Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #49

[Sundog]

Thanks for sharing about this, Sundog.

Thanks for caring.

 

[ilovewings]

Opinion | The Infection That’s Silently Killing Coronavirus Patients

well another article that demonstrates how this virus masquerades and hides its ugliness until its too late. This physician describes patients who have the virus but do not manifest shortness of breath.
By the time the physicians figure out the patient has pneumonia, their oxygen level is extremely low, to the point they need a ventilator. The physician describes these patients have what he calls "silent hypoxia": Interestingly, they recommend that some people might consider purchasing a pulse oximeter to monitor their oxygen level. Interestingly I just bought one of those devices ( I could hardly find one in the entire city of Fort Myers but finally did): Because I have asthma I thought I should have one of those devices.

 

[tresir2012]

Why are African Americans hit so hard by virus?

To a lot of Americans, the racial disparities shown in the number of people dying of coronavirus-related causes have sadly been unsurprising.

The cities of Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas and states of Maryland and South Carolina are among those now starting to report data based on race, and show an over-representation of victims who are black.

While some of this could be due to the long-standing inequality issues in the US that we have become familiar with, other reasons are perhaps more unexpected and could potentially have been dealt with.

Here are the experiences of three people affected by the crisis in different ways - their stories explore why black Americans appear to be more at risk.

(See details at link)


African Americans hit hard by coronavirus

• 33%of those hospitalised are African Americans
  
  
• 13%of the US population is African American
  
  
• 68%of coronavirus deaths in Chicago were African American

Source: CDC, Chicago Department of Public Health

 

[BUF]

Now here's a feel good story!

More than 40 employees lived at their plant for 28 days to make material to protect health care workers - CNN

Thanks for posting this...we need more feel good stories!

great people...

"We're truly honored to be able to give back and support people we will never meet in some way," operations shift supervisor Joe Boyce told WPVI. "All the first responders, all the people on the front lines, we thank you. That's what makes our job easy to do."

 

[otto]

Why are African Americans hit so hard by virus?

To a lot of Americans, the racial disparities shown in the number of people dying of coronavirus-related causes have sadly been unsurprising.

The cities of Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas and states of Maryland and South Carolina are among those now starting to report data based on race, and show an over-representation of victims who are black.

While some of this could be due to the long-standing inequality issues in the US that we have become familiar with, other reasons are perhaps more unexpected and could potentially have been dealt with.

Here are the experiences of three people affected by the crisis in different ways - their stories explore why black Americans appear to be more at risk.

I posted some links a couple of days ago. It's due to social reasons - more common to live as multigenerational extended families.

 

[LadyL]

Ontario recorded a new single-day high on Monday as health officials confirmed 606 more cases of COVID-19.

Ontario records single-day high with 606 new cases of COVID-19

 

[ilovewings]

Gary Fowler, 56, went to the emergency rooms of three metro Detroit hospitals in the weeks leading up to his death, begging for a coronavirus test, begging for help because he was having difficulty breathing, but was repeatedly turned away, Keith said.

Family ravaged by coronavirus begged for tests, hospital care, but was repeatedly denied

We hear about this too frequently: people being turned away, being told to go home---no testing and then they die. I don't get it. never will understand how this happens in this country.

 

[otto]

We hear about this too frequently: people being turned away, being told to go home---no testing and then they die. I don't get it. never will understand how this happens in this country.

We heard about that in China too. There was a young Chinese woman, a student, who was upset because her grandparents were refused treatment. I think the videos were posted here - long before the virus was in Italy.

 

[otto]

Ontario recorded a new single-day high on Monday as health officials confirmed 606 more cases of COVID-19.

Ontario records single-day high with 606 new cases of COVID-19

That's a bit of a concern! That means that in the last two weeks, people were not as careful as they should have been.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"The grocery store shelves are empty, meat processing plants are not open or operating and the farmer has supply he's ready to ship and he can't," said Nathan Thomas, president of Pennsylvania's Association of Meat Processors.

"It's an atrocity, not only do we have food we can't get to people, we're killing animals needlessly," Thomas said.

There's a small window when live animals can be processed, or butchered, and if there's nowhere for the animals to be slaughtered, they can end up being wasted.

"It's an economic impact, a massive emotional impact," Thomas said.

Just last week, a chicken plant in Delaware announced it would be slaughtering 2 million chickens that would never make it to market.

Chris Young, Executive Director of the American Association of Meat Processors, said he gets calls daily from people looking for alternative places to process meat.

...

It's unclear what that would mean for prices. But there is perhaps a silver lining for farmers.

Due to a sometimes lacking supply of meat at grocery stores, and overall disinterest in shopping among large crowds, farmers that sell products at retail are seeing more interest, and more sales.

"That's booming, up 300 % or more," Thomas said.
Good meat going to waste amid pandemic as some meat processors close down

 

[katydid23]

The statement that 40% of the population in Sweden lives alone is not correct. According to a paper from Statistics Sweden, Statistics Sweden , done during 2015 -2017 and published in 2019, 22% of the Swedish population lived alone, and 59% with a partner. The 40% comes from the percentage of households with only one person, which is different from how many who lives alone. The name of the paper is Ensam, med partner eller kompisboende - SCB. (Alone, with partner or living with friends). There are statistical tables of the different household constructions in Sweden, and there is also a short summary in English in the end. The paper is 57 pages long, for those who are interested.

I am sorry for being dense, but I don't get this:

"The 40% comes from the percentage of households with only one person, which is different from how many who lives alone."

What is the difference between those 2 things?

 

[otto]

I asked my daughter today about protective equipment that she has for the baby business. As a midwife, she is provided full head to toe gear, including eye protection and space suits, for delivering babies. All appointments are with masks, gloves and other protection. No support person is allowed at appointments or delivery. More women are opting to deliver at home, even if they were not leaning that way a few months ago.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In the last week, reports of silent infections have come from a homeless shelter in Boston, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, pregnant women at a New York hospital, several European countries and California.

The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 25% of infected people might not have symptoms. The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Hyten, thinks it may be as high as 60% to 70% among military personnel.

None of these numbers can be fully trusted because they’re based on flawed and inadequate testing, said Dr. Michael Mina of Harvard’s School of Public Health.

Collectively, though, they suggest “we have just been off the mark by huge, huge numbers” for estimating total infections, he said.
Many more people have had coronavirus with no symptoms, study suggests

 

[Henry2326]

Go ahead GA...we are all watching....how can you social distance as a massage therapist, nail tech or hairdresser, tatooist? Who would be stupid enough to go to a movie theater for 2+ hours with a bunch of other folks, even if you don't sit next to them, what if someone coughs...oh I guess that wont happen..right? Gyms? Whenever I used to go to the Y...I caught so many colds from that place, no matter how well I wiped the machines...it just bred germs! This is utterly insane...MOO

Gov. Kemp: Some shuttered Georgia businesses can reopen Friday

Kemp announced that gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians and massage therapists can reopen their doors on Friday, April 24 — as long as owners follow strict social distancing and hygiene requirements.`

By Monday, April 27, movie theaters may resume selling tickets and restaurants limited to takeout orders can go back to limited dine-in service.

And the coup de grâce:
"Places of worship are allowed to hold in-person services"
GA outbreaks happened in churches and at funerals...

"Subject to the specific social distancing and sanitation mandate, theaters, private social clubs, and restaurant dine-in services will be allowed to reopen on Monday, April 27," he said.

Kemp announces plans to incrementally reopen Georgia | Here's what that includes

NEW CASES TODAY. 1,110
NEW DEATHS. 88
CURVES ARE ON A 6-7 % GROWTH RATE
R0 at .71 but weekend data isn't complete. 1.1 On Saturday

P.S. I live in GA and will continue isolating until the cases slow down. No reason to do different.....

rt.live
COVID-19/Coronavirus Real Time Updates With Credible Sources in US and Canada | 1Point3Acres

 

[otto]

And the coup de grâce:
"Places of worship are allowed to hold in-person services"
GA outbreaks happened in churches and at funerals...

"Subject to the specific social distancing and sanitation mandate, theaters, private social clubs, and restaurant dine-in services will be allowed to reopen on Monday, April 27," he said.

Kemp announces plans to incrementally reopen Georgia | Here's what that includes

NEW CASES TODAY. 1,110
NEW DEATHS. 88
CURVES ARE ON A 6-7 % GROWTH RATE
R0 at .71 but weekend data isn't complete. 1.1 On Saturday

P.S. I live in GA and will continue isolating until the cases slow down. No reason to do different.....

rt.live
COVID-19/Coronavirus Real Time Updates With Credible Sources in US and Canada | 1Point3Acres

Given the rising number of new cases per day, I wonder what they're thinking? Are they thinking that they can't manage it, many will die, so they may as well just get it over with?



United States Coronavirus: 792,440 Cases and 42,489 Deaths - Worldometer

 

[jjenny]

FYI.... I just found out earlier today that the Splash-less Clorox bleach that I usually buy isn't as strong as regular bleach....it has a smaller percentage of sodium hypochlorite... so takes a larger amount of the product in order to disinfect and kill germs. Nothing is printed on the front label to this affect, but is on the back in fine print. WTH, Clorox!

Anyway, I realize this may have already been posted here before but thought I'd do so in case anyone else is as late to the game as I am. I'm like, Doh! and kicking myself at the same time.

On a good side, I am using it in a laundry with clothing of various colors and they come out fine. Presumably because it's not as strong as regular bleach. But I am assuming it's still better than no bleach.

 

[rodneymullenmg]

Boston is letting residents get tested at their discretion, when there is an extreme shortage of tests. We are in a stay at home order. If think you have COVID, you should call your doctor and follow his/her instructions. Otherwise, we are trying to let the virus extinguish by not intermixing, so personal decisions on testing seem wasteful.

In a shortage of tests, I would think that tests would be used to identify those with symptoms, used on front liners, or in population studies for research. But shouldn't they be stockpiled otherwise, for when they can be better used, as in after the-stay-at home order is lifted?

no, the problem is we have a shortage of tests. This shouldn’t be acceptable

 

[Teche]

Yes. Do you need the links?

We all like talking about food mixed in with a little Covid-19 sprinkled in.

 

[The Night Watchman]

Well I found it. Not once has this information been mentioned in the Massachusetts media or has the mass.gov page linked to. I have never seen information from other states, or national data either.

Literally the most important U.S. based information to disseminate.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-april-20-2020/download

Age of death, health status, hospitalizations by age. Massachusetts data through yesterday.



The graphs show-

The median age of death is well over 80 (the average age of death in the U.S. is 79).

97.5% of COVID-19 victims had underlying health issues.

73% of hospitalizations were of those over 70.

Also-

Those under 30 have less risk of COVID-19 than they do for the flu.

People from 40-60 have little risk of death, unless they have health issues.

There is much clearer picture of who is vulnerable from COVID-19 than there is the flu. The flu has a lot less age discrimination.

2017-2018 Estimated Influenza Illnesses, Medical visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths and Estimated Influenza Illnesses, Medical visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths Averted by Vaccination in the United States | CDC

This COVID data has been compiled from the onset, but not shared from the Mass DPH website. I'm a bit of a simpleton, but if I was in charge about 2.5 months ago and I saw this data coming in, I wouldn't have locked down the country.

I'd have spent trillions of dollars locking down the vulnerable citizens, instead of lighting trillions of dollars on fire. Mandatory stay at home for seniors, with food distribution available. Extreme caution and procedures at senior living centers. Relocating vulnerable people from dangerous home situations if they want (multigenerational families). Full unemployment benefits for vulnerable that shouldn't working. And whatever else is required.

Why did we lock down everyone?

 

[10ofRods]

Curious.

The Plague is a bacterial infection that is fairly antibiotic-sensitive.

Very different infectivity and mechanism of serious illness than SARS-Cov-2.

Both viruses and bacteria require antibodies, as I understand it. But you're right - the one gene is keyed to help with Bubonic plague and it also helps with HIV (which is a virus). There's *something* in people's genes that's at work here - we just don't know what it is, yet.

If possible, I'd elect to have the European Plague Immunity gene that confers immunity to HIV. If it helps with CoVid, that's great. HIV and CoVid are both viruses and the fact that we know the HIV immunity gene appeared in European populations that experienced the plague means something.