Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #77

[Sundog]

Oh, dear. So how does that work - a pub can only allow six people in the door, or tables are limited to six people, and each table is six feet apart?

Saw two odd things today: first, on the way to lunch there were a couple of panhandlers by the expressway off ramp. Haven't seen them in forever, but that could have been the heat. They did have masks. Then, at lunch, two millennials sat at the bar, ordered booze, and proceeded to drink with their masks on - I think one was drinking wine through a straw. And we are down to double-digit cases without having done anything special. I guess it really was tubing and gyms!

I was taken aback, as well, by a roadside panhandler wearing a mask, stationed by a traffic light. Of course, I'm glad he was wearing a mask, but it got my attention nonetheless.

 

[RANCH]

Went to my Credit Union today to deposit my final paycheck and got kicked out.

They have a five person limit in the lobby and I was number six. Had to wait outside for only a couple of minutes so no big deal.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Seems to me that it is up to the venue owners and local authorities to keep a rein on these things. If the venue allows greater capacity, people will relax and think that everything is now okay. When it certainly is not. imo

We went to dinner the other night ... still every other table, remain seated, sterilise-able menus, order at the counter. Most places also have online booking on their websites, so you can be sure of getting a table at a specific time.
Seems very normal now. It hasn't been difficult to adjust, finally. Everything covid seems quite normal now. I think we are settling into it.

The thing that I miss the most are our many festivals in my state. (We are known as the festival state.) I think we are going to try to have a few of them later in Spring - which we are now in - but they will be reduced in size, from what I am hearing.

Our festivals where I live are basically all cancelled. I'm organizing an outdoor Christmas market for our city. Cannot wait.

 

[SouthAussie]

Went to my Credit Union today to deposit my final paycheck and got kicked out.

They have a five person limit in the lobby and I was number six. Had to wait outside for only a couple of minutes so no big deal.

We have to do that in many small shops. A couple of bakeries I go to ... one has a two-person-inside limit, the other has a four-person-inside limit. It isn't too bad. We just wait outside, away from each other, and go inside in turn. Doesn't take long. No longer than all being crammed inside their small premises waiting for service. imo

 

[RANCH]

We have to do that in many small shops. A couple of bakeries I go to ... one has a two-person-inside limit, the other has a four-person-inside limit. It isn't too bad. We just wait outside, away from each other, and go inside in turn. Doesn't take long. No longer than all being crammed inside their small premises waiting for service. imo

Waiting outside for a couple of minutes wasn't too bad however if it was for a long period of time it would be. We have a serious air quality problem with wildfire smoke here in California right now.

I probably would have left and done my business at another time if the wait was long.

 

[SouthAussie]

Waiting outside for a couple of minutes wasn't too bad however if it was for a long period of time it would be. We have a serious air quality problem with wildfire smoke here in California right now.

I probably would have left and done my business at another time if the wait was long.

Ranch, I forgot to mention ... your final paycheck? I hope that things are okay and that it is voluntary, and will not rock your life too much.

And, yes, we have been seeing footage of your serious fires. Campers pinned in/trapped. Worst fires in that area in a long time.

 

[RANCH]

Ranch, I forgot to mention ... your final paycheck? I hope that things are okay and that it is voluntary, and will not rock your life too much.

And, yes, we have been seeing footage of your serious fires. Campers pinned in/trapped. Worst fires in that area in a long time.

I quit my job. Last day was Friday. The timing wasn't what I planned but I feel it's the right decision.

It means I will have more time to spend on Websleuths. Yay.

 

[LadyL]

aaaannnnnnnd here we go:

About 200 students and staff at five French Catholic schools in Ottawa have been told to self-isolate because of possible exposure to COVID-19 aboard school buses, the city's medical officer of health said Tuesday.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/vera-etches-back-to-school-1.5715040?__vfz=medium=sharebar&fbclid=IwAR3RvfOYqnbJeFLW5HfVZDv3DKGCFOQvQQFhZ-Cdg1jBWgIDNo74va7UJM4

 

[LadyL]

I was taken aback, as well, by a roadside panhandler wearing a mask, stationed by a traffic light. Of course, I'm glad he was wearing a mask, but it got my attention nonetheless.

We drove by one the other day who was not wearing a mask. I can't imagine too many people in cars willing to have her approach them up close with window rolled down and handing her coins or bills so being that close.

 

[katydid23]

From European Journal of Internal Medicine;

https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(20)30335-6/fulltext

Use of hydroxychloroquine in hospitalised COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced mortality: Findings from the observational multicentre Italian CORIST study


Conclusions
HCQ use was associated with a 30% lower risk of death in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. Within the limits of an observational study and awaiting results from randomized controlled trials, these data do not discourage the use of HCQ in inpatients with COVID-19.

 

[SouthAussie]

Waiting outside for a couple of minutes wasn't too bad however if it was for a long period of time it would be. We have a serious air quality problem with wildfire smoke here in California right now.

I probably would have left and done my business at another time if the wait was long.

O/T

Just want to mention that we feel a serious affinity to California with the fire situation. A team of specialist firefighters has been enabled to leave Australia and go to California and help out. I think Canadian firefighters are going to help, as well.
We always help each other out - covid issues or no covid issues.


In response to the raging wildfires scorching California, 55 of our own firefighters will depart Australia to help battle hundreds of blazes burning across the US state.
Departing Sunday, September 6, the Australian firefighters are expected to stay in the US for 30 days.
Aussie firies set to battle California wildfires amid the pandemic

 

[Trino]

Virus female surfer hauled off Spanish beach by hazmat police. Fine could be betwen 5000 - 100,000 for violation, depending on intensity of who she has infected.
Surfer hauled off in cuffs for ‘hitting beach while infected with Covid’

 

[cass523]

"A possible setback this evening, the final stages of human trials at the University of Oxford are being put on hold, because one of their volunteers reportedly suffered a suspected serious adverse reaction"

 

[musicaljoke]

Our festivals where I live are basically all cancelled. I'm organizing an outdoor Christmas market for our city. Cannot wait.

This sounds very exciting. Good for you! I'm hopeful that our community also will use its collective imagination to do more outdoor things this winter. Our outdoor markets have all ended this week, when normally the inside markets would start. But the indoor markets won't be happening this year.

An outdoor Christmas market would be ever so lovely. Hot chocolate, an outdoor ice rink, Christmas vendors ...you've started me dreaming.

 

[ilovewings]

People are getting very lax in my area. We went to a local restaurant two or three weeks ago, and there was definite social distancing in place. All servers were wearing masks, every other table not occupied. Bar seating very limited. Then we went back yesterday, there were people sitting at the bar shoulder to shoulder, not one empty seat. Almost all tables occupied. And one waitress was walking around to the tables with her mask pulled down around her chin. I asked the hostess about it, she said she didn't know, didn't know what to say or to do. She was apparently as confused by it as I was.

I can't imagine when I will feel comfortable enough to sit down in a restaurant: my husband says well our anniversary is coming up on Oct 1- where are we going this year? I said, honey it will be curb side pick up, probably from Olive Garden!!!!!

 

[Jessthinkin]

From European Journal of Internal Medicine;

https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(20)30335-6/fulltext

Use of hydroxychloroquine in hospitalised COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced mortality: Findings from the observational multicentre Italian CORIST study


Conclusions
HCQ use was associated with a 30% lower risk of death in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. Within the limits of an observational study and awaiting results from randomized controlled trials, these data do not discourage the use of HCQ in inpatients with COVID-19.

The trouble with data like this is it's very likely that the HCQ was only used on relatively "fit and healthy" patients, since it's known to be contraindicated for those who have heart conditions, etc. Unless the study was designed very carefully (control groups, etc. which are very problematic to do ethically) any reduced mortality could be caused solely by being in the "fitter and healthier" group of patients. (IE, correlation does not equal causation...)

 

[CSIDreamer]

This sounds very exciting. Good for you! I'm hopeful that our community also will use its collective imagination to do more outdoor things this winter. Our outdoor markets have all ended this week, when normally the inside markets would start. But the indoor markets won't be happening this year.

An outdoor Christmas market would be ever so lovely. Hot chocolate, an outdoor ice rink, Christmas vendors ...you've started me dreaming.

We can't open the ice rink due to social distancing. It's big enough for a market though, all spaced out properly.

 

[RANCH]

The trouble with data like this is it's very likely that the HCQ was only used on relatively "fit and healthy" patients, since it's known to be contraindicated for those who have heart conditions, etc. Unless the study was designed very carefully (control groups, etc. which are very problematic to do ethically) any reduced mortality could be caused solely by being in the "fitter and healthier" group of patients. (IE, correlation does not equal causation...)

If it helps people without heart conditions survive Covid-19 I'm all for using it. JMO

 

[neesaki]

Seems to me that it is up to the venue owners and local authorities to keep a rein on these things. If the venue allows greater capacity, people will relax and think that everything is now okay. When it certainly is not. imo

We went to dinner the other night ... still every other table, remain seated, sterilise-able menus, order at the counter. Most places also have online booking on their websites, so you can be sure of getting a table at a specific time.
Seems very normal now. It hasn't been difficult to adjust, finally. Everything covid seems quite normal now. I think we are settling into it.

The thing that I miss the most are our many festivals in my state. (We are known as the festival state.) I think we are going to try to have a few of them later in Spring - which we are now in - but they will be reduced in size, from what I am hearing.

I think the thing is here (Texas) , there’s no oversight. No one is out there doing anything to ensure safe practices are being followed. That same restaurant we were at, as we were leaving, we saw a group of five or six people going in that had NO masks. The restaurant even has signs on the door, yet they were completely disregarding them.

The rule is supposed to be, you wear masks into the restaurant, then only remove when food or drink is served. Yeah, right?

Another local restaurant here that is an Entertainment venue, same situation. People in large groups, being loud, no masks, no social distancing. I asked on the phone how they were dealing with crowds of people coming in to hear live entertainment. Their answer.... it’s all at your own risk.

It just seems that No one is taking it seriously anymore. I’ve noticed there’s no longer anything in the local news about Covid here either. It’s as though they said, oh well, we’re tired of all this. Hey, I get it, I’m sick of it too. Aren’t we all? But does that recuse us of our personal and social responsibilities?

On the other hand, I get it too, that these businesses are struggling and trying to stay open. I totally get that. I guess we have to try to balance it all out. Those who are at risk, stay home. I guess.... it’s a hell of a conundrum we’re in isn’t it?

Idk, maybe we’ll do take out from now on.

 

[musicaljoke]

Probably not as accurate as the contact tracing that had been done IMO that has tracked the positive cases so far.

This is how the study came up with their figure -

“Adding the number of new cases due to the Rally in South Dakota estimated by synthetic control (3.6 per 1,000 population, scaled by the South Dakota population of approximately 858,000) brings the total number of cases to 266,796 or 19 percent of 1.4 million new cases of COVID-19 in the United States between August 2nd 2020 and September 2nd 2020,” said the report.

So they used synthetic control. Does that mean they guessed?

Heh, no, they don't get to publish their research in a scientific journal by guessing. It is possible to read the actual research study. I imagine in a day or two there will also be more readable articles for those who don't have research or science backgrounds.

The number of cases and the rapidity of the spread are not entirely unexpected. We've all been aware of how persistently this virus finds new victims and how much work is required from everybody in order to keep it under control.