An Update from Kimberly Shriner, MD, on COVID-19

Below is a brief message from Dr. Shriner on the current outlook of the virus. Huntington Hospital remains committed to keeping our staff and patients safe during this difficult time.  Dr. Shriner’s leadership and expertise has been instrumental in supporting the hospital:

As we can see by the most recent public health reports and in our own hospital, we are experiencing a brisk and alarming increase in the amount of COVID-19 cases.  This is a function of many converging factors; opening businesses, social activities and unrest, inattention to social distancing and masking, holiday gatherings and other congregant events.  It is very clear that COVID-19 is now well established and prevalent in the community and that there is a much larger density of disease now than in March or April.  This is proving to be an aggressive, highly infectious pathogen to which none of us have any immunity.  In addition, there is emerging data that COVID-19 may be developing mutations that render it more infectious than the virus we were dealing with in the spring.

We encourage the community to remain vigilant and follow recommended public health guidelines, which includes social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene. And most important, if you choose to visit public areas or attend small gatherings, please wear a mask.

Dr. Kimberly Shriner is an infectious disease and tropical medical specialist. Since 1992, she has taught as a faculty member at the hospital. Beyond her invaluable leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Shriner is the founder and director of Huntington’s Phil Simon Clinic, which provides complete HIV and infectious disease care for the underserved in the San Gabriel Valley. In 2001, she founded The Phil Simon Clinic Tanzania Project, a nonprofit, global outreach program in East Africa.