Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Ed Dominguez, Answers Questions About COVID-19

Dr. Edward Dominguez, The Liver Institute infectious disease specialist, has been a regular on East Texas Now (KLTV) in Tyler, Texas, answering viewer questions about COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.

As we continue to learn more about this virus every day, answers may vary. Check back with us for regular updates.

If you have a question for Dr. Ed, you can email it to dr.ed@kltv.com.

WATCH HERE Friday, August 14, 2020 EPISODE

A few questions from this episode:

Opening schools during COVID-19

• Should we send the kids to school with a reusable lunch bag or disposable paper bag?
• When my child gets home from school, should I have him/her change and immediately wash their clothes?
• How effective do you think the one-way traffic hallway system is? Should it be implemented?
• How safe do you feel about sending your child back to school?

Wearing Masks and Social Distancing

• What do should we do when others have different opinions about wearing a mask and social distancing?
• What should you do when people make fun of you for wearing a mask?
• Is going to the movie theater safe?
• Is it safe to travel for pleasure?
• Is playing golf at my home course okay to do?
• With inconsistent masks wearing while at a restaurant, is it safe to go to a restaurant?
• What’s the difference between a restaurant experience and bar experience?

Vaccine Trials

• What are your thoughts on the vaccines: availability, efficiency, etc?
• When do you recommend getting a flu shot? Is it too early to get a flu shot vaccine?
• If a vaccine were created how long would it take for every American to have access to it?

COVID-19 Contagiousness and Symptoms

• If you have COVID, when are you contagious? Only when you have symptoms or can I be infectious without symptoms?
• We heard this virus was mutating, what does that mean?
• I contracted COVID and recovered but I am still experiencing fatigue and lack of smell/taste. Is there anything I can do to help speed up this process to return to normal?
• My family member tested positive for COVID, I have been in minimal contact with this family member, should I quarantine?

General COVID

• How are deaths classified as COVID-19 deaths?
• Why is COVID-19 different from other diseases we’ve experienced in the past century?
• What are the commonly used steroids for COVID and why?
• Are you seeing more intense cases now in the Summer than we did during the Spring?
• Are you optimistic about overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic?