When thinking about the conditions that frequent general practice, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are definitely near the top of the list — and on some weeks, they’re No.1.

And so, it seems ironic that when the coronavirus shit is about to hit the fan, we are left without the personal protective equipment (PPE) we need to see patients suspected to have this condition.

Many GPs have moved entirely to telehealth due to the lack of PPE. Others are picking and choosing which patients they are prepared to see, and formulating their own risk stratification algorithms.

And some have shut up shop entirely, because they’re struggling to keep their clinics financially afloat — which, during a medical crisis, is an unfathomable reality.