Coronavirus - COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #27

[Curious Me]

FILE PHOTO: Cemetery workers and funeral agency workers in protective masks transport a coffin of a person who died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19), into a cemetery in Bergamo, Italy March 16, 2020.

“As the COVID-19 epidemic expands and the disease progresses, these beds are in increasing demand, especially because of the breathing problems the illness can bring. Every time a bed comes free, two anaesthesiologists consult with a specialist in resuscitation and an internal medicine physician to decide who will occupy it.

Age and pre-existing medical conditions are important factors. So is having a family.

"We have to take into account whether older patients have families who can take care of them once they leave the ICU, because they will need help," says Marco Resta, deputy head of Policlinico San Donato's Intensive Care Unit.

Even if there is no chance, he says, you have to "look a patient in the face and say, 'All is well.' And this lie destroys you."

The most devastating medical crisis in Italy since World War Two is forcing doctors, patients and their families to make decisions that Resta, a former military doctor, said he has not experienced even in war. As of Monday, 2,158 people had died and 27,980 been infected by coronavirus in Italy – the second highest number of reported cases and deaths in the world behind China.

Resta says that 50% of those with COVID-19 who are accepted into intensive care units in Italy are dying, compared with a usual mortality rate of 12% to 16% in such units nationwide.“

- more at link
Special Report: 'All is well'. In Italy, triage and lies for virus patients

Absolutely one of the most heartbreaking tragedies of our lifetime is happening now. STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE TO ISOLATE. LISTEN TO ITALY, DOVES ARE CRYING.

Special Report: 'All is well'. In Italy, triage and lies for virus patients

 

[otto]

This I do not understand: Governors from all states trying to make decisions and COVID laws for their own states. Every state is different and in chaos. Why are there not federal rules that affect and embrace all states. Am I the only one who thinks this form of government is a mess?

Same thing in Canada. The Prime Minister announces big decisions, like only Citizens and landed immigrants (something like that) can enter the country, plus supply chain from the US, and other big picture information. The 10 provinces announce decisions about school closures, risk and transition from contained to community spread. Civic governments announce decisions about events based on provincial information - galleries and event cancellations.

Each province has a different situation regarding numbers and closures, but as soon as one province had post-secondary closure, another did the same, then the government announced post-secondary and k-12 is recommended. They follow each other, always taking the strictest position.

It might be hard to do that with so many states and such a difference of opinion about who knows best.

 

[margarita25]

America’s growing elderly population is at risk — here’s what we can learn from Italy
March 16, 2020 at 5:34 pm

“The mission is this: Keep as many people at home to avoid spreading the disease, especially considering not everyone shows signs of the coronavirus but could still be carriers, and protect all citizens, especially the most vulnerable, including the elderly and those with heart and lung diseases.

The problem: Some of these countries — the U.S. included — have an aging population, which increases the risks associated with those who come in contact with the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.”

[...]

“The U.S. is not far behind Italy’s trajectory of coronavirus cases, the U.S. Surgeon General said on Monday. The country now has as many cases as Italy did two weeks ago. “We are at a critical inflection point in our country,” Dr. Jerome Adams said on a segment of “Fox & Friends.””
-more at link

 

[Trino]

This I do not understand: Governors from all states trying to make decisions and COVID laws for their own states. Every state is different and in chaos. Why are there not federal rules that affect and embrace all states. Am I the only one who thinks this form of government is a mess?

It's ridiculous for each city, county, state to make different decisions about how to conduct/control the spread of this virus. This should be a federal decision.

Residents of the Bay Area, for example, could easily skirt the stay in place request and go elsewhere for a couple of weeks. We need a federal mandate to STAY IN PLACE or else.

 

[SuziQ]

A young lady goes to a bar in Park City, Utah. The bouncer checking ID's is visibly but unknowingly sick with CV. Young lady comes home and exposes her mom. Who goes to work and exposes my SIL. Who exposes my DD. Who would have exposed me and my husband had we not completely locked ourselves down. Mom and daughter are itself quaranteened waiting on test results. Health Department says my SIL and DD are ok for the moment. They are self isolating until they know the others tests results. Should know more tomorrow.

All of us self isolating need to express to family members how important it is to not stop by and visit.

 

[margarita25]

“Meanwhile, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced in a press release today that it is working in four Italian hospitals, where shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) have left many healthcare workers exposed to the virus. About 1,700 healthcare workers (8% of the total cases in Italy) are now infected, and some have died.

"Even in high-level European hospitals, we see health workers are overwhelmed, coping with up to 80 ambulances per day, with dramatic shortages of protective equipment that puts them at great risk," said Claudia Lodesani, MD, MSF president in Italy. "Some doctors are forced to wear the same face mask for 12 hours."

Lessons from the front lines
The Lombardy doctors said that two major measures may have alleviated the severe stress the outbreak has placed on the region's health systems: an immediate increase in COVID-19 lab testing and creation of a large facility just for infected patients. But more must be done to quell the pressure. "Importantly, the forecasts show that increasing ICU capacity is simply not enough," they said. "More resources should be invested to contain the epidemic."

Their experience, they wrote, suggests that healthcare systems not organized in collaborative emergency networks should create one and that strict enforcement of community quarantines is needed. "In practice, the health care system cannot sustain an uncontrolled outbreak, and stronger containment measures are now the only realistic option to avoid the total collapse of the ICU system," they said.”

-more at link
Doctors: COVID-19 pushing Italian ICUs toward collapse

 

[SuziQ]

I wonder why no walking outside though, as long as they keep their distance.

Because people would congregate.

 

[MyBelle]

I agree, implode them. I work in an outpatient healthcare facility offering a wide variety of services. The VA will no longer give authorization to our local community vets to have services local to them. Want them to travel an hour plus to use their own facilities or their preferred facilities. Many are older and of course they are sick and have trouble walking, getting rides etc. Shame on them!

BBM. I'd like to see a link to such a serious claim.

Why on earth would we shut down VA hospitals when there is already serious concern about the capacity of civilian hospitals? The VA is actively participating in testing, tracking and treating.

16 Mar 2020

Military.com | By Hope Hodge Seck

This story was last updated March 16.


As COVID-19 continues to spread to communities across the country, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are providing daily updates on the number of confirmed and presumptive cases of the virus in the military community, as well as the number of tests administered to military members.


As of March 16, officials said there are now 37 total cases of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, within the DoD: 18 military, 13 dependents, 3 civilians and 3 Defense Department contractors.


The number had risen steeply from the last figures released by the Pentagon on March 14, when cases included 10 service members and 11 other members of the military community.

The Military's Coronavirus Cases: The Latest Rundown

 

[MajorHoople]

Don't use the microwave to disinfect money of the virus....lady burns up a whole lot of money...less than one minute in microwave....
Woman microwaves £300 to ‘disinfect notes’, but burns them to a crisp

Funny you should mention that. At this very moment I am conducting an experiment. I put some cash in the oven about an hour ago.

Since I don't know what I'm doing I started small with two one dollar bills . I have a fire extinguisher handy just in case.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[margarita25]

S.Korea reports fewer than 100 new Covid-19 cases for a third day

A worker sprays disinfectant next to a building housing the Grace River Church, where 46 people were confirmed to have the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Seongnam on March 16, 2020. - A new coronavirus cluster linked to a South Korean religious group emerged on March 16, with 46 cases at a church near Seoul that defied calls to suspend services. - AFP

“SEOUL (Reuters): South Korea reported 84 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday (March 17), marking a third day in a row that the country has reported fewer than 100 new infections amid growing hopes that Asia's largest outbreak outside China may be easing.

The new numbers are well below a Feb 29 peak of 909, and bring the country's total infections to 8,320, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.”

 

[24Roses]

Well, I just found out that one of the positive cases in Iowa is an employee at an elementary school and here is a better article about the pc the governor had today. Gov. Reynolds: One new case of COVID-19 on Monday, many measures being taken
Urbandale Community School District confirms employee tests positive for COVID-19

 

[margarita25]

“President Moon Jae-in has said he was increasingly confident South Korea would overcome the virus as the rate of new cases continued to drop, although authorities noted another large cluster had emerged in the greater Seoul area.”

South Korea reports fewer than 100 new coronavirus cases for a third day

 

[SuziQ]

Funny you should mention that. At this very moment I am conducting an experiment. I put some cash in the oven about an hour ago.

Since I don't know what I'm doing I started small with two one dollar bills . I have a fire extinguisher handy just in case.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh dear! I think washing money in a bucket would be better. Or a lingerie bag in the washer even.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

This man is the BEST!
Interesting update on Plaquenil. He said the NIH pulled the article today on the efficacy of the drug and he’s never seen that in 30 years.
Bottom line- take your zinc, multivitamin and melatonin.

 

[MyBelle]

It's ridiculous for each city, county, state to make different decisions about how to conduct/control the spread of this virus. This should be a federal decision.

Residents of the Bay Area, for example, could easily skirt the stay in place request and go elsewhere for a couple of weeks. We need a federal mandate to STAY IN PLACE or else.

Now is not the time to try to rewrite the U.S. Constitution.

JMO

 

[jjenny]

So that's how it works, even in China. People are not tested until they show symptoms (test doesn't work without symptoms) and then many are sent home because their symptoms seem mild. I recall that some people can have a sudden change from managed at home to high fever and trouble breathing. Some of those make it to hospital and are given care, some make it to hospital and are not given care, some don't make it.

Test does work without symptoms-maybe not always, but it does. Some people are asymptomatic and yet test positive.

 

[otto]

I wonder why no walking outside though, as long as they keep their distance.

People sneeze, it goes on the sidewalk, other people pick it up on their shoes, go home, get sick? Is that why countries have people in hazmat suits spraying the sidewalk?

 

[neesaki]

Because people would congregate.

Well I wouldn’t, and the people in my community don’t. We all just go out and walk and we may wave across the road and say hello from a distance. I suppose there’s always those who won’t abide by the rules.

 

[gitana1]

I wonder why no walking outside though, as long as they keep their distance.

Because it’s like New York in the cities. If people are walking outside they’re going to congregate. And Spaniards are super social. They don’t tend to spend much time in the house if they can avoid it. They get drinks nightly at the local bar. Coffee and bread every morning. Neighbors socialize with one another DAILY. They also shop daily and meet in the shops, go have a coffee and gossip.

Southern Europe is incredibly social. People don’t hole up in their homes much like we do. It’s all “paseando”. Going on walks. Being outside. Being in parks. Going dancing. Eating out. Etc.

 

[margarita25]

China shows COVID-19 Coronavirus can be ‘stopped in its tracks’


“16 March 2020


Health


China’s experience in containing the spread of the new coronavirus could serve as a lesson for other countries now facing the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official with the World Health Organization (WHO) has told UN News in an in-depth interview.

“It is an epidemic that has been nipped as it was growing and stopped in its tracks. This is very clear from the data that we have, as well as the observations that we can see in society in general”, he told UN News in the capital, Beijing, on Saturday.

“So that's a big lesson: that the natural course of the outbreak does not need to be a very high peak that overwhelms health services. This lesson in containment, therefore, is a lesson that other countries can learn from and adapt for their own circumstances”.”