Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Pandemic* #21

[SAMS]

San Francisco will close all public schools in response to coronavirus outbreak


https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1238242872748658689?s=20

 

[MsMarple]

It slows down the transmission rate. This is important so that fewer people are in contact with the virus at any one time. Management of serious cases depends upon the rate that the virus goes through the population. If it can be dragged out longer, with fewer people sick or potentially sick at one time, then everyone can be treated as needed over a longer period.

If you have huge crowds exposed to the virus, and potentially all coming down with health issues at once, then that puts an unmanageable strain on the health care resources which would need to treat more people than what they have the infrastructure to handle.

Plus, it's about keeping the economy healthy - or at least as healthy as possible right now. To go much lower that that number risks small businesses and restaurants closing which would be devastating.

A huge gathering like a concert or sports game means many people squished in close proximity (elbow to elbow) while a small store or restaurant means wider proximity so less chance of direct exposure.

I'm *not* suggesting we all go out shopping or to dinner but rather I'm saying IMO the 250 number is reasonable at this time. My husband went to the local grocery store at 6 am today to pick up a few pantry items like dried peas and beans, canned milk, cereal, and of course bacon . The store only had a few customers. Our local mom and pop store is right down the street and is never so crowded where you're bumping into people.

JMO.

 

[escape2sc]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article241109776.html

More novel coronavirus testing kits are on the way to South Florida, the governor said Wednesday, but he also raised new concerns about potential supply shortages of the swab tools that healthcare providers use to collect specimens for testing.
At a press conference at Jackson Memorial Hospital on Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said that the state had purchased 2,500 commercially available testing kits to screen for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and he anticipated those would be distributed to some 50 labs throughout the state, including at hospitals. Those kits would add the capacity to test for 625,000 people, he said, and Jackson would be one of the first to receive the kits.
“If hospitals can do this in their own labs, the turnaround could be quicker and they would be able to make better use of their resources here in their healthcare facilities,” DeSantis said.
For a week or more, healthcare workers at Jackson have been “begging” the state Department of Health for clearance to run tests, said Martha Baker, a registered nurse and the president of the union representing nurses and doctors at Jackson.
“Nurses and doctors in the emergency room are on the front lines, and they’re having to fight with bureaucracy to get a test,” she said.
Getting test results for the novel cornavirus can take at least 24 hours, including in the state’s public health labs. But DeSantis cautioned that even the new testing kits don’t come with the materials used to collect specimens, and added that there has been a national shortage of those tools.
“Many labs do have some supply, but our capacity ... is really dependent on how much of the materials are available or can be brought into the state,” he said.
A lack of widespread testing in Miami-Dade County has been a cause of major concern for local officials, as well as employees at Jackson, the tax-funded hospital network that treats more than 200,000 people a year at its emergency rooms.
On Friday, Jackson said it had only completed three tests for COVID-19. The reason: Florida’s Health Department controls who can be tested, and will only approve testing for a narrow subset of people.

I don't understand how the US can be so unprepared for testing or containment. After the reports coming out of China didn't you expect that serious discussions were taking place in our local, state and federal governments and health departments preparing on the chance the virus would be in the US ? I know I expected there were plans in place to handle a disaster such as this. Why didn't the government have a plan in place on multiple levels on how to relay a consistent and factual message to the public, a plan for our school systems, a plan on containment ? Why weren't tests and testing supplies lined up in advance, tested in advance to rule out any issues ? Why didn't state health department check with the hospitals to see if they had enough protective gear to treat a minimum of 1000 patients - do the masks, gowns and other protective equipment have expiration dates ? All of this and much more is what they are elected and paid to do. China gave us information on the virus and the blueprint on how to handle it and those with the power and the means to handle the situation, to best prepare the country failed to do their jobs properly.

 

[SAMS]

ABC13 Houston on Twitter

BREAKING: HISD will be closed until the end of the month over coronavirus concerns. Here's a full list of Houston-area school closings.

Closings Last Updated at 6:21pm on 3/12/2020

ANGLETON ISD Closed through March22
CHANNELVIEW ISD Closed through March 22
CROSBY ISD CLOSED THROUGH MARCH 22
CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD Closed THROUGH March 22
DICKINSON ISD Closed through March 22
FORT BEND ISD Closed through March 29
FRIENDSWOOD ISD Closed through March 22
GALENA PARK ISD Closed through March 22
GALVESTON ISD Closed through March 22
HEMPSTEAD ISD Closed through March 22
HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Closed until March 22
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Closed through March 24
HOUSTON ISD Closed through March 30
HUMBLE ISD Closed through March 22
KATY ISD Closed THROUGH MARCH 22
KLEIN ISD Closed through March 22
LA PORTE ISD Closed through March 22
LAMAR CISD Closed through March 22
LONE STAR COLLEGE Closed through March 22
MAGNOLIA ISD Closed through March 22
NEEDVILLE ISD Closed trhough March 22
PASADENA ISD Closed through March 22
PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL Closed through March 29
PROVIDENCE CLASSICAL SCHOOL Closed through March 22
ROYAL ISD Closed through March 22
SANTA FE ISD Closed THROUGH MARCH 22
SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL Closed through March 24
SHELDON ISD Closed through March 22
SPLENDORA ISD Closed through March 22
SPRING ISD Closed through March 22
STAFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Closed until March 22
TEXAS CITY ISD Closed through March 22
TOMBALL ISD Closed until March 22
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN Closed through March 22; Classes resume online March 23
University of Saint Thomas Closed through March 22; Classes resume online March 23
WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE Closed THROUGH MARCH 22
WILLIS ISD Closed through March 22
YES PREPARATORY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Closed through March 22
https://t.co/qzazVTHsZK?amp=1

 

[musicaljoke]

the problem with these sites is they really are inaccurate, imo. What we need is the true stats & that will only be known once our state government tells us how many were in the “community contact chain”, and that can’t even be a true number. Not everyone has total recall of their contacts prior to testing, and no one knows how long anyone’s incubation lasted. So if someone was diagnosed positive on 3/1 is their contact chain 10, 15 or 27 days prior?

This doesn't precisely answer your question, other than affirming that the virus can be transmitted once symptoms appear.

Q & A on COVID-19
The incubation period for COVID-19 is currently estimated at between two and 14 days. At this stage, we know that the virus can be transmitted when people who are infected show flu-like symptoms such as coughing. There is evidence suggesting that transmission can occur from an infected person with no symptoms; however, uncertainties remain about the effect of transmission by non symptomatic persons on the epidemic.

 

[KALI]

Damn. I wish I could get my hands on hand sanitizers!!!

Wow....marketing at it’s finest! Lol

 

[tabitha111]

I can’t say but it seems logical that people who have their symptoms under control are going to do vastly better.

It seems logical, but those of us, including me on Ace-inhibitors (the ones that end in -pril) well....there is some information out there that we are more at risk and that is why the HBP is important...is it the meds or is it the hypertension that is the problem...some scientists believe that being on these ACE2 inhibitors are making us more susceptible to the virus and advising us to change our RX's (which I do not want to do sadly, as this one works so well for me with no side effects)

MOO

 

[SAMS]

CNN: An American Airlines pilot has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the airline and a second source familiar with the matter. The pilot is based out of Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the source.

Jon Passantino on Twitter

 

[Mimi in London]

People with a persistent cough or fever told to self-isolate for 7 days from tomorrow, UK prime minister says People with fever or cough told to self-isolate

Dear Boris, please define ‘new’.
And also, what good is seven days?

 

[musicaljoke]

My husband went to the local grocery store at 6 am today to pick up a few pantry items like dried peas and beans, canned milk, cereal, and of course bacon . The store only had a few customers. Our local mom and pop store is right down the street and is never so crowded where you're bumping into people.

JMO.

I'm pretty sure the CDC said that bacon is the cure for coronavirus.

I suppose now, someone will request a link to a peer reviewed journal for that, but I'm going out on a limb to say that it's common knowledge and doesn't need a link.

 

[SAMS]

Netflix Recommends LA Employees Work From Home, Closes Building With Potential Coronavirus Case

Variety on Twitter

 

[MyBelle]

And I wonder how much of that is going on in the US even as we speak...have a friend's sister who has pneumonia...now her husband has pneumonia too..they are elderly, in their 80s but no test was given to them...she was originally sent home but now back in hospital...

If there was no test, how do they know if it is viral or bacterial pneumonia?

 

[bestill]

Hi friends, I apologize upfront for asking a question without reading this thread. I just realized that there was a thread on the virus. I'm sure you have discussed this many times already.

My DH and I have a planned trip the end of March to NYC. We live in the West in a state with no cases so far. We are in our mid 60s, both with medication controlled high BP. My DH has asthma .
Our tickets are refundable.
I have gone back and forth every day, we are going. We better not. Of course we're going.

Here's the kicker: All our children and only grandchild live in NYC. See
my dilemma?

I'm not worried about getting it. I'm worried about getting it and giving it to someone else.
Our adult children have been very careful to not indicate to us if they think we should come or not.

Later today I have an appt. for a 6 month checkup after DVT and PE . I know that sounds bad but of course I have been on blood thinner and am feeling good. I am anxious to see what my Dr. says about traveling.
What say you?

I wouldn't go. Why risk it, for you and your family. I'm sure you're disappointed but I would postpone the trip for a couple of months. NYC is going to be shutting down, today the mayor announced a moritorium on any crowds over 500 and have asked capacity limits to be reduced to half. I think in your heart of heart you know you need to stay home and safe.

 

[drama_farmer]

Apols if this has already been posted. Such a coincidence after what someone on here said yesterday!

Somebody show it to Boris, he might actually shut something down.

Doctors claim new coronavirus 'may cause damage to a man's TESTICLES' | Daily Mail Online

LOL, I said impotence or erectile dysfunction as a side effect may cause our dear leaders to take it more seriously, but I guess "testicles" are in the same BALLPARK. So to speak. Lol

 

[x_files]

A shower thought I had a few minutes ago.....

Covering my hair while out in public. ...I’m not a wash my hair every day person.........I will wrap my hair up in a scarf. Like ladies use to do. Very Hepburn..ish.....Oh, and I’ll have my thin gloves on ...over my nitrile ones.....and my transition glasses.

I think the women of the '50s were onto something! I see it all coming back into fashion just add face masks/gas masks.

 

[galiuro1]

here's another paper on Ace 2 inhibitors and Covid

Scientists Seek Answers to Hypertension-COVID-19 Link

"If there is an association between ACE inhibitors and the virus, "we might be able to reduce the risk of fatal COVID-19 courses in many patients by temporarily replacing these drugs," they write.


However, ACE2 has been shown to play a protective role in influenza-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome and, with age, ACE2 expression drops, said Baric, who agrees that more research is needed."

 

[pugmom]

Oh dear. One worker from the Charlottetown office of Veterans Affairs is going to be tested. 10 employees have been asked to work from home.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-vac-employees-sent-home-covid19-1.5496080

 

[Trudie]

I’m far from a conspiracy theorist and not that it matters but generally very conservative and that’s EXACTLY what I think is happening. You can’t report huge numbers of cases if you don’t test anyone.

Also, since there is no cure, unless someone is deathly ill, there really is no reason to be tested. If a person under the weather remains isolated, they aren’t passing it on.
Do we know if we have anyone that “needs” a test but can’t get one?
I’m very healthy, except for allergy probs. I was exposed to novel C via community contact appx 12-16 days ago. I’ve had no symptoms other than those related to allergy season’s arrival. I don’t want a test, even if they brought it to my house. I’ll continue to spend more time at home alone, avoiding public venues & crowds. Idk what the point in a test is if one has no symptoms & remains isolated. Not all positive with NC are hospitalized, I have two right down the road from me, just across the county line (husband/wife) that tested positive. They are quarantined in their home. Of course if their condition worsens they might need to be hospitalized.
I bet some oncologists wish people were so eager to get a colonoscopy.

 

[Lato]

Www.NOLA.com .... four people in three States have virus after visiting New Orleans (Mardi Gras???)
Arkansas....Tennessee....?

 

[afitzy]

3 Additional Cases Announced in CT - 6 Total Cases as of 3/12/2020:

Update from State Senator:

As the spread of COVID-19 continues to impact our community, I’m working hard to provide you with up-to-date information. Today, we learned that three more individuals have tested positive for Coronavirus. Of the 95 individuals tested, a total of 6 are confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition to cases in Wilton, New Canaan and Bethlehem, a Stamford resident, a New York resident treated as an outpatient at Greenwich Hospital and a child in Stratford have tested positive. [BBM]
Given how quickly this health crisis is evolving, it’s crucial to stay informed by visiting ct.gov/coronavirus.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMO CT has sadly proven to be one of the most poorly prepared States in the US and presently offers testing only for hospitalised individuals. Timing for private testing is unclear but is supposed to happen at some point over the next couple of weeks.

But, given that community spread has already been documented in CT and nearby New Rochelle, NY (Westchester County) and New York City (40 miles from southern border of CT) cases continue to ramp up, it appears the residents in Southern CT have been left unprotected and vulnerable by State Officials who at present can only test 30 people a day. Fairfield County in SW CT has a population of roughly 1 million (2017) and total State Population is 3.588 million (2017).

_______________________________________________

Testing in Connecticut has been limited to the state’s facility in Rocky Hill, and only individuals who require hospitalization are being tested. That said, top public health officials have warned that any individual in Fairfield County who experiences symptoms of the virus should assume they have COVID-19 and self-isolate.[BBM]