Coronavirus - COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #28

[Knitty]

This is horrifying to me. Now that our local spring breakers are beginning to return home, our Mississippi cases have suddenly gone from 12 to 21 in about a day. They had been growing but it was very slowly and then we had this sudden surge.

It's terrifying. The county over set up drive-through testing Monday. As far as I know, there was no testing before then, even though we had a death (travel related) in our county May 7.

I work in a capacity that has me going into nursing homes and assisted living facilities. I stopped going in after the administrator of one told me that one of the residents was in the E.R. at the same time as the patient who died. I was terrified about being exposed in one facility and then transmitting it in another. Only yesterday were we told that future visits with residents need to be made by telephone.

 

[margarita25]

And what is Amazon doing to protect their warehouse workers I wonder?

Not sure if you saw this:

Reposting / Italy & Amazon:

At an Amazon facility in Italy, 30% of workers have reportedly stopped showing up due to fears of the coronavirus

• Absenteeism rates at an Amazon logistics hub in Italy have hit 30% in recent weeks as workers stay home due to coronavirus fears, Bloombergreported on Monday.
• Amazon has refused to close the facility for cleaning, a union official told Bloomberg, even after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
• Workers there are going on strike today, outraged by the company's response to the cases, which stands in stark contrast to its calls for many office employees to work remotely.
• "We are following the guidelines of local and international health authorities," Amazon said in a statement to Spanish news site La Información.

 

[californiagem]

Gosh I actually thought that was a heartless response by the original poster to the plight of those poor workers. And actually also doesn’t make sense. If Whole Foods is not allowing their workers to wear facemasks and is not paying them enough to stay home when sick, they’re enabling spread of this disease through workers.

But it’s heartless to suggest these poor workers need to just buck up and work as demanded by their employers. They’re working in super stressed and scary conditions and are at grave risk of infection.

They should be allowed to wear masks and paid double time. I know a supermarket sales exec who is making huge piles of money right now due to the surge in sales.

They need to instead translate that to their poor workers and ensure that the sick can stay home.

I don't remember the whole post, the part about anxiety caught my eye. I totally agree with you. Whole foods is owned by Amazon right? They can afford to do right by their employees.
I'm totally empathetic to anyone with anxiety right now. It's a very anxious time. I work in Labor and delivery. We've already admitted 3 patients with high blood pressure, I've seen 2 moms cry because we are only allowing 1 visitor each. I feel so bad for a lot of people today.

 

[Betty P]

Georgia prepares to isolate coronavirus patient to part of state park

Doesn't sound like the most efficient way to administer health care. I suppose if more patients become ill, they just ration the health care? JMO, this sounds rather barbaric.

 

[Simply Southern]

Remember what happened in Italy when the quarantine plans were leaked! Mass exodus...spreading the virus as they went. How is NYC going to prevent the same thing from happening? Block all exits out of the city? I doubt it. There will be a huge traffic jam this afternoon and evening IMO. Brace yourselves!

Don't know about the western part of the state but we in SW VA are ready. Small towns will close hotels, restaurants, many behind the scenes activities are planned. We will help anybody that will help themselves.

They need to head on down to Florida, only stopping for gas if necessary in VA, NC or SC is my advise.

Moo...

 

[FlossyMay]

Georgia

Atlanta mayor creates emergency fund to help small businesses, hourly workers and homeless

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

It is good they are trying to clean things better and restock as much as possible. I just find it difficult to believe it needs to be 1/2 of a day. 11 hour downtime is practically 1/2 of a 24 hour day. Surely they could accomplish what they need to in a shorter time than that since they have each day to do more of it.

Im sorry to be critical of them but it gets frustrating when we see certain decisions that may make matters worse, and this will put a dent in people being able to get supplies when closing a grocery store down 1/2 of the time they usually are open. That seems a little on the extensive side. Maybe a 4 hour window would be enough each day for them to catch up. I hope they will adjust their hours if they find they dont need to stay closed for 11 hours each day.

Aldi is extremely efficient and simply plops entire pallet of goods onto the store floor. Most stores in America (and I think Canada and UK but I'm not sure) are not like that. It requires items to be individually places one by one onto the shelves. Inefficient and a time waster during the best of times, but many businesses are always resistant to innovation. And it comes to bite them in the bottom during crushing times like these.

 

[margarita25]

Coronavirus updates: Countries across the world step up restrictions to combat crisis

Updated March 17, 2020, 3:18 PM MDT

“The United States and European nations are stepping up measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus and counteract its economic impact, as the numbers of deaths and infections continue to grow.”

[...]


1h ago / 2:34 PM MDT

“Navajo Nation confirms first case of coronavirus
The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported its first case of the coronavirus: A 46-year-old tribal member with a recent travel history, leaders said. The person was taken to a hospital in Phoenix, and family members and other contacts were being isolated.

Leaders of the Navajo Nation, the largest tribal reservation in the United States with 350,000 members, have been warning in recent weeks of the virus' spread into Indian country and the need for more testing and medical supplies.

"We call upon our Navajo people to do their best to remain calm and make good decisions by staying home to prevent the spread of the virus among our communities," tribal President Jonathan Nez said in a statement.”

 

[Simply Southern]

Georgia prepares to isolate coronavirus patient to part of state park

WTH??? But hey, they are in the south, where anything goes.

Moo....

 

[margarita25]

Michael Cohen asks to finish prison sentence at home amid coronavirus outbreak

 

[Hatfield]

I think its too dangerous for the stores to stay open during the night.

Good point.
I didnt think of that and you could be right that maybe there is some other internal reasons they didnt mention. You are probably right that things like theft and security is probably one of the unmentioned concerns that led to their decision.

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

Not sure if you saw this:

Reposting / Italy & Amazon:

At an Amazon facility in Italy, 30% of workers have reportedly stopped showing up due to fears of the coronavirus

• Absenteeism rates at an Amazon logistics hub in Italy have hit 30% in recent weeks as workers stay home due to coronavirus fears, Bloombergreported on Monday.
• Amazon has refused to close the facility for cleaning, a union official told Bloomberg, even after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
• Workers there are going on strike today, outraged by the company's response to the cases, which stands in stark contrast to its calls for many office employees to work remotely.
• "We are following the guidelines of local and international health authorities," Amazon said in a statement to Spanish news site La Información.

This is exactly what I fear for the United States. I keep hearing people say, "Just order stuff from Amazon!" Amazon is not staffed by magical immune leprechauns. Real people work there, how many workers are they stuffing into these warehouses? I just saw an article saying Amazon is hiring workers to fulfill demands. This seems counter-productive. How many will get sick working for Amazon?

Amazon is hiring 100k new workers to meet demand - CNN Video

 

[Simply Southern]

Brief update on the testing front: My DH's panel test for upper respiratory illnesses came back negative for everything. Next they will test his sample for CoV19. That test will take another 24 hours at least before we hear results. I don't know whether to hope he has CoV19 or not at this point.

I sort of hope we have it because this is not that bad and we are able to stay home right now if we absolutely have to. Then once we are over it and cleared medically we can help everyone else around us who gets it. On the other hand, if we don't have it yet we can resume some normalcy right away, but we still have to be careful going out in the world and will have to worry about when we will get it. I don't think it's a matter of "if" we will get it but a matter of "when" at this point. It doesn't seem like a winning situation either way...

I, so hope you guys get answers soon. Praying for a quick recover!!!!

 

[MimosaMornings]

New Jersey woman who tested positive for coronavirus remains 'at large' after giving hospital false name, address — Fox News

 

[Bampot]

I got email notification tonight that Glasgow Club gyms are closed and are expected to be closed until the end of April. Running and home yoga for me it is !

 

[Sunny123]

This is unfortunate...does she have a caregiver for the little one in place?

Thankfully, my DIL (whom works at an elementary school, and is now on leave) has offered to pick up my shift. They are going to help each other with babysitting, since we are self-isolating during this.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Georgia

Atlanta mayor creates emergency fund to help small businesses, hourly workers and homeless

Love Atlanta. Not the traffic, though

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Thankfully, my DIL (whom works at an elementary school, and is now on leave) has offered to pick up my shift. They are going to help each other with babysitting, since we are self-isolating during this.

Oh, good! Best to all of you!

 

[Sunny123]

55 New Coronavirus Cases Bring Illinois Total to 160 in 15 Counties

Yesterday, there was 1 case in my county, but since she was in a nursing home, they tested the entire facility and found 17 other elderly were infected and 4 staff members. So that is now bumped up to 22 total in the county.

Oh, this is so sad.

 

[Cubby]

This! The magic hour for me is between 2 and 3 am and then I can’t get back to sleep. Last night when it happened I got up, took two benedryl, got cozy in front of a heater, and read until I got sleepy again (an hour later).

For me it's one 5 mg melatonin and one 25 MG benedryl two hours before I want to be asleep.