Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #47

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I have to report - we have the first Spring rain right now. Nothing but snow for months, and the first rain is so welcome.

ETA: just turned to snow
We have had a few really nice days. Warm and sunny. Rain days too. Now back to chilly and windy. On a good note my choke cherry tree in the backyard is really starting to bud. Here in SW Ontario.
 
I have already decided that if anyone tells me that I have to return to work in person in Sept. I will fight it. I want to see that there is no second wave in October or November. I want to know that other people are safe in the community before I check to see if I'm safe in the community.

People who want proof that it is safe should expect to wait 2 years, IMHO.

I hope before anyone goes back to work, that there would be strong parameters in place in order to judge whether or not going back to work is safe.

At the moment, it seems like some countries are calling for a quick return to get the economy rolling again, but they are not basing the decision on any measurable factors ... availability of vaccine, level of testing, availability of snap testing, level of new cases, time since the last new cases, etc.

It also will make a difference if the country has publicly funded health care or not. If health care is costly to the nation, then there is a financial incentive for the government to keep the people healthy by delaying the return to work. If health care is not publicly funded, then the risks and costs of sickness rests with the individual. In that case, there is more interest in speeding up the return to business as usual. jmo
 
Andrew Cuomo on Twitter
We lost 778 New Yorkers yesterday to this vicious virus. We mourn each of them. Remember: Our actions determine our destiny. We flattened the curve and we must keep it up.
11:48 AM - 14 Apr 2020

Andrew Cuomo on Twitter
“State governments possess inherent advantages, which will ever give them an influence & ascendency over the Nat'l Gov & will forever preclude the possibility of federal encroachments. That their liberties can be subverted by the federal head is repugnant...” —Alexander Hamilton
11:56 AM - 14 Apr 2020

Andrew Cuomo on Twitter
The federal government could help states by scaling up testing. There cannot be competition among 50 states for the testing supplies we need — driving prices through the roof. We learned this lesson. We've seen this movie. Tests must be allocated by need.
12:14 PM - 14 Apr 2020

Andrew Cuomo on Twitter
We have learned facts that are helping to control the virus. What we have also learned it that we can’t hermetically seal society. We know more each day and will use that knowledge to inform every decision we make.
12:24 PM - 14 Apr 2020
 
CDC on Twitter
New data show 9,000+ #COVID19 cases in healthcare personnel were identified from 300,000+ cases reported to CDC from Feb 12–Apr 9. If you need medical care, call ahead & wear a cloth face covering to protect HCP & other patients. @CDCMMWR
Characteristics of Health Care Personnel with COVID-19 — United States
2:51 PM - 14 Apr 2020

CDC on Twitter
State and local health departments use CDC guidance to work with individual clinicians to make decisions about testing for the virus that causes #COVID19. To learn about testing in your community, visit your state or local health department website:Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
4:32 PM - 14 Apr 2020

Ryan Struyk on Twitter
More than 1% of New York residents have tested positive for coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Census Bureau.
5:06 PM - 14 Apr 2020

Ryan Struyk on Twitter
CNN: 600,000 people in the United States have tested positive for coronavirus.
7:00 PM - 14 Apr 2020

Daniel Dale on Twitter
Trump: "The governors are supposed to do testing. It's up to the governors." "It's now not up - and it hasn't been up - to the federal government."
7:09 PM - 14 Apr 2020

At this time, I'm quite happy to have the federal gov't look after obtaining and distributing health resources, and leaving it with the federal gov't to decide when it is safe for children to return to school. Although school closures were a province by province decision, I think that re-opening schools should be a joint provincial / federal decision.

For example, if BC and Ontario schools were open first, and people were travelling freely between those two provinces, every other province would be at risk if it happened too soon. Collaborating on opening the country again seems like a national rather than local or provincial decision.
 
Just had the strangest visit with a brother. He drove up, stood outside, phoned me, we visited on the phone looking through the front window.

My niece had a birthday. As a surprise, her friends from school came to her street and spaced out standing 10-15 feet apart from each other along the road. They held up signs and sang happy birthday to her while her mom drove her slowly around the block past everyone singing. She so wanted to go hug all her friends. What a crazy world we're living in!
 
New lawsuit accuses Liberty University of 'profiteering' off the coronavirus pandemic - CNN
Like many universities, Liberty has moved all classes to online sessions, closed its recreation centers, migrated convocations and religious services online, canceled student activities, suspended team sports and closed the campus to visitors.

The school said it has prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people and converted food service to take-out meals only.

Liberty University, which boasts a student body of 100,000, including online students, according to its website, has so far offered "certain students who have opted to move from the residence halls" a credit of $1,000 toward the fall semester, according to a statement.

But the lawsuit says students who won't return to school in the fall, excluding graduating students, will not receive the credit, and that students had to indicate they wanted the credit by March 28.

"This pandemic has already placed tremendous financial strain on many of Liberty's students and their families," said Adam Levitt, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, "and the fact that Mr. Falwell would disingenuously keep the campus open as a pretext for holding onto student fees while putting their finances and health at risk is a stark illustration of where his true priorities lie."

In response, a spokesman for Liberty University issued a statement accusing the student's attorneys of trying to "profit from a public health crisis."

"Each of Liberty's changes in operations and modes of delivery has been required by governmental officials, a fact the complaint omits," the statement said. "That fact legally excuses Liberty's adjustments and leaves the plaintiffs without a legal case."

In a late March appearance on CNN, Falwell said the campus "looks like a ghost town" and that reports that the school is reopening are overblown.

"Liberty did not reopen. Liberty has between 1,000 and 2,000 students on a campus built for 15,500 and almost a thousand are international students who have nowhere else to go," he said. "Others have no place else to be except in their dorms."

Earlier in March, Falwell told Fox News that many people were "overreacting" to the pandemic. "Maybe now this is their next attempt to get Trump," the university president also said.

As of March 24, about 1,900 students had returned to campus out of the student population of 14,000 to 15,000, university spokesman Scott Lamb told CNN. University officials are prepared for about 5,000 students to return to campus, Lamb said.

"Liberty's less populated and more frequently sanitized campus living environment will be maintained for those students who chose it as their safest option," the university's statement said.
 
I hope before anyone goes back to work, that there would be strong parameters in place in order to judge whether or not going back to work is safe.

At the moment, it seems like some countries are calling for a quick return to get the economy rolling again, but they are not basing the decision on any measurable factors ... availability of vaccine, level of testing, availability of snap testing, level of new cases, time since the last new cases, etc.

It also will make a difference if the country has publicly funded health care or not. If health care is costly to the nation, then there is a financial incentive for the government to keep the people healthy by delaying the return to work. If health care is not publicly funded, then the risks and costs of sickness rests with the individual. In that case, there is more interest in speeding up the return to business as usual. jmo

It's a strange thing right now with some countries predicting the future and claiming that because certain things will happen in the immediate future, everything back to normal in 2 weeks. The Easter return to work/church plan was postponed.

Interesting point about health care and economic priorities. Some countries are driven solely by economy. Economy and supply chain is one reason that China was not isolated when this was an epidemic - don't shut the borders, keep the trade/economic routes open, tourism is an important industry. We have short term economic gain in exchange for long term economic recession and shortages.

If the US wants to be first out of the gate to declare they beat the virus, go for it. The rest of the world will wait and see.
 
For protein options, also consider tofu. It can be added to mostly anything (broth, soups, salads, etc.) and it absorbs the flavor of whatever you are cooking it with so it can be tasty, depending on what you cook it with. Good and inexpensive form of protein.

Grocery stores also have some pre-cooked tofu products, but mostly are fried, but some of them are very good. You could just stir fry some tofu with canned or frozen veggies if you don't have fresh vegetables. Also you can freeze it, or half a package at a time. I'm sure others have better tofu recipes than I have, mine are pretty basic.

I made zucchini lasagna with tofu (as the ricotta - same texture when mashed up with a fork) tonight with nutritional yeast to add some cheesy flavour.
 
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<respectfully snipped>Liberty University, which boasts a student body of 100,000, including online students ... "Liberty did not reopen. Liberty has between 1,000 and 2,000 students on a campus built for 15,500 and almost a thousand are international students who have nowhere else to go," he said.

Is the population 100,000 or 15,000? Confusing article.
 
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I always thought there were rate scales depending on how many miles were typically driven. So if your rate is based on your usual, say, 1500 miles per month, and you're now driving more like 100 miles per month, a discount makes sense.



I saw where you said you'd try making it yourself -- that's good, because it's like rice, in that it can easily be slightly under- or overdone and one of those might just make it unappealing for you.

I was also gonna suggest eating a lot of: tapioca pudding, rice pudding, cream of wheat, raspberry jam, crunchy peanut butter, and alfalfa sprouts, just to make that texture seem more normal? Kidding, sort of...

I made this a few days ago, turned out great, having the last serving for dinner tonight...
Southwestern Quinoa and Black Bean Casserole - Pinch of Yum

yum and I could substitute the cheese for vegan shreds to make it totally vegan!
 
FDA tightens standards on Covid-19 antibody tests

[...]

On March 16, the FDA loosened its standards and allowed companies to sell antibody tests without submitting any evidence that they worked.

That led to “crappy” tests flooding the market, according to Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

[...]

ICE releases nearly 700 people due to coronavirus concerns

[...]

The move comes amid lawsuits calling for the release of ICE detainees, as well as newly introduced legislation to require the release of most people in ICE detention during a national emergency related to a communicable disease.

ICE reviewed its cases to identify people who would be eligible for release, including detainees who are 60 years old and over and those who are pregnant. The agency later expanded its review to include all people in ICE custody to assess those who have “medical fragility," Cuccinelli said.

[...]

102 people have coronavirus at one of San Francisco's largest homeless shelters

[...]

Ninety-two of the cases are among homeless individuals and 10 are among staff members.

This is an increase of 11 more positive cases from the 91 that were reported at the shelter Monday.

[...]

French study finds hydroxychloroquine doesn’t help patients with coronavirus

[...]


“This provides evidence that hydroxychloroquine does not apparently treat patients with Covid-19,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Even worse, there were side effects caused by the drug – heart toxicities that required it be discontinued.”

[...]

In the study, among the 84 patients who took hydroxychloroquine, 20.2% were admitted to the ICU or died within seven days of inclusion. Among the 97 patients who did not take the drug, 22.1% went to the ICU or died.

[...]

Connecticut governor says other state leaders find Trump's May 1 reopening "very premature"

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that he and a number of his gubernatorial counterparts think President Trump is off-base with his desire to reopen the nation’s economy by May 1.

“President Trump has put out the date of May 1, which I think most of the governors think is a very premature,” Lamont said at a news conference. “I just showed you that hospitalizations are going up and infections are going up, and this is no time to take our eye off the ball.”

[...]

Prosecutors ask judge to postpone Rudy Giuliani's associates' trial due to coronavirus pandemic

Prosecutors are asking a federal judge to postpone the trial of associates of Rudy Giuliani by at least four months until February due to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the criminal justice system.

In a letter to Judge Paul Oetken, prosecutors also said they informed lawyers for Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and two other men charged in a campaign finance scheme that their plans to bring additional charges against the men have also been impacted.

[...]

New Orleans mayor urges big festivals to postpone until 2021

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said today that she doesn't believe the city's biggest events — French Quarter Festival, JazzFest and Essence Festival — should be held in 2020, but instead push to 2021.

[...]

Dyson says new ventilator units are almost ready for mass production

[...]

The company has confirmed that its production lines based at the Hullavington Airfield in England are now in the process of manufacturing ventilator units in preparation for final regulatory approval.

“If this new ventilator passes MHRA tests, full scale production can begin,” Dyson said Tuesday, adding that the engineering firm is “ready to make 10,000 ventilators to support this NHS” in its fight against coronavirus.

[...]

In March, a spokesperson for Dyson told CNN that they hoped to have the ventilators ready for mass production by early April 2020.

California reports most coronavirus cases in a single day

California said it has 1,544 new coronavirus cases – the highest number recorded in a single day since the beginning of the outbreak.

These additional cases bring the total in California to 23,338. More than 11% of those patients are health care workers, according to new data from California Department of Public Health.

April 14 coronavirus news - CNN
 
Ok, so the virus stays on cloth for 3 days, right? I did a curbside pick up of interfacing from Joann’s the other day. It’s polyester. An employee would have had to roll the 8 yards off a bolt, cut, and fold it. So it could potentially be infected. It can’t be washed before being attached. So sitting for 3 days should be sufficient, right? Because I’m giving half of it to my mom and I want to be sure.
 
FDA tightens standards on Covid-19 antibody tests

On March 16, the FDA loosened its standards and allowed companies to sell antibody tests without submitting any evidence that they worked.

That led to “crappy” tests flooding the market, according to Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

April 14 coronavirus news - CNN

That's a relief. Otherwise, there would almost be a free for all invitation to commit fraud!
 
Ok, so the virus stays on cloth for 3 days, right? I did a curbside pick up of interfacing from Joann’s the other day. It’s polyester. An employee would have had to roll the 8 yards off a bolt, cut, and fold it. So it could potentially be infected. It can’t be washed before being attached. So sitting for 3 days should be sufficient, right? Because I’m giving half of it to my mom and I want to be sure.

I've read 24 hours on cardboard, 72 hours on plastic and steel. I have not read anything about fabric other than 3 hours.

I would feel safe leaving cloth for 3 days.
 
I don't understand why they took such an astonishing risk. Have the people supported this, or was it just misguided leadership? I've been watching their numbers too, to see if social distancing truly makes a difference, and the results have convinced me already.

It is a confusing approach and they may change course as the experiment goes on. They are not even close to what is coming in three weeks.

Our healthcare system is already overwhelmed now, and healthcare and frontline workers are overworked and at considerable risk. I noted that scaled projections for the U.S. with Sweden's approach would be 600,000 deaths within a couple months. It seems to me that they would be chaos and social unrest due what was happening.

On the other hand, our economy may be heading for a prolonged recession or worse because of our protective measures.

I think it is clear here will be an opening of our economy soon, and there will be more of the same illness and death, but hopefully on a lower and more controlled path. There is no vaccine and no cure, and no correct answer as how to proceed.

The coronavirus is not particularly dangerous to those under 40 without health conditions; and very dangerous to the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. I suppose the exit strategy to what we are now doing is to get able people back to work, and the vulnerable people essentially quarantined.

Lot of questions as to how that would work though...
 
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