"A Heck Of A Time To Get Cancer"

Also: More information on the state's new tracing program; a guide on how to get health insurance now ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [View in Browser]( | [Donate [WBUR]]( [WBUR](  [WBUR]( April 4, 2020 Get coronavirus alerts and updates in your inbox. [Sign up.]( Good morning, While the rise in cases has been substantial the last few days, it hasn’t been exponential. That's partly because we haven't yet approached the [expected surge]( of cases and deaths in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker said this week. The new model predicts that the virus is likely to peak across the state between April 10 and 20. CommonHealth editor Carey Goldberg said she thinks the best analogy for this moment comes from Dr. Vicki Jackson, the chief of palliative care and geriatric medicine at Mass. General: "It’s like we’re standing at the edge of the ocean in the dark, we’re waiting for the wave to hit and we have no idea how high the wave is going to be." P.S. Thanks to all the readers who answered our question from last week about how you're all avoiding burnout. We've included some responses below. And if you're looking for some additional ideas for this weekend, try one of these [at-home exercises]( or [attend one of these virtual events](. — Meagan McGinnes, Newsletter editor [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown url['A Heck Of A Time To Get Cancer': Hospitals Defer All But The Most Urgent Treatments]( From hip replacements to cancer surgery, some of the "elective procedures" that have had to be postponed because of the coronavirus may not feel very "elective" to the patients who need them, but the risk-benefit ratio has shifted. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    [Mass. To Begin Contact Tracing Program To Track New Coronavirus Cases]( Beginning Friday, Partners In Health will start to hire and train roughly 1,000 "contact tracers," who will call everyone who's tested positive for the coronavirus to learn where they've gone and with whom they've come into contact. [Read more.]( ➡️ Related: [Think You've Got COVID-19? Here's What Doctors Say About When To Seek Help](  [Coronavirus Reset: How To Get Health Insurance Now]( Millions of people have lost jobs — and often the health coverage that came with those jobs. Others have had work hours reduced or received drastic pay cuts, so monthly premiums are now out of reach. Here are some of the scenarios Americans are facing, and tips for navigating the storm of insurance worries. [Read more.](  Support the news [The Science Behind A 14-Day Quarantine After Possible COVID-19 Exposure]( If you're one of the many people who are being asked to quarantine for a fortnight, you might be asking: Why 14 days, exactly? The answer has to do with how viruses invade cells and replicate. [Read more.](  [Bringing Home Something Deadly: How Health Workers Are Isolating From Their Families]( Because supplies of masks, eye protection and face shields are limited, health care workers must resort to dangerous rationing measures like reusing potentially contaminated masks. We asked a few clinicians to share their experiences. [Read more.]( How Are You Avoiding Burnout? Thank you so much to all of the readers and listeners who shared what they are doing to keep their mental health and avoid burnout. Below is just a sampling of some of the responses we received. Some responses have been lightly edited for clarity. "As Nurse Administrator at The Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at BU, when I’m not screening anxiety patients for telehealth appointments, I carve out an hour each day to engage in various forms of exercise. At home, we are mindfully eating healthier and getting more sleep. I use careful practice of cleaning off groceries before bringing them into the home. I think of coronavirus as glitter." Bonnie "Write a letter to old friends telling them how much they mean to you. Put on some great dancing music and dance in your kitchen! Open your windows and appreciate the day. I guess being resourceful is the most important thing. Stay happy by doing the things you love, keep in touch with those you love, and breathe deeply. There’s a lot to be grateful for." Lynne "To avoid burnout, I am taking chunks of time to 'go dark': no instant messaging, no email, and no video conferencing. I will use this time to focus on projects that requires undivided attention." Alyce and Neal "[I'm] newly delivering food for Meals on Wheels. Just sharing a smile with these elderly folks, most of who live alone, brightens my day and hopefully theirs as well!" Gabrielle "I'm working on a passion project making politics/policy more accessible to young people!!" Meghan "Daily walks, no matter what." Sarah Jean “ When he’s at school he has a 1:1 aide, he has a physical therapist. He has all of these people. When he’s at home, he has: me. — Elizabeth Bostic, Methuen ["Students With Disabilities And Their Families Cope With Prolonged School Closures"]( Commentary [Lessons From The Tuberculosis Bullet That Boston Dodged In The '90s Could Help For COVID-19]( "Boston has impressive public health talents. Now is the time to use them."      Did you know we've been updating these [charts and maps]( showing the number of reported coronavirus cases, deaths and tests in the state every day? Be sure to check them out. 😎 Forward to a friend. 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