Meeting in the age of COVID-19

Dr. Kassir permits in-person meetings with patients at his office.

In order to ensure the safety of patients and staff, Dr. Kassir's office employs medical-grade air filtration, hand washing, temperature checks, and question-based screening before each appointment. At present, masks are not routinely employed and are optional.

One of the better indicators of prevalence of COVID-19 is based on wastewater surveillance. Click on the link to check wastewater viral activity level in California. You can also view where COVID-19 activity is heading by inspecting the State trends.

Notwithstanding changes to policy at the national level, Dr. Kassir suggests (but does not require) that patients get the updated COVID booster and flu shot, unless there is a contraindication, and as long as guidelines from the FDA and CDC permit. Boosters appear to be effective at reducing severity of illness and the risk of hospitalization. So far, the most recent vaccines also appear to lessen the chance of getting infected for 4 months after receiving it, for about a third of those being vaccinated.

If you recently had COVID-19, you can wait up to 3 months before receiving the booster. After 3 months immunity conferred by previous infection wanes.

For those individuals who have fallen ill, Dr. Kassir offers secure online videoconferencing (telemedicine). Dr. Kassir can provide the full range of psychiatric services using telemedicine.

Updated June 20, 2025.