Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #32

[PommyMommy]

CALIFORNIA - Sonoma County

First coronavirus patient dies in Sonoma County, same day local cases doubled to 22
A Sonoma County resident died Friday after contracting the coronavirus and being hospitalized for serious illness, marking the first known death in the county from the fast-moving disease that has led California Gov. Gavin Newsom to ask all Californians to stay home.

Interim Public health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said she received the news of a death “with great sadness,” the same day the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus among Sonoma County residents doubled to 22. A source with Sutter Santa Rosa confirmed the person died Friday afternoon.

[...]

“We need to be prepared for a worsening situation here over the next week,” said Mase, noting that “every case infects another three, so the more cases we have the more cases we get, so this is exactly what we expected.”

[...]

The rise in positive coronavirus test results indicates that the virus is spreading within the community, said Susan Gorin, chairwoman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, noting that this didn’t come as a surprise to her. She emphasized her belief that the county had sufficient testing capacity for the expected rise in caseload: “We will be on top of this in terms of test kits that we need.”

[...]

One of the county’s top priorities is getting more space and medical beds outside of hospitals in the event the number of people needing to be hospitalized with coronavirus exceeds the capacity of its three main hospitals, said Chris Godley, director of the county’s emergency services department.

They are working to find at least two properties where they can establish makeshift hospitals staffed by a combination of volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corps, retired doctors, nursing students and others. ...

Godley said he had no information about when the county might need such added facilities because the limited data from testing doesn’t show the full scope of the virus’s prevalence here, but that he believes the county is “ahead of the curve on this one, quite literally.”

[...]

Some local hospitals already are commandeering alcoves and rooms within the facilities to add beds and postponing elective procedures, early steps in planning for a surge of patients.

Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital this week began using surge tents set up outside the Mark West Springs Road campus to triage and treat patients with respiratory issues.

[...]

Sutter also is preparing for a surge in patients due to COVID-19 by boosting its video visits and walk-in care options to help keep patients who don’t need emergency care out of the ER.

In the two weeks since testing began in Sonoma County for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, public health labs have so far run about 285 tests for Sonoma County residents, with about 80% returning negative results and 45 tests still pending results, according to county statistics. The county is home to more than 500,000 people, and its top public health officer on Thursday suggested that 20% to 40% of residents may ultimately contract the virus.

[...]

The impact of nationwide shortages of testing swabs and personal protective equipment such as respirator masks continues to affect Sonoma County.

Testing has been hampered by a shortage of the type of swabs needed to get samples from people’s noses and throats, forcing some health care providers to limit testing to only the most serious cases.

Just today, Mase alerted health care providers that they could use an alternative method that does not require a swab to collect samples for COVID-19. This second tactic involves spraying a saline solution into a person’s nose with an aspirant and collecting the liquid that comes out, she said.

[...]

“Anybody is at risk for COVID-19,” said Mase, who encouraged people to adhere to the stay-at-home directive that went into effect in Sonoma County on Wednesday.

[...]

 

[gregjrichards]

Nationwide quarantine announced in Colombia

Colombia will enter a nationwide quarantine from Tuesday night, President Ivan Duque said late on Friday. The quarantine in the country, which has 158 confirmed cases of the virus, will last for 19 days, Reuters reported.

Nationwide curfew begins in Jordan
Jordan blew sirens on Saturday to mark the start of a curfew that will limit the mobility of its 10 million citizens indefinitely.

The Philippines

The Philippines now has 262 coronavirus cases, after 32 new infections were confirmed, the country’s health ministry said on Saturday. The deathtoll has also risen to 19.

Coronavirus live updates: Singapore reports first two fatalities, deaths jump in Spain and Italy

 

[PommyMommy]

HOUSTON, TX

As coronavirus cases in the Houston area surge, will the healthcare system be able to handle it?
[...]

Harris County and some neighboring counties have about 12,700 hospital beds. Approximately 10% are intensive care beds with the average occupancy of those beds prior to COVID-19 at about 60%.

In Texas as a whole, there are more than 45,000 beds, with about 10% identified as intensive care beds. The occupancy rate for intensive care beds before the virus was between 51% and 56%.

However, those percentages will rise as a dramatic increase is expected with the number of coronavirus patients. Multiple doctors told KPRC 2 they are deeply concerned with what the future holds.

[...]

“If we all don’t do all do our part, from millennials to those older, to our senior citizens, the health care delivery system in the State of Texas, in the City of Houston, quite frankly the United States, cannot handle the load.” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in a press conference Thursday.

Other sectors have started ramping up. For example, ventilator manufacturer Hamilton Medical announced Friday it is increasing production capacity by 50% from last year. The company says it expects to double production capacity, a month from now.

[...]

Dargusch said GQR has assisted in staffing various Texas hospitals with nurses.

[...]

On major cause for Dargusch’s concern is that those on the front lines have a higher percentage of exposure. This, along with the fact the industry is always in need of more nurses. He said due to this virus, recently retired nurses are coming back into the workforce and are offering assistance.

[...]

Before the coronavirus outbreak in the Houston area, 10% to 15% of Dargusch’s business operations relied on overseas personnel. However, with the country’s borders partially closed, that is no longer the case.

 

[Reachingfornettles]

Detroit police chief: 5 officers diagnosed with COVID-19, 152 quarantined
What i had been fearing...Detroit police have 5 chiefs test positive...152 police on quarantine and 22 more on self -q.

PLUS... The chief said the department is taking a different “posture” on low-level misdemeanor crime. Oh my...

 

[glorybug]

I live in Fresno. We have over 530,000 people living in Fresno; only 200 have been tested. There is no way we only have 6 people with CV in Fresno. Even if only 1% are infected, that would be 5,300 people. We don't have the medical resources to even deal with that.

As someone with multiple autoimmune disorders, I have been taking this seriously since the outbreak in China. Luckily, I work from home as a freelance writer. Unluckily, due to the recent AB5 law limiting freelance work, and now due to no clients placing orders (a lot of my clients and agencies I work with are back East and have shut down), I have no work. As a freelancer I have no unemployment benefits. I also probably won't qualify for any of the supposed cash incentives for economic stimulus presently in the works. Pretty scary times.

I haven't spoken with my ex after a very abusive 6-year divorce/custody battle... but, because my youngest son has asthma and I know he has no inhaler at his dad's, I actually choked on my vomit and called him to beg him to get an RX inhaler for my son. As expected, he feigned surprise and tried to claim I was over-reacting. I finally got him to agree to get the inhaler and let me know when he had it. No response. I bit the bullet and called again, only to find that he supposedly purchased an "over-the-counter" inhaler. Is there even such a thing? I don't think so. I insisted he has to get an RX inhaler, as all medical advice has recommended. Haven't heard anything about that.

The ex works out of Visalia, and I have no doubt he has not sheltered in place. Not only that, his hygiene is atrocious -- when the boys were little, he used to wipe his runny nose on his sleeve! I doubt he's ever washed his hands. I can't count how many times he brought home some nasty virus that kicked me on my *advertiser censored* but did nothing to him.

So, yeah, I'm not reassured that Fresno officials are claiming there are no person-to-person infections, or that only 6 people have been infected. I also have a 95-year-old dad who makes an effort to get out and about, and has contact with many people who clean his house, bring him dinners, and take him to their house for dinners. He has not changed his habits, and thinks the issue is overblown.

It is irresponsible that Fresno officials underestimate what the situation is, and the risks, but that's typical of Fresno.

Not to mention, we already have a huge unemployment problem, and a massive homeless population. No idea what is being done on that front. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy living in Fresno for many reasons, but we are a large city that labours under the delusion that we are a small, rural community. Like it was 50 years ago.

The fact that we've been put in asked to shelter in place belies the claim that we haven't been affected and only 6 people have been affected.

Just my opinion, of course.

CALIFORNIA - Fresno County

No ‘community spread’ of coronavirus in Fresno so far. Here’s when that could change
Fresno County so far has not confirmed a coronavirus case spread by community transmission.

The Public Health Department announced three new positive cases on Friday, bringing the total to six. Five of them were travel related. No one has been hospitalized locally or died from COVID-19.

[...]

When health officials say “community spread,” that means the source of the infection can’t be determined and a patient could’ve contracted the virus from anywhere in the community, said Dr. Rais Vohra, the county’s interim health officer.

The risk of getting COVID-19 from community spread remains low, Vohra said. Once the county confirms 10 cases or more, that risk will grow, and health officials are preparing for that scenario. So far, 200-300 Fresno County residents have been tested.

[...]

 

[glorybug]

Yes, melatonin has a practical use as a help to regulate sleeping patterns, but that doesn't exclude its use as an aid for respiratory issues. In fact, it might help people with respiratory issues attain better sleeping habits.

This is not the information that has been provided to me by my doctors. I have insomnia and they have me taking melatonin as a supplement for it.

 

[Boston Corbett]

Trump Resists Pressure to Use Wartime Law to Mobilize Industry in Virus Response

WASHINGTON — President Trump and his advisers have resisted calls from congressional Democrats and a growing number of governors to use a federal law that would mobilize industry and provide badly needed resources against the coronavirus spread, days after the president said he would consider using that authority.

Mr. Trump has given conflicting signals about the Defense Production Act since he first said on Wednesday that he was prepared to invoke the law, which was passed by Congress at the outset of the Korean War and grants presidents extraordinary powers to force American industries to ensure the availability of critical equipment.

The next day, he suggested that obtaining medical equipment should be up to individual governors because “we’re not a shipping clerk.” But on Friday, he reversed himself, asserting that he had used the law to spur the production of “millions of masks,” without offering evidence or specifics about who was manufacturing them or when they would reach health workers.

[more at NYT link above]​

 

[glorybug]

There were people at my work who were really sick like this around Christmas.

I have multiple autoimmune issues, and I've been massively sick twice during that time frame. No headache, but horrible body pain, a high temp, and a cough that eventually turned into massive lung congestion. I deal with this a lot because of multiple autoimmune issues. I have no insurance, and no transportation, so I just stayed at home and rode it out. I am not obese, don't have diabetes, asthma, or any of the other known predictors. I am vegan and eat healthy.

I might have been dealing with some other virus during that time. I don't know. I was really sick. I'd like to think I had it and got over it, but that might be wishful thinking.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

I suggested to Tricia that we include a Self-Care/Gratitude/Mental Health thread within the Covid19 thread.
I’ve spent much of the past fortnight feeling stressed and scared and have to remind myself constantly that ‘in this minute, my loved ones are ok, I’m ok, the cats are well...’ in order to step back from the abyss of fear.
With that in mind, I’ve just spent a half hour in the garden with the boys. Watching them chase each other, tumbling through the grass, looking at them stop what they’re doing in order to gaze wide-eyed at a flock of geese flying down to the lake, it makes me take a breath and become calmer.
All around me are signs of new life. A little before the world changed, I threw a few butterfly and bee-friendly seeds onto a neglected patch of soil. This morning, I’ve noticed they’re already growing - small green shoots of hope and optimism.
Today, I am going to make bread and this afternoon, notebook in hand, will start planning the veggie garden.
Stay safe if you have to head out

 

[glorybug]

vegan here *waves*

I don't think being vegan is going to help anyone prevent infection now. Viruses don't care if you're vegan. Being healthy might help. But, a lot of people like me are vegan for ethical reasons, but also because we have pre-existing health issues. People like to think all vegans are about body-building and whatever, but there's a lot of vegans who are immuni-compromised. I'm not vegan for health reasons, but it definitely has helped my overall health.

 

[Tripod]

Trump Resists Pressure to Use Wartime Law to Mobilize Industry in Virus Response

WASHINGTON — President Trump and his advisers have resisted calls from congressional Democrats and a growing number of governors to use a federal law that would mobilize industry and provide badly needed resources against the coronavirus spread, days after the president said he would consider using that authority.

Mr. Trump has given conflicting signals about the Defense Production Act since he first said on Wednesday that he was prepared to invoke the law, which was passed by Congress at the outset of the Korean War and grants presidents extraordinary powers to force American industries to ensure the availability of critical equipment.

The next day, he suggested that obtaining medical equipment should be up to individual governors because “we’re not a shipping clerk.” But on Friday, he reversed himself, asserting that he had used the law to spur the production of “millions of masks,” without offering evidence or specifics about who was manufacturing them or when they would reach health workers.

[more at NYT link above]​

I can't read the article due to paywall, but I'm not sure why the article's headline is misleading? Or is this article an older one? Pres. Trump did invoke the Defense Production Act, so....

 

[glorybug]

It is true, that like many other pandemics, this one has a non-human animal source complicating it. That's just a fact.

 

[Boston Corbett]

I can't read the article due to paywall, but I'm not sure why the article's headline is misleading? Or is this article an older one? Pres. Trump did invoke the Defense Production Act, so....

The article is entirely accurate. It's from the Friday paper, the 20th. He said he was prepared to invoke the act; there is no evidence he has done so in any meaningful way.

 

[gregjrichards]

South Korea tells venues to shut and public to avoid socialising

South Korea’s prime minister Chung Sye-kyun has strongly recommended religious, sports and entertainment facilities suspend operations, and advised people to avoid socialising for the next 15 days. He added that the government will order any gatherings to disperse.

His comments follow confirmation of 147 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, up from the previous day’s 87.

Coronavirus live updates: Singapore reports first two fatalities, deaths jump in Spain and Italy

 

[cobalt sky]

Other sectors have started ramping up. For example, ventilator manufacturer Hamilton Medical announced Friday it is increasing production capacity by 50% from last year. The company says it expects to double production capacity, a month from now.

[...]

Dargusch said GQR has assisted in staffing various Texas hospitals with nurses.

I have seen countless comments by people on numerous social media platforms saying that we need more ventilators, more ICU beds, more ECMO machines and that our government is failing us by not getting this done immediately. What people don't understand is the level of skill and experience required to properly run and monitor these machines. It's not something you learn in a week, or even a month. They are only useful if there is staff that has the knowledge and experience to handle these machines. You can make 1,000,000 new ventilators and ECMOs but if you don't have enough staff to properly care for patients attached to them, they are useless. And we don't have the staff, especially if health care professionals start to get sick themselves.

Therefore, the focus should be on trying not to be exposed to the virus if at all possible in the first place.

 

[Boston Corbett]

U.S. intelligence reports from January and February warned about a likely pandemic

Inside the White House, Trump’s advisers struggled to get him to take the virus seriously, according to multiple officials with knowledge of meetings among those advisers and with the president.

Health and Human Services Secretary AlexAzar couldn’t get through to Trump to speak with him about the virus until Jan. 18, according to two senior administration officials. When he reached Trump by phone, the president interjected to ask about vaping and when flavored vaping products would be back on the market, the senior administration officials said.

On Jan. 27, White House aides huddled with then-acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney in his office, trying to get senior officials to pay more attention to the virus, according to people briefed on the meeting. Joe Grogan, the head of the White House Domestic Policy Council, argued that the administration needed to take the virus seriously or it could cost the president his reelection, and that dealing with the virus was likely to dominate life in the United States for many months.

Mulvaney then began convening more regular meetings. In early briefings, however, officials said Trump was dismissive because he did not believe that the virus had spread widely throughout the United States.

[More of the Washington Post article at MSN link above]​

 

[BeckyF]

I fear the suicide rate will be increasing in the next few weeks. Some people live paycheck to paycheck and can barely make ends meet. Take away their income? Can't leave their homes? Bankruptcy filings will go up also. JMO

 

[Lilibet]

I ran across this article yesterday about how the very tiny and very poor Democratic Republic of Timor Leste in Southeast Asia is handling coronavirus. I have a dear friend who moved there and does volunteer work. The government is in turmoil, people avoid doctors, preferring traditional medicine...and did I mention how poor a country it is?

“Even so, they were able to come together, with leadership from Ramos-Horta and guidance from World Health Organization, to set up an inter-ministerial task force on COVID-19. Rising above division, the task force has worked closely with all political, civil society and church leaders, focusing on prevention, disseminating precise daily information, and mobilizing resources for public education.

A space was allocated to quarantine. Plans were put in place for makeshift hospital facilities in case of overflow.

Testing is free for anyone in the country. It is taking three days to get results because the tests are being sent to Australia. To shorten the timeline, the government is building new lab facilities in the country, which should be ready in two weeks.”

Rethinking wealth in the age of coronavirus

This really puts a “first world” nation like the U.S. to shame. All that being said, my friend hears many people coughing lately (it could also be the very common tuberculosis), but doubts they will get tested. At the moment, Timor Leste does not report any cases, which seems impossible, given the number of Chinese who live there.

This link below from Feb. 28 discusses how Southeast Asia was dealing with coronavirus and that experts feared it was spreading undetected. The relatively low number of reported cases currently in some of these countries defies belief considering their proximity to China or popularity with Chinese tourists. As the U.S knows, without testing the numbers look great. Time will tell.

Experts Fear Coronavirus Going Undetected in Southeast Asia

 

[musicaljoke]

The long-delayed effort to ramp up screening for the coronavirus in the U.S. is facing a new challenge: critical shortages of laboratory supplies.

First, some of the coronavirus tests didn't work. Then there weren't enough to go around. Now, just as the federal government tries to ramp up nationwide screening, laboratory workers are warning of a new roadblock: dire shortages of testing supplies.

The shortages are the latest stumble in a botched effort to track the spread of coronavirus that has left the U.S. weeks behind many other developed countries. Dwindling supplies include both chemical components and basic swabs needed to collect patient samples.

There are "acute, serious shortages across the board" for supplies needed to do the tests, said Eric Blank, of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, which represents state and local health labs.

US virus testing faces new headwind: Lab supply shortages

In the US there are about 60,000 practicing veterinarians. Each one would have a minimum of 200 6" sterile cotton swabs. Many would have a ton more. If a call was put out that Uncle Sam needs your swabs, there could be at least 1,200,000 sterile swabs in a heartbeat.

Dentists probably have stashes of them too.

 

[cobalt sky]

U.S. intelligence reports from January and February warned about a likely pandemic

Inside the White House, Trump’s advisers struggled to get him to take the virus seriously, according to multiple officials with knowledge of meetings among those advisers and with the president.

Health and Human Services Secretary AlexAzar couldn’t get through to Trump to speak with him about the virus until Jan. 18, according to two senior administration officials. When he reached Trump by phone, the president interjected to ask about vaping and when flavored vaping products would be back on the market, the senior administration officials said.

On Jan. 27, White House aides huddled with then-acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney in his office, trying to get senior officials to pay more attention to the virus, according to people briefed on the meeting. Joe Grogan, the head of the White House Domestic Policy Council, argued that the administration needed to take the virus seriously or it could cost the president his reelection, and that dealing with the virus was likely to dominate life in the United States for many months.

Mulvaney then began convening more regular meetings. In early briefings, however, officials said Trump was dismissive because he did not believe that the virus had spread widely throughout the United States.

[More of the Washington Post article at MSN link above]​

Please consider the source of this article.

This administration has not been dismissive of the Coronavirus situation. The World Health Organization themselves didn't declare a Pandemic until March 11th! It's easy to sit there and criticize (and promote your political agenda) when you are not the one who has to make critical decisions that affect millions of people. We are in uncharted territories right now, I think they are doing the best they can, I can't imagine having to make these decisions that will cause so much hardship on people whether they actually contract the virus or not. These are going to be a difficult several months ahead of us, I really hope that MSM puts the brakes on constant criticism and fear mongering, things are going to be challenging enough without all of that BS.