Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #55

[tresir2012]

I like the "stay alert" message for those who are going out as things reopen. Here in Ohio, the Governor's message went from "stay home" to "safer at home" as Ohio reopened and continues to reopen. This message is confusing, but I like "stay alert" as it gives the message that is needed to those who are going back to work with the reopening.

We began with safer at home so now this is good I think for venturing out. Good thing too is that some can go back to work, like construction, so will await further details on that. (If safe to do so was stated today) Also the detail about additional furlough is being looked at. And schools can look to re open.

 

[10ofRods]

And people wonder why those are who say they are isolating are still ending up in the hospital.

I want desperately to go back to normal, but I was just realizing this morning that I will not feel safe in the craft groups I was attending pre-pandemic for a long time. (The realization made me very cranky.) I have a few like-minded friends that I won't mind getting together with on an outdoor patio where we can keep our distance, but that's about it at this point. Otherwise, it's grocery shopping, online shopping, and an occasional trip to the park this summer if I can find one that isn't overrun. I am not a warrior, and I am quite willing to wait and see what happens to those who have a higher risk tolerance than me.

Yeah, my daughter (a nurse) just told me a series of stories within our own broader family about their "social distancing" practices. All of these cousins, aunts and uncles, etc, claim to be social distancing. She happened to drop off a birthday present on the porch, and while there, recognized the cars of a large number of relatives. She could hear them inside. It's a household of 2, but 30 people were there (all related, all used to seeing each other at least once a month). The older members of the family are also still doing things with church friends, at least once a week.

But when she asks about their social distancing (so that she can think about when she might see them again and how things are going), they always say they are strictly isolated and some even lie (although I guess saying "We plan just to do a drive by honking party for little Jonas" isn't exactly a lie, as it is probably true they did plan and then not do it.

Her patients tend to tell her the truth if she gently asks questions, and it's not much different for most of them. People are still driving vast miles to visit family on trips they had planned a year ago, etc. My family in Hawaii is shaking their heads over the tourists that are showing up and then refusing to obey the 14 day quarantine in hotel. 5000 tourists a day doesn't sound like a lot, but all of those people had to go through airports (often a couple of airports) on their way to the Islands.

The tourists in Hawaii are required to sign a form saying they will self-quarantine, and then they don't (and some have been arrested and/or fined). Hotel owners are very quick to turn them in - Hawaiians know quite a bit about immunity issues.

 

[Boston Corbett]

Some Massachusetts numbers
These 25 Massachusetts communities have the most coronavirus cases
There are 25 communities with at least 650 cases and six places with more than 1,500. Brockton now has more than 3,000 cases. Boston has the most cases in the Bay State with nearly 11,000.
Health officials have said that an updated list will be released every Wednesday.

Eta most recent numbers for all towns including per 100000 rate
Mass. health officials release new town-by-town breakdown of coronavirus cases

Good post, thanks. Brockton, a hard place, hard hit. This pandemic punishes the poor.

 

[MaryG12]

I just thought of something.....

Will the wearing of face masks be banned in court and other government buildings?

I can see why they would be.

 

[weepingangel]

Patriots, military support group deliver meals for Chelsea residents hit hard by coronavirus

CHELSEA, MASS. The New England Patriots and the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation teamed up to deliver 84,000 meals to a community hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic Saturday.
The Patriots truck brought boxes of food to Chelsea for any residents looking for a two-week supply of meals. Chelsea has 2,249 confirmed coronavirus cases, and while 554 people have recovered, 124 have died.

brief video at link



Good deeds: DiLeo Gas of Worcester takes (extra) care of its customers

Recently, with COVID-19 causing financial concerns for many, DiLeo Gas is offering all WCAC fuel-assistance customers a $25 gift certificate to a grocer in their area.

Central Massachusetts/more at link

 

[Simply Southern]

(CNN)The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has rejected an ultimatum by South Dakota's governor to remove checkpoints on state highways within tribal reservations or risk legal action.


Ha....I called that one....Good for the tribes.....

I was so hoping they would hold out. They are trying to protect their community.

Moo...

 

[cody22]

South Dakota governor tells Sioux tribes they have 48 hours to remove Covid-19 checkpoints - CNN

South Dakota Virus News....moo

'People need to be able to work': Protesters rally in Olympia against the stay-at-home order

Washington State Virus News....moo

Minnesota 'stay at home' restrictions frustrate outdoor photographers

Minnesota Virus News....moo

Group files lawsuit against Gov. Janet Mills over business restrictions

Maine Virus News.....moo

2 arrested after running onto closed pier during protest against stay-at-home orders in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, California Virus News....moo

'F--- Elon Musk': California assemblywoman responds to Tesla CEO's threats to move the company's main factory

California Virus News.....moo

 

[tresir2012]

Yeah, my daughter (a nurse) just told me a series of stories within our own broader family about their "social distancing" practices. All of these cousins, aunts and uncles, etc, claim to be social distancing. She happened to drop off a birthday present on the porch, and while there, recognized the cars of a large number of relatives. She could hear them inside. It's a household of 2, but 30 people were there (all related, all used to seeing each other at least once a month). The older members of the family are also still doing things with church friends, at least once a week.

But when she asks about their social distancing (so that she can think about when she might see them again and how things are going), they always say they are strictly isolated and some even lie (although I guess saying "We plan just to do a drive by honking party for little Jonas" isn't exactly a lie, as it is probably true they did plan and then not do it.

Her patients tend to tell her the truth if she gently asks questions, and it's not much different for most of them. People are still driving vast miles to visit family on trips they had planned a year ago, etc. My family in Hawaii is shaking their heads over the tourists that are showing up and then refusing to obey the 14 day quarantine in hotel. 5000 tourists a day doesn't sound like a lot, but all of those people had to go through airports (often a couple of airports) on their way to the Islands.

The tourists in Hawaii are required to sign a form saying they will self-quarantine, and then they don't (and some have been arrested and/or fined). Hotel owners are very quick to turn them in - Hawaiians know quite a bit about immunity issues.

PM today said that 14 day quarantines were being put forward for visitors to UK but no details were given.

 

[10ofRods]

Daily update on CoVid by nation:

Coronavirus deaths per million by country | Statista

Order of nations hasn't changed, UK continues to creep up on Italy, now only 30 deaths per million away from Italy (which has third highest rate in Europe after Belgium and Spain).

Belgium is interesting to watch because it is definitely reopening, and since May 7, has crept up 16 deaths per million which isn't too bad, considering that they're reopening.

From May 7 to May 9, UK reported a change from 452/million to 469, an additional 17 people per million over two days, which is pretty good.

Italy, from May 7 to May 9 only went up only 8 deaths per million. Italy is not reopening yet. Whole nation under strict lockdown. France actually reported 0 deaths per million (but I'm suspicious of their reporting techniques and expect that to change - not by much, nor am I implying that France is hiding anything, just that various parts of their nation may have not put in data yet).

This is what the Stanford models call the "restarting" point. If a place thinks they have CoVid under control, and they "restart" their cycle by opening up stores, etc, will the rates be slower than in the first, naïve cycle?

They sure should be. The goal has to be reopening with many new measures in place. We absolutely have to prevent CoVid from becoming exponential again.

When schools open in these nations, things will change France is set to open tomorrow, I believe (for schools).

The US went up by 11 deaths per million, but the data from yesterday (with our big bump up) aren't in the chart yet. That will happen tomorrow. I'm still hoping that yesterday was a fluke for the US, or that some areas that hadn't been reporting put a lot of figures into the database at once. The overall rate for the US is about 236 deaths per million. If we backed New York City, alone, out of the data (as the Stanford model does), it would be much less (about half, I believe).

Coronavirus deaths per million by country | Statista

 

[sallye818]

Peace, comfort and prayers to you and your family, @LadyL !

 

[LadyL]

Provinces have been releasing plans for easing restrictions that were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus: Here’s how provinces plan to emerge from COVID-19 lockdown

 

[jjenny]

"Among the findings of their research paper, which the team plans to submit to a major journal: If 80% of a closed population were to don a mask, COVID-19 infection rates would statistically drop to approximately one twelfth the number of infections—compared to a live-virus population in which no one wore masks."

If 80% of Americans Wore Masks, COVID-19 Infections Would Plummet, New Study Says

 

[10ofRods]

my Mom sewed two surgical masks together with a coffee filter in between

Works for me. My daughter is doing something similar, although she has some other kind of filter from a medical supply house. I'm trying to get her a mask with three layers, one water resistant and a pocket for those filters.

 

[anneg]

I'd ask my doctor about that too - although right now, there seem to be no clear warnings against ibuprofen. There were some questions about it early on, but I'm not seeing much in the medical literature about it. Now that we know that tiny blood clots are a big issue, I'd want aspirin in the mix. I'm supposed to take 325 mg of aspirin every day as it supposedly helps with familial high cholesterol (which I have). I don't actually do it, but am trying to remember it right now.

My DH takes 325 mg of aspirin every other day, and his cardiologist is okay with that. He had a heart attack more than 20 years ago with stent placement and had bypass surgery a few years later in conjunction with aortic valve replacement.

My doctor has not recommended daily aspirin for me because in my case, the benefit doesn't outweigh the risk of internal bleeding. I have not had any heart problems in the past except for having high blood pressure (well controlled). I'd love to know what changes she would make to my medications if I was exposed to or got the virus. I can ask her at my June appointment (might be a telemedicine visit).

 

[jjenny]

I managed to get some N95s off internet. The valved kind. They are actually very comfy with the valve (compared to masks without the valve). The valved kind doesn't really protect people around you, but considering my state doesn't require masks at all, I guess the people around me will have to protect themselves. I guess in a crowd situation I can put a cotton mask on top, but I don't know if I will be able to breathe trough that.

 

[10ofRods]

I managed to get some N95s off internet. The valved kind. They are actually very comfy with the valve (compared to masks without the valve). The valved kind doesn't really protect people around you, but considering my state doesn't require masks at all, I guess the people around me will have to protect themselves. I guess in a crowd situation I can put a cotton mask on top, but I don't know if I will be able to breathe trough that.

We just put something atop the valved mask. Of course, if people are social distancing, they have nothing to fear from my mere breathing or even a brief convo with that type of mask. I just prefer having something else on top of the mask anyway. Gotta put my scarf collection to use somehow.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

State issues COVID-19 testing orders for long-term care facilities
The orders require nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to allow the Florida Department of Health into their buildings for infection control and conducting COVID-19 testing of residents and staff. When the department enters the buildings, the nursing homes and assisted-living facilities will need to require staff members to submit to tests.

Also, the long-term care facilities will need to comply with directives about making off-duty staff members available for testing. The orders also apply to “authorized agents” of the department.

The orders raise the possibility nursing homes and assisted-living facilities could face license revocations, suspensions or fines for not complying. The Agency for Health Care Administration regulates long-term care facilities.

“The challenge we face is mitigating and containing the spread of this deadly virus in our long-term care facilities,” Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Mary Mayhew said in a prepared statement. “To guard against the rapid spread of COVID-19, I am issuing emergency rules for our nursing homes and assisted-living facilities requiring that every facility allow access to the Department of Health or their authorized representative for mandatory testing for all facility staff by the Florida Department of Health during testing visits. These rules will also require every facility to allow access to the Department of Health or their authorized representative for infection prevention and control purposes.”

 

[imstilla.grandma]

CBS Originals created a new series called Coronavirus in Navajo Nation. It touches on some of the many issues including the fact that 30% of the population does not have running water in their homes. The series also speaks to some of the doctors battling COVID-19 on the frontline.

“They’re our teachers, our protectors, our providers, our language, and our way of life. We want to protect them as much as possible. Keep them safe so if we don’t have that anymore, who are we as a people,” says Dr. Michelle Tom, Family Medicine Physician in the film. You can watch the whole documentary on the CBS News website.
New documentary focuses on coronavirus on the Navajo Nation

 

[Herat]

I've counted about 30 people out walking, walking their dogs, bicycling past my house this afternoon.

No social isolation being practiced. No masks at all.

 

[tresir2012]

You're most likely to catch the coronavirus in a poorly ventilated space. That makes offices very risky.

This article discusses that it could be 18 times more likely to catch the virus indoors rather than outdoors.

"A preliminary report from Japanese scientists (which has yet to be peer-reviewed) suggested that the odds an infected person "transmitted COVID-19 in a closed environment was 18.7 times greater compared to an open-air environment." Another pre-print study examined 318 outbreaks in China that involved three or more cases, and found that all but one involved the virus jumping between people indoors.

"The general principle should be: Outside is better than inside; open is better than closed; fewer is better than more people; and stay away from sick people," Dr. Erich Anderer, a neurosurgeon and founding member of the North Brooklyn Runners group, previously told Insider.

Restaurants, prisons, meat-processing facilities, and nursing homes are all high-risk
The worst coronavirus clusters around the US are all tied to spaces that force people into close quarters for extended periods of time. According to a live-updating New York Times page that tracks outbreaks around the country, all but one of the 12 hardest-hit US locations were prisons, jails, and meat-processing facilities. Multiple nursing homes are also high on the list."