.

And from 10, 15 that can double up or triple.

So i think one case is enough to be on alarm to probably shut the school, clean up, getting ready again, trace, track, test, and know before you really continue doing the same.

>> najahe sherman: and the past week fayetteville city schools announced two employees at ralph askins school tested positive for the coronavirus.

We know the employee's children were sent home to quarantine.

Explain how easily this virus can spread in the classroom and schools.

>> dr. hassoun: so, you know, the main way of transmission, as you know, is respiratory droplet , meaning coughing, sneezing, even talking can have some of these viral particles in the air t.

Main way of transmission is between students and teachers if they are nearby in closed spaces, meaning a classroom or other areas where it's easily for the virus to circulate.

If there is no good ventilation, they can stay for a long time so there will be at higher risk of inhaling the virus and getting the infection.

, you know, we know for a fact one infected person can infect another four at least.

And it's been shown in different studies.

So it's highly infectious, contagious, even in compared to a flu or other viruses.

>> dan shaffer: it's not friday night yet but we do have some high school football games tonight.

Many teams across the region are forfeiting games due to the virus.

In your opinion have the school districts done a good job managing the virus or is it still too dangerous to have kid out on the field?

>> dr. hassoun: you know, i wish wreb say at the moment it's safe to play football and play sports but it's not.

Even though our numbers became flat now we're seeing only increase.

There's continue to see widespread infection between the community members.

And the kids, children, specifically it's been shown in the study age about 10 to 18, as high risk of infection spreading as adults.

So it is risky because you don't really see in these games people wearing mask or a abiding by physical distancing.

So it is dangerous to continue doing that.

>> najahe sherman: dr. hassoun, there was a period of time where there was some uncertainty about how specifically the coronavirus impacted youth and children.

What do we know now that we didn't know before?

>> dr. hassoun: so at the moment what we have more information it seems children younger than 8 year old or 10-year-old have less chances of transmission and less severe or milder infection.

The older or more than 10 year old there's actually the risk is the same.

And can have widespread infection and transmission.

The main issue with all of this, we really don't want even one kids getting the hospital or die from it.

So i don't know if we accept, even if they have a milder disease, we accept it's okay.

Because we've seen kids really stay in the i.c.u.

For a long time.

Even though they are much lower in compared to adult.

But we shouldn't accept that.

>> najahe sherman: we have a lot more to discuss with dr. hassoun , including the time line for a coronavirus vaccine.

>> dan shaffer: