Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Pandemic* #21

[galiuro1]

Well I think they ought to find out who and deal with them accordingly. Why on earth would they say 'no thanks' to that?

For real...but I'll bet we never get to hear the end of that bit...I am betting it was not a CDC scientist who had the final say...

 

[happyday]

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.

Well and that’s what was happening way back in January. The UW scientists had developed a test after hearing about China and had over 1,000 flu specimens from Seattle in their refrigerator, but the WH administration wouldn’t let them test them for a month (my guess is b/c it’s hard to deny it’s happening with positive tests.) Finally the scientists tested anyway and immediately got a positive test.

 

[afitzy]

New York City Declares State of Emergency:

https://nypost.com/2020/03/12/de-bl...cc=evening_update&mpweb=755-8685092-719837703

Quotes from Article:

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday declared a state of emergency over the spread of the deadly coronavirus and predicted that New York City would have 1,000 confirmed cases by next week.

“It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better,” he warned during a City Hall news conference.

The city currently counts 95 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, de Blasio said, up from 42 just since Wednesday.

“These overall numbers are striking and troubling,” he said. [BBM]

De Blasio declared that New York City’s public schools would remain open despite the outbreak, although extracurricular activities and parent-teacher conferences are either going online or will be canceled.

Additionally, Hizzoner said he would authorize 10% of city employees to work from home and put another 20% on staggered schedules, “as much as possible away from the rush hours.”

The changes will affect up to 100,000 municipal employees.

De Blasio warned that he expects the crisis to last at least six months, with more time needed to recover.[BBM]

 

[Henry2326]

MD Gov. Larry Hogan says in a press conference Maryland has discovered its first case of #COVID19 community spread.
Reid Wilson on Twitter

Maryland governor activates National Guard in case needed for coronavirus measures. Maryland also bans events of over 250 people.
Steve Lookner on Twitter

 

[galiuro1]

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

I'm with you on that...I have nasty side effects to new drugs so yeah I hear you on that...

 

[Henry2326]

4 new cases in Eagle County, Colorado
From the state website they appear to be of unknown origin
CDPHE confirms 4 additional new presumptive positive cases in Colorado
Steve Lookner on Twitter

 

[Trudie]

No! I think there can be no way to know. We know some have seen their doctor but sent home with the “keep your hands clean, rest, take Tylenol” advice.
When a retail person, for example, was around hundreds of people on a daily basis during incubation, we can assume she infected _____ (insert your number). So when these people present at the doctor (if they do) the doctor has a very good idea based on community contact & symptoms the patient is in fact positive. Moo
Ohio did state they likely have 100k, as earlier posted, but no other state has included untested persons in their totals, to my knowledge.

You’re asking for an impossible number to obtain. Does any country have that information? I haven’t seen it.

From earlier link:


top health official in Ohio estimated on Thursday that more than 100,000 people in the state have coronavirus, a shockingly high number that underscores the limited testing so far.

Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said at a press conference alongside Gov. Mike DeWine (R) that given that the virus is spreading in the community in Ohio, she estimates at least 1 percent of the population in the state has the virus.

"We know now, just the fact of community spread, says that at least 1 percent, at the very least, 1 percent of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today," Acton said. "We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly."

She added that the slow rollout of testing means the state does not have good verified numbers to know for sure.

"Our delay in being able to test has delayed our understanding of the spread of this," Acton said.

The Trump administration has come under intense criticism for the slow rollout of tests. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top National Institutes of Health official, acknowledged earlier Thursday it is "a failing" that people cannot easily get tested for coronavirus in the United States.

 

[Henry2326]

#COVID19 Italy total cases exceeds 15000 and death toll exceeds 1000.
Crude fatality rate now ~6.7%!
- Total cases: 1246215113
- Death toll: 8271016
To quote @OtelloVC:
"We have no time to lose (in US). And may the fates look upon us with mercy."
Lessons from Italy: How the US Can Respond to the Urgent Coronavirus Threat - TimmermanReport.com Andy Biotech on Twitter

Andy Biotech on Twitter

 

[KALI]

Listening to talk radio, here in California, many test kits do not have total kits. Missing items. Not usable. These were supplied by the CDC.

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.

 

[zecats]

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

All the worry over passengers on planes, this proves that workers (pilots and flight attendants) should be considered when deciding to operate air transportation. Plus employees here can reinfect many passengers - on each trip.

It was the same with the NBA - protect the fans...until a player tested positive. Season over.

 

[KALI]

Post of the day imo.

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.

 

[Henry2326]

GEORGIA

7 p.m.: Gwinnett County Public Schools joined others Thursday in announcing students will learn from home at least the next week, Arlinda Smith Broady reports. Friday is a scheduled student/teacher holiday for Gwinnett County Public Schools, so Digital Learning Days will go into effect beginning Monday, March 16 through March 20.

6 p.m.: Fulton County will close school buildings and district offices starting at midnight “until further notice,” said Superintendent Mike Looney at an emergency meeting of the school board. Ben Brasch reports Friday will still be a work day for all district employees “as we determine how to best wind down operations in our school buildings and across district offices,” Looney said.

5 p.m.: The Georgia Legislature is suspending its session indefinitely, leaders announced Thursday afternoon. Amanda Coyne and Maya Prabhu report t he House and Senate will stop meeting after completing work Friday. Speaker David Ralston urged members of the House of Representatives to go home Thursday night or Friday morning, once the day’s work was done. House staff will begin working remotely on Friday. Senate members are expected to be in session Friday.

5 p.m.: The Cobb County School District and at least one private school will take Gov. Brian Kemp’s advice and shut down to fight the spread of COVID-19, Kristal Dixon reports. Cobb County School District said it will close effective Monday, March 16 “until further notice.” The district said the closure extends to all activities, sports, field trips and extracurricular activities.

4:45 p.m.: Vanessa McCray reports that Atlanta Public Schools will be closed Monday. Superintendent Meria Carstarphen announced the decision in a Thursday afternoon message posted on Twitter. She advised parents “to prepare for an extended leave starting Monday.”

3:15 p.m.: Gov. Brian Kemp ordered thousands of state employees to work from home, Greg Bluestein reports. The governor also issued a “call to action” for schools and day care centers that he described as giving them the clearance to shut down if local administrators agree it’s necessary.

More at link.

Latest Atlanta coronavirus news: So many cancellations shake city’s economy

 

[Tadpole12]

Canada, meeting with premiers called off
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-premiers-coronavirus-1.5495001


Tories attack Liberals over coronavirus response, lack of border crackdowns

 

[MJPeony]

Gack, the cases in my county, Santa Clara County, just jumped from 48 to 66 overnight, and out of 66, 31 are hospitalized!

That’s almost 5o%.... kind of different than the statistics I’ve come to expect.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Public Health Department - County of Santa Clara

 

[gitana1]

This feels something like 9/11. For Americans I think.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

This feels something like 9/11. For Americans I think.

Yes it does except the enemy is pervasive and invisible.

 

[raja]

I was hoping ANYTHING Starbucks related was immune , otherwise I need a 12 step program to quit quick!

Starbucks....no I can't, I just can't..They know my drink by heart...I can't give it up. This is a most seriously issue. I need help immediately. What can I order on line to make my Starbucks at home. I'll give up toilet paper for Starbucks.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Starbucks....no I can't, I just can't..They know my drink by heart...I can't give it up. This is a most seriously issue. I need help immediately. What can I order on line to make my Starbucks at home. I'll give up toilet paper for Starbucks.

You can order bottles of flavoring and a pump top.

 

[dotr]

How coronavirus is straining the US legal system - CNNPolitics
''New York (CNN)Days before lawyers were set to square off this week in a New York City courtroom over a civil dispute between two financial institutions, a partner at one attorney's law firm tested positive for coronavirus. The trial was postponed for two weeks.

Federal courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts on Thursday postponed all jury trials until mid- to late-April. In Michigan, state courts have recommended halting all civil and criminal trials unless a defendant is in custody, as well as any hearings that include "vulnerable" people, such as those over 60 years old. In federal courthouses near Kirkland, Washington, one of the areas hardest hit by the virus, it's turned into a near ghost town — all trials and grand jury proceedings, which would affect prosecutions, are on hold. In Connecticut, there are 12 jury selections scheduled between now and April 10, according to the clerk of the court.
As concerns about the spread of the virus have escalated in recent days, actual infections and fear of the coronavirus have begun to grind the scales of justice in pockets of the country under states of emergency as judges, prison officials and lawyers struggle to balance the constitutional rights of defendants against the concerns that the public institutions could unwittingly become contamination sites.''

 

[zecats]

This feels something like 9/11. For Americans I think.

We had a French exchange student come to stay with us for the school year 2001-2002. My kids were grown and out of the house (one in college) so we had the space to invite her. Had to be thoroughly screened before we could do so.

She was literally in the country 1 week when 9-11 happened. What a welcome hmmm? I'm worried about her again, now, in France. Virus gone wild over there. She's grown with 2 little girls.