Coronavirus - COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #26

[dixiegirl1035]

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[MsMarple]

The latest from my little town - we're at the tip of the state (WA) and have been fairly isolated from corona. This morning my husband made an early run to the store for a few items. He was shocked to see that between last week and today many of the shelves at Safeway are now half empty.

A local upscale restaurant announced pick up delivery. We also have a mom and pop business (literally, mom, dad and son) who will pick up food from restaurants and deliver to you for $5. I'm hoping measures such as this will help keep these businesses afloat as our town is heavily dependent on tourists.

 

[drama_farmer]

UK

16:55

Johnson says everyone is now being urged to avoid non-essential contact with others
Boris Johnson is speaking now.

He says we need to go further.

• Johnson says it looks as though we are approaching the “fast growth” phase of the curve. That means cases are expected to double every five days.

• Families are being urged to stay at home for 14 days if any member of the household is ill, Johnson says.

• He says it is time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others. That means people should work from home where possible and avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.

Johnson says the advice on people avoiding non-essential contact is particularly important for people who are over-70, for people who are pregnant and for people with underlying health conditiions.


Boris Johnson says everyone now being advised to avoid non-essential contact with others – politics live

Gosh, for the sake of everyone in that country, I hope that his "herd immunity" experiment hasn't sentenced more people to death, compared to a stringent social-isolation policy. There will be many hard, brutal lessons learned when we look back at 2020 and assess the damage. Let's hope those lessons engender change. IMO

 

[Oregonmama]

I'm glad to hear things are good at home. Thanks for the tip about museums! I had no idea virtual visits were available! I'll have to check that out!

Over 300 Virtual Tours & Museums around the World

7 Museums That Offer Virtual Tours So You Can Visit Them Online

 

[MaryG12]

So the good news is, I will be working from home for the next 2 weeks. Luckily I am all set up already for that on my laptop at home.

Second, I have seen some signs of "slowing down" where I live. Not too much craziness, but I seriously cannot believe it took something like Coronavirus to slow down the pace of life globally, to a complete halt, as if by magic.

Luckily self-isolating won't be much of a challenge to me. And outside of work and during my lunch hour, I can work on my word processor. I've a few writing projects that will require quiet and concentration.

 

[Henry2326]

We are all Italy . We will likely all suffer this epidemic together and we will one day beat it together. (Also notice the log Y-axis: linear increase = exponential). #COVID19 Eric Feigl-Ding on Twitter
Eric Feigl-Ding on Twitter

STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES

 

[MaryG12]

We have been at home and self-isolated for nearly a week now. My DH and I both continue to cough. Saturday I was 95% sure this was only seasonal allergies. Today I'm 70% sure we have the beginning symptoms of the Coronavirus (and maybe seasonal allergies too?). A lot can change in 24 hours. My DH's employer sent an email saying that someone in his company tested positive for Coronavirus on Sunday, after returning from travel a little over a week ago. The danger of us having it just got real. I have started to feel muscle aches and pains like I get before the flu and my energy is gone. My DH has a low-grade fever. I'm fever free still and feeling better than he is at this point. Our symptoms are like a mild cold and I pray they stay that way. We don't know who tested positive and if the person worked in the same dept as my DH (I'd rather not say where DH works but it's a large employer of many 1000's of people). All non-essential employees are to stay home and self-isolate this week. We're now sleeping in separate rooms on opposite sides of the house and trying to keep our distance from each other in case only one of us has it. Although it's probably too late for that since we do share a home. I've been constantly wiping down doorknobs, light switches and other frequently touched surfaces. I've never been so happy that we installed a touchless kitchen faucet that turns on via a motion sensor. It's easy to wash our hands and one less thing to worry about touching. I suspect I'm only a day or 2 behind DH on the symptoms. Sometime this week we will decide if we want to try to get tested for it and see if we can figure out where to go for that. If you pray, please say a prayer for us.

Keeping you and your husband in my prayers, Gardener, I am so sorry to hear about this.

 

[escape2sc]

I have a daughter and 3 yr old autistic granddaughter in San Diego whose husband deployed 3 weeks ago to the Middle East. She is stocked up with about 2 to 3 weeks of food, has used zip lock bags to freeze 4 gallons of milk for her daughter. I am familiar with the family support provided when my husband was in the first Gulf War in 1991 but I was wondering if anyone has information on what steps the military provided to the families of deployed spouses during widespread emergencies like hurricanes or fires where obtaining food at local stores might be difficult ? She has the contact numbers for base support, I am just hoping for some good feed back to calm my worry about her and my granddaughter.

 

[MaryG12]

Thanks. I couldn't find any zinc but we have Airborne which has some zinc in it, and we have been taking our daily limit of that and doing other things to try to boost the immune system. We have garlic, ginger, raw honey, miso soup packets, raw apple cider vinegar, a freezer full of homemade bone broth... I looked for elderberries or elderberry syrup but couldn't get any and I wasn't about to pay the prices I saw online for them. We have most of the OTC cough and cold medicines we could need and all the basic pain relievers. I'm debating about taking some anti-malarial meds because we happen to have some on hand and I saw they were doing an early trial of those for Coronavirus treatment. Need to ask a doctor first.

Gardener, is the honey you use, Manuka honey? I know it can be costly but is well worth it. I take apple cider vinegar and Manuka honey when I do get sick which is rare. Also maybe include some high-powered Vitamin C fruit smoothies. Last fall I got sick and was consuming those smoothies like crazy. Recovered after being sick for 2 days.

Diet does play an important role in health and immunity. I am happy to say I eat quite healthy - 75% of my grocery bill goes towards produce. Plus I love garlic. lol

 

[Herat]

The UK Governmental presentation this morning (watching BBC) is far more cohesive and rational than the US presentations.

AND they are clearly practicing social isolation by doing individual presentations. The US is not practicing what they preach forcing all the particpants to crowd together behind a speaker at a podium.

I mean what will we do if Dr. Faucci becomes ill because of someone on that podium who is SARS-CoV-2 positive, whether they know it or not!

 

[Kensie]

'Do not call 911 just because you ran out of toilet paper', Oregon police say

What is wrong with people???? GRRRR

 

[Henry2326]

TOPHER SPIRO

If we avert catastrophe, it will be because governors and mayors are now taking decisive action.

NEW: Dr. Zeke Emanuel and the Center for American Progress are calling on states and cities to immediately:
Ban gatherings >50
Close schools, bars, gyms, movie theaters, libraries where there is community spread
Limit restaurants to 1/2 capacity
State and Local Governments Must Take Much More Aggressive Action Immediately To Slow Spread of the Coronavirus - Center for American Progress
Topher Spiro on Twitter

We're at a tipping point: If transmission is not slowed within the next week, the hospital system will be overwhelmed. The strategy of testing, contact tracing, and containment is no longer an effective response.

We reviewed actions taken by states and cities to date. No state or city has been nearly aggressive enough. States that have done little or nothing: AK, AZ, AR, GA, HI, IA, KS, MS, MO, MT, NV, NH, OK, SC, SD, TX, VA, WV, WY.

Here's what's at stake. At the current rate, more than 100 million Americans will become infected, including 9.4 million at the peak of outbreak.
Opinion | How Much Worse the Coronavirus Could Get, in Charts Topher Spiro on Twitter

But if states and cities begin aggressive measures TODAY, this number could be reduced to 513,000 infected at the peak. Topher Spiro on Twitter

According to current estimates, 5% of those infected will require intensive care beds. There are about 98,000 intensive care beds in the United States.

On the current track, these estimates indicate that 470,000 people will require intensive care beds—far more than are available. In reality, this massive shortage will be even worse because these beds will also be needed for other conditions.

But if states and cities begin aggressive measures TODAY, the number of intensive care beds required could be reduced to 26,650.

To keep the chance of at least one infected person being present at a gathering below 1% nationally, gatherings of >50 people must be banned. This would help reduce the risk of transmission nationally through a national caseload of 66,000 people.
COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planner

Bans and closures should be put into effect for at least 2-4 weeks, with potential extensions, to allow health departments enough time to assess the extent of community spread. Congress must enact significant economic relief for small businesses subject to closures.

BREAKING: Anthony Fauci recommends doing whatever it takes:
Shira Stein on Twitter

Topher Spiro on Twitter

STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES

 

[Herat]

I have a daughter and 3 yr old autistic granddaughter in San Diego whose husband deployed 3 weeks ago to the Middle East. She is stocked up with about 2 to 3 weeks of food, has used zip lock bags to freeze 4 gallons of milk for her daughter. I am familiar with the family support provided when my husband was in the first Gulf War in 1991 but I was wondering if anyone has information on what steps the military provided to the families of deployed spouses during widespread emergencies like hurricanes or fires where obtaining food at local stores might be difficult ? She has the contact numbers for base support, I am just hoping for some good feed back to calm my worry about her and my granddaughter.

What a great question! What can our military do to support those who support them?

Excellent question !

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

I'm glad U.K. seems to be taking things more seriously now than they were before. However, it still sounds like they are downplaying COVID-19 a bit.

 

[Lilibet]

This morning I canceled a non-essential appointment for tomorrow with my back surgeon. When I explained that it was due to coronavirus, the woman I spoke to was very understanding. She said that they are asking everyone if they’ve traveled or been in contact with someone with coronavirus. I asked her how I would know since there has been so little testing. She said they’re just using the standard that if you’ve been near someone with flu symptoms it’s possibly coronavirus. She insisted on giving me the next available appointment in late April just in case I need it, but told me not to hesitate to cancel if I want to, and thanked me for giving them notice today.

My husband has an essential follow-up appointment today with a specialist. The waiting room is always crowded like sardines and the wait can be an hour or more. He is going to give his cell number to them and go sit in the car and let them call him when they are ready for him. I’m sure they’ll be equally understanding. He is also taking his own clipboard to use for filling out the usual forms, rather than touch theirs. It’s the little things we do that can make a difference.

 

[JerseyGirl]

CVS Free Prescription Delivery - CVS Coronavirus Response

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Gardaí unveil fleet of hire cars which will be used to help communities during coronavirus outbreak

(Ireland)

GARDAÍ HAVE TODAY unveiled a number of cars it has hired to enforce its fleet of vehicles in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Officers said the force is in the process of hiring up to 210 additional vehicles to provide “additional mobility to our members nationwide to provide increased community support and community engagement across the country”.

Speaking today Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said that the cars and vans were being drafted in so that the most vulnerable people in communities across the nation can be cared for.

 

[Picklebot]

I just got a call from my dentist. My appointment next week is cancelled due to coronavirus. No new date yet.

 

[happyday]

You know what is surreal about this, is that we, collectively, have been on this thread for over six weeks, watching it unfold. And I was not prepared for any of this reality. I sort of prepped the house, but not with really thinking that this situation could actually happen.

You can prep all your resources, but there’s no way to truly prep your brain for something like this. It really is surreal.

 

[Legally Bland]

UK

17:17

Q: Are you forcing people not to go to theatres etc?

Johnson says the government is giving “very strong advice” that places like theatres should close. The government has the power to force closures, he says. But he says he does not think it will be necessary to use those powers.

Q: What are you going to do about care homes?

Johnson says he does not want to see people unnecessarily visiting care homes.

Q: Why are you not testing more, as the WHO recommends? (See 4.51pm.)

Whitty says the government agrees with the WHO on the basis of testing. He says the government is giving up testing based on geography. But it will be scaling up testing, he says.

He says what would be transformational would be the ability to test to see if people have had the disease. At the moment the test only identifies if they currently have it. But that may change, he says.

Boris Johnson warns UK population to avoid non-essential contact with others as coronavirus cases rise – politics live