Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Emergency* #14

[whitelilac]

(thinking of having my house tented lol, without the termite fumigation, so I can stay put)

 

[Herat]

-------------------------------
Actually, this isn't a bad idea. Many photos of
scientists or health pro's who work in labs wear
a form of goggles to protect the eyes from
bacteria and viruses. along with the masks.

I actually ordered masks that have eye coverings attached. Clear vinyl.
Thanks Herat for mentioning yours.

Look for them as Disposable Face Shields ( they technically aren't masks)

 

[Oddsocks]

I’m wary of those with the slightest cough. And they’re everywhere. One of the cleaning ladies was coughing all over yesterday. A fellow attorney who works in the adjacent little office coughed a couple times.

What really bothered me was during my hike with my hyena yesterday morning some dude came running by and sneezed into his hand- partially. Luckily I was off the trail and I refused to go back on the trail. I walked around to renter it upwind of where he sneezed. Poor guy was Asian so mindful of how Asians are facing discrimination over this I felt bad about scowling but come on! If you’re sneezing or coughing please just stay home!

Last night I was standing a metre and a half away downwind of my 13 year old son who sneezed (covered) and it sprayed my face!! I can avoid society, but not my babies!

 

[happyday]

I just want to mention how amazing and helpful Alaska Airlines was today with helping me bring my daughter home for spring break from college in Seattle early. The lady got her on a flight in the next couple of days, waved all change fees without my even asking and found her the best seat she could finagle. She seemed genuinely distraught about what we were going through and was upset she couldn’t get her on a flight tomorrow. UW cancelled classes the rest of the quarter this morning so I bet tons of kids are trying to fly out. The lady sounded choked up and it made me cry. These are strange times, but people are helping each other however they can.

 

[Hatfield]

Customs is STILL NOT screening passengers from coronavirus hot-spots Italy, Iran and South Korea who arrive at major airports, including JFK, LAX, Atlanta and Chicago's O'Hare

“But the CDC is only insisting on screening passengers who arrive in the country from China and Iran.”

Customs is STILL NOT screening passengers from coronavirus hot-spots | Daily Mail Online

Why CDC, just why? Why not be on the safe side and start doing simple checks with a fever gun and a set of questions. Its not that difficult and it only adds a little delay for the passengers. But more importantly, you can reduce overall case count (and deaths!) by implementing these measures.

Good grief. This is what has been so upsetting to so many of us that saw this hitting the US long before it did. The officials in charge are so behind the 8 ball, it is just sad at this point. What is it going to take to wake them up to do common sense things?

 

[Mimi in London]

JMO
I totally agree with the WHO that all countries should still try to contain this as much as possible and never give up those efforts. Because every little bit of containment will go a long ways to prevent more cases, as we have seen how just one infected person can affect many many other people.

The scary statistic to me from that information is there is 1,790 in the hospital out of 3,858 cases. So that is 1790/3858 = .46 or 46%.

So 46% of known cases in Italy are in the hospital!

To be fair, they are probably only finding most of the people because those people were pretty sick and went to either their doctor or a hospital and were flagged for testing. So if there are a lot of less severe cases and lots of "unknown/unconfirmed" cases out there, then the % would go down. But still....Wow.

Please countries everywhere, keep trying to contain this sickness and dont give up that effort.

As of Thursday night, 3,858 cases had been detected as Italy aggressively tests for the virus. Out of that number, 148 people have died and 414 have recovered. Of those infected, 1,790 are in hospital – 351 in intensive care – and 1,115 are recovering at home.

Coronavirus latest updates: Italy death toll nears 200 with almost 4,000 cases

‘Aggressive testing’ means what, I wonder? And does anyone know what Italy’s screening criteria are?

There are so many people around me who are mildly-moderately unwell and who are being treated for regular flu and chest infections. They don’t meet the criteria for testing.

 

[gregjrichards]

Cruise ship turned away from Malta amid doctor threats

A cruise ship with 2,302 passengers and crew has been turned away from Malta after doctors threatened industrial action if it docked amid coronavirus concerns.

The MSC Opera's operator said it agreed not to enter the country's port on Friday to "avoid unnecessary public unrest".

Coronavirus infections near 100,000 globally - WHO - BBC News

 

[JerseyGirl]

White House tightens visitor rules over coronavirus concerns

Going forward, the White House will require all guests to disclose the countries they have visited in the last 30 days. Their information will then be reviewed by the White House medical team, if any country listed is experiencing a coronavirus outbreak.

The White House is also weighing additional changes, including a pause in White House tours and temperature checks for visitors.

 

[Herat]

Update on US #PublicHealth laboratory system testing: Today 67 PHLs are verified & offering testing, up from 8 a week ago. This includes one or more PHL in 45 states; there are 13 addl labs in progress, 4 of which anticipate being up by the weekend. #COVID19 @APHL 1/
Scott Becker on Twitter

By early next week, large commercial labs such #Quest and @LABCORP will also be online, as well as more and more high complexity clinical labs in healthcare settings. Testing capacity is greatly expanded. Many thanks to all the partners. We are all in this together.
2/2

The throughput on testing samples is not yet guaranteed to improve.

There need to be more licensed MT's hired and trained in these tests.

Sure, there are more samples going to be generated, but that will just mean a bigger backlog until more testing personnel are available.

This will also mean a longer time for other complex testing, like other communicable diseases, TB, etc.
There's a downside to everything with this epidemic

 

[WideOpen]

The scary statistic to me from that information is there is 1,790 in the hospital out of 3,858 cases. So that is 1790/3858 = .46 or 46%.

So 46% of known cases in Italy are in the hospital!


Coronavirus latest updates: Italy death toll nears 200 with almost 4,000 cases

Respectfully SBM

Exactly this above, I can barely wrap my head around those sobering numbers. I have shared this with some of my family and I do not think it sunk in...hard to fathom.
JMO

 

[gregjrichards]

The patient who has tested positive in Vatican City participated in an international conference hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Life last week, a local source has told the Reuters news agency.

Coronavirus latest updates: Italy death toll nears 200 with almost 4,000 cases

This is not good at all.

 

[whitelilac]

I just want to mention how amazing and helpful Alaska Airlines was today with helping me bring my daughter home for spring break from college in Seattle early. The lady got her on a flight in the next couple of days, waved all change fees without my even asking and found her the best seat she could finagle. She seemed genuinely distraught about what we were going through and was upset she couldn’t get her on a flight tomorrow. UW cancelled classes the rest of the quarter this morning so I bet tons of kids are trying to fly out. The lady sounded choked up and it made me cry. These are strange times, but people are helping each other however they can.

I love Alaska Airlines. They are great. Last week I received an email from them about what they're doing preventatively, and outlined tips for being safety proactive.

 

[Skigh]

Maybe we can get Costco to have High-Risk Hours, where they let in one high-risk person every 5 minutes.....

Something like between 1 and 4:30 pm - sort of like the earlybirds in restaurants

I think if over 60's were asked to limit their activities for a couple of weeks ,it would be feasible.
but many go to all types of social activities and often provide child care.
it would be very depressing for them to be on their own for days on end.
this virus could go on for months.

 

[zecats]

I’m wary of those with the slightest cough. And they’re everywhere. One of the cleaning ladies was coughing all over yesterday. A fellow attorney who works in the adjacent little office coughed a couple times.

What really bothered me was during my hike with my hyena yesterday morning some dude came running by and sneezed into his hand- partially. Luckily I was off the trail and I refused to go back on the trail. I walked around to renter it upwind of where he sneezed. Poor guy was Asian so mindful of how Asians are facing discrimination over this I felt bad about scowling but come on! If you’re sneezing or coughing please just stay home!

I was subbing in a classroom of high school sophomores today (actually 3 separate classes) and there was all kinds of disgusting stuff going on. Let's just say besides the usual coughing and sneezing and nose blowing, some had their feet (and dirty shoe bottoms) up on the seat in front of them, others were hugging each other in greeting and sharing lots of stuff (pens, chrome books, coloring utensils..) One kid actually picked a scab off his leg, was bleeding and trying to stop it with a tissue.

These are really pleasant kids for the most part, but boy do they need some instructions in non-germ spreading. I did my best, believe me, to make a lesson out of all of it. And then I slathered myself, my phone and my laptop in hand sanitizer.

 

[Tillicum]

Update on Ohio. Only 2 under investigation now, was 3. 8 negative results now, was 7.
COVID-19 Resources for Local Health Districts and Providers

 

[Inthedetails]

Nearly 200 troops to be sent to San Diego, El Paso's borders this weekend due to "remain in Mexico" policy, coronavirus concerns Troops being sent to San Diego, El Paso borders over asylum policy, coronavirus

Interesting, considering the cases in the USA so far seem to be in people who have traveled by air internationally to places like Italy, are cruise passengers, have been to business conferences. For the cases in NY that are of unknown source, the people are lawyers, university instructor, with kids in private school. The schools closed today in Manhattan for virus cleaning are elite prep schools (the kind where the richest people in our nation send their kids). We also have deaths among the elderly in nursing homes.

Not sure why extra resources need to be at the border with Mexico when we already have border patrol stationed there and there hasn't been a virus threat at the Mexican border, that I know of.

Perhaps we'll learn more about that decision. I certainly hope there is not an outbreak there.

 

[Pi Thoughts]

Australia - This article does not provide a reason for the issuing of these notices, I’ll do some digging.

“Almost 3000 Queenslanders have been issued voluntary notices to self-isolate since the novel coronavirus made it to Australian shores.

The state's chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, today said she has "no concerns going forward" about people failing to comply with the request given the "fantastic" response thus far.

She said around 2700 voluntary self-isolation notices have been issued and more than 1500 people have been tested across the state.”
Thousands of Queenslanders asked to self-isolate

 

[happyday]

I was subbing in a classroom of high school sophomores today (actually 3 separate classes) and there was all kinds of disgusting stuff going on. Let's just say besides the usual coughing and sneezing and nose blowing, some had their feet (and dirty shoe bottoms) up on the seat in front of them, others were hugging each other in greeting and sharing lots of stuff (pens, chrome books, coloring utensils..) One kid actually picked a scab off his leg, was bleeding and trying to stop it with a tissue.

These are really pleasant kids for the most part, but boy do they need some instructions in non-germ spreading. I did my best, believe me, to make a lesson out of all of it. And then I slathered myself, my phone and my laptop in hand sanitizer.

I hear ya! I’m subbing for high school boy’s basketball at this moment! I’ve got my spray sanitizer in my hand! Yikes!

 

[sloane7777]

I don't want to upset myself , but I'm going to tell you guys anyway , I have a perfect angel Micki Mouse my little chi dog with a perfect mickey mouse on her back the Black and white Anyhow she Coughed for 2 days and I gave her honey and expectorant and echnesia and she seemed fine but she passed yesterday morning as I was holding her drinking my coffee , she just went limp and I lost it ( still am losing it ) I'm sure my neighbors heard me wailing , now granted she was 18 years old and about 3 lbs but Now I cant help but wonder if she caught something, and I don't even want to go there I'm also grieving my best(and only)girlfriend of 40 years so this is a extra horror for me , I feel like I should have taken her to the vet the first cough , it didn't seem like anything more than a hairball cough naturally I want to drink bleach I feel so rotten, like I'm the worst dog mom ever )

 

[Pi Thoughts]

Return flights Australia to US from $634 AUD or $420US.

“The coronavirus has delivered a mighty blow to the global tourism industry, prompting airlines, cruise companies and hotels to cut their prices, in an attempt to lure people back to travel.

With travel cancellations at an all-time high due to coronavirus panic, and airline and cruise company stocks plummeting, businesses are banking on travellers ignoring the hype and bagging an amazing deal.”
Airlines and cruise companies slash prices to combat coronavirus slump