Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Pandemic* #19

[JerseyGirl]

First coronavirus death reported in Los Angeles County

A person has died from coronavirus in Los Angeles County, bringing California’s death total to four.

The woman, who was in her 60s, was not an L.A. County resident but was in town visiting friends. She had a history of extensive travel recently, including a long layover in South Korea.

Six new cases of coronavirus infections in the county. Three of the new cases are household contacts of someone previously infected. One of those people is hospitalized. One person recently traveled to France and came home sick. Another person attended a religious conference in another state and was in close contact with someone who ended up testing positive. The source of the sixth person’s infection cannot be traced and is believed to be the second community-spread case in L.A. County.

Live updates: Coronavirus cases pass 115,000 worldwide - CNN

 

[Trudie]

Italian medical chief dies from coronavirus

Italy’s medical community is mourning the death of the head of the medical association in the northern Italian region of Varese.

Roberto Stella, president of the Medical Guild of Varese, died Tuesday night in Como, where the 67-year-old was hospitalized for respiratory failure due to coronavirus.

Live updates: Coronavirus cases pass 115,000 worldwide - CNN

how awful.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Cases could keep rising for months – UK health secretary

Responding to Hunt’s assertion that England’s deputy chief medical officer had said the peak for UK cases could come within the next fortnight, Hancock replied that Dr Jenny Harries had actually said the climb towards the peak is expected to intensify within the next couple of weeks – and it could go on climbing for months.

The deputy chief medical officer ... said that, in the next couple of weeks, we may see the numbers starting to rise fast to their peak.

We do not expect numbers to peak in the next fortnight, we expect numbers to continue to rise after that and the peak would be after a matter of a couple of months, rather than in a matter of a couple weeks. This is a marathon and not a sprint.

Live updates: Coronavirus cases pass 115,000 worldwide - CNN

 

[SeattleStew]

Seattle Public Schools closes for two weeks due to coronavirus outbreak

THIS IS HUGE YOU GUYS. almost 54,ooo students.

 

[Richmond]

Italian medical chief dies from coronavirus

Italy’s medical community is mourning the death of the head of the medical association in the northern Italian region of Varese.

Roberto Stella, president of the Medical Guild of Varese, died Tuesday night in Como, where the 67-year-old was hospitalized for respiratory failure due to coronavirus.

Live updates: Coronavirus cases pass 115,000 worldwide - CNN

Oh, no. So sad and scary.

 

[Trudie]

I think there's a lot of "whistling in the dark" behind those statements, too. Along the lines of. . If I downplay the fears of how bad it might be, maybe it won't be so bad. . . or something like that. JMO

The KY/WMT patient has been ostracized from the community. Cynthiana is too small to maintain any confidentiality about anything. I hope she has a strong support group once she’s released from the hospital.
People act like she purposely brought Novel Corona to the deli/bakery, they forget that she, too, contracted it from someone or something someone had contact with, maybe in WMT, or elsewhere.

 

[Trudie]

Seattle Public Schools closes for two weeks due to coronavirus outbreak

THIS IS HUGE YOU GUYS. almost 54,ooo students.

Is this move too late? A few weeks ago a school a friend teaches at closed for cleaning, I think for a few days. I wish they stayed closed then.

 

[margarita25]

“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO chief.

World Health Organization declares COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic – The Denver Post

 

[margarita25]

The KY/WMT patient has been ostracized from the community. Cynthiana is too small to maintain any confidentiality about anything. I hope she has a strong support group once she’s released from the hospital.
People act like she purposely brought Novel Corona to the deli/bakery, they forget that she, too, contracted it from someone or something someone had contact with, maybe in WMT, or elsewhere.

“The stigma is worse than the virus itself”.
-Dr. Tedros last week

 

[justbeachy]

My son is scheduled to compete in a high school state thespian competition in Tampa next week. The competition has not been cancelled, but his drama director just notified us that our school has opted to back out of the competition in order to protect our students. The students are of course disappointed, but I am so grateful that our school administrators put safety above all else.

 

[oviedo]

FSU shifts from in-person classes to remote classes March 23 for two weeks - Florida State University News

Awaiting news from other Florida universities...

 

[Anicole]

Well, my state just got its first positive test.

1st presumptive case of coronavirus reported in Arkansas

Also, with this case, the local hospital is on lock-down and diverting emergency traffic. Sadly, this is the only facility for quite a distance.

From the article: "The Arkansas Department of Health reported Wednesday morning that there were 111 people in the state being monitored for the virus, officially known as COVID-19. There were 14 people under investigation for the virus, which means they are showing symptoms of the virus."

This is a far cry from what they've been saying, which is concerning to me because … what else are they not saying?!

I get that no one wants panic on their hands, but the panic and hoarding come, I think, from people not being told the truth so they're all just playing defense.

 

[Hatfield]

Seattle Public Schools closes for two weeks due to coronavirus outbreak

THIS IS HUGE YOU GUYS. almost 54,ooo students.

Right. And 54,000 sets of parents now have to make arrangements to either watch their kids themselves and possibly miss work or to obtain outside help which could cost money if no relative to volunteer.

The hits and impacts keep on coming. Dont shoot the messengers here. The news is too critical to miss. Thanks for sharing everyone.

 

[Trudie]

“The stigma is worse than the virus itself”.
-Dr. Tedros last week

How sad! Especially since it is a virus that will be here forever, as I understand it.
I suppose anyone from a very small town that contracts it will face the same scrutiny.

 

[margarita25]

My son is scheduled to compete in a high school state thespian competition in Tampa next week. The competition has not been cancelled, but his drama director just notified us that our school has opted to back out of the competition in order to protect our students. The students are of course disappointed, but I am so grateful that our school administrators put safety above all else.

Indeed.

There is something called “social responsibility” (and personal responsibility) that needs to be emphasized. It’s going to take a village, and as we’ve said before is going to take “Wuhan” for some people to wake up and smell the coffee, unfortunately.

 

[Trudie]

I wonder what will happen in Vegas? Will they be forced to shut the casinos? I know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I don’t think so with novel Corona.

 

[book-thinker]

LOCAL NEWS
Gov. Inslee announces ban on large events in trio of Washington counties
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BY NICK BOWMAN
MARCH 11, 2020 AT 11:14 AM

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a ban Wednesday on large gatherings and events of 250 people or more in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties for the rest of March.

The ban will apply to social, recreational, spiritual, and other community gatherings. That includes parades, concerts, conventions, sporting events, fundraisers, and festivals across those three counties. Gov. Inslee also noted that it is “very highly likely it will be extended” past the end of the month.

It is clear that our needs call for a more vigorous, comprehensive, aggressive position if we are going to slow the spread of this epidemic,” he stated.

The ban does not apply to airports, other transportation systems like ferries, or restaurants, while state health officials are in discussions with tribal jurisdictions over how to handle casinos.

Inslee went on to encourage schools across the region to have contingency plans in place to prepare the possibility of further closures, while urging employers to maximize telecommuting opportunities for workers.

“Our children are relatively free of serious disease associated with this,” Inslee said. “But the best science tells us they have the capability of transmitting the disease with people they come into contact with.”
Executive Dow Constantine also said that smaller events under 250 will also be prohibited in King County unless they meet specific, stringent health guidelines. That ban will not include grocery stores, retail establishments, restaurants, or family events.

Those requirements include events and venues “actively encouraging” older adults or those with underlying conditions not to attend, ensuring social distancing recommendations are met, screening employees each day for coronavirus symptoms, and following CDC cleaning and sanitization guidelines.

“You can think of it as a large scale earthquake that will shake us for weeks and weeks,” said Seattle-King County Public Health’s Jeff Duchin.

As for how it will be enforced, Gov. Inslee was blunt about the consequences.

“The penalty might be killing your granddad, and I’m serious,” he noted.

Beyond that, health officials are hoping for venues and events to act on “good sense and in good faith.”

Inslee had been hinting at this for the past week as a possible preemptive move to curb the spread of coronavirus. Over the weekend, he stated that his office was considering enacting “mandatory measures” in the days ahead.

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Our local news channel 7 announced today The Seattle Public Schools to close for the next two weeks.

I believe this is the first of many announcements. I would not be surprised since mandatory measure are in place,
the national guard are now on alert.
Everyone take care and be safe!

 

[sloane7777]

Well, my state just got its first positive test.

1st presumptive case of coronavirus reported in Arkansas

(sorry for the link - I can't get the box to pop up to change it to a title. )

Also, with this case, the local hospital is on lock-down and diverting emergency traffic. Sadly, this is the only facility for quite a distance.

From the article: "The Arkansas Department of Health reported Wednesday morning that there were 111 people in the state being monitored for the virus, officially known as COVID-19. There were 14 people under investigation for the virus, which means they are showing symptoms of the virus."

This is a far cry from what they've been saying, which is concerning to me because … what else are they not saying?!

I get that no one wants panic on their hands, but the panic and hoarding come, I think, from people not being told the truth so they're all just playing defense.

my mom is in Rogers and she said it was in pine Bluff and she was actually happy to hear it because she thought they were just lying about no local cases , she has her PHD too so that kinda scared me to hear her say that.

 

[zecats]

Seattle Public Schools closes for two weeks due to coronavirus outbreak

THIS IS HUGE YOU GUYS. almost 54,ooo students.

Setting a necessary precedent. IMO

 

[8771]

I have very high generalized anxiety, so my intuition often cannot be trusted. I work off of irrational fear and emotion. This pandemic has been difficult for me to process as I want to be an informed, responsible citizen, but I know I can spiral easily and quickly.

A coworker came back to work after traveling via air to an international conference held in Colorado over the weekend. They had a high fever over the weekend and just developed a horrible cough. Their doctor assures them they do not need to come in to be seen nor to be tested. I work in close quarters with this person and we work around children. Coworker seems to be playing it off and is not worried. I, on the other (very anxious) hand, am certain they have contracted and are now spreading COVID-19. How would you handle this situation? How are we supposed to self-quarantine if people aren't able to know if they have it?