Ezriel Kornel, MD, director of The Orthopedic and Spine Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., has been self-isolating since March 13 when he tested positive for COVID-19, reports lohud, an affiliate of The USA Today Network.
According to the CDC, older people and those with underlying medical conditions are more vulnerable to severe respiratory illness from COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
After experiencing flu-like symptoms, which deteriorated after two days, Dr. Kornel, 66, got tested for COVID-19. The results returned two days later.
"What I think is so critical for people to know is that if they get symptoms that are even those of a mild cold, they should assume until proven otherwise that they have COVID-19 right now, and isolate themselves," Dr. Kornel told lohud via Skype.
Dr. Kornel hopes to be asymptomatic by the end of the week.
He will return to work if he shows no symptoms after another seven days.
If you are a spine surgeon or orthopedic industry representative and wish to share your experiences or thoughts on this matter, please contact Alan Condon at acondon@beckershealthcare.com.