mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
A3
Going the distance while keeping social distance
Democrat photos by Kevin Christensen
The Spirit of Benny 5K/10K Fun Run and Walk may have been canceled but that didn’t stop this Placerville family, top left photo, from hitting the El Dorado Trail Saturday, wearing their annual event T-shirts. Liz, Cara, Robert, Ali and Parker, from left, said it was important for them to complete the run even though it was canceled to limit possible coronavirus exposure to participants. The Run for Benny is a fundraiser for MakeA-Wish and in memory of Benny Penner who died at the age of 5 from Batten’s Disease. With a statewide shelter-in-place order going into effect Friday, many locals found a way to get outside over the weekend. Residents are asked to observe social distancing of 6 feet but are still within guidelines to use trails and parks. Bored with the shelter-in-place, top right photo, it’s surf’s up on Main Street, Placerville.
El Dorado High School sophomores Luis Valdez, 15, and Alissa Jackson, 16, spend time together on swings at Benham Park Sunday. Jackson said she thought it made sense to close schools to help fight the spread of COVID-19 but people should still be able to get outside and recreate.
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WHAT PREGNANT WOMEN MIGHT EXPECT Placerville residents Sage Fox, left, and Stacy Masouka walk their dogs Daisy and Cindy Saturday on the El Dorado Trail. “We had to get out to stretch our legs and the dogs were going stircrazy,” said Fox.
Community transmitted “Today we have a confirmed case that was community transmitted.” Williams said the case only furthers the importance of following shelter-in-place orders from the county and state. “We have prepared for the identification of this third type of transmission in El Dorado
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to practice social distancing and properly washing your hands.” The resident acquired the virus from an unknown source, according to county officials. Williams during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting said residents should expect to see the county’s case count continue to rise.
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been at an international conference in San Francisco two weeks prior. So she gave Marshall Medical a call to see about a test. But hospital officials told her over the phone her predicament wasn’t enough to justify a test, she said. Now she’s left wondering how many she may have infected if she had, in fact, contracted the coronavirus. “I feel much better but would get tested immediately if it was available,” she said. “I am so scared to see my mom and dad and (the) rest of my family. I do not know if it is safe for me to be around my loved ones.” Health officials advise those who think they may have contracted COVID-19 to speak with their doctors, who will then evaluate and potentially seek testing and care. Following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the county’s coronavirus information page advises residents to seek out medical care if they have recently traveled to “mainland China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea (within the last 14 days) and [are] having respiratory symptoms” or if they have had “close contact with a person confirmed through a laboratory test to have COVID-19,” according to the county’s website. It’s the latter condition that frustrates Rescue resident Eric Kephart. It’s a ‘chicken and the egg’ situation, he said. There could be hundreds walking around with the virus, but with such strict testing controls, it’s hard to know who does and doesn’t have it, and thus even harder to justify a test. A couple of weeks ago, a sick Kephart went to MED7 Urgent Care Center in Folsom after several unsuccessful searches for testing spots in El Dorado Hills and elsewhere in the region. He said he hadn’t had a cold in years and never misses his annual trip to the doctor’s office for a flu shot, but was experiencing symptoms similar to what he had heard about the coronavirus. “I was told three times since I haven’t left the country or been close to someone who tested positive, I can’t get tested,” he said. “I got an inhaler, some antibiotics and was told to stay inside and
tween teeth. Some disappear after delivery, while others require surgical removal to prevent a buildup of plaque. Avoiding gum disease and achieving optimal dental hygiene success is not all that difficult. Almost everyone can do it with a modest amount of time invested daily. Keeping up with home dental care as well as scheduling periodic cleanings and wellness exams are two important steps toward accomplishing the goal of a healthy mouth. For full-service dental care for all members of your family, please call for an appointment. P.S. Pregnancy granulomas, which are not actually tumors, occur in 2% to 10% of pregnant women.
Dr. Little provides quality family and cosmetic dentistry. His office is located at 344 Placerville Dr., Suite 19, Placerville.
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County and it underscores the importance of staying at home,” Williams said. “The virus is here in El Dorado County and it’s more important than ever not to travel to places outside the home except for essential purposes. And when people are conducting essential services and activities, it’s critical
Pregnant women should make dental checkups part of their prenatal care regimen. Between 60 and 70 percent of women experience “pregnancy gingivitis”, due to rising progesterone levels. As a result, there is an increase in the flow of blood to gum tissues, making them sensitive, swollen and more likely to bleed when brushing and flossing. Because this condition does not disappear after delivery, gingivitis should be treated by a dentist. In addition, a condition known as “pregnancy granuloma” (sometimes referred to as “pregnancy tumors”) may occur during the second trimester. It is characterized by painless purplish-blue growths that develop be-
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‘have a nice day,’ basically. I understand there aren’t enough tests for everyone yet but it’s scary to think how many of us might be out there.” The CDC prioritizes testing for hospitalized patients, elderly or at-risk patients with COVID-19 symptoms, those in close contact with someone who tested positive and those that have recently traveled from highly impacted areas. But even those that have been lucky enough to get tested have come away frustrated. Last week Brandi Irene of Placerville got a nose swab test at Marshall Medical. A week later, she has yet to receive her test results — a daunting wait, she said. “At this point, the entire U.S. really need[s] the 15-minute tests and we just don’t have the resources it seems,” Irene said. “… Not much we can do except hunker down and take care of ourselves and family.” High demand for coronavirus tests has slowed the processing of the tests, according to Dr. Nancy Williams, El Dorado County Public Health Officer. Laboratories are typically taking up to five to seven days to process and provide results for COVID-19 tests. “While testing is available, it’s still limited,” Williams said. “We want to ensure that those who really need the test are getting it. Not everyone who has respiratory symptoms needs to be tested for COVID-19. If you’re sick with a fever and respiratory systems, you may simply have the flu. Even if you have COVID-19, if you’re experiencing relatively mild symptoms, you often won’t need to be tested and can just stay home and practice self-isolation until you’re well.” While slow to get off the ground initially, local coronavirus testing has ramped up in recent days, according to county officials. “Since the state loosened testing requirements, and commercial laboratories started accepting COVID-19 tests, there has been a significant increase in testing completed by local healthcare providers,” Williams said last week. The two El Dorado County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 are assumed to have contracted the virus outside the county.
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