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He’s Overseeing a City’s Coronavirus Response, Even as He Fights It Himself He’s Overseeing a City’s Coronavirus Response, Even as He Fights It Himself
(8 days later)
Roland Walker is the health commissioner of Gary, Ind., where positive coronavirus tests are on the rise. One of them belonged to him.Roland Walker is the health commissioner of Gary, Ind., where positive coronavirus tests are on the rise. One of them belonged to him.
His parents, both of whom are in their 80s, tested positive as well and were hospitalized. His father, who had a seizure, is now recovering and has been discharged. His mother remains on a ventilator.His parents, both of whom are in their 80s, tested positive as well and were hospitalized. His father, who had a seizure, is now recovering and has been discharged. His mother remains on a ventilator.
He is also trying to care for the residents of Gary, the city of 75,000 where he was born and raised, and his patients, both at a hospital and at the pediatric practice he and his wife share — all while quarantining at home.He is also trying to care for the residents of Gary, the city of 75,000 where he was born and raised, and his patients, both at a hospital and at the pediatric practice he and his wife share — all while quarantining at home.
“The stress came from when my parents got ill,” said Dr. Walker, 48. “It has been very, very scary.”“The stress came from when my parents got ill,” said Dr. Walker, 48. “It has been very, very scary.”
He spoke with The New York Times this week about how he and his family are social distancing, and the challenges facing Gary as the virus spreads. The conversation was edited and condensed for clarity.He spoke with The New York Times this week about how he and his family are social distancing, and the challenges facing Gary as the virus spreads. The conversation was edited and condensed for clarity.
When did you take the test? How long did it take to learn the result?When did you take the test? How long did it take to learn the result?
I wasn’t going to take it originally, because I was asymptomatic. My wife and I practice together. We have a private practice and we get our temperatures taken every time we go in. We’ve been fine.I wasn’t going to take it originally, because I was asymptomatic. My wife and I practice together. We have a private practice and we get our temperatures taken every time we go in. We’ve been fine.
Ten days ago, I learned that three people I was around had been exposed to the virus, and I was tested. It took about five days to get the test results, and during that time I was still wearing a mask and gloves in the office and everywhere.Ten days ago, I learned that three people I was around had been exposed to the virus, and I was tested. It took about five days to get the test results, and during that time I was still wearing a mask and gloves in the office and everywhere.
People are scared, and I wanted to go public about the result to show that eight out of 10 who are positive are going to be asymptomatic. That would serve as a good lesson.People are scared, and I wanted to go public about the result to show that eight out of 10 who are positive are going to be asymptomatic. That would serve as a good lesson.
Ninety-nine percent of the comments have been supportive, but I’m fixated on the 1 percent. It’s similar to when everyone was so scared of H.I.V. in the early 1980s.Ninety-nine percent of the comments have been supportive, but I’m fixated on the 1 percent. It’s similar to when everyone was so scared of H.I.V. in the early 1980s.
How are you and your parents doing?How are you and your parents doing?
Physically, I feel fine. Both of my parents ended up testing positive. Neither of them showed respiratory symptoms at first.Physically, I feel fine. Both of my parents ended up testing positive. Neither of them showed respiratory symptoms at first.
My father showed weakness and went to the hospital twice. He had a seizure — the coronavirus can take many forms. But he’s sitting with me right now and doing normal activities.My father showed weakness and went to the hospital twice. He had a seizure — the coronavirus can take many forms. But he’s sitting with me right now and doing normal activities.
My mother is on a ventilator. My wife is negative. My 13-year-old daughter is completely asymptomatic.My mother is on a ventilator. My wife is negative. My 13-year-old daughter is completely asymptomatic.
How hard is it for you to follow social distancing when you and your family members are all under one roof?How hard is it for you to follow social distancing when you and your family members are all under one roof?
My parents live in Mississippi. I brought them up about the 18th of March. In Mississippi, the state was not doing a lot of social distancing, and they weren’t closing restaurants and church services. I thought they’d be safer.My parents live in Mississippi. I brought them up about the 18th of March. In Mississippi, the state was not doing a lot of social distancing, and they weren’t closing restaurants and church services. I thought they’d be safer.
My house is a tri-level, so that makes it easier. My parents have a bedroom and bathroom area that is separate, and we practice social distancing in the house.My house is a tri-level, so that makes it easier. My parents have a bedroom and bathroom area that is separate, and we practice social distancing in the house.
I am a pediatrician and kids are coughing constantly. We’re making a mistake in not mass-testing kids, because they seem to congregate the most and bring it back to their homes. I love kids, but they’re a caldron of germs.I am a pediatrician and kids are coughing constantly. We’re making a mistake in not mass-testing kids, because they seem to congregate the most and bring it back to their homes. I love kids, but they’re a caldron of germs.
How are you taking care of yourself, your family, your practice and your city?How are you taking care of yourself, your family, your practice and your city?
I’m a marathon runner and I continue to train. I think I have good lung capacity. The stress came from when my parents got ill. I’ve had a lot of crying, I’d be lying to you if I didn’t tell you that. It has been very, very scary.I’m a marathon runner and I continue to train. I think I have good lung capacity. The stress came from when my parents got ill. I’ve had a lot of crying, I’d be lying to you if I didn’t tell you that. It has been very, very scary.
My wife, who is the smart one, has been running the practice. My daughter plays Little League baseball; she is a second baseman. We’ve gone to the field. That’s something we can do during social distancing. But when too many other people showed up, we just had to stop. I’ve been given a reprieve from coaching Little League, thank God, because my responsibility has increased.My wife, who is the smart one, has been running the practice. My daughter plays Little League baseball; she is a second baseman. We’ve gone to the field. That’s something we can do during social distancing. But when too many other people showed up, we just had to stop. I’ve been given a reprieve from coaching Little League, thank God, because my responsibility has increased.
Updated July 27, 2020 Updated August 3, 2020
Today I spent most of the day putting out of fires. It has been disappointing at times, but I’ve been heartened when I see six-foot squares at stores marking off the distance. I make it a point to compliment them. People are adhering to the guidelines, but now with the warmer weather, I’m not sure that it will last.Today I spent most of the day putting out of fires. It has been disappointing at times, but I’ve been heartened when I see six-foot squares at stores marking off the distance. I make it a point to compliment them. People are adhering to the guidelines, but now with the warmer weather, I’m not sure that it will last.
At the end of the day, I play the piano and relax my mind.At the end of the day, I play the piano and relax my mind.
Gary itself has underlying conditions — a large number of low-income residents and a high rate of lung disease — that could make it more susceptible to the pandemic.Gary itself has underlying conditions — a large number of low-income residents and a high rate of lung disease — that could make it more susceptible to the pandemic.
It doesn’t make them more susceptible to infection, but many more people have it than we know. We have little testing, so we don’t know who has been exposed and who has immunity.It doesn’t make them more susceptible to infection, but many more people have it than we know. We have little testing, so we don’t know who has been exposed and who has immunity.
Gary is 25 minutes from downtown Chicago, and they might peak in the next week or week and half or so. Porter County, which sits to the east of Gary, is having trouble.Gary is 25 minutes from downtown Chicago, and they might peak in the next week or week and half or so. Porter County, which sits to the east of Gary, is having trouble.
When you live somewhere, you really want to make sure that it receives the attention. You understand what the challenges are.When you live somewhere, you really want to make sure that it receives the attention. You understand what the challenges are.
How is the city coping? What is your outlook?How is the city coping? What is your outlook?
The mayor told me, “Don’t be afraid to think grand,” and I told him we need a field hospital. So we have the Army Corps of Engineers building a field hospital of about 100 beds, and we’ll also be using a hotel for patients.The mayor told me, “Don’t be afraid to think grand,” and I told him we need a field hospital. So we have the Army Corps of Engineers building a field hospital of about 100 beds, and we’ll also be using a hotel for patients.
The State Department of Health has had a lack of testing. What we’ve also had to do is go into the private market to purchase testing kits and personal protective equipment, where all the bids drive the price up. The city just got its first shipment of tests this week, though the hospital has been testing.The State Department of Health has had a lack of testing. What we’ve also had to do is go into the private market to purchase testing kits and personal protective equipment, where all the bids drive the price up. The city just got its first shipment of tests this week, though the hospital has been testing.
I’ve seen the best in people and the worst in people. There are testing center scams that are going on, where people drive up and think they are getting tests. That’s the worst in people.I’ve seen the best in people and the worst in people. There are testing center scams that are going on, where people drive up and think they are getting tests. That’s the worst in people.
We’ll have to get through this together.We’ll have to get through this together.