Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #36

[musicaljoke]

I'm guessing that there has to be a little tiny amount of extra PPE that are in stock in areas that are not in the same situation as New York.

I understand that production is the only way to solve the problem long term, but way can't an even small amount of material be shipped to NY to help save even a few lives? JMO

This reminds me of the story of the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins. But perhaps that's a bit of a brutal analogy.

It's estimated that US hospitals have about 60,000 ventilators, and half of them are in use at any one time. So in theory, if every hospital in the US sent, to NYC, the ventilator that is not currently connected to a patient, then the need for 30,000 ventilators in NYC could be achieved.

The problem with that is that in the immediate future, those extra ventilators will be needed in every hospital that has one. Every hospital across the country will be short of equipment. They all will be doubling up patients on a single ventilator. Every hospital will be hoping that their ventilators are up to the task and don't break down.

It's a tough ethical question of whether each hospital needs to hold onto the preparations they've made for the inevitable, or do they share and no one meets the needs. That's the point I'm drawing from the Parable of the Virgins.

 

[margarita25]

A deserted Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which has had more coronavirus cases than all but 15 states.Credit...William Widmer for The New York Times

A Different Kind of Storm: New Orleans Facing Deadly Virus Outbreak
March 26, 2020, 5:00 a.m. ET

 

[Starry Night]

People buying school supplies, baking goods and beauty products:

School items and baking goods on list of Kroger's hot items during 'stay-at-home' order

School supplies? Like what I wonder. Maybe I can understand that part.
But why put yourself and others in danger and encourage the spread of the virus by making frivilous trips to the store in the name of vanity or boredom?? Stop it people. Please stay HOME.
MOO

 

[musicaljoke]

I hope that New York looks at and gets some of these new Y splitter's that could quadruple the number of patients that one machine can save.

Innovative ventilator device developed by Prisma Health to quickly increase ventilator capacity for COVID-19 patients



Innovative ventilator device developed by Prisma Health to quickly increase ventilator capacity for COVID-19 patients

This received mention by a Dr near Ottawa last week.

A doctor in eastern Ontario has improvised a way to double his small hospital's ventilator capacity in preparation for a possible COVID-19 outbreak.

Anesthetist Alain Gauthier, who has a PhD in respiratory mechanics and works in Perth, west of Ottawa, spotted the idea in a YouTube video.

In basic terms, the rig involves running two hoses from one ventilator and doubling the power.

In just 10 minutes and with the help of some extra tubing, Gauthier made it possible to double the number of patients ventilated in the hospital at once, if needed.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/perth-ventilator-covid-19-1.5501891

 

[Boston Corbett]

Amid Desperate Need for Ventilators, Calls Grow for Federal Intervention (NYT)

 

[musicaljoke]

This reminds me of the story of the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins. But perhaps that's a bit of a brutal analogy.

It's estimated that US hospitals have about 60,000 ventilators, and half of them are in use at any one time. So in theory, if every hospital in the US sent, to NYC, the ventilator that is not currently connected to a patient, then the need for 30,000 ventilators in NYC could be achieved.

The problem with that is that in the immediate future, those extra ventilators will be needed in every hospital that has one. Every hospital across the country will be short of equipment. They all will be doubling up patients on a single ventilator. Every hospital will be hoping that their ventilators are up to the task and don't break down.

It's a tough ethical question of whether each hospital needs to hold onto the preparations they've made for the inevitable, or do they share and no one meets the needs. That's the point I'm drawing from the Parable of the Virgins.
This reminds me of the story of the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins. But perhaps that's a bit of a brutal analogy.

(Sorry about the double post. I timed out before I could add the link Mechanical Ventilators in US Acute Care Hospitals - PubMed )

 

[Elley Mae]

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Czech news site on Monday (March 23) revealed that 80 percent of the much-touted traunch of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid test kits "donated" from China are faulty, forcing healthcare workers to rely on conventional laboratory tests.

80% of coronavirus test kits 'gifted'... | Taiwan News

On March 18, as is the case with many of its other quasi charitable acts, Chinese state-run mouthpieces used the verbs "supplied" and "delivered" to give the impression that the communist regime was donating 150,000 portable, rapid COVID-19 test kits to the Czech Republic. In fact, the central European nation's Health Ministry paid some 14 million crowns (US$546,000) for 100,000 test kits, while the country's Interior Ministry footed the bill for another 50,000, reported Expats.cz.

 

[raysgirl1126]

Recently, I had occasion to look up the expression/idiom “sea change.” Brian Williams on MSNBC uses it frequently and I hadn’t heard it elsewhere. It actually originates with Shakespeare’s “Tempest” and describes a profound change caused by the sea. But it has come to mean...

“a substantial change in perspective, especially one which affects a group or society at large, on a particular issue.”

Sea change (idiom) - Wikipedia

During this pandemic, I am seeing what seems like a “sea change” in terms of connection, cooperation and sacrifice in this country...qualities that have been in short supply socially. Our perspective has changed.

Instead of using our phones and tablets to isolate, we are using them to connect in creative ways due to our enforced isolation from each other. I’ve just learned about the Zoom app, for example.

Instead of individuals just working independently, we see them coming together and cooperating to make sure the various needs of people are met...from a social distance. The mask-makers come to mind. A group of singers putting on a concert from their individual living rooms, etc.

Instead of self-interest, we are see young and old in the healthcare field sacrificing their dreams of career or retirement to volunteer and risk their lives.

There are many more examples of this “sea change” I see happening...all because of this awful pandemic that has turned the world as we know it upside down in such a short time. I imagine that when this is over, these more noble attributes of humanity will recede once again as we come out of isolation, get busy and start taking each other for granted again. But at least we know what is possible when push comes to shove.

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

 

[gregjrichards]

This received mention by a Dr near Ottawa last week.

A doctor in eastern Ontario has improvised a way to double his small hospital's ventilator capacity in preparation for a possible COVID-19 outbreak.

Anesthetist Alain Gauthier, who has a PhD in respiratory mechanics and works in Perth, west of Ottawa, spotted the idea in a YouTube video.

In basic terms, the rig involves running two hoses from one ventilator and doubling the power.

In just 10 minutes and with the help of some extra tubing, Gauthier made it possible to double the number of patients ventilated in the hospital at once, if needed.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/perth-ventilator-covid-19-1.5501891

The only issue with using one ventilator for more than one patient is the increased risk of infection. But it is probably better than leaving patients to die because there are no ventilators at all.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

For all your little lights:

Spoiler: Let Them Shine

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Most academic libraries have tech-savvy staff with access to plenty of digital content. Now that many schools have closed, however, librarians are creatively finding ways to keep students in touch. Social media, such as Twitter threads, is one way to keep students engaged with their learning and their library, West said.

Even before the school shutdowns, librarians’ roles were expanding to support teachers with online learning platforms. Some librarians are encouraged to attend department meetings to keep their fingers on the pulse of school initiatives and curriculum, and to make themselves available for questions.

Librarians say they can also help teachers update lesson plans, increase student engagement and be willing to assist both students and educators about tech tools, citations and resources.

For home-schoolers, librarians can serve as a resource for parents who are looking for ways to keep their children engaged in learning at home. Librarians note that they have ample resources for home-schoolers including databases, resource kits and individualized help and tutoring. While not all resources are available digitally, many libraries are looking to move more online.

For school leaders, librarians and media specialists can provide vital support as schools make the sudden transition to online content. Their expertise is likely more important than ever for providing professional development to teachers on digital tools as well as directing them to online resources.
Librarians helping teachers, parents find resources during coronavirus school closures

 

[Windsorite]

 

[ilovewings]

Coronavirus: One case lays bare America's testing failure (BBC)

"I'm still sick, it hasn't improved. I'm coughing, I've been feverish and my left lung hurts. There have been times the wheezing and the gurgling in my chest have been so bad at night that it's woken me up. There's no doubt I have all the symptoms."

Claudia Bahorik - who is 69 and lives in Bernville, Pennsylvania - does not say this lightly. As a retired physician herself, she has done her research.

But this is the story of Dr Bahorik's determined, though so far unsuccessful plight - involving clinics, hospitals and even a senator's office - to find out if she has the coronavirus.​

This is heart breaking, sad, and maddening-- it doesnt have to be this way-- disgraceful

 

[JerseyGirl]

This thread has reached its limit and will be closed.

Please continue here:

Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #37