Prisma Health doctors urge caution

Two Prisma Health doctors are urging South Carolinians to try to minimize the numbers of people who normally gather for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  Keeping down crowds and observing the basic spacing and sanitary recommendations are believed to be key to reversing the latest trend of increased COVID-19 infections.  Doctors Eric Ossmann, emergency medicine, and Wendell James, anesthesiologist, recognize there is much fatigue from months of the pandemic, but they hope South Carolinians do their part and avoid situations in which they possibly can infect others.  They are anticipating difficult months ahead, but are optimistic if individuals take the right steps, conditions will improve and we’ll all be closer to a normal lifestyle by the spring.  The doctors stress now’s the time to get an inoculation to protect against catching the flu, which if contracted can only make things worse for people trying to withstand the pandemic.  There is a flu vaccine but still, as yet, no COVID vaccine.  And Dr. Ossmann says if you do get protection from the flu that doesn’t mean you won’t get COVID.