Physical, mental impact of coronavirus By Mike SMollinS msmollins@liherald.com
Health officials continue to place a strong emphasis on the physical and mental wellbeing of the community as coronavirus cases continue to soar across Nassau County, leading to fear and a lot of unanswered questions. As of press time on Tuesday, the county had more than 8,400 confirmed cases. Overall, there have been 10 coronavirus-related deaths in the county. Dr. Adhi Sharma, the medical director for Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside, described the influx of patients to the facility as “nonstop,” but said the community can do its part to help keep coronavirus cases down by heeding the warnings of health professionals. “I can’t stress how important social distancing is,” Sharma said. “We have two full units full of sick people, so it’s not overblown. This is an extreme situation.” Sharma said it was against policy to comment on the number of cases the hospital has and how many people are being tested. He did note, however, that physicians are keeping patients who are
It’s Your MoneY By
Jonathan Wolfsohn MBA, CFP, EA, ATA
tHInGs tAXPAYers sHouLD KnoW ABout tHe sHArInG eConoMY AnD tHeIr tAXes: PArt I From renting spare rooms and vacation homes to car rides or using a bike ... name a service and it's probably available through the sharing economy. Taxpayers who participate in the sharing economy can find helpful resources in the IRS Sharing Economy Tax Center on IRS.gov. It helps taxpayers understand how this activity affects their taxes. It also gives these taxpayers information to help them meet their tax obligations. Here are two things taxpayers should know about how the sharing economy might affect their taxes: The activity is taxable Sharing economy activity is generally taxable. It is taxable even when: • • • •
The activity is only part time The activity is something the taxpayer does on the side Payments are in cash The taxpayer receives an information return-like a Form. 1099 or Form W2
suspected of having the virus or confirmed to have it in a different environment than others. According to Sharma, people practicing social distancing and frequently washing their hands is the best way to flatten the curve of cases and could help against health officials’ forecast that the peak of the illness in the U.S. may be more than a month away. He added that people can contract the illness and start spreading it instantly despite not feeling symptoms for as long as five to six days. While the majority of patients who die from the virus tend to be senior citizens, Sharma noted, it does not mean that younger people are immune. “If people think their age is going to protect them, they may be in for a horrible surprise if they contract the virus,” he said. Sharma said that anyone who feels mildly ill should self-isolate rather than go to hospitals or doctor’s offices, which are inundated with sick people because of the virus and it being flu season. He added that if a person exhibits symptoms and feels that they should get tested because there is an at-risk person at
home, they should call ahead and make an appointment. Doctors do not recommend retesting after a person is diagnosed with coronavirus because they want to conserve tests. Sharma said the wait time for results has improved because the hospital was initially sending tests out to a lab in North Carolina, but now sends one to a high-volume lab in New Jersey, and may soon be able to send tests to Mount Sinai in Manhattan, which could make results available daily. Sharma added that he was proud to see the staff at MSSN step up during a time of crisis. “It’s been an amazing thing to see how people are banding together, working together and putting themselves in the line of fire,” he said, “and the dedication and commitment is really heartwarming.” The virus also takes a mental toll. Anthony Santella worked in downtown Manhattan during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and was a student at Tulane University in New Orleans at the height of Hurricane Sandy. Now an associate professor of public health at Hofstra University, he said he plans to
Lynbrook/East Rockaway
HERALD HOW TO REACH US
Some expenses are deductible Taxpayers who participate in the sharing economy may be able to deduct certain expenses. For example, taxpayers who use their cars for business may qualify to claim the standard mileage rate, which is 58 cents per mile for 2019.
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March 26, 2020 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
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use those experiences to help others cope. “While I don’t have any formal education in emergency preparedness and response,” he said, “it has guided the work that I do and the response I have to man-made or natural disasters.” Santella is using his training in public health and infectious diseases to help younger people understand the pandemic. He developed two free webinars, one for children and teens in elementary and middle school on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m., and the other for high school students on Thursdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. The webinars, which Santella is conducing alongside his two nieces, who are 12 and 10 respectively, will feature a half hour information session about what the coronavirus is, followed by a question and answer session. Those looking to register can do so at anthonyjsantella.com. William Sanderson, a professor of psychology at Hofstra and the director of its anxiety and depression clinic for two decades, said he is taking a threepronged approach to helping his students. Sanderson said he is telling them to keep the risk in perspective and realize that not everyone who contracts the virus will die, to limit their media and social media intake significantly while sticking to a few sources for information so that it is not overwhelming, and to keep a normal routine as much as they can. To practice social distancing, Sanderson communicates with students and colleagues via Zoom video chat, and has fostered a positive message for them. “This will change and this will go away,” he said of the virus. “It will certainly leave a lasting impact like 9/11 did and like Hurricane Sandy did. It may even be more profound than either of those two, but engaging in activities and looking toward the future will be helpful.”