Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Emergency* #8

[Mauig’ma]

Why did CDC send NYC man home without testing for coronavirus?

He wasn’t sick enough to test? Omg really! This is getting out of hand already

 

[Tadpole12]

Despite repeated pleas from health officials not to purchase masks and respirators, Americans are snatching them up —prompting sellers to jack up prices and exploit demand. Coronavirus hysteria is leading to mass mask shortages. For health care officials, they're essential. For Chinese Americans, they're a lifeline home. - CNN CNN on Twitter

Morning y'all

Remember the headine 'Masks are the lightening rod for fear'.

 

[Betty P]

I’d also like to add that my daughter works in a small hospital in northern Iowa and is told Not to worry about it. Her and the other doctors think The flu is way more dangerous than this! I disagree. With that being said, I worry about stockpiling supplies when a person has to travel an hour to get simple items like gloves and masks. Should a person travel that hour to a more populated area to get those supplies or just stay home and do without?

We're getting a similar message in our state and from our local Big Hospital System. Not scientific and a little barbaric.

 

[Betty P]

He wasn’t sick enough to test? Omg really! This is getting out of hand already

I wonder if Congress can establish an ad hoc committee or board to oversee the US response to COVID 19? CDC currently seems incapable of handling it. That said, this new POV ("its no worse than the regular flu") is predictable. Kind of thought some views might devolve to this.

Profits over public health?

MOO

ETA: In the article about lack of screening of incoming passengers at the NYC airports, it says Mayor DiBlasio wants to expand the number of passengers being screened, but apparently he's been overruled. Who is in charge? This is odd, we need some transparency here. If some official wants to overrule expert recommendations, they need to do so publicly.

ETA: Airports in NYC are controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. IIRC, those are controlled by the governors of those states.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Wikipedia

Andrew Cuomo (NY) and Phil Murphy (NJ)

Interesting, I heard CNN's Chris Cuomo (governor's brother) reporting on the COVID 19 story and he made a remark that was critical of the "governor" in how it was being handled. Hmmm

 

[Amonet]

Um:

“That means the virus appears to be spreading among at least two separate populations, according to people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information has not been released publicly.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/heal...53c93a-5a77-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html

I hope the anonymous source is valid. Last thing we need are unproven rumors.

ETA: Actually not true, I’m hoping it’s a rumor

Looking for more information of course.

Is it now four cases of possible community transmission, then? Two in Cali, one in Oregon, and one in Washington State?

 

[Tadpole12]

I’m sure this has been discussed already but in the event people start dying here in the US what are their plans as far as funerals/celebrations of life? Close family won’t get to say their goodbyes? I’m confused as to what other countries are doing.

IDK

Iirc the first Brit National who died in China was cremanted in China.

Coronavirus patient first to be infected in UK

Wondering how the UK will deal with this issue, now.

 

[enelram]

I’m sure this has been discussed already but in the event people start dying here in the US what are their plans as far as funerals/celebrations of life? Close family won’t get to say their goodbyes? I’m confused as to what other countries are doing.

Haven't seen anything related to that but in
African countries during the Ebola crisis, community trucks went around to collect bodies for mass cremation. It was a mandatory collection. And no ritual gatherings to celebrate the death of loved ones.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I am not running to the store to stock up. I have a lot of good meat in freezer so we are good!

Good morning all. Pending negative for my family. It was a basic swab test. The Lake Oswego school where the infected patient worked is closed for next week. But since they lived in my city, exposure areas are now high and its another case of getting it from an unknown source. My family has voluntarily decided to self isolate in our home for 2 weeks.

Be safe! Glad you are in good health and can self isolate. Sounds like you are going to be cooking some great dinners with a freezer full of meat.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Interesting observation regarding audio. We kept having to adjust volume throughout our on-demand viewing. At times, dialogue was barely audible, and then sound came on like gangbusters

I had to take a break from the thread last night (same reason as others have expressed). So, I did an "on demand" viewing of Contagion as you suggested. Wouldn't you know it, I paid $3.99 and if I had stayed online for 4 more posts, I would have been able to watch for free. Enjoyed watching, Wow, eerie

 

[beatrixpotter]

I was a bit taken aback by the suggestion that people from infected areas in Italy might travel to Switzerland because they believed they were not infected. That's how the virus has moved - people trying to escape infected areas and infecting people in other areas.

The incubation period is 2-5 days and up to 14 days for most people. Some people do not show symptoms for up to 20 days. Perhaps they're super healthy in the beginning. In any case, when people are in an infected area, it's foolish to transport them to uninfected areas - regardless of citizenship borders.

Yeah, I know that 2 of the people I was referencing earlier have returned to Canada from Italy. But the others remained in place in Italy. One is working daily in a hospital with COVID-19 patients and the entire hospital is out of masks.

 

[Gardenkeep]

I've been reading, watching this develop since the beginning. What has really bothered me the most is the route of transmission. We know that it is droplet, but I get the feeling that it is also significantly indirect. My gut tells me that this critter is hardier than the "normal" virus, and is surviving on surfaces longer than expected. The incubation was initially estimated at 2 weeks, with the most common development of symptoms at 5 days. However, that seems to be changing to a longer incubation. Which is why I suspect it's surviving on surfaces longer than just hours, and more like days. So, indirect transmission is just as concerning as droplet/airborn. Wash hands. A lot. Keep hands away from face as much as possible. Try to keep a 3 ft bubble of space around you at all times. To my fellow healthcare workers, be safe out there.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Finally I think being introverted is going to come in handy.

I’m in Australia and today I went to a dedicated bird shop to buy a cage and they had 3 in stock because they are shipped from China. That was the last thing I expected.

I'm not an introvert, but I am definitely a homebody these days. For many years, not a day went by without my leaving the house for something - even just to get coffee and a bagel or muffin. For the past 10 years, I don't make "quick trips" anywhere and prefer to consolidate errands to a couple of days a week. If I have an appointment, I'll also stop at the market or pharmacy before or after. I used to make good use of the public library, but now I order books online. I do most of my shopping online these days, as well. And, it goes without saying, but I enjoy hanging out with the fine folks here on Websleuths In the morning, I'm sitting here with coffee, sipping tea in the afternoon, and nursing a glass (or two) of wine in the evening. I always imagine that many of you are doing the same

 

[beatrixpotter]

Here’s another thing, unless someone totally locks themself down for at least the next year, or who knows how long, and stocks up on supplies for the next year or however long, at least til a vaccine comes out, I find it hard to understand how one can not be exposed to it at some point or another. Yes wash your hands bla bla, but at some point even if you have supplies for a month you’re still going to run out at some point.

I guess what I’m saying re: supplies, is that there’s really only so far this goes (unless you get a candy shed,like @Herat ).

So honestly I’m feeling bummed out about this whole supplies thing because I know it’s very temporary, of course IF this is all should this break and poop hit the fan (APVLD).

The prices of a lot of things will likely go up in the future due to demand or issues from China. That said I think isolation and needing supplies for that is still really important even if we all end up getting it eventually. It spreads the stress and strain on the healthcare system out. Much better than if everyone gets it quickly and many are sick at once.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I’m sure this has been discussed already but in the event people start dying here in the US what are their plans as far as funerals/celebrations of life? Close family won’t get to say their goodbyes? I’m confused as to what other countries are doing.

CDC and funeral society have SOP's for handling. Not sure it answers the question as to viewing etc. Here are links, but I'm not going down the rabbit hole on this one, just sharing in case someone else wants to,


Update: February 26, 2020

Health Officials Warn Americans To Plan For The Spread Of Coronavirus In U.S.

NFDA has consulted with federal officials and embalming experts. At this time, they recommend that should an individual die from coronavirus, funeral home personnel who will come into contact with the body should use universal precautions. For more information, please see the CDC website with recommendations for healthcare providers - specifically, see section two, "Adherence to Standard, Contact, and Airborne Precautions, Including the Use of Eye Protection"

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

ETA: It looks like part of the process is to wipe the body down with bleach.

"Funerals and cremations - Relatives of the deceased may wish to view or have some final contact with the body. Superficial contact, such as touching or kissing the face, need not be discouraged, even if an autopsy has been conducted."

https://s3.amazonaws.com/EliteCME_WebSite_2013/f/pdf/FTX03ICI17.pdf

 

[Gardenkeep]

I'm not an introvert, but I am definitely a homebody these days. For many years, not a day went by without my leaving the house for something - even just to get coffee and a bagel or muffin. For the past 10 years, I don't make "quick trips" anywhere and prefer to consolidate errands to a couple of days a week. If I have an appointment, I'll also stop at the market or pharmacy before or after. I used to make good use of the public library, but now I order books online. I do most of my shopping online these days, as well. And, it goes without saying, but I enjoy hanging out with the fine folks here on Websleuths In the morning, I'm sitting here with coffee, sipping tea in the afternoon, and nursing a glass (or two) of wine in the evening. I always imagine that many of you are doing the same

And, you wouldn't be wrong. Since I retired, this pretty much sums up my changes in lifestyle too. LOL

 

[dixiegirl1035]

He wasn’t sick enough to test? Omg really! This is getting out of hand already

CDC changed their rules for accepting/testing yesterday to add now can be done at doctors discretion. States will now have in their own health departments soon.

 

[dotr]

Feb 29 2020
Officials confirm eighth case of COVID-19 in Ontario
''Provincial health officials confirmed two new positive cases of COVID-19 in Toronto Friday, the seventh and eighth cases in Ontario.

On Friday evening, health officials announced that a man in his 80s with a travel history to Egypt presented himself at the emergency department of Scarborough Health Network's General Hospital on Thursday, more than week after arriving in Toronto.

"As per established infection prevention and control protocols, the patient was cared for at the hospital using all appropriate precautions, including being isolated as he was tested for COVID-19," health officials said in a statement. "The man was discharged home the same day feeling well and, per protocols, went into self-isolation where he remains.
The man wore a mask throughout his travels, health officials said.''

''Earlier in the day, officials said a man in his 50s with a travel history to Iran tested positive for the virus. He presented himself at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on February 26, a day after arriving in Toronto.''

Staff and students at midtown ESL centre may have been exposed to individual with COVID-19 virus
''Staff and students at a midtown centre that provides language instruction to newcomers to Canada may have been exposed to someone with the COVID-19 virus.

Toronto Public Health sent out a letter to those enrolled at the ESL and LINC Centre located at 90 Eglinton Avenue East on Thursday, warning them that they “may have been exposed to someone who has the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID – 19).”

The letter goes on to say that anyone from the centre who develops systems prior to March 11 should follow self-isolation guidelines. It also says that anyone who does seek medical treatment should call their healthcare provider first, so they can take necessary precautions.
The centre is operated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board.''

Public health agency weighs stronger COVID-19 protection for front-line workers
''The nurses' unions warned the national guidelines to protect nurses, doctors and other hospital staff from exposure to the highly contagious virus are less stringent than those in other jurisdictions, including provincial rules in Ontario.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control, for example, calls for health-care workers to wear respirators when interacting with potential coronavirus patients to protect against possible airborne transmissions, but Canada's national guidelines only call for looser surgical masks in most scenarios.

Dr. Howard Njoo, the deputy chief public health officer, says the agency will consider those concerns, but notes that being overly cautious could mean burning through limited supplies unnecessarily.''

 

[Hatfield]

We're getting a similar message in our state and from our local Big Hospital System. Not scientific and a little barbaric.

JMO
Ive heard similar incomplete and incompetent
news updates from health officials that are supposed to know all about this new virus.

Since the very beginning, I have followed this Coronavirus news heavily from a variety of news sources, and as I hear the Local and National government press conferences, major morning TV news shows, and even CDC updates, I am convinced I am getting more accurate news from watching a variety of qualified doctor Youtubers, actual affected people Youtubers like the British couple that ended up getting the virus, the BNO website, etc.

By using so many internet sources, I get a well rounded and fairly accurate view of what is going on, and a lot of times, it is now conflicting with what the local and national officials here in the states are starting to parrot off each other. What is concerning too, is that they do share some parts that are accurate, but then make broad sweeping inaccurate statements that most people will believe and its just plain wrong information.

Like during the California PC that had the bad audio late yesterday, they were asked if they were tracing and contacting other students while the infected student was in class before he/she showed symptoms, and the response was not comforting. The officials said that they only worried about people he/she contacted after he/she started to show symptoms. Well the problem with that, is I have heard from numerous other sources that this Coronavirus can spread in asymptomatic people (no symptoms yet), so it was plain false what the official said IMO.

You would think to be on the safe side they would at least contact every classmate in every class he/she had and let them know to contact them at the first sign of any cough, fever, headache or other symptom we know happens with this. But no, the officials there are plain not even trying to contact the person's classmates because they claim he/she did not show symptoms yet. Things like this are very important if you want to try to stop the spreading. IMO our US officials are showing signs that they are failing us already.

Its inexcusable because they had plenty of time to get ready as China took the main hit before it got to US and other countries soils.

 

[justbeachy]

State officials: Florida has no testing kits for coronavirus

"They say they are working on getting them in Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami."

 

[Herat]

And, you wouldn't be wrong. Since I retired, this pretty much sums up my changes in lifestyle too. LOL

Oh good. My pre-retirement training is coming along very well according to your guidelines!