key: cord-0833914-m6df77as
authors: Pabon-Vazquez, Elizabeth
title: COVID-19 in Puerto Rico: Perspective from an Internal Medicine Resident Physician
date: 2020-05-12
journal: Am J Med Sci
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.05.007
sha: 7fb3d3023de138d67302fbf90c9e5d8100caa5f2
doc_id: 833914
cord_uid: m6df77as

nan

meetings and daily activities, imposed a car plate regulation standard for transit, and recommended 14-days of quarantine for people with symptoms or exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient (2) . A direct phone line was created to assist persons with questions or with potential COVID-19 related symptoms. The National Guard was activated to help monitor travelers entering the island on March 12. By March 31, 239 cases had been confirmed and 8 deaths had been recorded.

Following the CDC recommendations reviewed on April 13, 2020, the Puerto Rican population was further encouraged to stay home, avoid crowded places, use masks in public, engage in strict hand hygiene routine, and clean and disinfect exposed surfaces (3). Importantly, persons found disregarding such guidelines exposed themselves to fines or incarceration (implemented on March 16). Education about COVID-19 continues to be provided through television programs, the press, social networks, and via interactions with healthcare providers.

As the Government reported to the press on April 15, the expected date for the peak of As an internal medicine resident physician, we work in the front lines, examining, admitting, and discharging patients with a broad spectrum of diseases including COVID-19.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, droplet precautions during history taking and physical examination were limited to specific diagnoses (e.g., suspected tuberculosis or Influenza Dengue virus, would not be unexpected. In addition, the hurricane season will start in June and citizens will soon be preparing their homes and families for possible environmental disasters as witnessed in 2017 with Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated the island. COVID-19 is one more challenge to overcome, but being on the frontlines of this pandemic, I have no doubt I will be prepared for what is to come.

People Who Need to Take Extra Precautions

Resident Response During Pandemic: This Is Our Time

The author thanks Jesse Roman for his review and recommendations for the manuscript.