Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #104

[CSIDreamer]

Positive thoughts to your family as well in OH.
On the personal side, we take it seriously, follow recommendations, and know we do our best. We choose not to live a life of fear.

As for the family members, I learned several years ago that I can not carry the weight of others decisions. I lost someone very close to me after years of trying to convince the individual to do this or that because I could see the path they were on was going to end in unfortunate circumstances.

If I could go back and do it all over again, I would spend more time simply loving rather than judging, and embrace the time together by laughing and talking rather than pushing my opinion. It didn’t change the outcome, and many years of memories are based on my trying to get the person help. I see the vaccination discussion in the same light.

I made a conscious decision not to go down that road again. So, I don’t talk vaccines or try to push my opinion on the individuals I love because I know I can’t change their mind. They are aware of the news, and have to choose to get vaccinated by having their own ‘ah ha’ moment.

I, too, choose to not be vile and judgmental. It really does nothing for humanity. Thank you for posting this.

 

[CSIDreamer]

JetBlue cancels 1,280 flights through mid-January due to expected Covid spike

There are already at least 2,561 flight cancellations worldwide on Thursday, with 1,056 of those incidents involving U.S.-bound or -based journeys.

—

3 NYC subway lines suspended due to COVID staffing shortages, testing being offered in some stations

The MTA is opening COVID testing locations in busy subway stations as some subway lines are forced to suspend operation due to understaffing.

The B and Z subway lines have joined the W, now both suspended due to coronavirus staffing shortages.

How bad are these line suspensions going to be as far as commuters?

 

[CSIDreamer]

On a positive note, there has been quite a bit of "lax" on the mask mandate at work.

Today, everyone has their mask on, firmly secured across nose and mouth. Obviously, this Omicron message is getting through even to the most disparaging of deniers here. That is really significant.

Thats what I'm seeing here. A lot of masks.

 

[WildOrchid]

Last night, the health dept of a neighboring city, posted a plea from our most local hospital to avoid the area of the hospital road. With now 3 testing facilities here being backed up for miles, the hospital decided to begin testing only the symptomatic to ease the nightmare. Apparently word got out and people, asymptomatic and symptomatic alike, came in droves and blocked the road there too. Imagine an ambulance trying to get to the ER door with the road jammed with 100 cars who aren’t moving. This. Is. A. Disaster.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

CDC says 'avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status' (nbcnews.com)

"This reflects increases in cases onboard cruise ships since identification of the Omicron variant," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday issued an advisory urging all travelers — vaccinated and unvaccinated — to avoid cruise ship travel amid a record-breaking Covid surge driven by the omicron variant in many states across the United States.

"Even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants," the CDC said in a midday bulletin.

It said the travel health notice upgrade from level 3 to level 4 "reflects increases in cases onboard cruise ships since identification of the Omicron variant."...

DH and I have friends who are going on a 10-night Caribbean cruise that departs at 4:00PM. We plan to watch their sail-away on the Port Everglades webcam. We wish them well and hope that the ship doesn't have any major Covid issues.

 

[CharlestonGal]

My sister just contacted the billing department at Novant Health to inquire about the costs of my niece's care. They said the cost would be ~$8-10,000 per day for intensive care of a ventilated covid patient. My niece does not have health insurance and the doctor's expect her to be in ICU for at least 7-10 days, and she will likely be discharged to a rehab facility for a period of time after that, soooo.......

Well over $120K. Another thing for folks to think about in the coming weeks. jmo

 

[HongKongPhooey]

My sister just contacted the billing department at Novant Health to inquire about the costs of my niece's care. They said the cost would be ~$8-10,000 per day for intensive care of a ventilated covid patient. My niece does not have health insurance and the doctor's expect her to be in ICU for at least 7-10 days, and she will likely be discharged to a rehab facility for a period of time after that, soooo.......

Well over $120K. Another thing for folks to think about in the coming weeks. jmo

What typically would happen in these situations?

 

[CSIDreamer]

My sister just contacted the billing department at Novant Health to inquire about the costs of my niece's care. They said the cost would be ~$8-10,000 per day for intensive care of a ventilated covid patient. My niece does not have health insurance and the doctor's expect her to be in ICU for at least 7-10 days, and she will likely be discharged to a rehab facility for a period of time after that, soooo.......

Well over $120K. Another thing for folks to think about in the coming weeks. jmo

It's a good thing we don't put prices on human lives. Hopefully, the hospital will work with her. JMO

 

[mickey2942]

What typically would happen in these situations?

The medical social worker will see what medicaid programs she is eligible for, sometimes there is a spenddown. Or, in these Covid cases, there is probably some government slush fund to cover the costs. Hospital write off.

Everyone with insurance is billed more to cover uninsured.

 

[Lilibet]

It's a good thing we don't put prices on human lives. Hopefully, the hospital will work with her. JMO

Yes, and it’s my understanding that hospitals write off a lot of charges each year that cannot be paid.

 

[Lilibet]

DH has outpatient surgery scheduled in two weeks. It could be postponed without any risk to him. I'm almost hoping that the hospital will do that.

I’m having same day surgery next Wednesday…minimally invasive carpal tunnel surgery that could be postponed. I’m going ahead with it because I figure there will always be something that is an issue...possibly worse than omicron. At least my booster was in late November FWIW with omicron. But, of course there’s always a chance the surgery center will cancel.

 

[weepingangel]

Holy Crap with the Boston areas sewerage covid graph. You can see last spring 2020 and late 2021 winter surges which pale in comparison to now
MWRA - Wastewater COVID-19 Tracking

 

[weepingangel]

Nice. What I’ve heard about airport testing second hand is that it’s super expensive. 180-200$

I had two flights yesterday and one of the airports had signs posted offering free COVID testing.

 

[CharlestonGal]

What typically would happen in these situations?

They'll work with her to find some resources or government programs to help out if she qualifies. Last time she had a major medical event like this she wound up filing for bankruptcy. My mother had to as well when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. jmo

 

[jakat]

Today my son said his lungs hurt and he still has the rest of the ailments. He was calling his doctor. We're all wondering now if this is Omicron or Delta or what.

So far, 4 of the 8 have tested positive, the rest are negative, but they're still testing. Daughter-in-law's grandfather seems okay. The brother-in-law, my son and his wife are the worst.

I guess what stuns me the most is the fact that this virus has gotten past 8 fully vaccinated people and has infected half of them.

 

[jakat]

CDC has been pretty firm. IF your test is Positive...you ARE positive.
If you test Negative. Try again.

Thank you.

 

[CharlestonGal]

The Marine Corps Is Rapidly Forcing Out Vaccine Refusers, As Promised

The Marine Corps has moved aggressively to discharge service members since its vaccine mandate deadline of Nov. 14, having reviewed most of the several thousand claims for religious exemptions and thus far granting none.

According to the Corps’ latest update, it has separated 206 Marines to date with the vaccine refusal discharge code.

The weekly updates from the branch show that the separations began with 103 Marines on the week of Dec. 16.

No branch of the military has yet to approve a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine, and spokespeople for the Navy and Marine Corps have previously told Military.com that neither branch has granted such an exemption for any vaccine in at least seven years.

 

[anneg]

Holy Crap with the Boston areas sewerage covid graph. You can see last spring 2020 and late 2021 winter surges which pale in comparison to now
MWRA - Wastewater COVID-19 Tracking

Wow!

 

[tabitha111]

I told you all about my brother going on a cruise over the Christmas holidays...well lo and behold....he has Covid now. He said the first two days were terrible, just today he started feeling better. Keeping an eye on his wife and two daughters. He is only vaxxed 2x and only because he had to be to go on the cruise. Lives in Texas.

On another note, my son said that he has noticed some wearing masks in his gym. Of course I asked him to but he said no he thought it looked silly (well not his exact words) He is getting boosted this weekend or so he told his worried mother.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I told you all about my brother going on a cruise over the Christmas holidays...well lo and behold....he has Covid now. He said the first two days were terrible, just today he started feeling better. Keeping an eye on his wife and two daughters. He is only vaxxed 2x and only because he had to be to go on the cruise. Lives in Texas.

On another note, my son said that he has noticed some wearing masks in his gym. Of course I asked him to but he said no he thought it looked silly (well not his exact words) He is getting boosted this weekend or so he told his worried mother.

Try to keep checkig on your brother tho......... lots and lots of folks had symptoms, then thought they were significantly lessened, only to roar back 4-6 days later.....