Dr. Faheem Younus, one of the top doctors in the United States, recently tested positive for the omicron variant of the COVID19. The Infectious Diseases Chief at the Maryland University and an award-winning clinician have now recovered from the infection and also shared five lessons from his fight against the new strain.
On Sunday, taking to his Twitter account he wrote, “Personal News: Omicron got me”, and added, “Two weeks ago I developed symptoms and tested positive. Sharing five lessons I learned from that experience and hoping you’ll find them helpful”.
Personal News: Omicron got me:)
Two weeks ago I developed symptoms and tested +ve
Sharing five lessons I learned from that experience and hoping you’ll find them helpful
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 15, 2022
Emphasizing the significance of masks, particularly N95 or KN95, Dr. Younus stated that despite being around thousands of patients in the past two years he never got infected from COVID, but, after attending a ‘maskless’ family gathering for two days, he immediately got Covid-19.
He wrote, “Lesson 1: Masks work…I’ve been around COVID patients over 1000 times in ~2 years and didn’t get infected due to masks/PPE. But was exposed for 2-days at a maskless family gathering and COVID got me. So yes. Masks work. Wear an N95 or KN95 if you can”.
Lesson 1: Masks work
I’ve been around COVID patients over 1000 times in ~2 years and didn’t get infected due to masks/PPE
But was exposed for 2-days at a maskless family gathering and COVID got me
So yes. Masks work. Wear an N95 or KN95 if you can
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 15, 2022
Dr. Younus further highlights the efficacy of vaccines in his tweet wherein he writes, “You know the vaccine+booster did its job when the patient is back to work after 5-days (with a mask:) and telling his story on Twitter instead of fighting for his life on a ventilator. I thank vaccines. I thank God”.
Lesson 3: Practice what you preach
I didn’t need monoclonal antibodies, steroids, antibiotics or paxlovid etc. Symptomatic therapy (that I’ve shared many times before) was enough
Definitely didn’t use ivermectin, HCQ, zinc:)
Protocols for severe disease are different
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 15, 2022
Talking about his treatment, Yonous further said that he followed a conservative approach that did not need steroids, antibiotics or paxlovid, ivermectin, zinc, etc as his symptoms were mild. However, he added that “Protocols for severe disease are different”
Lesson 3: Practice what you preach
I didn’t need monoclonal antibodies, steroids, antibiotics or paxlovid etc. Symptomatic therapy (that I’ve shared many times before) was enough
Definitely didn’t use ivermectin, HCQ, zinc:)
Protocols for severe disease are different
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 15, 2022
Dr. Younus also talked about the mentality. According to him, “It (mortality) puts everything in perspective and allows us to make brave, meaningful decisions”. “Herd immunity is good; herd mentality is bad,” he added.
Lesson 4: Remember the end
COVID or no COVID, think of your own mortality, often. It puts everything in perspective and allows us to make brave, meaningful decisions
Herd immunity is good; herd mentality is bad
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 15, 2022
Lastly, Dr. Faheem Younus advised people to “get boosted” and “wear KN/N95 mask”. “If COVID still gets you, you’ll likely fully recover,” he wrote.
Lesson 5: Know your risk tolerance
Get boosted, wear a KN/N95 mask. If COVID still gets you, you’ll likely fully recover
That family gathering was important for me. But your risk tolerance could be different
Comply with science, then follow your heart
End.
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 15, 2022
Dr. Younus keeps sharing pandemic tips from the COVID frontlines on social media. In one of his latest tweets, he busted the myth that Omicron is “mild” and alerted people that “Omicron is not mild; it’s *milder* than delta. Understand the difference.”