Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Emergency* #18

[Simply Southern]

Great visual....

Clearly the national task force has not been privy to this information.

40 plus years in healthcare, serving on most all committees and EVERY plan, contained protective equipment, quarantine measures, positive and negative outcomes, potential police protection, and much more. Reviewing these for my community over the past few days, we ain't got a snowball chance. Our staging area is an abandoned National Guard Armory from the 1950s, using Red Cross cots, most of a hospitalist are from out of town and on contract by the month, with reimbursement cuts the stockpile of supplies are no longer there - most are working off a stock less programs/weekly delivery amd no NO warehouse of "stuff". Three weeks ago, the area hospitals went floor by floor and collected boxes of N95 mask, they are under lock and key and disbursed by supervisor on an as-needed basis.

We've dug a deep hole with cost containment, stock less programs and rent a DOC. Its not just my community this is wide spread.

Washington knows the real deal, but they ain't saying, can't tell the American people "we're NOT prepared", it would create massive panic. Currently they are containing this with lack of testing, limited facts, and promises. Its only the renegade physician, families and the governor of Washington State that are keeping us informed.

The medical professionals know the real risk and the lack of preparedness.

Moo....

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Wow, lots of new people on this thread!

I had training today and when I returned to work, I saw that an ill co-worker was there after leaving early yesterday. After asking her why she came into work and getting “it’s just a cold” for an answer, I told her nobody wants her cold and I left. I’m not working with someone who is clearly very ill with a respiratory infection.

Now to catch up on the thread!

 

[Hatfield]

PM Breaking News on Twitter

PM Breaking News on Twitter

ETA: Breaking: Massachusetts announces 51 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the state total to 92. At least 70 of the cases are related to the Biogen Conference.

Wow. It sounds like the Biogen Conference is a definite "Cluster" situation. 70 cases related to that conference.

I think some of the research that is lacking is once a known cluster is identified, I have not seen much in the way of research as to who/why/what has caused the outbreak to hit so bad on that particular cluster.

We did see some analysis done for the Washington nursing home. It sounded like some of the early treatments there were aerosolizing the infection because they shouldnt have been using certain breathing machines that aerosolized into the air. At least that is what I recall from an article after the breakout there.

For clusters like this conference, i think its important they research to find exactly why it spread there so much because there maybe something identified that can help stop future clusters from happening.

Thinking along the lines of how in 2015 they determined the cooling towers contributed to a Legionnaires' outbreak in NY. So if something can be identified with the Coronavirus that made the cluster take off, then it may help prevent future similar clusters.

"This cluster of cases would eventually grow into the largest outbreak of LD in NYC history. The NYC DOHMH led the outbreak response, part of which included sampling numerous cooling towers within NYC for Legionella pneumophila bacteria. In the aftermath of the outbreak, NYC became the first large jurisdiction in the United States to take a regulatory approach to the management of cooling towers to prevent Legionella contamination."

The 2015 New York City Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak: A... : Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

 

[Barnabas]

I was at a meeting this morning and one of the assistants brought in food and proceeded to handle the food and the utensils with her bare hands while coughing off to the side. Almost no one ate any of it.

 

[Simply Southern]

Exactly and poverty areas pose another problem. A lot of the people living below poverty suffer with substance abuse probs, they’d rather die than give up booze, drugs & cigarettes. They pose a huge risk, imo.

Yes, transmission will be aggressive.

IMO...

 

[Lilibet]

I believe the CDC website has recommendations on how to handle this. I have prepared a spare room for any family member that gets sick or needs to be quarantined, and a separate bathroom will be assigned to that person, per CDC recommendations, if possible. I also bought gloves and eye goggles at the Dollar Tree in case needed, not sure if the goggles will be effective, but could be some protection of caring for a family member, MOO.

Yes, I saw those recommendations and immediately thought “how’m I gunna?” There are just the two of us in our 70’s, with the usual aches and pains. Our apartment (a rental) has one bedroom, an office and two baths (one with stall shower, one with tub shower—no grab bars so we don’t use it). We don’t have a bed in the office and one of those fancy inflatable mattresses would be torture for whoever uses it. I have come to the conclusion that if one of us gets it the other one has already been exposed. But for a larger family in a larger house, I can see it working. I’m glad you’re prepared @Sundog.

 

[Lato]

WDSU.com.....Governor says two more presumptive positive cases in Louisiana. More to follow.....

ETA: All three are in the New Orleans area
CORONAVIRUS NEW ORLEANS: Two more presumptive positive coronavirus cases confirmed in Louisiana

 

[justbeachy]

Was in my local Target this morning and imagine my shock when they had a full display of N95 masks! Limit 2, so I bought mine and went about my day. Decided to stop in on the way to pick up my son from school and the display is still pretty full! This fits with the level of concern I’m hearing among people in my area. A lady told me today that it’s no big deal because Dr. Oz was on tv and he said to just wash your hands well.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Or @Steelslady ? Not since early January.

Oh yes! Steelslady! I would love if they would check in!

 

[COSCitizen]

Yes, I saw those recommendations and immediately thought “how’m I gunna?” There are just the two of us in our 70’s, with the usual aches and pains. Our apartment (a rental) has one bedroom, an office and two baths (one with stall shower, one with tub shower—no grab bars so we don’t use it). We don’t have a bed in the office and one of those fancy inflatable mattresses would be torture for whoever uses it. I have come to the conclusion that if one of us gets it the other one has already been exposed. But for a larger family in a larger house, I can see it working. I’m glad you’re prepared @Sundog.

We have two double beds in our master bedroom. If one of us gets sick, I'll put an inflatable mattress in my craft room. Both of us can handle sleeping in one so the sick person will get the master suite.

 

[Tadpole12]

LIVE coronavirus update: Air Canada suspending flights to and from Italy

Air Canada suspending flights to and from Italy.

 

[Trudie]

Wow, lots of new people on this thread!

I had training today and when I returned to work, I saw that an ill co-worker was there after leaving early yesterday. After asking her why she came into work and getting “it’s just a cold” for an answer, I told her nobody wants her cold and I left. I’m not working with someone who is clearly very ill with a respiratory infection.

Now to catch up on the thread!

Oh I bet you were livid! Did you speak to your boss?
Idk why people insist on being in public if they are ill.
I realize fast food & retail workers often have to as they make little money & their boss generally intimidates them into working. But if they are sick they are potentially going to murder someone.

 

[Sundog]

Coronavirus UK: People returning from Italy NOT told to self-isolate | Daily Mail Online

These people are arriving back and many taking public transport home.
I do not thing many will self isolate.

At our university, a faculty member recently returned from Italy and didn't let anyone know, and there were no checks at the airport, apparently. She showed up on campus. When the administration found out, they worked with the local health department to tell her she has to self-quarantine for two weeks. She asked if she had to use her sick leave for the two week self-quarantine. The administration scrambled and figured out a new policy. For anyone who is returning to campus after travelling to a country that is a level 3 on the US State Department's list, then they have to go into two weeks of self-quarantine and they will not be required to use their sick leave, the University will still pay them. Possibly one deterrent to having people push back on the self-quarantine requirement, even though that still might not work.

 

[What if...]

Wow. It sounds like the Biogen Conference is a definite "Cluster" situation. 70 cases related to that conference.

I think some of the research that is lacking is once a known cluster is identified, I have not seen much in the way of research as to who/why/what has caused the outbreak to hit so bad on that particular cluster.

We did see some analysis done for the Washington nursing home. It sounded like some of the early treatments there were aerosolizing the infection because they shouldnt have been using certain breathing machines that aerosolized into the air. At least that is what I recall from an article after the breakout there.

For clusters like this conference, i think its important they research to find exactly why it spread there so much because there maybe something identified that can help stop future clusters from happening.

Thinking along the lines of how in 2015 they determined the cooling towers contributed to a Legionnaires' outbreak in NY. So if something can be identified with the Coronavirus that made the cluster take off, then it may help prevent future similar clusters.

"This cluster of cases would eventually grow into the largest outbreak of LD in NYC history. The NYC DOHMH led the outbreak response, part of which included sampling numerous cooling towers within NYC for Legionella pneumophila bacteria. In the aftermath of the outbreak, NYC became the first large jurisdiction in the United States to take a regulatory approach to the management of cooling towers to prevent Legionella contamination."

The 2015 New York City Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak: A... : Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

Absolutely agree!! And the sooner the better. I’m also curious about the genomes with these clusters. With some reports of two strains running through Wuhan very early on, I’m wondering if both strains have been spreading simultaneously around the globe. One strain was identified as being much more aggressive than the other. It would also explain a lot in regards to some of the anomalies that appear to pop up from time to time.

 

[Simply Southern]

Radio silence from Virginia Governor Northam. He did a big press conference with Amazon but failed to show up at the big press conference in Fairfax Virginia for the first case.

Today, I called the Va Board of Education to see if we have a plan for students traveling in school trips on and out of state. If they will assist with briniging them home or provide transportation to the area of the child? Will the state quarantine and house these children or return them to their homes to infect the community with massive transmission? I was told, we have posted information on safety and hand washing on our website. I was put on hold while the superintendent it's office trying to find out if they had a plan. The answer was no and the contact the governor's office that he may have a point but they don't.

Of course, I have left a message on Norhams voicemail WITH a return phone number and sent an email. Now to track when or if I receive a response.

Governor Northampton is a dang PHYSICIAN and a pediatric one to boot. His whole campaign was based on being a physician and knowing what's best for the Commonwealth.

We're in a bad situation in Virginia, I don't think our governor is going to help us. Maybe for those living in large cities that have tons of resources but half of our state are Farmers living on farms or in the mountains. They don't have those same resources and we were relying on the governor.

Yes, this is the governor who declared a national emergency over gun rights and activated the National Guard's. We made every major TV newspaper and media Outlet Nationwide with his gun program. ...... radio silence on the Coronavirus.

Moo

Quoting my post with an update from Governor Northham....

A really nice, very young male returned my call. He immediately started talking... Go to the website, wash your hands, everything the Governor knows is on the website. OMG.... After he goes on and on, I reminded him the Governor is a PHYSICIAN and he does way more than that simple website and I expect him to step up and speak of specific plans and preparation, like Fairfax County.

I ask for the emergency preparedness plan,you know like the hurricane one we have, would be and he said we don't have one.

Clearly he has a script......go to the VHDA website all the information is there.

I gave up clearly none of the phone staff are able to assist.

IMO and much worried.....

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Now to catch up on the thread!

Oh I bet you were livid! Did you speak to your boss?
Idk why people insist on being in public if they are ill.
I realize fast food & retail workers often have to as they make little money & their boss generally intimidates them into working. But if they are sick they are potentially going to murder someone.

He had left for the day but I’m considering texting him because I don’t want her there tomorrow. She has sick leave and she’s not needed.

 

[margarita25]

Dbm / inaccurate numbers at article

 

[LaborDayRN]

Wow, lots of new people on this thread!

I had training today and when I returned to work, I saw that an ill co-worker was there after leaving early yesterday. After asking her why she came into work and getting “it’s just a cold” for an answer, I told her nobody wants her cold and I left. I’m not working with someone who is clearly very ill with a respiratory infection.

Now to catch up on the thread!

IMO you made a wise decision. I would also make it a point to talk to your supervisor about it.

 

[afitzy]

Meet the Insane People Still Planning Cruise Ship Vacations

Quotes from article:

The cruise ship industry is reeling. The outbreak of the new coronavirus has made the basic fundamentals of the business medically inadvisable to the point that the State Department has issued a warning to U.S. travelers—chief among them the elderly—to stop taking cruise ships until the threat has passed.

And yet, even as thousands of people have found themselves stuck on ocean liners, in close confines with others suffering from a deadly virus, not everyone is ready to bag their cruise ship getaway. Indeed, while some shudder at the prospect of enduring severe flu-like symptoms and a 14-day quarantine, others see the vacation deal of a lifetime materializing before their eyes.

Kenny Human, a 33-year-old lawyer from Kentucky, is one of those deal seekers. Five days ago, in the height of the coronavirus scare, he decided to purchase a Carnival Cruise trip leaving New Orleans in May for a venture through the western Caribbean. He doesn’t believe the coronavirus is a hoax. He doesn’t think fears of it are overhyped. And his girlfriend tried to convince him it was a bad idea. But, in the end, the price—about $400 per ticket when counting taxes and cancellation insurance—was just too damn good.

“I just have this natural inclination to buy low on things,” Human told The Daily Beast. “My girlfriend does think I’m crazy, but she is reluctantly on board, no pun intended.”

“I have to admit,” he added with a touch of sobriety, “your interest in wanting to speak with me does give me some doubts.”

Both Brett Cimiotti, 58, of Connecticut, and his husband have degrees in microbiology and decided to book a cruise three weeks ago—a five-stop trip through Scandinavia that he fully admits he may end up having to cancel. “I’ve never been on one, never wanted to go on one, finally, I book one, and BOOM! Corona!”

Retired French professor David Lee, 78, is planning to fly to Peru in early April before boarding a boat down the Amazon River. His daughter, Katia, said of her parents: “They’re smart, but in this case seem to be really cavalier.” Her dad said it would be cavalier not to go. “We are a little nervous,” he conceded. “We are not planning on changing our plans unless there are cases down there.”

Paige Bade-Ankudovych, of Amityville, New York, is a 45-year-old teacher who rationalizes her decision to still consider cruising by noting that her profession already gives her a fair amount of exposure to viruses. She hasn’t yet pulled the trigger on the voyage she was planning to take with her husband and two kids to Bermuda. But she hasn’t ruled it out either. The gears in her head are practically audible as she debates the dos and don’ts.

 

[galiuro1]

Seems he had no issues at all with test availability.

of course and he will be retested no doubt...