Public health doctor: people need to change attitudes about going in to work with even mild symptoms of cold or flu

By Andy Gardner

CANTON. The St. Lawrence County Board of Health president says people need to change cavalier attitudes about toughing it out and going to work with minor symptoms of illness. He says COVID-19, in many cases, can seem like a mild cold or flu, but the consequences of bringing that into a work environment can mean a lengthy hospitalization or even death for other people.

Dr. Andrew Williams, SLC Board of Health president, discussed the problem of people with mild COVID symptoms going to work during the Monday, Dec. 7 St. Lawrence County legislature meeting.

“A common theme - many people who are young and otherwise healthy and have mild symptoms, they dismiss them and go to work,” he said.

COVID-19 can cause a long list of symptoms, not just a dry cough and fever. Some patients don’t get either, and will instead get cold-like symptoms, such as a congested or runny nose, and sore throat. Other COVID-19 symptoms include fever, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

“What might feel like a cold for you, results in the hospitalization of many people,” he said. “Some of these people have been hospitalized for like a month.”

United Helpers in Ogdensburg is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that has infected well over 100 staffers and residents, and has killed 11 residents since Thanksgiving.

“The consequences for some of the people in nursing homes can be death,” Dr. Williams said.

He said in addition to hospitalizations and deaths, COVID-19 patients can develop what’s being called “Long Haul Syndrome.” That means they have chronic or permanent damage to the lungs or heart, or have neurological problems that persist for months after the virus has cleared from the person’s body.

“It may feel like a cold to some people, but it has very serious implications for the community,” the doctor said.

Staying home when sick is one of what he calls “The Five Pillars of Prevention” - simple measures everyone can take in their daily lives to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to not going to work when experiencing any symptom, even the most minor, people should also wear a mask when in public or around people outside of their own homes, wash their hands frequently, social (physical) distance, and stay local and don’t travel unnecessarily.