Arissa Viering | Goodday Mineral Wells | 11/5/2020 | PPGH Updates | COVID-19 Updates
PALO PINTO COUNTY, TX – It’s been almost nine months since COVID-19 first hit Palo Pinto County and it is predicted to be quite some time before the pandemic ends. Currently, the COVID-19 numbers for Palo Pinto County are as follows: 844 total positive cases, 23 fatalities, 746 recoveries, and 16 active cases. While it’s easy to view the numbers each day, being a healthcare worker during the pandemic is anything but simple. In a new series to show the perspectives of healthcare workers during the pandemic in Palo Pinto County, Goodday Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto General Hospital have partnered together to provide in-depth interviews with these healthcare heroes during the ongoing pandemic.
On November 4th, 2020, Julie Masterson, RN, OB/Gyn Nurse for Palo Pinto General Hospital, joined the Goodday Mineral Wells team to discuss her perspective on COVID-19 within Palo Pinto County. Julie has decades of experience as a registered nurse and has been serving Palo Pinto for the last few years. Her perspective as a nurse in the maternity ward brings forth a striking point of view that not many citizens of Palo Pinto County have seen.
Just over nine months ago, Julie was able to allow all family members to see mother and baby after birth. Now, she can only allow two family members: one support person and one visitor. Other visitors are often seen holding signs outside the windows of the maternity ward as they welcome their new family member and check on the mother. Watch the full interview below:
While several topics have been covered by the mainstream media during the COVID-19 pandemic, one important topic is not covered enough: COVID-19 during and after pregnancy.
The significance of practicing proper precautionary measures against COVID-19 during and after pregnancy cannot be understated. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people.”
An even more troubling truth regarding COVID-19 is the unknown long-term effects on newborns and the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 illness during pregnancy. According to the CDC, “Much is still unknown about the risks of COVID-19 to newborns born to mothers with COVID-19.” The following statements are known at this time:
We do know that:
- Infections causing COVID-19 in newborns born to mothers with COVID-19 are uncommon.
- Some newborns have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 shortly after birth. It is unknown if these newborns got the virus before, during, or after birth from close contact with an infected person.
- Most newborns who tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 had mild or no symptoms and recovered. However, there are a few reports of newborns with severe COVID-19 illness.
- Preterm (less than 37 completed weeks gestation) birth and other problems with pregnancy and birth have been reported among women who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy. It is unknown whether these problems were related to the virus that causes COVID-19.
The most important takeaway from all of this is simple: Practice precautions during pregnancy:
- Limit interactions with people that might have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19, including people within your household, as much as possible.
- When going out or interacting with others outside your immediate household,
- Wear a mask, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Note that wearing a mask is not a substitute for other everyday prevention actions like washing hands frequently and avoiding close contact with other people.
- Avoid others who are not wearing masks or ask others around you to wear a mask, if possible.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others outside your household.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid activities where taking protective measures may be difficult and where social distancing can’t be maintained.
The perspective provided by Julie Masterson, RN is important to remember during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practicing precautions during pregnancy and soon-after will help to protect both mom and baby.
Former Co-Founder | June 2020-Nov 2020 | Graduate of Texas Christian University with a background in medical anthropology, psychology, and creative writing. Passionate about writing novels. Loved the Mineral Wells community and all that it had offered her and her family.
