Dr. Bud Lawrence from Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital discussed the hospital’s coronavirus patients, wearing face masks and schools reopening.

Henry Mayo has seen approximately 1,300 patients that have been tested for COVID-19, and about 197 positive tests, according to Dr. Lawrence, medical director of the emergency department at Henry Mayo.

“We’ve discharged 68 COVID-19 patients,” Lawrence said. “And that also goes to say, we’ve got 197 that tested positive. Almost all of those are getting better and are improving either at home, most of them and some of them after being discharged in the hospital. So in general, I believe that we’ve been able to handle this situation quite well, much, much, thanks to you staying at home.”

The doctor reminded Santa Clarita residents of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, to remember social distancing and mask wearing safety standards..

“Wear a mask when going into an essential business,” Lawrence said. “If you’re driving in your car and it’s just you and your car, you really don’t need to be wearing a mask. Or if you’re driving your car with people that you’d cohabitate with, your family members, you also don’t really need to be wearing a mask. You’re already exposed to them and other areas of your life, not important, but if you are entering essential businesses, you should wear your mask.”

Lawrence added the reason for the mask wearing is not to keep oneself from getting sick, but to keep others from getting sick.

“The reality is that you might have a COVID-19 infection, not knowing you could be asymptomatic and be a carrier, or you could just be very early on in your disease process,” Lawrence said.

It was also noted that wearing masks below the nose or not covering the face is ineffective.

“I do see a lot of people walking around town with their masks kind of below their noses,” Lawrence said. “It doesn’t really do anything. So if you are going to wear a mask, try to wear it above your nose and covering your face.”

One Santa Clarita resident posed the question to Dr. Lawrence whether or not children should also be wearing masks, especially when school returns.

“The kids may get COVID-19 and transmitted amongst themselves,” the doctor responded. “They may not get very sick, but the problem is if those kids take that infection at home, and there are family members at home that may have a compromised immune system, they may be elderly and have multiple medical problems.”

Lawrence also reassured the community that precautions are being taken to keep the COVID-19 patients held in such a way it is still safe to use the emergency room.

“Community members should also be getting their physicals. They should be seeing the regular doctor, whether that’s her blood pressure or some other medical problem,” Lawrence added. “We want to make sure that you’re not missing out on those things because you’re either too scared to go to the doctor’s office or you’ve got other things they’re taking precedence over this. Please don’t neglect those things.”

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