Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #110

[Lilibet]

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Another COVID Surge — The Atlantic

Once again, our pandemic numbers are creeping in the wrong direction.

apple.news

Oregon is rarely mentioned in national articles, but this arrived in my inbox today and confirms the article.

Physicians join state officials in urging public to wear masks indoors

content.govdelivery.com

Physicians join state officials in urging public to wear masks indoors

As surging respiratory cases are overwhelming Oregon hospitals, masks are effective in slowing disease spread, officials say

PORTLAND, Ore. — Cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are surging in Oregon, forcing hospitals into crisis mode as they struggle to manage heavy demand for adult and pediatric beds, health officials said today.

The surge prompted a stark warning from Portland-area physicians who have experienced, first-hand, how patients and the state’s health care system have been affected during the hospital capacity crisis: If people don’t start wearing masks indoors more, they put themselves and those around them – especially young children and older adults – at risk of severe illness, or even death.
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“Masking works,” said Wendy Hasson, M.D., medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. “Anytime you have to go to an indoor crowded area during this surge, if you and your child can wear a mask, that will help protect the (health care) resources.”
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“Now is not the time to go to crowded indoor places like indoor birthday parties, play places, restaurants, grocery stores,” Hasson said. “Anything you can do to keep your child out of a crowded indoor area will help.”

In addition to avoiding crowded indoor spaces, Moreno explained, people can help reduce the pressure on hospitals by taking care of themselves and others.
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Much more at the link regarding getting your flu and covid vaccinations and protecting vulnerable family and friends. The Governor has requested respiratory therapists and nurses from out of state to ease the burden on hospitals.

 

[ilovewings]

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Another COVID Surge — The Atlantic

Once again, our pandemic numbers are creeping in the wrong direction.

apple.news

We should not be surprised- with the holidays here and people living like there is no pandemic- it is so depressing- and now we have the triple whammy with RSV and the flu being so much worse this year -

 

[anneg]

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Another COVID Surge — The Atlantic

Once again, our pandemic numbers are creeping in the wrong direction.

apple.news

Good article! Thanks for posting.

 

[tabitha111]

It is very frustrating to see newborns in Walmart (of course they can't wear masks), see my friends here at the Retirement home partipate in craft shows for hours with crowds and no masks, singers coming here to sing holiday songs with no precautions and holiday parties scheduled for the next few weeks in our activiy room. I feel like I live in another universe where I am the only person that knows there is Covid, the flu, and RSV around.
Nevermind that we have two older folks still in hospital with pneumonia!

 

[ilovewings]

It is very frustrating to see newborns in Walmart (of course they can't wear masks), see my friends here at the Retirement home partipate in craft shows for hours with crowds and no masks, singers coming here to sing holiday songs with no precautions and holiday parties scheduled for the next few weeks in our activiy room. I feel like I live in another universe where I am the only person that knows there is Covid, the flu, and RSV around.
Nevermind that we have two older folks still in hospital with pneumonia!

Sadly, I think we are a country in denial- as cases of Covid and flu rise-- and will continue to do so as the holidays of course make things so much worse! Take care of yourself

 

[MimosaMornings]

It is very frustrating to see newborns in Walmart (of course they can't wear masks), see my friends here at the Retirement home partipate in craft shows for hours with crowds and no masks, singers coming here to sing holiday songs with no precautions and holiday parties scheduled for the next few weeks in our activiy room. I feel like I live in another universe where I am the only person that knows there is Covid, the flu, and RSV around.
Nevermind that we have two older folks still in hospital with pneumonia!

I’m seeing the same things but heard from corporate they are going to follow the hospitals lead in restricting children under 12 from visiting residents. They had three families come in last week with sick children wanting to visit but were told to return when no temp and no symptoms. They were not amenable to wearing a mask and caused a huge commotion at the front entrance. (I decided to go out another way!)
RSV, flu and Covid are at a very high level with increasing numbers each week.
JMO

 

[ilovewings]

I’m seeing the same things but heard from corporate they are going to follow the hospitals lead in restricting children under 12 from visiting residents. They had three families come in last week with sick children wanting to visit but were told to return when no temp and no symptoms. They were not amenable to wearing a mask and caused a huge commotion at the front entrance. (I decided to go out another way!)
RSV, flu and Covid are at a very high level with increasing numbers each week.
JMO

okay I have to ask what is wrong with people, yeah, just go ahead and bring your sniffling coughing children to visit older people or for that matter taking sick kids anywhere!!!!! for that matter though , why don't you just leave them at home? GRRRRR

 

[HongKongPhooey]

okay I have to ask what is wrong with people, yeah, just go ahead and bring your sniffling coughing children to visit older people or for that matter taking sick kids anywhere!!!!! for that matter though , why don't you just leave them at home? GRRRRR

I was thinking the same - who takes sick kids to visit vulnerable people?!

 

[MimosaMornings]

I was thinking the same - who takes sick kids to visit vulnerable people?!

They take them everywhere. I have seen so many visibly sick kids out in public the past two weeks - planes, stores, work luncheons (oh yeah, fun times) and on Santa’s lap.

Because you know….it’s just a cold.

 

[slowpoke]

I hope I won’t jinx it by saying so (superstitious me), but I am optimistic my 98-year-old father in the nursing home just may get through his case of Covid. He still has a cough, but never developed fever. He is on Paxlovid. So, we are hopeful.

His doctor is very sensible, and asked us to consider what we wanted to do if my father took a sudden turn for the worse: heroic measures or comfort measures. Very scary to have to make the decision, but the dr wanted to know before it might happen. We siblings discussed it and decided comfort measures was the best in light of his current quality of life. (He has advanced dementia, blindness and hearing loss. )

 

[Lilibet]

I hope I won’t jinx it by saying so (superstitious me), but I am optimistic my 98-year-old father in the nursing home just may get through his case of Covid. He still has a cough, but never developed fever. He is on Paxlovid. So, we are hopeful.

His doctor is very sensible, and asked us to consider what we wanted to do if my father took a sudden turn for the worse: heroic measures or comfort measures. Very scary to have to make the decision, but the dr wanted to know before it might happen. We siblings discussed it and decided comfort measures was the best in light of his current quality of life. (He has advanced dementia, blindness and hearing loss. )

Very hard decision, @slowpoke, but the right one IMO. Big hugs…and here’s hoping for a swift recovery so you won’t have to do the hard thing.

 

[ilovewings]

COVID Trend That Spelled Big Trouble in 2020 Is Back

Bad news for people hoping this pandemic is finally over.

www.thedailybeast.com

This is behind a paywall. The headline is somewhat misleading IMO. What the real issue is that many seniors did not get boosted and so they are very vulnerable right now as Covid begins to surge again.

 

[ilovewings]

Hospitalizations signal rising COVID-19 risk for US seniors

Coronavirus-related hospital admissions are climbing again in the United States, with older adults a growing share of U.S. deaths and less than half of nursing home residents up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. One troubling indicator for seniors: Hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 rose...

www.yahoo.com

Another article from Yahoo about seniors being hospitalized for Covid

 

[katydid23]

I hope I won’t jinx it by saying so (superstitious me), but I am optimistic my 98-year-old father in the nursing home just may get through his case of Covid. He still has a cough, but never developed fever. He is on Paxlovid. So, we are hopeful.

His doctor is very sensible, and asked us to consider what we wanted to do if my father took a sudden turn for the worse: heroic measures or comfort measures. Very scary to have to make the decision, but the dr wanted to know before it might happen. We siblings discussed it and decided comfort measures was the best in light of his current quality of life. (He has advanced dementia, blindness and hearing loss. )

I know exactly what you mean. My brother and I had to fill out one of those detailed forms for my 92 yr old mom last month when we moved her into 'memory care' from assisted living. She has advanced dementia now too, but her sight and hearing are very good still.

We discussed it with her and she said "No Heroics and no machinery please. Keep me comfortable as I make my journey to your Dad."

 

[ilovepierre]

They take them everywhere. I have seen so many visibly sick kids out in public the past two weeks - planes, stores, work luncheons (oh yeah, fun times) and on Santa’s lap.

Because you know….it’s just a cold.

They think that because it’s not COVID, they can just bring their sick child everywhere. I’ve been to two grocery stores this week and there were sick kids all around! Like keep them at home please!

 

[MimosaMornings]

They think that because it’s not COVID, they can just bring their sick child everywhere. I’ve been to two grocery stores this week and there were sick kids all around! Like keep them at home please!

And it’s not like they have to go into the stores, there’s free pickup. You just park and they bring it to you. All of the pharmacies have drive up windows too.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I’m seeing the same things but heard from corporate they are going to follow the hospitals lead in restricting children under 12 from visiting residents. They had three families come in last week with sick children wanting to visit but were told to return when no temp and no symptoms. They were not amenable to wearing a mask and caused a huge commotion at the front entrance. (I decided to go out another way!)
RSV, flu and Covid are at a very high level with increasing numbers each week.
JMO

….Covid again at the senior home. One of those families went home and brought back folding outdoor chairs. They got the elderly lady to open her window and an aide saw them….loudly singing and talking thru the screen….the lady had her face up to the screen since she couldn’t hear well. Guess who has Covid now as well as the aide and two more residents.
It boggles my mind.

 

[anneg]

….Covid again at the senior home. One of those families went home and brought back folding outdoor chairs. They got the elderly lady to open her window and an aide saw them….loudly singing and talking thru the screen….the lady had her face up to the screen since she couldn’t hear well. Guess who has Covid now as well as the aide and two more residents.
It boggles my mind.

That's terrible! Some people have no sense at all.

 

[Sundog]

The pubic libraries in our county are distributing free covid-19 test kits for free again. Today I picked up some test kits, and noticed that the expiration date is January 1, 2023. So they will only be good for a few more weeks, it seems. I do plan to go to the FDA website to see if the expiration date has been extended.

 

[Cool Cats]

It's Time to Wear a Mask Again, Health Experts Say

Masks are back, and, this time, they’re not just for COVID-19. A “tripledemic” of the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, sweeping through the United States has prompted several cities and counties, including New York City and Los Angeles County, to encourage...

www.yahoo.com

Masks are back, and, this time, they’re not just for COVID-19.

A “tripledemic” of the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, sweeping through the United States has prompted several cities and counties, including New York City and Los Angeles County, to encourage people to wear a mask in indoor public spaces once again.

Nationwide, COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations have spiked by 56% and 24%, respectively, over the past two weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have already been 13 million illnesses and 7,300 deaths from flu this season, and those numbers are expected to rise in the coming months. (Over the past decade, annual flu deaths have ranged from 12,000 to 52,000 people, with the peak in January and February.) And while RSV finally appears to be on the decline, infection rates are still high across much of the country.