North Carolina Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has updated guidance on testing.

North Carolina now has community transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, we are moving to a different phase of our response efforts and will be further increasing our population-based community mitigation strategies. The goal of mitigation is to decrease spread of the virus among our population – especially for those who are at highest risk of clinical severity, and our health care workers – so fewer people need medical care at the same time. In addition, we need to implement strategies to conserve supplies and capacity so our health care workers can care for people who need medical attention even during the peak of the outbreak.

Changes in testing recommendations: People with mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19 do NOT need testing and should be instructed to stay at home to recover. Mild symptoms defined as fever and cough without any of the following: shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, altered thinking, cyanosis.

Click here to view a brief interview with Wesley via Spectrum News

In the interview, Wesley states that the only persons who should wear masks are those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Wesley does encourage everyone to remember good hand washing and good social distancing.

Click to read Wesley’s Op-Ed in the Charlotte Observer

Click to read the article at DrugTopics.com

There is some good news on the opioid crisis. Check out this article on the more judicious prescribing of opioids and the special needs of post cancer treatment patients.

Click to read the article at Healio

Remember “FAST” and save your loved ones from stroke!

Click here to read the full article from Clara Kim for QNotes

Many of you know I am a medical provider who loves to make my patients and staff laugh. And there is good reason. Here is an article discussing the benefits of laughter in medicine.

Click here to read the article from the National Institute of Health

Here’s an article that might shed some warmth on the subject:

Click to read the article at WebMD