COVID-19: The New normal

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COVID-19 has ravaged the world with a pandemic the world has never seen before. 

To date, over 8 .3 Million Americans have been infected with COVID-19, and over 221, 000 have died from the disease.

This is a disease that requires everyone to observe social distancing, to wear masks consistently and accurately.  It requires us to play our part to keep each other safe, especially as we are faced with the reality that this disease weaponizes each one of use against our neighbor!

These are the ways we can do our small part to save the world...one life at a time:

• Wear masks whenever you are go outside of your home
• Wear your mask properly, over your nose and mouth. If masks are worn incorrectly they are ineffective against transmission of the Corona virus
• Don't visit your loved ones in-person, especially  those who have chronic illness, our newborns, and our elderly. Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime them.  It's harder for them to fight the virus.  
• Understand that if you have had the virus, but have gone from symptomatic to asymptomatic, you may still potentially transmit the virus. So it is essential to wear masks  at all times when in contact with the public. 

Together, let's save lives...yours, mine, and all the world around us!

COVID-19 has put a lot of DC citizens out of work.  Dr. Mic will sponsor bills to increase the percentage of DC citizens required to be employed by contractors who do business with the District, vote to extend unemployment benefits to all DC residents for an additional 12 months, and work to establish training programs for residents who need to take advantage of job opportunities.   

Even as DC is slowly re-opening, this pandemic is far from over, as the series of financial difficulties stemming from unemployment and the mounting costs of utility bills, rent, and mortgage will continue to plague DC citizens long after the immediate threat is over.  Dr. Mic advocates for extending the COVID-19 legislation already in place that affects rent, mortgage, and the paying of utility bills by 12-18 months post-pandemic so that DC citizens have a real opportunity to get back on their feet before having to resume the payment of their monthly bills. In addition, Dr. Mic advocates "utility bill forgiveness" for the utilities that were not able to be paid due to the COVID- 19 outbreak.  

Dr. Mic would sponsor legislation  that would provide incentive grants to landlords across the District who rely on rent payments as income. This would be done as an effort to reduce the amount of eviction filings in DC Superior Court, and thus work to keep DC citizens in their homes.  

Dr. Mic is committed to insuring that our front line responders , to include our physicians, nursing, and EMT providers receive front line responder pay (also known as hazard pay).  These individuals have put their lives and livelihoods on the line  for our DC citizens, and many have been working overtime consistently. Dr. Mic would work on a bill that allows our front line responders and providers to be fairly compensated for their efforts!

Dr. Mic advocates for all health care providers, especially those involved in daily medical care to our vulnerable populations, such a nursing home staff, front line physicians and nurses, and EMT submit to  periodic COVID-19 testing to ensure the reduction in the risk of transmission to  themselves, their colleagues, and most of all our DC citizens. 

Dr. Mic will work to create a stockpile of masks and other PPE equipment that can be distributed in each community, so that DC can consistently meet the safety measures for prevention of transmission of COVID- 19. 

It is essential that all healthcare professionals, as well as DC citizens, know the current ways to don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) so that the use of PPE will be most effective against the Coronavirus.  Currently, there is such a misuse of PPE that renders it ineffective against COVID-19. 

Dr. Mic advocates for the continuation and expansion of online DC services long after the immediate crisis is over, at least until all DC residents feel safe to leave their homes without increased risk of transmission.  

Dr. Mic advocates for the expansion of mental health resources for citizens who have or are now experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression due to COVID-19. 

Even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over physically, and we are no longer having deaths from COVID, experts expect that all who have challenged by COVID will have potential lasting physical symptoms and ailments directly linked to the pandemic.  Dr. Mic advocates for the mandatory insurance coverage for all persons affected by COVID-19 for hospitalizations and treatment for the next 10 years. For those who are uninsured or underinsured, Dr. Mic will advocate for a DC Medical Fund to be set aside to pay for treatment and hospitalizations for COVID-19 based illness for 10 years.   In addition, it must be mandated that COVID-19 never been placed as a "Pre-Existing Condition" on any insurance panel as a way to deny coverage to any citizen of the District of Columbia. 

Vaccines for COVID-19 must be safe before use on District citizens.  Dr. Mic will ensure that the city is only accepting vaccines from sources where the vaccine has been thoroughly tested, and also ensure that a surplus is made available first to the most vulnerable DC citizens, including those who have already acquired the virus, and then to the general public.