Andrea S. Otto, MD, FAAFP

Here’s a great graphic about the relative risk with common activities. Source: https://www.covid19reopen.com/risk-ind

HOW TO USE YOUR TIME SHELTERING IN PLACE: I know you have all probably been in touch with individuals who are using their sheltering time doing amazing, positi...ve things like home improvements, cleaning out the attic or basement, starting a new exercise routine, helping others, or quitting smoking. If you are one of those individuals, CONGRATULATIONS! I applaud your resolve to make something positive out of the situation. Please let us know if we can help you out to build new healthy habits. If you are NOT one of those individualsif you are struggling to get through the day as essential staff, healthcare workers, working from home, fighting online school battles with children, dealing with fear, anxiety, sleep issues, depression, food or medication shortages, or just generally feeling exhausted by what is going on in the world todayPLEASE reach out for help. Rest assured that we ARE and will continue to be here for ALL of our patients! Let’s set up a time for a phone call or video chat just to check in. Go easy on yourself. Do what you need to get through this as safely as possible, and we’ll be here to help you get back on track whenever you are readyno judgement. When you get a chance, please send us a quick message or reply to this post with an update on how you and your families are doing- whether they are patients at our office or not. We would love to hear about how you are dealing with our current situation and help find ways to help you if we can. We’ll be reaching out individually to all of our patients that haven’t sent updates in the near future! Please reach out to friends, family and neighbors to check in virtually with them. Call or video chat, write a letter, send a card or small care package. We all need a little extra love, patience, and compassion during this time. We’re in this together!!

One of the biggest benefactors of these tax loopholes is right here in St. Louis. If these institutions paid property taxes alone, the community would net an a...dditional $45 million a year. *** 45 MILLION DOLLARS *** Population of the St. Louis metro area: 2.85 million. That amount could go A LONG WAY to help reduce healthcare costs or provide care for those who cannot afford it; or to pay nurses and hospital staff better or for better/safer staffing ratios; or to pay teachers, improve schools, provide health education, high quality food, community exercise opportunities, elder care, preschool, daycare assistance...