Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #30

[Sundog]

I’ve read a smoker is more vulnerable. I wonder if poor lung function is a contributing factor OR is the dirty hand to mouth contact to blame. No smoker I know washes his hands each time he wants to light up.
As I attempted to doze off, I thought of all the nasty habits people have that might put them at risk. Little things—we’ve all seen busboys return unused individual cracker & condiment packages to the bin, diners opening condiments packs with their teeth, gas station clerks here are great for constantly making coffee without washing their hands. Most have to wait on customers, handle money and clean bathrooms, take out trash, etc. I know the station I normally buy gas & lottery has one employee on duty at a time. I can honestly say, I’ve never seen her wash her hands.......we go to concerts, rodeos, festivals & the food booths/trucks are SRO, & people having few places to wash their hands are buying food/using squeeze bottle condiments, leaving stubborn germs behind. Filthy hand to mustard bottle to hot dog to mouth to what? Death?
As a society, we need to be much more conscious about what we touch, imo. I could not eat finger foods if I only used hand sanitizer, I’m a person that must use soap & water. How insane is it to think of how many things we touch in the course of a day, going from one to the next?
The “hands off face” is incredibly hard to do if one has long hair, imo. Especially on windy days. I’ve started clipping mine up more. Of course I’m not able to go out do it matters none what my hair looks like, my animals love me just the same, lol.

Your comment about "finger foods" got me thinking about cultural eating habits and about China. Often a group of people will go out, or even in a family setting, and use their utensils (chopsticks in this case) to move food from a central platter to their individual plates. I wonder if this contributed to the fast spread of the COVID-19 spread in China.

When we travel to Beijing and eat out, we always bring our own chopsticks to restaurants in case the restaurant doesn't provide chopsticks that are packaged. Like here in the U.S., not sure how well they are cleaned, chopsticks or knives and forks.

 

[katydid23]

Yes, it's not like American "can-do" attitude and know how is up to the task, I suppose. Too much, too hard.

So....sorry medical people. You're outta luck.

jmo

I disagree....I believe we are up to the task.

I bet there are many people that are gearing up right now, as we speak, to get these supplies produced and to those in need.

 

[KALI]

Way too little and too late. :-(

Police in Wuhan apologise to whistleblower’s family


Kerry Allen
BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst

Police in the Chinese city of Wuhan have apologised for punishing the doctor who tried to warn people about Covid-19 before perishing himself.

Back in December 2019, Dr Li Wenliang sent social media messages to his colleagues in Wuhan, warning of the mysterious viral illness.

He was subsequently interrogated by the police for “rumour-mongering” in early January, and made to sign a letter promising that he wouldn’t do this again or would face prosecution.

Today, the police retracted a letter they initially wrote criticising Dr Li and also apologised to Dr Li’s family.

In the letter, Dr Li was accused of "making false comments" that had "severely disturbed the social order".

Li Wenliang contracted the virus in January while treating his patients and passed away at the age of 34 in early February. His death sparked nationwide anger and led to criticisms that China's leadership had downplayed the severity of the virus - and initially tried to keep it secret.

Coronavirus updates: UK PM vows 'to turn the tide in 12 weeks' - BBC News

 

[CocoChanel]

https://nypost.com/2020/03/19/trump...g-cruise-ships-to-help-in-coronavirus-crisis/

President Trump said Thursday that the head of Carnival Corporation has offered the company’s ships to help the country deal with the coronavirus pandemic by freeing up hospital beds occupied by people who do not have the virus.

 

[cass523]

Dr. Mehmet Oz Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen (short video explaining the difference)

Could anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen make #covid19 worse? Theoretically, they would make the lungs more susceptible to the novel coronavirus infection; however, global health experts aren’t convinced, citing a lack of evidence. The consensus: we need more research.

Frances Ministry of Health

Health officials point out that anti-inflammatory drugs are known to be a risk for those with infectious illnesses because they tend to diminish the response of the body’s immune system.

The health ministry added that patients should choose paracetamol – which is known in the US by the generic name acetaminophen and commonly by the brand name Tylenol – because “it will reduce the fever without counterattacking the inflammation”.

Dr Oz said, "I think it is wise to stick with acetaminophen."

Dr. Mehmet Oz on Twitter

Anti-inflammatories may aggravate Covid-19, France advises

 

[margarita25]

Tesla's Musk offers to make ventilators amid shortage in coronavirus battle Tesla's Musk offers to make ventilators amid shortage in coronavirus battle Reuters on Twitter

Flashback to our little oinkies trapped in the Thai cave.

WS:
Thailand - FOUND ALIVE - Officials Believe 12 Boys And Coach Trapped In Cave , 23 June 2018

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

Stimulus check: What we know (and don't)

 

[zecats]

This group meeting is a good thing, IMO

Gov. Murphy (NJ) said Wednesday that today’s briefing had to be moved up because all 50 governors will be on a conference call with the White House later in the afternoon.

The press conferences have generally lasted more than an hour as multiple officials offer information and field questions from the media. It’s also when state health officials provide the latest official numbers for cases.

There have been at least 427 positive tests in New Jersey with six deaths. Cases have been reported in 20 of the state’s 21 counties, according to numbers compiled by NJ Advance Media from local and county officials. .

N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy gives update on coronavirus outbreak: How to watch live

 

[margarita25]

State Capitol Closed to Public Indefinitely

“DENVER - March 18, 2020 - The Colorado state capitol will be closed to the public indefinitely.

In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and the Center for Disease Control, the capitol building will remain closed to the public until further notice. Staff and members of the media will continue to be allowed in the building at this time. “

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trump having a teleconference with all the governor's. Georgia Governor Kemp is one of the first ones that talks and with him.

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Trump puts onus on states to secure scarce medical equipment, but one governor says they're losing orders to the feds

 

[Gardenista]

18,000 pounds of toilet paper found in stolen tractor-trailer, North Carolina cops say

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article241338996.html

 

[Inthedetails]

I disagree....I believe we are up to the task.

I bet there are many people that are gearing up right now, as we speak, to get these supplies produced and to those in need.

I was being sarcastic, fyi.

jmo

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I disagree....I believe we are up to the task.

I bet there are many people that are gearing up right now, as we speak, to get these supplies produced and to those in need.

I’ve already ordered 160 yards of elastic to make masks, so yeah. I have everything else. I’m recruiting Facebook friends to help, too.

But yes, I do think we could and should get them made in factories here up to whatever the standard should be.

 

[zecats]

Great, another impending disaster: the college spring breakers are coming home.

I truly believe they should be quarantined somewhere for 14 days. But that is a pipe dream I'm sure. IMO

 

[katydid23]

I’m totally with you. At the very least, the My Pillow guy could get this rolling in a day. He does all his manufacturing in giant MN warehouse, complete with a zillion sewing machines & sergers. He could cut up some of those Giza Dream Sheets & solve the shortage in a few days. There must be other companies like this- they’re not ALL in China! Moo

I am sure there are. I will try and finds some examples of people stepping up to there plate.

here is one example:

US military to make labs available to test civilians for coronavirus and donate millions of medical masks to HHS amid pandemic

Washington (CNN)Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Tuesday the department will make 14 certified coronavirus testing labs available to test civilians and donate five million medical masks to the Department of Health and Human Services for distribution as hospitals deal with an influx of patients during the pandemic.

Esper said at a briefing that of the five million N95 masks -- which health care workers wear to treat infectious diseases -- one million will be made available "immediately." He also said the department is prepared to distribute up to 2,000 ventilators "as needed."
Two additional coronavirus testing labs would soon be offered by the department, Esper said.
In addition to the masks, ventilators and testing labs, Esper said the department is "considering activating National Guard and reserve units to assist states with planning, logistics, and medical support as needed."

 

[SkylarSid]

There are now six people in my immediate family who were laid off this week.

Mama can't cover this much!

That is heartbreaking! I pray things will work out for you guys.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

https://nypost.com/2020/03/19/trump...g-cruise-ships-to-help-in-coronavirus-crisis/

Oh hell, no! I would rather go home bleeding than get on a cruise ship!

 

[10ofRods]

I have to wonder if China actually reported all COVID deaths. We have always been suspect of their numbers.

I would say "Of course not." People die in China every day of respiratory distress (mostly old people of course) and AFAIK, they are not testing widely outside the original zone (they don't want to). If you test them and they have CoVid, then you have to report - more or less, right?

If people die of ordinary colds or flu, not so much.

We're doing the same thing here. We will never know how many really died of CoVid19, nor will everyone ever get tested who should be tested. Now that we have 50 different "provinces" with health emergencies, and places like Florida very late to the game of acquiring appropriate supplies...we will have comparative data by state, but not the full picture.

Someone needs to get out and swab a random sample in a few different states...

 

[Hatfield]

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can.

JMO
One thought I have been having today is I really think scientists should try to figure out why certain "clusters" blow up. I have had a theory for some time now that there is something unique about when these clusters blow up. At bottom is an example of 31 people catching the virus just because they went to a wedding. That is a huge number of people catching it from one place in a short amount of time.

I have no idea what could be causing such a major cluster outbreak. I dont know if there is a certain strain that is more catching or if there is a medium like food or air ventilation or plumbing or something like that that could be causing some large breakouts. I do think certain clusters are occurring more than a typical person to person catching, and I think there is something unique about it that causes the cluster to blow up.

We have seen quite a few clusters now and some of them like the nursing home in Washington state they claimed was the vaporizing due to them using a bad method at first to help the patients breathe and were inadvertently putting the virus in the air. But even in that cluster I am not so sure anymore because we have seen other clusters breakout and it seems super contagious more than a typical person to person spread. I am leaning towards three possible things. Either a food source becomes infected and then is given to the people in the cluster or maybe the air ventilation systems that somehow gets piped into and out of all the rooms from an infected source, thus maybe sharing air particles from room to room. Or maybe even plumbing systems that can aerosolize the particles when flushing comodes or simply spraying water out a faucets nozzle with a stream that aerosolizes it. Or maybe even possibly a certain strain that is more contagious than others. Wait, that is 4 options. LOL I have no idea but I do think it is something that needs to be determined because I do think there is a common link in how the clusters are catching it so badly.

I think we have yet to figure out what is causing certain clusters to blow up.

This cluster in this news article below is an example of a mystery cluster. 31 people that attended a wedding ended up catching it. They could not have been there longer than 1/2 day or so and yet 31 people got it. That is a rather large cluster breakout. Something is unique about that IMO.

Im not convinced yet that it was simply person to person causing the big cluster outbreak. I think it is deeper than that and I think we will eventually find out something common that helped it spread within the clusters. Im leaning towards "some source" acted like a petri dish and had lots of the virus active in the source and then by some mechanism like ventilation or plumbing or food, it was then transmitted to the people in the cluster. So as the wedding guests all either breathed or ate or flushed toilets or ran sink water and lets say germs at bottom of sink got aerosolized, then something along those lines allowed the guests to become infected from the same "thing".

Anyway, its just a theory I have been mulling over for some time.

I hope scientists can figure it out because if they can and there ends up being a common thing about the clusters then that can go a long ways to prevent new clusters.

"A pregnant woman and member of parliament are among 31 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a wedding."

At least 31 wedding guests catch coronavirus from Sydney ceremony of Emma Metcalf and Scott Maggs | Daily Mail Online

 

[CSIDreamer]

I'm in between accounts, so I'm in a parking lot and may give redundant info.

Indiana schools are now closed until at least May 1.

I found toilet paper! *squeal* I'm temporarily in charge of paper products for 3 households so this made my day enough that I've momentarily stopped bawling because I miss my daughter and 2 young grandchildren. I'm also paranoid and covered the toilet paper with tablecovers I had in my SUV (I do farmers markets and such).