COVID-19 Update – Nurse Practitioner

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was linked to a deadly outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. This virus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), quickly spread around the globe. The disease it causes, COVID-19, is a spectrum of acute and long-term syndromes ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A variety of coagulopathic, neurologic, and psychiatric complications may also occur. The mortality rate has been staggering, with over 1.6 million deaths worldwide and over 302,000 deaths in the US as of December 15th, 2020. The US leads the world in the number of cases and deaths. Economic changes caused by COVID-19 are many and the impact is just beginning to be understood. Over the short term, COVID-19 has resulted in an increased unemployment rate, decreased hours of work / labor force participation, and in some cases, a significant loss of wages. Lost productivity resulting from illness must be accounted for, as well as the changes in how people can or cannot safely work, given the risks of transmission. Social distancing, quarantines, and travel restrictions have reduced the work force across all economic sectors. Those whose work requires proximity to others are generally more affected, while individuals who can work remotely are less so.