Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Emergency* #7

[MJPeony]

Starting now? I cannot find a live link.

Was that the yesterday one @MJPeony ? Watch Live: Gov. Newsom Gives An Update On California Coronavirus Response

Good question.... I don’t think so. My local news stations says it’s “new” this morning:

Twitter
@KRON4news

 

[Herat]

Governor: Coronavirus changing 'by the hour' in California

Well that's a depressing article.... so many tidbits in this it's hard to summarize. Here are some highlights:

* "in a state that has more people in quarantine than any other, many questions remain unanswered. Plans on where to house infected patients are not clear, local governments are declaring emergencies and at least one lawmaker said he's getting "radio silence" from the governor's administration."

* Governor Newsom's updated number differs from that currently being reported by the state's public health department

* In the letter Ghaly and Ghilarducci said they are committed to finding a location to place California residents, but want the federal government to come up with a plan for non-California residents.

* "...we do have significant concerns that there is no alternative plan from the federal government," the California letter said. "We request that your team immediately provide us with information relative to any alternative plans for non-California residents. As more individuals test positive at Travis Air Force Base, the urgency to have alternative plans implemented grows," the letter says.

* Senator Moorlach said that last Thursday he got a call notifying him that 16 patients would be transferred to the Costa Mesa facility. "And after that, it's been radio silence," Moorlach told CalMatters. "We're not trying to be obstructionists, we're looking for answers," he said.

Sounds like no one is on the same page and the hand is not talking to the foot.... Yikes.
MOO.

I'm an easy drive of less than 2 hours from UC Davis.

The non-information given in this press release has me really concerned.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Florida officials express caution - not panic - over virus

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attempted to reassure his state Thursday that health officials were prepared for any cases of a new virus that has killed thousands worldwide, saying there were no confirmed cases -- yet -- of infections from COVID-19.

"Obviously, if there is -- and hopefully we don't have -- any identified cases, it is something we would notify the public about,'' DeSantis told reporters.

The state’s Surgeon General, Dr. Scott Rivkees, declined to confirm if any suspected cases -- even if they did not turn out positive for the virus -- have been investigated in the state. He and the governor cited state laws for withholding any statistical information.

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who represents the Orlando area, called for more transparency.

"I was disappointed that at today’s briefing, state officials failed to be forthcoming with the public about suspected cases in Florida,''she said in a statement.

 

[margarita25]

California press conference with the governor at 10:30am Pacific time.

Governor Newsom to hold press conference on California’s response to coronavirus

I won’t be able to watch/recap (I’ll be in yoga )

36 minutes from now. Very interested.

 

[beatrixpotter]

Another thing to consider is if people who have symptoms and have no or minimal health insurance will respond to the need to self report. This article has some concerning points along those lines.

The significance of the Miami man who feared he might have coronavirus

This is so so true. If it spreads in the US it will be a disaster because we have so few safety nets. People without insurance will avoid horrifically expensive treatment. And people who can work will work as much as they can regardless.

People live paycheck to paycheck and most of them were repeatedly told since January that is no big darn dealio and is just like a milder form of the flu. The constant downplaying is going to really backfire once it gets here.

 

[MJPeony]

Starting now? I cannot find a live link.

Was that the yesterday one @MJPeony ? Watch Live: Gov. Newsom Gives An Update On California Coronavirus Response

This one is new- in a half hour. Here is link to Office of the Governor’s twitter and live feed:
Twitter
@CAgovernor

 

[margarita25]

Virus contributing factor in Montrose woman's death

A Montrose (Colorado) woman says her sister died, in part, because of a strain of the coronavirus, not confirmed to be COVID-19. In fact, it's listed as one of the causes of death on her death certificate.

It started when Lola Short went to the hospital for flu-like symptoms back in January. She had been on a flight from Grand Junction to Las Vegas, and also spent some time in Arizona. Within a week, things escalated fast.

"That Monday she was ventilated, Tuesday she wasn't improving so they put her on Flight For Life to St. Joseph's in Denver," her sister said.

Lola eventually needed ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a treatment to help run her heart and lungs. But that procedure was ultimately the cause of her death. It's listed first on the certificate.

Along with the ECMO, the death certificate listed sepsis, pnemonia, influenza and coronavirus as causes of death.

Noooooooo not the “C” word.

 

[zecats]

A problem with one ingredient in test kits that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distributed to labs around the country had created a frustrating bottleneck in testing, requiring most testing to occur at the CDC in Atlanta.

On Wednesday night, the CDC announced a new case of the COVID-19 disease in California that could represent the first U.S. case of the virus spreading within the general population. That diagnosis was delayed because testing wasn't done immediately.

"The FDA has authorized the use of those tests by using just the first and second step to provide a definitive diagnostic," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said during a congressional hearing Thursday.

The move was welcomed by public health officials, who have been frustrated by the testing snag.

Without wide-scale testing, she says, there's no way to know if the virus is spreading silently.

CDC Has Fixed Issue Delaying Coronavirus Testing In U.S., Health Officials Say

BBM
Absolutely true. Groups of potential cases are being monitored simply because they are known to have been in China (or Italy,Iran, etc). Whereas the virus can seemingly infect those without any leading criteria.

My son and his family live in Nassau County NY for example, and 83 people there are being contained and monitored because they were in China.

ETA link:
Coronavirus Update: Final pending coronavirus test negative in Nassau County

 

[LaborDayRN]

To you and anyone who thinks they are power posting. Please do not think that. We need you! Things are moving so fast and it is needed. Many of us have different links we share and focus on, and are only on at certain times of the day.

I appreciate ALL so called "power posters" on this thread, and I think @JerseyGirl who is mod understands that also. No worries, again, thanks to all that are doing such for the rest to follow after you have culled for us.

MOO

I agree! Bravo to the power posters!!! (this includes you @dixiegirl1035 )

 

[Henry2326]

The Iraqi government is taking measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus, closing schools, cinemas, clubs and banning public events. Authorities in protective clothing are also disinfecting shrines, mosques and other holy sites. Coronavirus live updates: Possible 1st case of 'community spread' in US ABC News on Twitter

Video at link

ABC News on Twitter

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I like to dance and have several CDs that I play and just dance around the house Soundtracks for Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia!, Saturday Night Fever, Beautiful (The Carole King Musical), and a 5-disk Motown Collection are perfect for improvising. No equipment needed other than a CD player. Dance like nobody's watching

Love your taste in music. Just last month I redid an area with my sound system, and had a younger folk come to show me how to hook up my phone Pandora etc through it. Great idea for exercise in the house... while I'm cleaning

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Virus contributing factor in Montrose woman's death

A Montrose (Colorado) woman says her sister died, in part, because of a strain of the coronavirus, not confirmed to be COVID-19. In fact, it's listed as one of the causes of death on her death certificate.

It started when Lola Short went to the hospital for flu-like symptoms back in January. She had been on a flight from Grand Junction to Las Vegas, and also spent some time in Arizona. Within a week, things escalated fast.

"That Monday she was ventilated, Tuesday she wasn't improving so they put her on Flight For Life to St. Joseph's in Denver," her sister said.

Lola eventually needed ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a treatment to help run her heart and lungs. But that procedure was ultimately the cause of her death. It's listed first on the certificate.

Along with the ECMO, the death certificate listed sepsis, pnemonia, influenza and coronavirus as causes of death.

My guess is that later in time, as has done in previous epidemics, they will go back to old samples and retest for their papers on the epidemics. MOO. Dunno if this will be one that is captured, but once they have a really good test and have time, the researchers will be retesting stuff.

 

[KALI]

Can we please get back to the subject of this discussion?

“Where the kisses are hers and hers and his...”

(One of the best shows EVER, even if it wasn’t exactly the most PC by today’s standards lol...I still record the episodes on my DVR.)

 

[Bravo]

Sometimes a bit of levity is much needed

 

[margarita25]

I like to dance and have several CDs that I play and just dance around the house Soundtracks for Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia!, Saturday Night Fever, Beautiful (The Carole King Musical), and a 5-disk Motown Collection are perfect for improvising. No equipment needed other than a CD player. Dance like nobody's watching

Wooohooo. Me too. ABBA soundtrack, disco, Motown.

Shoot even David Abel is dancing around in his hospital room

I’m really glad we’re having this discussion.


—-

Yeah the poor folks in China. They didn’t have the warning like everyone else has.

 

[zecats]

Can we please get back to the subject of this discussion?

This thread is moving pretty darn fast and is full of links and info about the subject at hand. JMO, but a little break now and then from the morbidity does no harm.

 

[margarita25]

Can we please get back to the subject of this discussion?

Yikes my bad. Sorry. Reporting my post.

 

[LaborDayRN]

US health secretary says 40 labs can test for coronavirus

Alex Azar, the US's health and human services secretary, said at least 40 public health labs can currently test specimens for coronavirus and that could more than double as soon as Friday.

Speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee, Azar said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DCD) had tested 3,625 specimens for the fast-moving virus as of Thursday morning.

He said a newly manufactured CDC test can be sent to 93 public health labs as soon as Monday, and a privately manufactured test based on the new CDC test could be sent to those same labs as early as tomorrow, pending FDA clearance.

Iran VP infected; Saudi halts pilgrimage: All the latest updates

Well, that eases my mind a little. They really need to get the testing capabilities moving!!

 

[What if...]

I'm not sure how to handle this. I too go to a gym regularly and use the equipment. I also attend several yoga classes per week and confess to have a (at the moment minor) fear about laying on the floor as well as being around other people who use the same blankets, bolsters, blocks...

I'm thinking to wait until a community contagious case turns up in my area...but then I don't want to be me. Paranoia vs common sense awareness. Tough choice.

I can’t say what the correct choice is for everyone, but I can tell you how I’m approaching it.

First off, it’s important to realize that there are no guarantees!
Just like driving (or riding) in a car. You can be the safest driver that’s ever lived, and still end up in a fatal accident - it happens! But most of us don’t live in fear of driving somewhere.
I’ll start to lay low when the first case of community spread is identified in my general area. Until then, I’ll use some of the safety measures discussed on this thread, but will otherwise proceed as normal and just hope I’m not the first case! lol

The first step is being prepared to hunker down as the initial wave passes over - that’s when panic will set in, people will rush out to the stores to stock up, the hospitals will be overwhelmed, etc
That panicked reaction is going to throw people into settings that are crowded - exactly what we shouldn’t do, and exactly what’s going to allow the virus to spread like wild fire!

The truth of the matter is that we all may not be able to avoid this thing altogether. No more so than we can avoid catching the flu. But if I’m going to catch it, I’m really hoping I can postpone it until after the dust settles. If I’m going to catch it, I prefer it to happen when hospital beds and medical staff are readily available to provide treatment. There hasn’t been a death in the US thus far, but that will change if an outbreak outpaces the availability of treatment.
My one request of my fellow WSers is that you please don’t panic. Prepare!, but don’t panic.
Most of the fear that is being felt is the fear of the unknown.
So if you do start to panic, think about driving that car, or any number of the other things we do in our daily lives that could end badly.

Take a deep breath and realize that this too shall pass! Even if the virus is here to stay, we’ll learn to deal with it and science will discover new ways to minimize the impact.

Either way, this is a transition stage.

I really hope this helps to ease the anxiety some are feeling. I think it’s really important to realize that fear can be just as bad as a viral epidemic - it may not actually kill you, but it can most definitely prevent you from living!!

Just some food for thought

 

[JerseyGirl]

Israeli scientists: 'In a few weeks, we will have coronavirus vaccine'

Israeli scientists are on the cusp of developing the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus, according to Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis. If all goes as planned, the vaccine could be ready within three weeks and available in 90 days.