Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #50

[firebird]

Many small businesses say government loan won’t enable them to rehire

Some small businesses that obtained a highly-coveted government loan say they won’t be able to use it to bring all their laid-off workers back, even though that is what the program was designed to do.
...
To get the loans forgiven, companies need to spend 75% on payroll within eight weeks of receiving the money. The other 25% can be spent on rent, utilities, and mortgage payments. Otherwise, the loan has generous terms: Only a 1% interest rate and six months before any principal is due.

Many of the small companies that were able to obtain a loan are having second thoughts about rehiring all their workers and a few plan to return the money. Others will use what they can on rent and utilities, and will use some to rehire a portion of their laid-off staff. But most are unsure they will be able to reopen eight weeks from now. They see little point in rehiring all their workers, paying them to do little or nothing, and then potentially laying them off again if business remains weak two months from now.
...
“You’re turning the business into a pass through for the federal government,” said Joe Walsh, who owns Clean Green Maine, a cleaning service in Portland, Maine with 35 employees. “You’re doing very little to actually help the business.”
...
Walsh, who received a $280,000 loan from the SBA, said that he is reluctant to push his employees to return to work because, under unemployment benefit rules, they could lose their weekly checks if they turn down potential jobs.

“That’s just putting me as the employer in a really difficult position,” Walsh said. He pays at least $17 an hour, with benefits, but his former employees are getting the equivalent of roughly $25 an hour from unemployment.

Right now, Walsh’s business is closed due to lack of demand for cleaning services. He hopes to reopen soon and bring back some workers, retrain them on new sanitizing processes, and earn a bit of revenue. Still, he doubts his business will be anywhere close to what it was anytime soon, which means his workforce won’t be either.

“There’s no way that I’m getting to 100% employment by the end of 8 weeks,” he said.
...

Well that certainly highlights the problem...the gov't pays you more taxpayer dollars to sit on your butt than you earn from work. Ugh.

 

[10ofRods]

I am watching the President right now, sort of surprised about the announcement for Thunderbird Air shows from the Air Force will be demonstrating in cities across the United States.

Well, I guess that the pandemic is over, let's go to an air show. Okay.

From the point of view of an anthropologist, this will activate certain principles of what we now called the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Equation.

Let's say that several (overlapping on a Venn diagram) groups go to this. All ages, patriotic, Trump-listening, Airforce-loving, SOCIAL, CROWD LIKING, and some people who just like airplanes (but they could stay outside the crowd - as some always do).

What a great place to see if CoVid is seasonal, right? Airshows near where I live easily attract 10,000 people into a packed crowded. Shared portapotties. No running water. Hand sanitizer doesn't really do a good job and people will be yelling and breathing in each others' faces. A bunch of asymptomatic people will be there, shedding.

 

[JustEve]

Thank you from a Mom and Pop restaurant, that has owned 4 locations over 30 years in So. California.
All paid for cash with hard earned money.
No investors, no bank loans.
About a gift from God, would have been the $10,000. Forgivable Bond.
We applied immediately. No response, no money and neither of us have got the $1,200.00.
We have got zip.
Currently, we owe our landlord, the IRS, sales tax, and vendors.
It's a cascading wave.
I really care about our vendors.
With that said, I have no idea what we will do.
The lack of help is soul crushing.
Edited to add.
I have never hated politicians more then I do right now.
MOO.

I am so sorry to hear that, Kali. I truly am.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Cats get a coronavirus vaccine as part of their routine vaccinations. I'm a bit sceptical about the reports of the particular coronavirus, CoV19 in cats, however it could be so, I suppose. I want to see the lab tests before believing it. I'm not even sure that there is a lab test for CoV19 in cats.

Cat FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

From the link..."Diagnosing FIP is challenging. Despite the claims made by some laboratories and test manufacturers, there is currently no test that can distinguish between the harmless intestinal coronavirus and the deadly FIP coronavirus. A positive test may support the veterinarian’s suspicions, but by itself is inconclusive. It means only that a cat has been exposed to and may be harboring a coronavirus. A negative test usually (but not always) indicates that the cat is unlikely to have FIP."

I brought this up before. I am very familiar with FIP because of my rescue work. At the time I researched it over 10 years ago, it was something like 85% of cats test positive for coronavirus because they’ve been exposed to it. In a minuscule number, it mutates to FIP and no one knows why. It was suspected at the time to be tied to a genetic marker in those cats. The only way to diagnose FIP for a certainty is post-mortem.

 

[10ofRods]

You know how they shorted me on my Plaquenil refill last time? I didn't mind the one time being shorted, only getting 14 pills instead of 100, but they wouldn't mail them like usual. They made me go to the hospital pharmacy to pick up my Rx then told me I could come back in 14 days. I'm compromised, and they are exposing me extra by making me pick up the Rx. That's what I resent. They should know better and mail them with a letter of apology for the shortage.

This is awful. Keep documenting. If you have a big university hospital anywhere in your area, show up at the ER. With a mask and big sunglasses, of course. I'm not kidding. OR call that same university and ask if they are accepting new patients by phone - I bet you they are. They may be able to give you a new script and you may be able to find it online.

This is AWFUL to have to go through all that just wondering if you'll get your regular medicine.

This is despicable. Guardian.Co.UK has a podcast on this topic - you should definitely listen. Join a class action suit.

 

[ilovewings]

COVID-19 appears to be causing strokes in younger adults, doctors say

The new coronavirus appears to be causing sudden strokes in adults in their 30s and 40s who are not otherwise terribly ill, doctors reported Wednesday.

They said patients may be unwilling to call 911 because they have heard hospitals are overwhelmed by coronavirus cases.

There’s growing evidence that Covid-19 infection can cause the blood to clot in unusual ways, and stroke would be an expected consequence of that.

Dr. Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, and colleagues gave details of five people they treated. All were under the age of 50, and all had either mild symptoms of Covid-19 infection or no symptoms at all.

“The virus seems to be causing increased clotting in the large arteries, leading to severe stroke,” Oxley told CNN.
...

i am continually amazed at the way this drug masquerades as other disease
processes- it fools people into thinking for examp!e they are having a stroke
when they have the virus, or the virus seems tobe subsidng and then bam, the
patient deteriorates quickly and dies--in other circumstances the patient may
not manifest shortness of breath and doctors are shocked when a chest xray
is compatible with pneumonia and the virus and the patient's oxygen is
remarkably low- this virus is a perfect human killer of thousands, if not
millions

 

[Chelly]

I don't have an "anti science" sentiment. But are they really considering the fact that they gave veterans on their literal death beds hydrocloroquine and they didn't get better, therefore, the treatment was junk?

I don't think that is a valid, empirical assessment of the efficacy of the drug.

BBM Misinterpretation of the facts. So just your opinion.

 

[Curious Me]

It's Kaiser and they have been normally great. I just want them to mail as they usually do my regular Rx and not expose me by making me pick it up again. The POTUS was talking about my Rx drug so much that it created a shortage. It was at the height of the outbreak when they were busy enough, so I didn't make a stink, but they should know better without me having to join a class action suit. They did the same thing to a little girl with Lupus - shorted Rx and come back in 14 days. I think they changed it when they realized the legalities.

 

[anneg]

I don't think the new NIH treatment guidelines have been discussed here (please advise if they have). I copied and pasted some parts below related to medications. But IMO it's worth a look if you are interested in COVID-19 treatment. I'm sure these guidelines will be updated over time as more research is done and more data become available.

From: NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
Overview | Coronavirus Disease COVID-19
Overview and Spectrum of COVID-19
Summary Recommendations

• The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) does not recommend the use of any agents for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outside of the setting of a clinical trial (AIII).
• The Panel does not recommend the use of any agents for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of the setting of a clinical trial (AIII).
• The Panel recommends no additional laboratory testing and no specific treatment for persons with suspected or confirmed asymptomatic or presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (AIII).
• At present, no drug has been proven to be safe and effective for treating COVID-19. There are insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of any antiviral or immunomodulatory therapy in patients with COVID-19 who have mild, moderate, severe, or critical illness (AIII).

Therapeutic Options Under Investigation | Coronavirus Disease COVID-19
Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Currently Under Investigation
Summary Recommendations
At present, no drug has been proven to be safe and effective for treating COVID-19. There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs specifically to treat patients with COVID-19. Although reports have appeared in the medical literature and the lay press claiming successful treatment of patients with COVID-19 with a variety of agents, definitive clinical trial data are needed to identify optimal treatments for this disease. Recommended clinical management of patients with COVID-19 includes infection prevention and control measures and supportive care, including supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilatory support when indicated. As in the management of any disease, treatment decisions ultimately reside with the patient and their health care provider.

Antivirals:

• There are insufficient clinical data to recommend either for or against using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 (AIII).
  • If chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine is used, clinicians should monitor the patient for adverse effects, especially prolonged QTc interval (AIII).
• There are insufficient clinical data to recommend either for or against using the investigational antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 (AIII).
  • Remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19 is currently being investigated in clinical trials and is also available through expanded access and compassionate use mechanisms for certain patient populations.
• Except in the context of a clinical trial, the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends against the use of the following drugs for the treatment of COVID-19:
  • The combination of hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin (AIII) because of the potential for toxicities.
  • Lopinavir/ritonavir (AI) or other HIV protease inhibitors (AIII) because of unfavorable pharmacodynamics and negative clinical trial data.

Host Modifiers/Immune-Based Therapy:

• There are insufficient clinical data to recommend either for or against the use of convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for the treatment of COVID-19 (AIII).
• There are insufficient clinical data to recommend either for or against the use of the following agents for the treatment of COVID-19 (AIII):
  • Interleukin-6 inhibitors (e.g., sarilumab, siltuximab, tocilizumab)
  • Interleukin-1 inhibitors (e.g., anakinra)
• Except in the context of a clinical trial, the Panel recommends against the use of other immunomodulators, such as:
  • Interferons (AIII), because of lack of efficacy in treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and toxicity.
  • Janus kinase inhibitors (e.g., baricitinib) (AIII), because of their broad immunosuppressive effect.

Concomitant Medications | Coronavirus Disease COVID-19
Considerations for Certain Concomitant Medications in Patients with COVID-19
Summary Recommendations
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs):

• Persons with COVID-19 who are prescribed ACE inhibitors or ARBs for cardiovascular disease (or other indications) should continue these medications (AIII).
• The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends against the use of ACE inhibitors or ARBs for the treatment of COVID-19 outside of the setting of a clinical trial (AIII).

Sections include:

• Introduction
• Overview
• Critical Care
• Therapeutic Options Under Investigation
• Concomitant Medications
• Panel Roster
• Panel Financial Disclosure

ETA I'm now off to bed! Good night...

 

[Curious Me]

This is awful. Keep documenting. If you have a big university hospital anywhere in your area, show up at the ER. With a mask and big sunglasses, of course. I'm not kidding. OR call that same university and ask if they are accepting new patients by phone - I bet you they are. They may be able to give you a new script and you may be able to find it online.

This is AWFUL to have to go through all that just wondering if you'll get your regular medicine.

This is despicable. Guardian.Co.UK has a podcast on this topic - you should definitely listen. Join a class action suit.

Oh no, I resent it, but I'm not that outraged. It's Kaiser and they have been normally great to me. I just want them to mail, as they usually do, my regular Rx and not expose me by making me pick it up again. The POTUS was talking about my Rx drug so much that it created a shortage. It was at the height of the outbreak when they were busy enough, so I didn't make a stink, but they should know better without me having to join a class action suit. They did the same thing to a little girl with Lupus - shorted Rx and come back in 14 days. I think they changed it when they realized the legalities.

BTW, you might be able to understand more about this VA trial. Did you see it? It seemed like it needed better parameters.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.16.20065920v1.full.pdf

 

[katydid23]

wow I'm genuinely shocked it's still going on there!
it's illegal here

NOOOO< it's all locked down here. I was just talking about the pre-pandemic days.

 

[LadyL]

NOOOO< it's all locked down here. I was just talking about the pre-pandemic days.

yes I know but still legal there
there's no smoking inside any buildings here unless it's your home
has been like that for a long time

 

[katydid23]

Here’s the thing - our local restaurants took their inventory and packaged family meals to cook your own and included things like eggs and TP at a more than fair price IMO all this rather than lose their inventory not to mention these same small businesses figured out how to deliver take out cooked - I have not heard one word that these companies who took the small business PPP loans have done the same to salvage their businesses to keep them up and running but maybe that’s a secret too? Time will tell
jMO

I think large restaurant chains are burdened by their own regulations or franchise rules, where as small business owners have more latitude and freedom to make those kinds of executive decisions.

For example, it is probably against 'Ruth Chris' franchise regulations to sell their steaks uncooked to the public. Maybe there could have been more they could have done to change those limitations---I don't know....but I doubt they were being lazy or stupid and didnt want to salvage their businesses and keep them running.

Even so, if a family is going to look for a spource to buy packaged take home family meals ---I'd think a family restaurant or diner would be the 'go to' place, and not an upscale steak house.JMO

 

[katydid23]

yes I know but still legal there
there's no smoking inside any buildings here unless it's your home
has been like that for a long time

In casinos, yes.

But not legal in bars, restaurants, theatres, offices, etc etc.

Actually, I think it is allowed in California casinos because they are on Tribal lands and owned by Native American tribes and not under state or federal laws.

 

[10ofRods]

Even though I work in the medical profession, I do not know much about specific drugs.

I took the hydrocloroquine as more of a "shot in the dark" for people at the end of the line, where you could afford to take a risk. If it works great, if not, well it was a shot in the dark. These people cannot wait 3 years for all the tests. They have 3 days left, not years, so take a shot. If you are going to die any way, what do you have to lose? That is who they were talking about.

Except of course, a lot of other people with a known condition depend on it to stay alive. Now they don't have it.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

HHS Chief Alex Azar Had Aide, Former Dog Breeder, Steer Pandemic Task Force | HuffPost

 

[LadyL]

In casinos, yes.

But not legal in bars, restaurants, theatres, offices, etc etc.

Actually, I think it is allowed in California casinos because they are on Tribal lands and owned by Native American tribes and not under state or federal laws.

ooohhh ok that makes sense

 

[10ofRods]

In casinos, yes.

But not legal in bars, restaurants, theatres, offices, etc etc.

Actually, I think it is allowed in California casinos because they are on Tribal lands and owned by Native American tribes and not under state or federal laws.

Although some of the tribal are more anti-tobacco than some establishments in Arizona that are just regular restaurants.

 

[Tadpole12]

Now I have to make little masks for my cat.

Cats sporting masks,
Cats are wearing coronavirus masks in China

 

[cass523]

@DrJAshton breaks down what we know, what we think we know and don't know about blood clotting seen in COVID-19 patients.

"We're seeing these microscopic clots in small arteries, veins, microscopic blood vessels that therefore affect blood flow."

Dr Jennifer Ashton explains this very well

video 2:05 ABC News Live on Twitter

video Why are so many COVID-19 patients also seeing blood clots?