Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #105

[CrimeAway]

Please get vaccinated, mask-up, and stay safe. I believe that if we all take mitigation measures, we can continue to work, shop, and run errands relatively safely. However, if too many of us (humans) fail to take these steps, more people will get sick, which overwhelms our healthcare systems.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[CoverMeCagney]

PM Scott Morrison revealed the tennis star never had the exemption he claimed.

“I want to thank the Border Force officers for doing their job implementing the Government’s policies ... entry with a visa requires double vaccination, or a medical exemption,” he said. “I am advised that such an exemption was not in place, and as a result he is subject to the same rule as anyone else."

Scott Morrison reveals Novak Djokovic visa twist: ‘Exemption was not in place’

Waking up to #teamaustralia all over my social media and it seems the daft man has been renamed Novax Go Oz!

 

[Cool Cats]

Cute Dog Alert!

COVID-weary nurse: Gracie the labradoodle 'gives us a moment to pause from the craziness'

Holly Riegel, a multi-skilled patient technician, hugs Gracie in a break room after tending to COVID patients at Mount Carmel Grove City.

Denise Minor, Mount Carmel Health System's vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, left, brings her labradoodle, Gracie, to the hospital to comfort exhausted staff during the pandemic.

The official ID badge of Gracie, a labradoodle who visits Mount Carmel Grove City a couple of times a week to comfort overworked staff, labels her "Chief Therapy Officer."

When Denise Minor, Mount Carmel Health System's vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, brings her labradoodle, Gracie, to the hospital, the therapy dog stops by the nurses’ stations to get pets, squeezes and treats and to give licks and unconditional love.

 

[Niner]

Waking up to #teamaustralia all over my social media and it seems the daft man has been renamed Novax Go Oz!

Oh - I like that new name!

 

[tabitha111]

The "caregiver" to many residents here just got back from her week long trip to Vegas. Told me she sat at the poker tables morning to night. Was she wearing a mask today to care for her people? Why, of course not!
Before anyone says to report her, remember my director (this is a business not an assisted living facility) made masks optional here and there is no mask mandate in our state.
Heard through the grapevine that there are a few assisted living facilities on lockdown in our area at the moment. We have been spared so far as far as I know- who knows what is really going on? I do hear lots of coughing, not unusual here, when I happen to be downstairs doing my errands (double masked N95 w/cloth over it) . I stick out like an alarmist I am sure.

 

[tabitha111]

and....on the Today show they just announced that Hoda Kotb (Today show host) tested positive for Covid. I find it just amazing that this facility I live in has zero cases...

 

[JerseyGirl]

Hong Kong Disneyland Closes Due to Coronavirus

‘As required by the government and in line with preventive efforts taking place across Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland park will temporarily close from January 7 to 20.’

Hong Kong health authorities announced 13 new confirmed cased and a further 26 asymptomatic infections. These included 12 of the omicron strain. On Wednesday it announced 34 imported cases, three cases epidemiologically linked with a imported case, and one local case.

In response, the government said that it is taking drastic measures that will close much of daily life, but fall short of a full lock down.

These include restaurant dining restrictions and the closure of 15 types of venues such as bars, gyms, entertainment venues, mahjong parlors and swimming pools. There will be a ban on major events and non-essential gatherings for 14 days.

Flights into the city from eight countries will be banned for 14 days from Saturday Jan. 8, 2022. They include Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the U.K. and the U.S.

 

[CSIDreamer]

and....on the Today show they just announced that Hoda Kotb (Today show host) tested positive for Covid. I find it just amazing that this facility I live in has zero cases...

Do you think it's possible people are being more cautious than you realize? I don't understand how there could be zero cases either.

 

[nightowl1975]

Of course not. It's a general policy being adopted in most healthcare facilities, so that they have more flexibility than just sending staff who test positive out the door, before they get replacements in.

Managers are not stupid, they won't assign them to work with the uninfected public or other staff, but they may assign an asymptomic nurse to work in the Covid unit, or, for that matter, for a dishwasher whose spouse tested positive, to finish their shift alone.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-health-workers-job-covid-1.6299204

The current emergency CDC guidelines do in fact allow Covid positive staff to work. Period. Sure, there will be every attempt to have them not work, or to work only on Covid units… but if you think there won’t be Covid positive staff working among non-infected people/patients, you’re very mistaken. It’s already happening in real world experience.

But you can’t work if you’re not vaccinated.

And that’s all I’m going to say on that subject.

 

[tabitha111]

Do you think it's possible people are being more cautious than you realize? I don't understand how there could be zero cases either.

I see ZERO mitigation factors here EXCEPT we are all vaxxed & boosted. I think this gives most a false sense of security. I see the housekeepers and food servers with "chin masks" most of the day - the director and admin staff with no masks. These are people that leave in the evening and mingle with the public. You can say that most of the folks here stay in- that is true. But we have bus trips to Target, the movies, dining out, Walmart, etc multiple times a week and well attended- with masks scarce. I agree, I can not fathom how we have escaped any cases so far. Dining in the dining room for three meals - no masks- around 129 people at one time!
Myself and another employee here chat about it sometimes, she feels "give it 5 days" and we will be in lockdown. I am not so sure anymore.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I bought both in the spring of 2020 based on a recommendation here. I believe it has saved my daughter's life twice since then. Not because of Covid. Luckily none of us has had it. She is autistic and doesn't feel any pain from a UTI and does not know she is experiencing one. I got in the habit of taking her vitals daily and we caught two infections from noticing high heart rate, low oxygen, and fever. No other symptoms. She was septic both times in the ER, admitted, and spent two days in the hospital each time. The doctors kept saying she was so much sicker than she looked and acted. I'm very glad I had these tools in my toolkit, so to speak, and was using them regularly. I still take her vitals daily along with Mr. Etta and myself.

What a mighty endorsement. I can certainly see how and why you need the best "tool kit" you can have......

 

[CharlestonGal]

and....on the Today show they just announced that Hoda Kotb (Today show host) tested positive for Covid. I find it just amazing that this facility I live in has zero cases...

You have cases. You just don't know about them yet. With no masking, constant group trips to Target and such, everyone eating in the dining room, it's impossible someone or more than one someone is not infected. jmo

 

[MimosaMornings]

I see ZERO mitigation factors here EXCEPT we are all vaxxed & boosted. I think this gives most a false sense of security. I see the housekeepers and food servers with "chin masks" most of the day - the director and admin staff with no masks. These are people that leave in the evening and mingle with the public. You can say that most of the folks here stay in- that is true. But we have bus trips to Target, the movies, dining out, Walmart, etc multiple times a week and well attended- with masks scarce. I agree, I can not fathom how we have escaped any cases so far. Dining in the dining room for three meals - no masks- around 129 people at one time!
Myself and another employee here chat about it sometimes, she feels "give it 5 days" and we will be in lockdown. I am not so sure anymore.

Do you think it’s possible some are sick and brushing it off as a cold?

If they were to test every resident and staff member - I would be surprised if there were zero positives. Especially in that setting with Omicron.
But I’m glad you’re staying safe and doing good!!

 

[CharlestonGal]

Anger in Japan’s Okinawa as US bases blamed for Omicron spread

Anger is growing towards US military personnel at bases in the prefecture who are partially blamed for the new surge in infections. There were 164 new cases linked to military bases on Tuesday, bringing the tally from the latest outbreak to some 1,000 infections among service members and dependents at nine bases across the prefecture.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has filed a request with the US military for personnel to be confined to their bases until the outbreak can be brought under control again. US authorities have stated they are making progress in containing the outbreak but have declined to restrict the movement of troops.

“I’m outraged because the sharp increase in cases among US military personnel suggests that their management is insufficient,” Tamaki said at a press conference in the prefectural capital of Naha on Sunday.

 

[tabitha111]

Do you think it’s possible some are sick and brushing it off as a cold?

If they were to test every resident and staff member - I would be surprised if there were zero positives. Especially in that setting with Omicron.
But I’m glad you’re staying safe and doing good!!

Definitly crossed my mind re; colds and brushing it off. I hear coughing and sneezing constantly when I venture out of my apt. (which is only 2 times a day). Sniffling noses...We have many "sick" people - those with underlying conditions though and I don't see any real issues with them....yet. *shrugging shoulders*

 

[CharlestonGal]

Malaysia Study: Covid Death Rate Up To 43 Times Higher Among Unvaccinated - CodeBlue

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 – A study on Covid-19 deaths in Malaysia found that unvaccinated individuals had a mortality rate 43.2 times higher than people fully vaccinated with Pfizer, and 12.5 times higher than people who obtained Sinovac.

The study by Nur Asheila Abdul Taib et al — which analysed Covid-19 deaths by vaccination types and status in the country between February and September 2021 — showed that the total Covid-19 age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) was 47.5 per 100,000 population for the unvaccinated group. ASMR adjusts for differences in the age distribution of the population.

Among fully vaccinated individuals, the total Covid-19 ASMR of those who received Sinovac’s inactivated vaccine was 3.8 per 100,000 population, higher than recipients of Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine (1.1 per 100,000 population) and AstraZeneca’s viral vector vaccine.

 

[Turkeytrot]

First world problems - both of our Starbucks locations here are closed. No explanation on the sign but my guess is too many out sick to be open..

 

[doublestop]

and....on the Today show they just announced that Hoda Kotb (Today show host) tested positive for Covid. I find it just amazing that this facility I live in has zero cases...

Or is it that they SAY they have zero cases?

 

[mickey2942]

Chicago families are caught between the teachers union and the school district - CNN

I really don't know what to think about this situation. I used to teach school, so I understand this from a perspective of a teacher.

However, I am still working, and my personal opinion is that if teachers do not want to go back to work, they should find other employment. If they don't feel it is safe. But they should not be allowed to continue to collect the same wages, benefits and stay home.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Chicago families are caught between the teachers union and the school district - CNN

I really don't know what to think about this situation. I used to teach school, so I understand this from a perspective of a teacher.

However, I am still working, and my personal opinion is that if teachers do not want to go back to work, they should find other employment. If they don't feel it is safe. But they should not be allowed to continue to collect the same wages, benefits and stay home.

It's the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe working environment for all employees. If the employer cannot do that, why should the employees be the ones to lose wages and benefits over it?