Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Emergency* #14

[Henry2326]

What an incredible, unprecedented sight. For the first time in my lifetime, there are no pilgrims performing the tawaf around the ka’ba in Makkah as authorities shut it down to clean the area and contain the spread of coronavirus. Shiraz Maher on Twitter

 

[afitzy]

Update on situation in the NE:

Dept. of Public Health: 18 CT residents tested for coronavirus, none tested positive

Quotes from article:

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) said Wednesday that 18 Connecticut residents have been tested for coronavirus, and 13 of those tests have come back negative. The state is still waiting on the results of the other five.

So far, there have been no cases diagnosed in the state so far.

According to the DPH, there are 200 CT residents “self-monitoring” – keeping themselves under watch – in relation to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisories on travel over coronavirus spread abroad or have been told to do so because they are showing symptoms.

Moving forward, the governor’s office said they will not be able to accurately track how many people are self-monitoring because they don’t have the resources to track everyone who may or may not have come in contact with those carrying the virus or showing symptoms.

Coronavirus has been diagnosed in all the states that border Connecticut, with New York reporting it’s 13th confirmed case on Thursday.

In a poll on WTNH.com earlier this week, 52% of respondents said they were more concerned about a Coronavirus outbreak in Connecticut with the cases arising in the surrounding states.

On Feb. 28, Governor Lamont announced that the State lab in Rocky Hill was approved to test patients for Coronavirus, instead of tests needing to be sent to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Lamont said he is requesting that the CDC sent the state additional testing kits.

“Here in Connecticut, we are doing everything we can to protect our residents from the spread of this illness and want to ensure we have the capability to prepare for every possibility,” Lamont said. “We continue to be proactive on this front and want to follow all of the guidance being provided by the medical community to our best ability as possible.”

 

[enelram]

National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said Friday that the White House is considering small “timely and targeted micro forms of assistance” for Americans impacted by the novel coronavirus.

“The news I was trying to put out this morning is we’re not looking at these massive, federal, throw money at people plans. We are looking at timely and targeted (efforts) where we can do the most good,” Kudlow said.
Kudlow did not offer many more details, saying he’d give “more details later.”

Kudlow also said the administration has been looking into “operations that would provide immediate cash assistance” through a variety of federal agencies.

Talking about the dip in the market due to the coronavirus, Kudlow said the administration was considering those “micro forms of assistance” because “we think we will get out of this, within months.”

Asked for his message to Americans who may have to miss multiple paychecks due to illness or quarantine, Kudlow plainly said, “We will help them.”

Live updates: Coronavirus cases rise across the world - CNN

I hope that 8.3 billion in assistance isn't a mass
giveaway to corporations and businesses who
lose money due to closures or lack of customers due to this pandemic.
That federal money needs to be used to contain
and slow the disease and then used to help the
individuals harmed by massive medical bills and being unemployed due to illness.

 

[Herat]

I hope that 8.3 billion in assistance isn't a mass
giveaway to corporations and businesses who
lose money due to closures or lack of customers due to this pandemic.
That federal money needs to be used to contain
and slow the disease and then used to help the
individuals harmed by massive medical bills and being unemployed due to illness.

THIS x 1000. And I hope there is a bipartisan or independent oversight of where these funds go to, and specifically does not pay for

anything associated with politicians, or their business associates, or their families.

I fear the risk of graft is very high when you are talking about $$Billions.

 

[weepingangel]

Have there been cases in Boston? I'm losing track.jmo

Yes 2 in think confirmed In the area ? and now a meeting https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bi...loyees-test-positive-for-coronavirus.amp.html

eta and moo. It’s been in these parts a while I’m guessing moo

 

[JerseyGirl]

Have there been cases in Boston? I'm losing track.jmo

3 Who Attended Biogen Meeting in Boston Test Positive for Coronavirus

Officials: 259 Mass. residents self-monitoring for coronavirus symptoms amid outbreak

 

[gregjrichards]

Facebook is closing its London office after an employee was diagnosed with coronavirus. The social network confirmed it had told staff to work from home on Friday after the employee tested positive for Covid-19.

The company said the employee was normally based in Singapore but had visited the company's offices in London for several days last month

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-uk-news-cases-latest-update-covid-19-live/amp/

Source link Daily Telegraph

 

[Inthedetails]

I heard this from a coworker walking in this morning. He's from PA and told me. I couldn't find confirmation on it, so thanks for link. Bucks County, btw is in between Philly and The Poconos (mountain and tourist area) distance wise. Many there drive or take the trains to Philly for employment.

I hear you. I live in South Jersey and head into Philly frequently. This weekend for the Flowers Show. And I drive to Hamilton Station all the time to take NJ Transit to NYC area when visiting my kids and grandkids.

The diagnosed case in Delaware County is actually even closer to my area. Feels like it's creeping ever closer.

I have the same feeling - it's circling around me, very, very close! I'm coming to terms with that.

jmo

 

[gregjrichards]

No imminent shortages to essential drugs, says WHO

Speaking at the World Health Organization daily briefing, Dr Tedros said that the WHO is working with industry associations, regulators and other partners to monitor any risks to worldwide supplies of essential drugs.

However the WHO do not foresee any specific drugs shortages just yet.

Coronavirus latest news: Second UK death linked to disease as 163 test positive

 

[weepingangel]

Annnnd this just in


Wellesley (ma) Schools Dismissing Early After Parent Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Wellesley Schools Dismissing Early After Parent Tests Positive for Coronavirus

 

[weepingangel]

Oops forgot they closed schools in Plymouth (ma) today. Just to clean and ease fears. Found that out last night

 

[Inthedetails]

Yes 2 in think confirmed In the area ? and now a meeting https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bi...loyees-test-positive-for-coronavirus.amp.html

eta and moo. It’s been in these parts a while I’m guessing moo

Thanks - so the person in Indiana could've gotten it from the known people in Boston, or from unknowns in Boston, or on the plane. Doesn't really narrow it down, lol, but I was curious if it had appeared in Boston. TY

jmo

 

[gregjrichards]

The fear of flying caused by the coronavirus outbreak is reminiscent of 9/11, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told CNBC on Thursday.

“9/11 wasn’t an economically driven issue for travel. It was more fear, quite frankly, and I think that that’s really what’s manifested this time,” Kelly said on “The Exchange.”

Southwest began to experience “very sharp declines” in bookings last week, in the range of “several hundred million dollars we think,” he said. “We’re guessing. It’s still early March.”

Southwest CEO says coronavirus-driven fear of flying has a '9/11-like feel'

Source Link CNBC

 

[Inthedetails]

THIS x 1000. And I hope there is a bipartisan or independent oversight of where these funds go to, and specifically does not pay for

anything associated with politicians, or their business associates, or their families.

I fear the risk of graft is very high when you are talking about $$Billions.

Graft is an issue....but I'm worried about plain ol' waste. I hope the money is handled in a transparent way and goes to where it is needed and where it will make an impact, not just spent because it's there to be spent, ykwim?

jmo

 

[zencompass]

Watch: Army officials to provide update on coronavirus vaccine efforts

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army will give an update on the efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the Pentagon briefing room Thursday.


The officials are expected to discuss progress on the vaccination effort. The military said it’s working on a vaccine for the coronavirus with the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

[Hatfield]

I have the same feeling - it's circling around me, very, very close! I'm coming to terms with that.

jmo

Yes, that is what has been so bothersome to me. When it was just in China, it seemed so very far away. But as it has progressed and gotten closer and closer to where many of us live, it has gotten even more scarier to me.

Now that it is in Italy, France, Spain, UK, and many US cities, the "bug" is very close now and when I do manage to get out and about, I am seriously starting to wonder if the person next to me with the cough is sick with it.

Serious and scary stuff. Even if we want to throw out the chance of dying from it, I sure dont want to get ill from this nasty bug. And I am pretty certain nobody does.

 

[zecats]

My husband texted me a few hours ago. An electrical contractor came in for supplies for the COVID-19 response office in our area. Ohio is monitoring 225 people and 3 people are under investigation at this time. There hasn't been a panic in our small town so I'm glad to hear it's being taken seriously. It isn't public knowledge that this office is being set up so I'm hoping a lot of behind the scene preparedness is going on throughout the country and we just aren't aware of it.

I hope so too. Though I fail to see the reason why preparedness and response to dealing with this virus...and helping people cope ...would need to be undercover. JMO

Stay well.

 

[Betty P]

I have the same feeling - it's circling around me, very, very close! I'm coming to terms with that.

jmo

We're hosting a group of campaign workers from NJ in our home in a couple of weeks.

 

[Inthedetails]

I hope so too. Though I fail to see the reason why preparedness and response to dealing with this virus...and helping people cope ...would need to be undercover. JMO

Stay well.

I expect that some localities are better at the preparations than others. When we figure out who is good at it, I hope other communities follow their example. Quite a bit of the work is at the state level, but also at the county level - and I do expect there are some people who are amazing at what they do and we just don't see it.

And, I say to them, "Keep it up! We need you."

jmo

 

[gregjrichards]

Coronavirus: Maltese doctors protest over MSC Opera cruise ship

Doctors on Malta are threatening to take industrial action if a cruise ship is allowed to dock in spite of coronavirus concerns.

The Swiss-owned MSC Opera, which is carrying 2,302 passengers and crew, is due to arrive on Friday.

An Austrian passenger who left the ship at Genoa, Italy, on 28 February was later diagnosed with the virus.

Maltese doctors protest over cruise ship

Source BBC News