Mat-Su Doctor describes continued danger of COVID-19, calls out conspiracy theories

Thursday’s Mat-Su Borough press conference included the announcement of a temporary school closure and discussion of how the borough intends to spend remaining Cares Act funds, but the majority of speakers issued a collective plea to the people of the Mat-Su to take the pandemic seriously and take measures such as wearing a mask and altering holiday plans. 

One of the major concerns around COVID-19 is the strain it places on medical personnel and infrastructure.  Dr. Thomas Quimby is the head of Mat-Su Regional Hospital’s emergency medicine department.  He also leads the hospital’s COVID-19 task force.  Dr. Quimby discussed positive news about the pandemic, including improved treatments and the potential for vaccines in the future.  At the same time, he emphasized the seriousness of COVID-19, including for groups not usually considered high-risk.

“From late January through October, there were almost 300,000 excess deaths in the United States, and the highest group with an increase in death was in 25-through-44-year-olds.  So this is still a dangerous disease.”

Excess deaths essentially means the number of people who die beyond what would be expected in normal circumstances.  Dr. Quimby used America’s World War II death total of more than 400,000 to put the number into perspective.

In recent weeks, national outlets have shared emotional stories from healthcare professionals on the front line against the pandemic. Dr. Quimby ended his remarks by drawing on another historical event.  This time, he referred to the treatment of soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.

“These were [men and women] who did not start that war.  Most of them didn’t want to be there fighting it, and when they stepped off the plane and people were yelling at them and even spitting at them, I think we can all agree that was wrong.”

Dr. Quimby then seemingly drew a parallel to the emotional toll conspiracy theories and claims that COVID-19 is a hoax take on healthcare providers.

“If you want to debate the way society is handling this, I think that’s reasonable, but to say that this isn’t real is to, frankly, dishonor and disrespect the healthcare workers that are dealing with this right now, as well as the people who are sick and affected—and even dying from this—right now.”

Dr. Quimby also discussed positive developments in combatting COVID-19, including better treatment methods and the potential for future vaccines, but he also stressed the importance of continuing to wear masks when around others and to practice social distancing.

For now, pleas to the public are all that the Mat-Su Borough government believes it has at its disposal.  Despite public statements by Acting Alaska Attorney General Ed Sniffen, the borough attorneys for the Mat-Su and several other second-class boroughs believe they do not have the power to create broad health mandates like requiring masks in public.  Borough Mayor Vern Halter, a lawyer himself, reaffirmed that stance on Thursday after asking Mat-Su residents to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19.