Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #79

[ilovewings]

Young adults are now the largest group of Americans getting COVID-19, CDC says

Interesting article about young adults are now the largest group of Americans with Covid-and we are not just talking asymptomatic people- these are young adults who presented to the hospital with symptoms. The article also describes how these young adults are spreading the virus to older people----

 

[JerseyGirl]

The annual New York Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop will be virtual this year.

Organizers say it will be a “virtually enhanced celebration,” though added there would be some small, scaled-back live events using social distancing associated with it.

Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop Will Be Virtual

 

[SouthAussie]

Young adults are now the largest group of Americans getting COVID-19, CDC says

Interesting article about young adults are now the largest group of Americans with Covid-and we are not just talking asymptomatic people- these are young adults who presented to the hospital with symptoms. The article also describes how these young adults are spreading the virus to older people----

There is a good chance that a significant portion of these young adults might be among the 52% who now live at home with their parents. IMO

A majority of young adults in the U.S. live with their parents for the first time since the Great Depression

 

[Lilibet]

Young adults are now the largest group of Americans getting COVID-19, CDC says

Interesting article about young adults are now the largest group of Americans with Covid-and we are not just talking asymptomatic people- these are young adults who presented to the hospital with symptoms. The article also describes how these young adults are spreading the virus to older people----

I’ve noticed this same demographic shift to the 20-29 year olds here in Oregon and in my county. While they are the largest % of cases, they have much fewer hospitalizations. On the other hand, my age group
70-79 has one of the lowest number of cases but the second highest number of hospitalizations after the 80-89 year olds. We may not be exposed as often as the young ones, but when we get Covid-19 it’s much more serious...which is why I stay home and venture out cautiously only when necessary.

Tableau Public

Jackson County, Oregon - COVID Numbers

 

[musicaljoke]

Young adults are now the largest group of Americans getting COVID-19, CDC says

Interesting article about young adults are now the largest group of Americans with Covid-and we are not just talking asymptomatic people- these are young adults who presented to the hospital with symptoms. The article also describes how these young adults are spreading the virus to older people----

A lot of young adults work in essential services where they are in contact with many people every day. Some may work in more than one essential service job, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. We need and appreciate their contribution to our economy, but it's a tough time for them. Many seniors have been able to self-isolate, but it's not a choice for young, working adults.

It makes it ever so much more important that we all do our part to prevent the spread.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Ready for a feel-good story for variety? Wasn’t sure where to put this, but Gloria’s Gladiators is now a wonderful, growing movement. Rolling up the ol’ sleeves & helping those in need. Sure changed Gloria’s life.
A 72-year-old woman was quietly living in a dilapidated house. Then an electrician sparked a community to help her rebuild

 

[JudgeJoe]

There is a good chance that a significant portion of these young adults might be among the 52% who now live at home with their parents. IMO

A majority of young adults in the U.S. live with their parents for the first time since the Great Depression

A lot of young adults work in essential services where they are in contact with many people every day. Some may work in more than one essential service job, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. We need and appreciate their contribution to our economy, but it's a tough time for them. Many seniors have been able to self-isolate, but it's not a choice for young, working adults.

It makes it ever so much more important that we all do our part to prevent the spread.

Young adults are now the largest group of Americans getting COVID-19, CDC says

Interesting article about young adults are now the largest group of Americans with Covid-and we are not just talking asymptomatic people- these are young adults who presented to the hospital with symptoms. The article also describes how these young adults are spreading the virus to older people----

This is our reality. College daughter moved back in after classes went virtual in March. And summer. And fall. She’s continued to work all through pandemic in food service industry. Even during shutdown, her restaurant quickly adapted to take-out. She’s had co-workers out on quarantine from contact tracing exposure, but so far, to our knowledge, no covid in our house. She’s extremely good about wearing her mask everywhere & heads strait to the shower when she gets home. But the virus is always in the back of our minds. Prob more so now that other restaurants have shuttered up- hers is busier than ever.
The rest of us continue to work from home. It’s an odd time for sure. No idea how things will play out when she graduates in May. Will there be a job for her in her new career field? This year requires a whole lot of “rolling with it”.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Ready for a feel-good story for variety? Wasn’t sure where to put this, but Gloria’s Gladiators is now a wonderful, growing movement. Rolling up the ol’ sleeves & helping those in need. Sure changed Gloria’s life.
A 72-year-old woman was quietly living in a dilapidated house. Then an electrician sparked a community to help her rebuild

That is truly uplifting. Thank you! Jmo

 

[weepingangel]

At inn, jail and nursing home, rule breaches let COVID-19 multiply into Maine’s largest outbreak
Maine wedding more at link
While a couple’s decision to hold an Aug. 7 wedding in the Millinocket region may have started the state’s largest COVID-19 outbreak to date, the spread of the disease throughout the southern half of Maine has been magnified by the apparent failure of multiple institutions to follow practices that are now widely recognized to slow or stop its transmission.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Another 870,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment benefits last week

That was up very slightly from the previous week. Here are some key things from the latest report:

• Six months into this crisis, weekly claims are about four times higher than they were before businesses went into lockdown in March.
• Continued jobless claims — counting workers who have filed for benefits for at least two consecutive weeks — stood at 12.6 million on a seasonally adjusted basis, down a bit from the prior week.
• But Americans also filed for benefits under the government's other programs, such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which Congress created in the wake of the crisis to help those not eligible for regular jobless benefits, including the self-employed.
• Another 630,080 Americans filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits last week.

Unemployment benefits: Another 870,000 Americans filed jobless claims last week

Coronavirus update: Latest news from around the world

 

[JerseyGirl]

United Airlines to offer Covid-19 testing for some passengers

United Airlines will become the first US airline to offer coronavirus testing to its passengers.

It will offer the testing for Hawaii-bound passengers beginning October 15 out of San Francisco. The testing will help passengers avoid an otherwise mandatory 14-day quarantine.

United said it will use a rapid, 15-minute test from Abbott, and will also offer customers a mail-in option that can be completed in the days before departure.

 

[MrX]

Weekly business and school Dashboards updated in AZ. This data is for the week of Sept 6. Not much change, which is pretty good, considering the concern over the new college year. Percent positive and percent of Covid-like-illness reported at hospitals both remain in the "Minimal" category. Cases per 100k is the third metric, which remains in "Moderate" range. As far as I can tell, the only real change when all three categories hit "Minimum" is that gyms can go from 25% to 50%. Bars and restaurants can be 50%, regardless.

One oddity is that La Paz county shows five straight weeks of zero percent positive tests, yet a couple of those weeks show 41 cases per 100K. Must be a site glitch.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Finland deploys sniffer dogs to find travellers infected with coronavirus

A European airport trial is testing a promising theory dogs can sniff out coronavirus – even in people without symptoms.

Dogs sniffing for explosives and drugs are a common sight at airports around the world. But 10 dogs at Helsinki Airport are searching for something potentially as dangerous.

A group of coronavirus-sniffing dogs were deployed at the airport for the first time on Tuesday as part of a pilot program, according to Finnish airport operator Finavia.

It’s the first airport in Europe, and the second in the world, to use dogs in the fight against coronavirus.

“This might be an additional step forward on the way to beating COVID-19,” airport director Ulla Lettijeff said in a written statement.

 

[anneg]

I just learned via text that the mother of a friend of mine was diagnosed with Covid, had mild symptoms and was improving per her doctor, but died last night. She was elderly and was in a nursing home recovering from a stroke. Before the stroke, she was in a senior apartment, living independently. I wonder what the death certificate will say but don't plan to ask my friend this question. I'm also wondering how many cases/deaths there have been in the nursing home she was in.

I did not personally know her mother (lived in different state), so I still can't say I know someone who had Covid or died from it. Unless there are people I don't know about, and chances are, there are.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Dr. Anthony Fauci believes “there's good enough data to say that aerosol transmission does occur.” Fauci explained, “Aerosol means the droplets don't drop immediately – they hang around for a period of time.”

“Generally if you have droplets that come out of a person, they generally go down within six feet. So, if you're six feet distance, you’re wearing a mask, you don't worry about that,” he said.
This becomes “very relevant” when you are inside where there is poor ventilation.

Fauci said we shouldn’t be “getting bent out of shape,” about whether Covid-19 aerosolizes or not. “Act like it's occurring – and then do the same thing you've been doing otherwise.”

“Which means: Wear the mask,” he added.

Coronavirus update: Latest news from around the world

Dr. Fauci Warns You Can Catch COVID This Way After All

 

[JerseyGirl]

Massive genetic study shows coronavirus mutating amid rapid U.S. spread

Scientists in Houston released a study of more than 5,000 genetic sequences of the coronavirus, which reveals the virus’s continual accumulation of mutations, one of which may have made it more contagious.

That mutation is associated with a higher viral load among patients upon initial diagnosis, the researchers found.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was posted Wednesday on the preprint server MedRxiv. It appears to be the largest single aggregation of genetic sequences of the virus in the United States.

A larger batch of sequences was published this month by scientists in the United Kingdom, and, like the Houston study, concluded that a mutation that changes the structure of the “spike protein” on the surface of the virus may be driving the outsize spread of that strain.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Finland deploys sniffer dogs to find travellers infected with coronavirus

A European airport trial is testing a promising theory dogs can sniff out coronavirus – even in people without symptoms.

Dogs sniffing for explosives and drugs are a common sight at airports around the world. But 10 dogs at Helsinki Airport are searching for something potentially as dangerous.

A group of coronavirus-sniffing dogs were deployed at the airport for the first time on Tuesday as part of a pilot program, according to Finnish airport operator Finavia.

It’s the first airport in Europe, and the second in the world, to use dogs in the fight against coronavirus.

“This might be an additional step forward on the way to beating COVID-19,” airport director Ulla Lettijeff said in a written statement.

I get sniffing for explosives or cancer. But covid? What protects the dogs from contracting the virus & spreading it to their handlers/ owners? Or for that matter to all the people they sniff? Bad idea, imo.

 

[JerseyGirl]

‘You are not listening’: Fauci scolds Sen. Rand Paul for misconstruing New York’s coronavirus battle

Dr. Anthony Fauci put Sen. Rand Paul on blast during a testy congressional hearing Wednesday after Paul trash-talked New York’s coronavirus response.

Paul remains skeptical of face masks and social distancing despite contracting COVID-19 in March.

“You misconstrued that, senator, and you’ve done that repetitively in the past,” Fauci seethed. The doctor explained that New York’s death toll is particularly high because it “got hit very badly” at the outset of the pandemic, when “some mistakes” were made because very little was known about the virus.

Fast-forward to today, New York is seeing infection rates near 1% or lower because guidelines on disinfection, face masks and social distancing are being rigorously followed, Fauci said.

“Or they’ve developed enough community immunity that they’re no longer having the pandemic," Paul interrupted.

Fauci continued, “You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said — that in New York about 22%" of the population have contracted the virus. “If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe you are alone,” Fauci added.

Though Paul and some others insist that herd immunity is a viable strategy for fighting the virus, infectious disease experts have warned that there’s no evidence that it actually works. In fact, researchers recently said it appears people can contract COVID-19 more than once, a finding that would render the concept of herd immunity moot.

 

[weepingangel]

COVID-19 cluster detected at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston

More at link
A coronavirus cluster of five patients and five staff members has been detected at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the hospital announced Wednesday.

The patients and employees have a connection to two inpatient units that have recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The cluster was detected by Brigham and Women’s infection control at Braunwald Tower units 16A and 14 CD, the statement said. Admission to the units has been temporarily halted and visitation restricted.

 

[Sprockett7701]

Massive genetic study shows coronavirus mutating amid rapid U.S. spread

Scientists in Houston released a study of more than 5,000 genetic sequences of the coronavirus, which reveals the virus’s continual accumulation of mutations, one of which may have made it more contagious.

That mutation is associated with a higher viral load among patients upon initial diagnosis, the researchers found.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was posted Wednesday on the preprint server MedRxiv. It appears to be the largest single aggregation of genetic sequences of the virus in the United States.

A larger batch of sequences was published this month by scientists in the United Kingdom, and, like the Houston study, concluded that a mutation that changes the structure of the “spike protein” on the surface of the virus may be driving the outsize spread of that strain.

More than 5000 mutations...man, anyone got a spare bunker...

edited to remove quote I didn’t intend to quote...