Dr. Montgomery: ‘This is a big deal’ on COVID-19

“About three out of four Missourians don’t think this is a big deal. This is a big deal,” Dr. Chris Montgomery, MD, said about COVID-19 during the daily Emergency Operations Center meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Montgomery said the medical community, both locally and regionally, are working to find new and better ways to practice medicine while practicing social distancing. He said doctors are working to use telemedicine techniques for patients. These include virtual visits through facetime and phone calls when possible.

“The biggest thing we’re trying to do is educate everybody that we can about what we, I think at this point, know,” he said. “What we know is that this is an extremely communicable and easily spread virus. It’s one that if you have the wrong risk factors ... you have an increased risk of dying from this.”

While those over the age of 60 or with pre-existing conditions are at higher risk, Montgomery said the group he mainly wants to focus on is “the millennials.”

This group, he said, will have the least amount of symptoms due to their age and are the most mobile, which means they’re the most likely to spread the virus without knowing.

“They are the ones that are the slowest to respond,” Montgomery said. “Speaking as a citizen and a doctor, we are going to force government to restrict our movements beyond what any of us possibly can even tolerate if we don’t practice some personal responsibility.”

Personal responsibility, he said, means hand washing and social distancing as much as possible. Social distancing simply means maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and minimizing contact with others.

“Going out and about for things that are unnecessary, in my mind, right now today, is the equivalent to driving while intoxicated,” he said. “You put other people at risk who had no choice in the matter and if you can’t behave responsibly then shame on you and shame on the people who aren’t controlling you.”

According to Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers, seven tests have been taken in Butler County, four have come back negative and the other three are still pending.

Both state and private labs, Montgomery explained, will prioritize tests based on needs and reasons for concern.

The recommendations, he said, won’t be different between somebody who exhibits symptoms and somebody with a positive test.

They’ll be told to stay home for at least 14 days and anybody in their family should as well.

“Everybody’s potentially contagious. We are spreading it before we know we are,” Montgomery said.

Those who should go to the hospital include people with a fever over 104, chest pain, shortness of breath or a rapidly declining condition. Out-patient clinics can help with information.

“We are trying to maintain the hospital as the place to treat the most ill people,” Montgomery said. “Right now there is still a pretty stringent protocol on who gets a test.”

Doctors are currently following protocol passed down by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Montgomery said there’s two reasons mass testing could roll out. One would be if there’s a large spike in disease. The other is to know if it’s here.

“We’d test everybody, but that’s not a luxury we’re going to have for quite some time,” Montgomery said. “Even if we had 1,000 tests in Poplar Bluff right now that we could get results from, we’re still going to want to prioritize patients who have chronic illness or are of age (over 60).

“...If you’re 20 years old and you’ve got 105 fever in a week and a half from now, and we have coronavirus cases in Poplar Bluff. If that’s all you have, just an ache, we’re going to tell you to stay home. We’re going to beg you to stay home.”

Montgomery said if there is a situation where the area has a mass problem, drive through testing will become available.

The rural nature of the area, Montgomery said, will be to the benefit of the community. The lower population density and less movement will help.

However, that also means the demographic in the area, he said, has lower funding, less educated and is less mobile when necessary.

“If we get it here, we’re going to have a difficult time getting people really, really to the services that are out of their norms such as ‘I’ve got a cold, I’m going to go to the emergency room,’” Montgomery said. “The emergency room cannot handle it. ... That’s why this is important. That’s why it’s akin to DWI.”