Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #51

[nhmemorymaker]

I very much wish they had not given the dosage in the article, and instead had just said “high doses.” I suspect many will try 9 X the regular dose at home and it could interfere with other meds and kill them.

first thing i thought as well... sounded like a direct encouragement....

 

[The Night Watchman]

There has never been a vaccine developed for a coronavirus, due to the difficulty in producing one. There were efforts to produce a vaccine for MERS and SARS, but they were scrapped when the viruses were contained and eradicated. This article mentions herd immunity as one option to fight the virus.

Chinese scientists say the novel coronavirus will not be eradicated, adding to a growing consensus around the world that the pathogen will likely return in waves like the flu.

It’s unlikely the new virus will disappear the way its close cousin SARS did 17 years ago, as it infects some people without causing obvious symptoms like fever. This group of so-called asymptomatic carriers makes it hard to fully contain transmission as they can spread the virus undetected, a group of Chinese viral and medical researchers told reporters in Beijing at a briefing Monday.

With SARS, those infected became seriously ill. Once they were quarantined from others, the virus stopped spreading. In contrast, China is still finding dozens of asymptomatic cases of the coronavirus every day despite bringing its epidemic under control.

“This is very likely to be an epidemic that co-exists with humans for a long time, becomes seasonal and is sustained within human bodies,” said Jin Qi, director of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at China’s top medial research institute, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

A consensus is forming among top researchers and governments worldwide that the virus is unlikely to be eliminated, despite costly lockdowns that have brought much of the global economy to a halt. Some public health experts are calling for the virus to be allowed to spread in a controlled way through younger populations like India’s, while countries like Sweden have opted out of strict lockdowns.

Anthony Fauci, the director of U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said last month that Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, could become a seasonal ailment.


Virus Likely to Keep Coming Back Each Year, Say Top Chinese Scientists

 

[The Night Watchman]

Good morning everyone.
Today marks the start of week seven? eight? nine? of my personal quarantine. I’ve lost count of the weeks and the days are now running into one, but I’m still very happy to be able to stay safe at home.
London is grey and cool and it’s raining really, really hard this morning. Sucker that I am for the cats, I went out with them as usual as they trooped into the garden this morning. It was actually lovely, sitting out there under a gigantic umbrella, coffee in hand. Everything smells so clean, all the greenery looks so vibrant during a rainstorm.
After breakfast, I braved the rain to put extra support canes down for the tomato plants - and was rewarded by the sight of two baby-small frogs trying their hardest to blend into the soil. I love that my garden is a safe place for them.
Back indoors and dried off, I made my favourite soup for lunch - roasted red pepper, tomato, peanut and chipotle soup with enough left over for lunches over the rest of the week.
Stay safe today, Sleuthers

Great post. Life has dealt you a pepper, and you made soup.

Positive thinking is such a great weapon.

 

[musicaljoke]

Why don't China want an investigation into the origins of this pandemic? That is obviously the way to go to prevent it happening again. The UN and WHO need to insist. MOO.

The origin of the pandemic has not been questioned by scientists anywhere. The origin has been clearly documented in international, peer reviewed journals, including the most highly regarded scientific journal in the world, 'Nature'. The links have been posted here several times. They are extremely academic, which might discourage some readers.

Here's a link to a more readable article which cites the Nature entry.

Scientists Are Tired of Explaining Why The COVID-19 Virus Was Not Made in a Lab

From the link:

What experts do agree on is that a pandemic like this is no surprise. Scientists have been warning governments for years that a new disease was on the horizon, and that many countries were woefully under-prepared.

For example, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, told the incoming US government administration in January 2017 about the inevitability of a "surprise outbreak", urging them to make preparations.

"We've been aware for some time that another coronavirus, like SARS and MERS before it, could cause a pandemic, and so in many ways, the emergence of a new coronavirus with pandemic potential is not a surprise," explains La Trobe University epidemiologist Hassan Vally.

"We have to be careful to not aid those irresponsibly using this global crisis for political point-scoring by giving any oxygen to these and other rumours."

 

[Trino]

NY front line doctor takes own life...
Prominent New York City doctor on coronavirus front lines kills herself

“Just before she went back, she said that the ambulance had been waiting outside the building for over three hours with sick people. They couldn’t even get the people out of the ambulances in there.”

 

[Trino]

There still are real people out there.
Safari Driver Follows Mother Teresa's Mission to Feed The Hungry In Kenya.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Very sad.

The head of the emergency department at a Manhattan hospital committed suicide after spending days on the front lines of the coronavirus battle, her family said Monday.

https://nypost.com/2020/04/27/manha...BoDcoRMSjpqqRlMOR-9nNjsZYpmxihdeWhhxKFuLyAi8M

It's so hard to imagine what these frontline healthcare workers have endured during this pandemic. Truly frightening.

It makes my petty annoyances and frustrations pale in comparison after 'seeing' the emotional and physical toll on the medical profession. The CV has been a WAR and these people have stepped up just like our soldiers.

Blessings and thank you for your service.

 

[CSIDreamer]

So the governor was going to loosen some restrictions but the lawsuit would not allow that so still all lockeddown as strict as before? I don't understand what the judge's authority is to overrule the governor. How does that work?

No, this representative filed because he felt the whole thing needed to be lifted. The judge ruled just for the plaintiff - singular. Jmo

 

[Seattle1]

So the governor was going to loosen some restrictions but the lawsuit would not allow that so still all lockeddown as strict as before? I don't understand what the judge's authority is to overrule the governor. How does that work?

I believe the Judge overruled the governor of Illinois (issued a restraining order) because his plan was to extend the lockdown beginning Friday until the end of May but could not provide the basis for doing so. I believe the Judge's words were to the effect that the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis. I think the mistake the governor made was to affix a future date 5-6 weeks out to their lockdown without data to support it necessary.

And now the US Attorney General put federal prosecutors on notice to watch for restrictions imposed by state and local governments during the pandemic that may go too far, violating constitutional rights. MOO

ETA: It seems the restraining order not to implement the lockdown only applies to the plaintiff that sued the governor.

 

[RANCH]

Right, but my daughter picked up my meds last month and I gave her my medicare card and she just signed for the meds herself. But maybe different pharmacies have different rules. This was at Walgreens

I bet you can call and ask though, if your son could pick it up, and you could pay over the phone?

When I pick up my mom's prescriptions at Walgreen's they ask me for her birth date and I have to enter her phone number into the credit card terminal.

 

[Love Never Fails]

Infectious disease expert slams study that panned hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment: 'It's a sham'

Infectious disease expert Dr. Stephen Smith told "The Ingraham Angle" Monday night that a study published last week indicating the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit for coronavirus patients in U.S. veterans hospitals was a "sham."

Infectious disease expert slams study that panned hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment: 'It's a sham'

 

[PommyMommy]

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
“On January 30, we declared the highest level of global emergency on #COVID19. During that time there were only 82 cases outside China. No cases in Latin America, actually. No cases in Africa. Only 10 cases in Europe.”-@DrTedros
6:16 PM - 27 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
Since January 30, WHO has been calling on countries to prepare to find, test, treat and isolate every #COVID19 patient and trace all contacts. Some, but not all, countries have followed WHO advice.
6:17 PM - 27 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
“WHO has no power or force to reinforce its advice, except the willingness of the countries to accept or reject. ... WHO will continue to give advice based on science & evidence & then it will be up to countries whether to take it or not”-@DrTedros
6:21 PM - 27 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter (Video)
UN Solidarity Flights led by @WHO, @WFP, @AfricaCDC and @_AfricanUnion are delivering urgently needed medical equipment - such as face masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ventilators, to help all African nations respond to #COVID19. #coronavirus
7:09 AM - 28 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
In the #COVID19 pandemic, shortage of staff & resources and increasing social tensions result in increased level of violence against #HealthWorkers and even attacks against health care facilities.

WHO calls for healthy, safe and decent working conditions for all health workers, amidst COVID-19 pandemic

7:06 AM - 28 Apr 2020

WHO/Europe on Twitter
Nurses are working around the clock to protect and heal us from #coronavirus. #COVID19

3:15 AM - 28 Apr 2020

WHO South-East Asia on Twitter
Nurses, midwives and other health workers are at a greater risk of #COVID19 than anyone else. Thank them for their bravery and hard work #WorldDayForSafetyAndHealthAtWork #supportnursesandmidwives #coronavirus

3:27 AM - 28 Apr 2020

 

[PommyMommy]

Infectious disease expert slams study that panned hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment: 'It's a sham'

Infectious disease expert Dr. Stephen Smith told "The Ingraham Angle" Monday night that a study published last week indicating the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit for coronavirus patients in U.S. veterans hospitals was a "sham."

Infectious disease expert slams study that panned hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 treatment: 'It's a sham'

Yikes.

"Not one person in that paper saw one COVID patient. Only three are MDs [and] all [those] are ophthalmology trained," Smith said of the research. "It's a sham. It's a shame on UVA. I sent an email to the dean of the medical school at UVA. I have not heard back from them. It is an embarrassment that UVA allows this thing to be called a study."

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Coronavirus in Scotland - Public advised to cover face - BBC News

Summary

1. Scotland's first minister says the government is advising the use of face coverings in some circumstances
2. Nicola Sturgeon says the coverings will not be mandatory "right now" but that may be reviewed and could be "tougher" in the future
3. However, she adds that she doesn't want people "pointing the finger" at those who do not wear them and it is not something the "police will stop you for"
4. A minute's silence has been held for key workers who have died during the pandemic
5. The number of hospital admissions and intensive care patients falls, however, there have been a further 70 deaths registered overnight
6. An expert tells virtual health committee not enough emphasis has been put on testing for Covid-19

 

[Kadoober]

China has not let any ships, that I know of, leave for anyplace but Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia.

Maybe also South Korea, not sure.

I have hundreds of containers on the water from China right now. Ships are leaving daily. The only interruption I experienced was when they shut everything down after (during) Chinese New Year but once everyone was back in the office it was close to business as usual in Shenzhen.

 

[Henry2326]

WHO recorded the first US case as 22 Jan 2020 in Washington state in their Sitrep report no.3. I have posted the link several times but can repost if necessary.

Here's the link to all WHO SitReps anyway.

COVID-19 situation reports

Situation report #1 gives a good timeline of events.

Also for anyone looking for a good read, go to thread 1.
It started on January 17. You will get a sense of how fast it became serious to those on the board. Anyone who claims "I didn't know" is pure nonsense.

Coronavirus Global Health Emergency, 2019-nCoV

 

[dixiegirl1035]

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
“On January 30, we declared the highest level of global emergency on #COVID19. During that time there were only 82 cases outside China. No cases in Latin America, actually. No cases in Africa. Only 10 cases in Europe.”-@DrTedros
6:16 PM - 27 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
Since January 30, WHO has been calling on countries to prepare to find, test, treat and isolate every #COVID19 patient and trace all contacts. Some, but not all, countries have followed WHO advice.
6:17 PM - 27 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
“WHO has no power or force to reinforce its advice, except the willingness of the countries to accept or reject. ... WHO will continue to give advice based on science & evidence & then it will be up to countries whether to take it or not”-@DrTedros
6:21 PM - 27 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter (Video)
UN Solidarity Flights led by @WHO, @WFP, @AfricaCDC and @_AfricanUnion are delivering urgently needed medical equipment - such as face masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ventilators, to help all African nations respond to #COVID19. #coronavirus
7:09 AM - 28 Apr 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) on Twitter
In the #COVID19 pandemic, shortage of staff & resources and increasing social tensions result in increased level of violence against #HealthWorkers and even attacks against health care facilities.

WHO calls for healthy, safe and decent working conditions for all health workers, amidst COVID-19 pandemic

7:06 AM - 28 Apr 2020

WHO/Europe on Twitter
Nurses are working around the clock to protect and heal us from #coronavirus. #COVID19

3:15 AM - 28 Apr 2020

WHO South-East Asia on Twitter
Nurses, midwives and other health workers are at a greater risk of #COVID19 than anyone else. Thank them for their bravery and hard work #WorldDayForSafetyAndHealthAtWork #supportnursesandmidwives #coronavirus

3:27 AM - 28 Apr 2020

Yesterday's WHO presser transcript is out. https://www.who.int/docs/default-so...ss-conference-27apr2020.pdf?sfvrsn=bccb7626_2

 

[TAM121]

West Virginia Strong - The Comeback

Opening Criteria
If the statewide cumulative percent of positive test results remains below 3% from today, Monday, April 27 through Wednesday, April 29, the six-week reopening process will begin. The Week 1 phase of reopenings will begin on Thursday, April 30. From there, each phase of the reopening process for Weeks 2-6 will begin on Monday of each subsequent week. Case numbers will continue to be monitored throughout the entire reopening process.

Week 1 - hospitals resume elective medical procedures, outpatient health care operations may resume (primary care, dentistry, physical/occupational therapy, psychological/mental heath and similar practices.

Week 2 - any small business with fewer than 10 employees, profession service businesses (hair/nail salons, barbers, pet grooming), outdoor dining at resturants, in person services for churches/funeral homes.

Week 3-6 - office/government buildings, specialty retail stores, parks, gyms, rec centers, dine in restaurants, hotels, casinos, spas.

Businesses With No Timeline for Reopening Right Now
Due to safety concerns, at this time, there is still no timetable to reopen visitation at nursing homes.

Additionally, entertainment venues such as movie theaters, sporting events, and concerts will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Conditions for Reopening to Slow, Stop, or Reverse
In the event that West Virginia’s number of positive COVID-19 cases surges above the 3% threshold, the schedule of reopenings may be slowed, stopped, or reversed.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice unveils plan to reopen state: “West Virginia Strong – The Comeback”

 

[Gardener1850]

There still are real people out there.
Safari Driver Follows Mother Teresa's Mission to Feed The Hungry In Kenya.

Great story. He was in the MSM a couple weeks ago:

Inspired by Mother Teresa, Kenyan safari operator feeds 24,000 families

Meet the safari operator feeding 24,000 families

https://nypost.com/2020/04/16/inspired-by-mother-teresa-kenyan-safari-operator-feeds-24000-families/

Hopefully they have been able to continue feeding people since then.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I believe the Judge overruled the governor of Illinois (issued a restraining order) because his plan was to extend the lockdown beginning Friday until the end of May but could not provide the basis for doing so. I believe the Judge's words were to the effect that the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis. I think the mistake the governor made was to affix a future date 5-6 weeks out to their lockdown without data to support it necessary.

And now the US Attorney General put federal prosecutors on notice to watch for restrictions imposed by state and local governments during the pandemic that may go too far, violating constitutional rights. MOO

ETA: It seems the restraining order not to implement the lockdown only applies to the plaintiff that sued the governor.

Even the model the White House has heavily relied on shows that IL can’t consider relaxing until May 21. I trust JB on this.

IHME | COVID-19 Projections