Coronavirus COVID-19 *Global Health Pandemic* #21

[gregjrichards]

Oh how I dislike it when people jump on threads and ask questions like I’m about to do without reading. But here goes.

Do we have a thread for JUST the medical info on covid19? I’m specifically interested in what actually the physical damage, if any, is to those that recover/survive supposed mild cases as I imagine severe cases may have lung damage.

I’ve read likely misinformation on lung damage early on and I’m wondering if anyone has uncovered data on that. Also saw something about men’s fertility?

We don't have a thread for medical information only yet.

Here are a couple of articles for you:

Coronavirus: some recovered patients may have reduced lung function and are left gasping for air while walking briskly, Hong Kong doctors find

Some patients might have a drop of about 20 to 30 per cent in lung function, says medical director of Infectious Disease Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital

Some recovered Covid-19 patients may have lung damage, doctors say

Coronavirus: Hubei government deletes report claiming Covid-19 could damage male fertility

While there was no evidence to suggest the infection could damage the male reproductive system, it was theoretically possible as the coronavirus was genetically similar to the one that caused Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome), it said.

The infection could result in “impairment of immune homeostasis in the testes”, which could cause orchitis – an inflammation of the testicles – which in turn could reduce a man’s sperm count and possibly lead to infertility, it said.

Hubei deletes report claiming Covid-19 could damage male fertility

 

[LadyL]

My mother is elderly, and she told me today that her doctor said it’s fine to fly across the country to visit her friend. As long as she washed her hands.

And yet another reminder that not all doctors are created equal.....

omg
can you talk her out of it?

 

[Drc40]

Did you read the article? Or watch the video? The administration admitted this happened but won’t name who, specifically, in the US administration made the decision. No one is disputing that it happened. The WHO physically sent these tests to 60 countries who have been using them for months so that fact isn’t in dispute either.

I only read the article. There were no quotes attributed to anyone at WHO. No names, positions, etc. Doesn’t really matter now but it was a stupid decision if it happened.

 

[branmuffin]

The grocery stores in the Toronto area were madhouses today. Most stores now have limits on water and TP etc but the canned goods were flying out the door and people were livid at the TP limits.

We are going to set the alarm for an hour earlier and go shopping before work tomorrow.

Hoping that no one else thinks of that, want to avoid the madness yet buy more canned goods and pet food.

Its worse, much worse, than the Y2K preparations.

I'm going to go out tomorrow and stock up on cat food. One of our cats just had dental surgery and had a few teeth removed as well as having two lower canines cut off at the gum level that had 'resorbed' to bone. I've never heard of it but now my boy only has one canine and his tongue is probably going to hang out of his mouth.

I did the TP run and got huge packages at Canadian Tire. All the grocery stores and Costco were out. We have a pantry that has lots of staples in it but maybe could have more.

 

[Herat]

wow. This is a must watch.

This is a must watch. The takehome for me:

1. This is going to go on for up to 3 months

2. Expect more than 1,000 new cases a day

3. Use barrier protection: Sprays, santizing gel, gloves, masks

4. Reduce unnecessary trips and activities

5. Work to assure the safety of our vulerable people: Older people, those with transplants, immunosuppression, disabilities, those who can't do the above

Oh, and he doesn't think Dr. Faucci has given us helpful information

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

Well, one question. Who at the WHO is saying this? There are no sources attributed to this claim. I’m dumbfounded such an offer would be rejected but dubious of this claim with zero sources.

I've read the same thing. This is all moving so fast I don't know if I'll be able to find a link. IIRC the reason it was turned down was because US regulations require testing and FDA approval, which would be much faster if the test was developed domestically. Apparently, there isn't a method for expediting approval for a global pandemic. Our bureaucracy has become ridiculous.

 

[margarita25]

I just want to say that the super bowl half time show seems really silly right about now..,.just saying.....

There was a discussion that occurred inside these rooms during the Super Bowl Halftime show, specifically with @Bravo that literally had me/us rolling on the floor in tears I was laughing so hard...making a note to link you to that discussion sometime, you know, after the world quits falling down...

ETA:
How’s London I wonder...

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

My mother is elderly, and she told me today that her doctor said it’s fine to fly across the country to visit her friend. As long as she washed her hands.

And yet another reminder that not all doctors are created equal.....

What do you call someone who graduated last in their class in med school...

 

[LadyL]

I'm going to go out tomorrow and stock up on cat food. One of our cats just had dental surgery and had a few teeth removed as well as having two lower canines cut off at the gum level that had 'resorbed' to bone. I've never heard of it but now my boy only has one canine and his tongue is probably going to hang out of his mouth.

I did the TP run and got huge packages at Canadian Tire. All the grocery stores and Costco were out. We have a pantry that has lots of staples in it but maybe could have more.

one of our boys is having (probably all) teeth removed in April
more staples couldn't hurt and a good supply of meds for your boy
hope he recovers well!

 

[Sticksandspades]

It hit a nursing home there, which is full of old sickly people. Most of the victims who died were in that nursing home.

Washington State:

As of late Thursday COVID-19 had killed 31 and infected 457 in Washington state.

As of Thursday afternoon, King County had 270 confirmed cases, including 27 deaths. At least 25 of the deceased were associated with nursing homes and other residential or care communities.

Inslee orders all private, public K-12 schools in King, Pierce, Snohomish counties to close through April 24 due to coronavirus concerns

 

[mickey2942]

Oh how I dislike it when people jump on threads and ask questions like I’m about to do without reading. But here goes.

Do we have a thread for JUST the medical info on covid19? I’m specifically interested in what actually the physical damage, if any, is to those that recover/survive supposed mild cases as I imagine severe cases may have lung damage.

I’ve read likely misinformation on lung damage early on and I’m wondering if anyone has uncovered data on that. Also saw something about men’s fertility?

I don't think that there is enough actual, credible data to make clinical determinations regarding male fertility, lung damage, or any other quantitative studies that show what the long term effects are of the COVID19.

Probably the best clinical information would be to look at studies done on MERS and SARS, which are also in the same clinical class, Coronavirus.

 

[MJPeony]

First case in the PNW, was a man in his 30's returning from visiting family in China the hotspot. He didn't get sick until he returned to Seattle.

Wow, indeed. And doesn’t THAT seem like a lifetime ago!

 

[LadyL]

This is a must watch. The takehome for me:

1. This is going to go on for up to 3 months

2. Expect more than 1,000 new cases a day

3. Use barrier protection: Sprays, santizing gel, gloves, masks

4. Reduce unnecessary trips and activities

5. Work to assure the safety of our vulerable people: Older people, those with transplants, immunosuppression, disabilities, those who can't do the above

Oh, and he doesn't think Dr. Faucci has given us helpful information

wait they're suggesting to wear facemasks? any masks or only the n95 ones? cause those are not available

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Also the WHO offered the US 60,000 tests last month and the US rejected the offer saying we wanted to make the tests ourselves. At a PC this week both the head of the CDC and Pence “didn’t know” who decided to reject the tests the rest of the world is using.

How testing failures allowed coronavirus to sweep the U.S.

“But neither the CDC nor the coronavirus task force chaired by Vice President Mike Pence would say who made the decision to forgo the WHO test and instead begin a protracted process of producing an American test, one that got delayed by manufacturing problems, possible lab contamination and logistical delays.”

*raises hand* as I know the Paul Harvey on this one.

It was stated as a confirmation on my knowledge at the senate hearing... There is a "law?" or some homeland security or ??? that states that FDA can fast track and give exemption in this emergency for such ONLY if it is a US company that manufacturers it. The fast test kits used by many contries were not made by a US company (it was Roche, iirc, which is not US headquartered) that has been used in SK and other places in the world.

In addition, it was told to the House hearing that the "fast test" that others used was incompatible with ALL the US health departments as they didn't have the proper equipment to use it.(that's what was said, I pulled of an exit when driving on a six hour road trip, just to post my notes when it happened).

I'm traveling, so haven't read all posts in the last 3 days as usual, so someone can perhaps update if this information is now out of date.

 

[Trudie]

I’m specifically interested in what actually the physical damage, if any, is to those that recover/survive supposed mild cases as I imagine severe cases may have lung damage.

Based on what I’ve read 80%+ will recover with no lingering side effects, just as most do from a cold or the flu.
There is no treatment or cure, only people with severe underlying issues are hospitalized. A lot of people will have it & never know. Moo

 

[margarita25]

Drive-up line at (Colorado) coronavirus testing lab will be cut off due to high volume

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is working to establish and communicate a cut-off point for the line at the drive-up testing site in Lowry, due to the high volume of people looking to be tested for novel coronavirus.

CDPHE is currently determining, based on resources and staff capacity, which vehicle will be the last one and whose occupants can be served Thursday.

Those who are already in line behind the cut off-point will get priority for testing Friday.

Live updates: Coronavirus US travel ban hits 26 European countries - CNN

Hmm.

 

[Drc40]

I've read the same thing. This is all moving so fast I don't know if I'll be able to find a link. IIRC the reason it was turned down was because US regulations require testing and FDA approval, which would be much faster if the test was developed domestically. Apparently, there isn't a method for expediting approval for a global pandemic. Our bureaucracy has become ridiculous.

Yes, I gathered from the article it was something to do with needing FDA and CDC input but there is still no source cited. It doesn’t matter now because the stuff is in the wild. It’s time to find solutions, not point the fingers of blame. There will be a time for that but it’s not now. I’m hunkering down for a couple weeks and see what happens. Cheers all, take your precautions and play it safe.

 

[citygirl]

well some
we've got two cases in Canada of a baby and a child under 5 (on opposite coasts)

Oh no!

 

[Trudie]

Yikes:

All the times Trump risked exposing himself to coronavirus as his advisers urge people his age to be extremely cautious

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I just got an update email from my mom's retirement home in Santa Clara County, right in the heart of the cluster of cases in that area.

They have not closed to visitors except in their "care center" (which is their area for people who are ill or need hospital-level care: my mom was in that unit for a month last year after fracturing a bone in a fall).

For the rest of the facility, they have instituted temperature checks for all visitors, plus an honor-system questionnaire about travel and symptoms etc.

They have closed their dining room and are preparing meals for residents to take to their rooms instead.

Residents are not confined to their rooms but group events are cancelled -- they are encouraging arms-length social distancing and gatherings to be ten people or less.

As a family member of a resident I found the email pretty comforting. I mean, I know the virus may get in there anyway, but I do feel like they're taking appropriate precautions.

I was planning a visit to see my mom at the end of March. I probably won't go, but I'm waiting til the last minute to decide.

ETA I wish they had given all the same reassurances about ensuring their staff doesn't bring it in!