Newsletter

As the COVID-19 situation is slowly improving in New York, I wanted to touch upon a few points related to kids and where we stand at Tribeca Pediatrics.

First, there are multiple reports that the rate of childhood immunization is dropping dramatically due to the decrease of preventive visits. Fortunately, COVID-19 has spared the pediatric population in regards to the severity of the disease. It would be such a shame if kids are exposed to diseases that can be prevented by these immunizations. Throughout this crisis, we have pledged to be available to our families and provide care in the safest possible way. As this crisis evolves, we are continuously refining our protocols to allow families to visit the offices for preventive care and sick visits.

To ensure the safety of our patients, families and staff, we have implemented the following policies in office:

• Well visits and sick visits appointments are scheduled separately. Sick visits scheduled in office must have a virtual visit first.

• All patients and family members coming into the office are pre-screened for potential infection.

• We are limiting the waiting room to a max of two families and bringing patients into exam rooms upon arrival.

• Only one guardian is to accompany the patient to the visit with the exception of newborns (babies under 3 months old).

• Staff disinfects exam rooms after each patient and office space.

• All staff wear appropriate PPE. Patients and family members over 2 years old must wear face masks.

Testing for COVID-19 Infection in Children
As testing is slowly becoming more available, some practices are testing for the virus. However, since symptoms of the virus are mild or inexistent in kids, testing for diagnostic purposes does not make sense, especially since we are trying to eliminate risk of exposure in our offices. For this reason, we do not perform COVID testing in our facilities and offer virtual visits for kids with suspicion of the viral illness.

To see if kids may be contagious is also not necessary as they are not congregated in schools or likely visiting their grandparents. It is also safe to assume that if a child has COVID-19, their parents are infected as well.

As the situation evolves and kids return to school, widespread testing (which will become more simple and accurate) may become warranted to limit the spread of the pandemic.

Testing for Antibody and Immunity
There is much debate about serology testing to determine if someone has been infected. Currently, the existing tests are unreliable and may give a false sense of safety. Therefore, we will not be offering COVID-19 antibody testing. Testing will eventually become more reliable, at that point it will be invaluable to know if one has been infected.

The DOH performed random serology testing showing that up to 25% of people may have been infected with the virus in NYC, which is probably underestimated. The good news is that the areas that have been hit hard, like NYC, may also be the safest places in the future where contraction and transmission of the virus will be limited. Just a thought!