Coronavirus - COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #25

[Tillicum]

Subject: Pool Report 2/Grocery Call Readout

Steven Nelson
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2020 3:19 PM
Subject: Pool Report 2/Grocery Call Readout

Judd Deere shared the following information about President Trump's 1:30 call with grocery executives:

"Today, President Donald J. Trump held a telephone call with more than two dozen grocery store and supply chain executives from across the country. The President thanked them for the work they have already done to meet the needs of the public and for their continued commitment to the communities they serve. All of the executives are working hand-in-hand with the Federal Government, as well as State and local leaders, to ensure food and essentials are constantly available. The President reminded the participants that this is an all-of-America approach and each of their stores and the stores they support can help Americans feel calm and safe when shelves are stocked with the items they need. Supply chains in the United States are strong, and it is unnecessary for the American public to hoard daily essentials. The President thanked the executives for their close partnership and pledged to stay in close communication."

The following participated:

Trump Administration
President Donald J. Trump
Vice President Mike Pence
Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Department of the Treasury
Secretary Sonny Perdue, Department of Agriculture
Larry Kudlow, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council
Tim Pataki, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Liaison

External Participants
Dave Clark, Senior Vice President, World Wide Operations, Whole Foods Market
Mark Clouse, CEO, Campbell Soup Company
Brian Cornell, CEO, Target
Mike Duffy, CEO, C & S Wholesale Grocers
Randy Edeker, Chairman, CEO, and President, Hy-Vee
Geoff Freeman, President and CEO, Consumer Brands Association
Greg Ferrara, President and CEO, National Grocers Association
Grant Haag, President and CEO, Winco Food
Jeff Harmening, CEO, General Mills, Inc.
Jason Hart, CEO, Aldi USA
Kevin Holt, CEO, AholdDelhaize USA
Kevin Hourican, President and CEO, Sysco
Anthony Hucker, President and CEO, Southeastern Grocers
Craig Jelinek, CEO, Costco
Todd Jones, CEO, Publix Super Markets
Laura Karet, President and CEO, Giant Eagle, Inc.
Rick Keyes, CEO, Meijer
Donnie King, Group President and Chief Admin Officer, Tyson Food
David MacLennan, Chairman and CEO, Cargill, Inc.
Rodney McMullen, CEO and Chairman of the Board, The Kroger Co.
Doug McMillon, CEO, Walmart
Miguel Patricio, CEO, The Kraft Heinz Company
Gregg Roden, Senior Vice President, PepsiCo North America Supply Chain
Vivek Sankaran, President and CEO, Albertson’s
Leslie Sarasin, President and CEO, Food Industry Association
Steven Spinner, Chairman and CEO, United Natural Foods, Inc.
Peter Van Helden, CEO, Stater Bros. Markets
Todd Vassos, CEO, Dollar General Corporation
Rob Vitale, President and CEO, Post Holdings, Inc.
Colleen Wegman, CEO, Wegmans

--
Steven Nelson
New York Post
Signal/cell: 202--xxxx

============================================================

Public Pool is an automated feed of White House press pool reports. For live updates, follow @WHPublicPool on Twitter.

 

[Sunshine95]

West Virginia remains only state without positive case of coronavirus

This is really concerning. W VA has a horrible opioid crisis. Perhaps the highest of any state. I think a large population that should see a doctor won’t, due to fear of hospitalization/forced withdrawal, if they test positive.
No way Covid 19 is not in W VA, imo.

In my opinion, a lot of West Virginia folks don’t travel a lot. And most areas are pretty rural! Other than the influx of fleeing tourists from other states, I can understand there being less being brought in by locals. That said, a lot of WV people on my social media feeds are minimizing and still think it’s like the flu. Last I looked WV has tested I think 36 people total? As of last week the health departments were told not to test people unless they’ve been to China or Italy or such. I think if/ when they start testing more there will be some cases. From my understanding of the respiratory distress onset, I’m imagining the addicts will be so sick they won’t care about being tested, or they will be too neglected by the company they keep to be taken in to the hospital.
WV has high obesity too so I’d assume diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems. There aren’t many large research hospitals. Fortunately many WV folks are very kind, generous, and can live a lot off the land with hunting fishing foraging etc. There’s still toilet paper in some small town stores, people know their neighbors and look out for one another, generally speaking.
Sorry for the long ramble but wanted to share the perspective of someone who loves the mountain state!

 

[zecats]

I recognize the care and fright for our parents. I am 71, however I don’t wish my son to be fearful for me because it is “ his duty”. I am so happy that many of us live beyond the years our ancestors did, however, I love life, but don’t fear death. Part of my religion I guess, but in death, I will be OK. I know my son agrees. Hope you can find a balance between care and caregiving, and the difference between the two.

MOO

Thanks for your concern. Personally I prefer to keep my mom alive as long as possible, and I don't see it as a duty in the slightest. Also I would like to be alive myself to see my grandkids grow up and share in all life's experiences with them.

 

[x_files]

Kids in Georgia get out at the end of May.
May 22nd for Fulton and Bartow Co.

All of these kids are missing their Prom too.
It must be so hard on them!
Moo

When this is over think of the HUGE parties they can and will throw!

 

[Elley Mae]

Now its getting close. Sounds like she was at the mall.

They said there is no additional risk to the public, as the woman hasn’t been out in the public recently. But they are encouraging people to continue the practice of social distancing.

The mall in Columbia is being asked to shut down for the next seven days.

Coronavirus Latest: Howard County Reports Its First Coronavirus Case

 

[CeeCeeCat]

Thanks for your concern. Personally I prefer to keep my mom alive as long as possible, and I don't see it as a duty in the slightest. Also I would like to be alive myself to see my grandkids grow up and share in all life's experiences with them.

I can’t *like* this enough.

 

[gngr~snap]

All restaurants and bars to shut down at 9pm in Ohio.
Governor Mike DeWine on Twitter
They may stay open for carry out and delivery.
Moo

 

[Wicked Strong]

Please don’t wish for that.

But...I haven’t trusted him since day one. Something doesn’t feel right. Bad virus and all. But shutting down things? For how long? We have had infectious diseases since the beginning of time. And this feels wrong somehow. Not saying it isn’t serious.

But how many die of flu?

CDC said on Thursday that 20,000 people in the US alone have died of flu since January 1 of this year. Compare that to 5,000 worldwide from CV.

I absolutely don’t wish for that, but you can’t single out restaurants or pubs, especially when nothing has been said that they cause the spread. It’s either all conform ie shutdown or common sense on the people. I get my back up when someone says “this should happen” when there is no proof of why.

MOO

 

[Trino]

HEB is the prime grocery store in Texas, and around south San Antonio it wold be difficult to find any other store. Maybe Walmart. HEB’s usual hours are 6:00a - 1:00a. New hours across TX are 8:00a - 8:00p.

Arrived at local HEB at 7:45 to find a one door entrance line of at least 350 waiting shoppers complete with police and guard dogs. Never in my life would I have thought I would see this at a grocery store!

We left, drove 35 minutes south to a HEB in a small town. Busy but not ridiculous. Checkout wait was about normal. They even had TP.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Most schools can do e-learning and continue the school year online. I'm not sure how it will work for schools that aren't equipped for e-learning.

DH and I had dinner at the home of friends on Friday night. We had an animated discussion about remote-learning and its impact on education. What to do about classes that involve laboratory experiments or training? Working in small groups and having interaction with other students and professor-student interaction? I can't imagine not having interacted with teachers/classmates as a student or as a teacher. I'm from an earlier era, of course, but I firmly believe that student-teacher-classmate interaction is highly beneficial in the learning process. We learn from one another.

 

[badgersmythe]

Italy has it bad. Hundreds of people died just today alone. Do they even know who brought it into the country, or did they never figure it out?

I’ve been wondering this too. I wonder if they have any idea where it originated.

 

[x_files]

HEB is the prime grocery store in Texas, and around south San Antonio it wold be difficult to find any other store. Maybe Walmart. HEB’s usual hours are 6:00a - 1:00a. New hours across TX are 8:00a - 8:00p.

Arrived at local HEB at 7:45 to find a one door entrance line of at least 350 waiting shoppers complete with police and guard dogs. Never in my life would I have thought I would see this at a grocery store!

We left, drove 35 minutes south to a HEB in a small town. Busy but not ridiculous. Checkout wait was about normal. They even had TP.

yikes.

 

[Love Never Fails]

I absolutely don’t wish for that, but you can’t single out restaurants or pubs, especially when nothing has been said that they cause the spread. It’s either all conform ie shutdown or common sense on the people. I get my back up when someone says “this should happen” when there is no proof of why.

MOO

I was agreeing with you. Don’t wish for a complete shutdown with no proof to back it up.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

DH and I had dinner at the home of friends on Friday night. We had an animated discussion about remote-learning and its impact on education. What to do about classes that involve laboratory experiments or training? Working in small groups and having interaction with other students and professor-student interaction? I can't imagine not having interacted with teachers/classmates as a student or as a teacher. I'm from an earlier era, of course, but I firmly believe that student-teacher-classmate interaction is highly beneficial in the learning process. We learn from one another.

I completely agree. I know others prefer to home school and I respect their decision to do so, but I'm with you 100%.

 

[Trudie]

In my opinion, a lot of West Virginia folks don’t travel a lot. And most areas are pretty rural! Other than the influx of fleeing tourists from other states, I can understand there being less being brought in by locals. That said, a lot of WV people on my social media feeds are minimizing and still think it’s like the flu. Last I looked WV has tested I think 36 people total? As of last week the health departments were told not to test people unless they’ve been to China or Italy or such. I think if/ when they start testing more there will be some cases. From my understanding of the respiratory distress onset, I’m imagining the addicts will be so sick they won’t care about being tested, or they will be too neglected by the company they keep to be taken in to the hospital.
WV has high obesity too so I’d assume diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems. There aren’t many large research hospitals. Fortunately many WV folks are very kind, generous, and can live a lot off the land with hunting fishing foraging etc. There’s still toilet paper in some small town stores, people know their neighbors and look out for one another, generally speaking.
Sorry for the long ramble but wanted to share the perspective of someone who loves the mountain state!

Been to W VA many Xs! Ita
I’m concerned the addicts will spread it.
Also guys retired from the coal industry suffering lung issues might believe feeling ill and coughing normal, as well it may be for them.
Also, I know many from W VA that frequent KY and the IN casinos. Hopefully, W VA remains safe.

 

[firebird]

When this is over think of the HUGE parties they can and will throw!

Breaking: they're throwing the parties now. What do you think thousands of HS and college kids kicked out of school are going to do for the next three months with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Mine are telling me what they and their friends are doing.

 

[gregjrichards]

Lots of discussion this evening with my Dad about his upcoming visit (that likely won’t happen) and about quarantining the over-70s. I feel so bad for him - his church service this morning was the last one for the foreseeable future, as the congregation is all 70+. His macular (my Dad is registered blind) activities have been cancelled. The Blind Veterans events he attends, they are all postponed. He really wants to be able to maintain his independence by being able to at least stroll to the shops to buy his own groceries, but right now because our government is only drip-feeding information, we don’t know if that will be possible during the social isolation. I’ve offered to make him a Grandpaw (so called because my cats are his grandcats) room of his own here at home, however he doesn’t want to leave his own home for four months and although he didn’t say as much, I think he still feels safer in Cornwall than in London.
Right now, we’ve agreed to review things late next week. If he is quarantined, we’ll talk twice a day and (I haven’t told him this yet) I’ll keep him supplied with audiobooks.
If someone had told me just three weeks ago that I would be posting on here about a conversation like this, I’d likely have rolled my eyes and backed away fast. I do not like any aspect of this. Not one bit.

I really hope your Dad and your family will all be ok. My Papa was blind with the same condition your Dad has so I know how difficult it is.

 

[zecats]

Coronavirus Update: New Jersey plans school shutdown as cases reach 98 statewide

Not many school districts left to close at this point. My district just announced 1/2 day for students tomorrow for students to get textbooks and packets. District closed Tuesday until...TBD. This is in South Jersey, where many are shutting down on by their own decision.

 

[Trudie]

The Oakland County Health Division is working diligently to find out who may have been exposed. In the meantime, here are the locations of where these two men have been:

• March 1st and March 4th at the Detroit Metro Airport
• March 5th at the Burger King on Twenty-Three Mile Road in Chesterfield Township; also White Castle on Twenty-Three Mile Road in New Baltimore; and Hobby Lobby on Twenty-Fourth Ave in Fort Gratiot Township.
• March 6th at the Poole’s Tavern in Northville and Five Guys on Twenty-Eighth St. in Grand Rapids
• March 7th at the Tap Room on Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti; the MSA Woodland on 28th St in Grand Rapids; the Texas Roadhouse on 28th Street East in Kentwood, and also at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth
• And lastly, on March 8th the locations are the Subway restaurant on 28th Street in Grand Rapids; Jimmy Johns on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, and also Burger King on East Grand River Ave in Portland.

Now the third person who was diagnosed earlier this week is an adult woman. And we’re told that she’s have had very little contact with people. So community exposure in regards to this case is considered minimal.
Coronavirus in MI: 16 cases total, locations identified in Oakland County, impact on hospitals and a new faster test

imo every state needs to do this! KY was remiss, imo. Fortunately the WMT employee lives in a small, rural town. Word immediately spread & we knew what gov’ & WMT tried to hide.

Quoting my posts, this illustrates the challenge contact tracing presents.

 

[Wicked Strong]

I like this idea. If someone sets it up or needs help let me know.

I’ve found the virtual candle is depressing when it burns down and dies, repeating the glow of life of my loved one dying over again. Please make it a separate thread from all others so I don’t need to scroll and roll.

MOO