Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #33

[Kensie]

The test results seemed to come in very quickly for them too. A matter of hours because they were tested in the afternoon and I don’t remember what time it was but late evening the results were back. Most people have to wait a day or two for results don’t they?

I guess being Vice President of the USA moves you up in the testing queue.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says he has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

The Republican is the first member of the Senate to report testing positive. He said in a tweet Sunday that he is feeling fine and is in quarantine.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky becomes first US senator to test positive for COVID-19

 

[Picklebot]

My advice, moo, google every pharmacy in your vicinity. CVS, Walgreens, all grocery store pharmacies, small pharmacies...see if anyone in your zip code, if not beyond, has your medication. Have your doctor call in a 90 day supply if he/she can.

Reducing and rationing medication sounds very concerning. I’m not sure what it is, but if it’s something you need to take regularly it could be dangerous to intermittently take your medicine, play with the dosages.

The Covid-19 situation could be much escalated two weeks from now. I recommend getting your meds taken care of ASAP. If you need help tracking this medication down, send me a message and I can try to help find and call pharmacies for you.

It's hydroxychloroquine, the drug behind all the recent rumours. I take it for RA. I took this prescription in early for a refill because I was trying to do exactly that - get everything in order and give it some extra time if needed. I thought maybe they'd be low but I wasn't expecting them to not even know when they're getting more in. Good reminder to ask for 90 days. I think I will do that. It's not a controlled substance so there''s no reason they shouldn't be able to.

I will call other pharmacies. That's a good idea, thanks. Mine is small and maybe the bigger pharmacies keep more in stock. If my choices are reduce a little or run out I think I have to go with reduce. The only risk I know of are symptoms coming back but I've been symptom-free for years. Maybe I'll call my RA doctor tomorrow and see what he advises.

 

[Gardenista]

Not a political post



I noticed that, during the WH press conference yesterday, VP Pence had no symptoms, yet both he and his wife were tested because his staffer was positive for COVID19.

Would a test even be needed? And if "Negative", that is sort of wasteful, because he had no symptoms at all. According to their own guidelines, he should be in quarantine for 2 weeks.

I think the Prez and VP should be tested every day.

 

[Tadpole12]

I wonder if there is a common denominator amongst the people who are asymptomatic.

You May Still Spread the Coronavirus Even if You're Not Showing Symptoms

"That's because people who are asymptomatic can still spread the virus and have high levels of the virus in their respiratory secreations"

Asymptomatic rhinovirus infection outnumbers symptomatic infection four to one among university students

Less viral load in asymptomatic

 

[Oregonmama]

Not understanding why ppl can't understand this!

 

[Starry Night]

Declared Disasters:
Disasters | FEMA.gov
New York:
New York Covid-19 Pandemic (DR-4480) | FEMA.gov

Massachusetts
Massachusetts Covid-19 (EM-3484) | FEMA.gov

and many more states.

NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services - OEM

 

[jjenny]

Maybe you know someone to make one for you? I just cut out 3 of them. My friends and family will be shopping for me. It’s the least I can do.

ETA: this is the pattern I’m using because you can insert a clean dry baby wipe as a filter.
Face Mask Pattern - Free Sewing Patter • Craft Passion

I bought baklavas, they are going to be my mask, albeit it's totally unclear if they work at all.

 

[margarita25]

50 nurses exposed at one of our hospitals. This is horrible.
570 NEWS

“More than 50 nurses have been exposed to COVID-19 at St. Mary's General Hospital, according to a news release from the Ontario Nurses' Association.

On Saturday, ONA President and RN, Vicki McKenna, said the nurses were exposed while caring for a patient in the emergency department who was screened for influenza, but not the coronavirus.

"Nurses were exposed on the patient that made the virus borne by air; the patient was not isolated," said McKenna in the release.

"Worst of all, nurses were unable to access N95 respirators when they performed the procedures, as their employer strongly discourages nurses wearing them."”

-more at link
18 hours ago
Over 50 nurses exposed to COVID-19 at St. Mary's General Hospital (update) - KitchenerToday.com
——

 

[dixiegirl1035]

This is his third YouTube today. I messed up posting earlier as I was on tablet mode and didn't work...anyway... here is the latest... He says "the United States is going to pay for that"

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[gregjrichards]

Tens of thousands of Italians break curfew

Almost 71,000 Italians face punishment after being stopped by the police for breaking the country's curfew.

Coronavirus latest news: Government outlines isolation plans for 1.5m vulnerable people, with food from councils and help from Army

It is incredible so many Italians are breaking the curfew when the death toll and number of infections is so high there.

#StayHomeSaveLives

 

[Tillicum]

DeWine presser live.
Coronavirus in Ohio Sunday update: 351 cases reported, no additional deaths

ETA We are all on lockdown now.

 

[Gardenista]

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says he has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

The Republican is the first member of the Senate to report testing positive. He said in a tweet Sunday that he is feeling fine and is in quarantine.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky becomes first US senator to test positive for COVID-19

Poor Rand can't catch a break

 

[Charlot123]

More on masks.

Okay, so the CDC wasn't completely evil. My conspiracy meter is calming down. It is true that with something like coronavirus, each R95 mask should be thrown away after each use - and of course, that's exceptionally problematic for public distribution and use.

It's unlikely that putting some additional cover over an R95 will actually work. Big university hospitals say there's no way to reuse them (and yet, of course, staff are being forced to, due to shortages).

Cleaning and Disinfecting: Public Health Respiratory Protection Program Template - Minnesota Dept. of Health

R95's can't be cleaned, apparently. OTOH, for most of us (if we had such a mask), a quick trip to the pharmacy while wearing one is going to offer protection and wearing a bandana or cloth mask under it (to protect it from your own respiration and whatever is already in your lungs) is an option.

I suppose we could all dress like beekeepers.

WASHINGTON
More on masks.

Our Children’s hospital is asking for masks donations.

There was a huge discussion about whether one should help them given the prices they charged for ER stay...I decided that since now they do need to protect their nurses and kids with low immunity, I should help.

Sold something, very fast. Got $300 that I planned to spend on masks for Children’s.

Went to Amazon. No N-95 masks, and even surgical masks are of poor quality and coming from China but labeled as American. Prices are sky high.

Moreover, the store where I used to buy them for myself 2 weeks ago is closed.

Where can I buy masks for Children’s?

That is a potential new business in the US, btw...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

My advice, moo, google every pharmacy in your vicinity. CVS, Walgreens, all grocery store pharmacies, small pharmacies...see if anyone in your zip code, if not beyond, has your medication. Have your doctor call in a 90 day supply if he/she can.

Reducing and rationing medication sounds very concerning. I’m not sure what it is, but if it’s something you need to take regularly it could be dangerous to intermittently take your medicine, play with the dosages.

The Covid-19 situation could be much escalated two weeks from now. I recommend getting your meds taken care of ASAP. If you need help tracking this medication down, send me a message and I can try to help find and call pharmacies for you.

Wise advice. I would also like to ask everyone to thank your physicians, pharmacists, etc. who are working tirelessly to keep your community safe. I had to call my PCP's office last week for a refill on Candesartan (BP med). I spoke with one of the receptionists who has been there since I became a patient and who knows me when I call. After she took the information about the med and confirmed pharmacy, she asked if I needed anything else. I said, "No. I'm all set, but please let the staff know that they have been in my prayers during this difficult time." I said that I hoped everyone was staying well and that they would be able to deal with the crisis to keep their patients healthy. She thanked me and said that she would pass it along to the doctors and nurses. It is a busy family practice with several physicians, nurse practitioners, a fleet of nurses, techs, and receptionists. I'm sure that they have never dealt with this in the history of the medical facility, and I hope they all remain healthy while caring for their many patients.

 

[charminglane]

Still awaiting test results of a coworker. Notified last Tuesday it would be 4-5 days for results.
Pasadena, CA.

 

[cody22]

Opinion - April may be a very bad month for the USA and the rest of the world.....Take care of yourself and your loved ones the best you can. Be kind to others.........moo

 

[margarita25]

It's hydroxychloroquine, the drug behind all the recent rumours. I take it for RA. I took this prescription in early for a refill because I was trying to do exactly that - get everything in order and give it some extra time if needed. I thought maybe they'd be low but I wasn't expecting them to not even know when they're getting more in. Good reminder to ask for 90 days. I think I will do that. It's not a controlled substance so there''s no reason they shouldn't be able to.

I will call other pharmacies. That's a good idea, thanks. Mine is small and maybe the bigger pharmacies keep more in stock. If my choices are reduce a little or run out I think I have to go with reduce. The only risk I know of are symptoms coming back but I've been symptom-free for years. Maybe I'll call my RA doctor tomorrow and see what he advises.

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) Shortage Causing Concern | Arthritis Foundation

“March 20, 2020 – People who take hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) might have trouble getting a refill from their retail or mail order pharmacy. Doctors are getting questions about this after the news about the potential for the drug to help shorten the course of COVID-19 was broadly reported on March 19. News sources are already reporting shortages. Erin Fox, an associate adjunct professor of pharmacology at the University of Utah and an expert in drug shortages, says half of the eight suppliers of the drug report normal supplies. The others report back orders.

The drug, originally approved for malaria, is now also approved as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and is used in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.”

[...]

“What You Can Do

People who don’t have a refill on file at the pharmacy can call their doctor and ask for one. If your pharmacy or others in the area do not have any hydroxychloroquine in stock, ask your doctor for guidance.

If you cannot get your hydroxychloroquine prescription filled, you can report it to the FDA at [email protected].”

 

[Shadow205]

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A Wyoming County woman described the difficulties she faced trying to get her husband tested for COVID-19. On Friday, March 20, 2020, Angela Lanning took her husband to five different medical facilities across two counties before he could be tested for COVID-19.

“People that are sick cannot be tested even if doctors offices are saying to be tested. There’s nobody that can test him,” said Lanning.

Lanning’s husband works in Tennessee and Virginia. Thursday night he came home very sick

“He was sitting up in bed because he said when he laid down it felt like he couldn’t breathe, like mucus was drowning him,” Lanning said.

Friday morning she took him to the health department and they sent him to their family doctor. The Lannings went to Family Health Care Associates in Pineville, where their doctor said he met all criteria for coronavirus, fever, cough, and recent travel out of state. He also tested negative for the flu and strep.

“He’s running a fever of 102, he’s coughing, it’s very hard for him to breathe. He said it feels like someone is squeezing his lungs,” said Lanning.

Their family doctor gave him a West Virginia test number and sent him to Primary Care and Prevention Clinic an hour away in Beckely. By the time Lanning got there, they missed the time frame for testing.

Dr. Ayne Amjad told 59 News testing sites have specific time slots because not all staff are trained to test people. At her clinic, only the woman from the CAMC lab is trained to do the test.

She said doctors cannot put their staff or other patients at risk, which is why its important the tests are highly controlled. They can only test patients who were already screened by their family doctors, and the doctors must call ahead and ask when the patient can come get tested, so medical staff can prepare for them. Amjad said the clinic did not receive a call from the Lanning’s doctor.

Lanning said she worried the longer they were on the road, the worse the situation was getting.

“With him being in Beckley and us being in here for five hours, we’re having to travel around… of course he’s going to have to use the bathroom, so we’re having to question whether he should even stop to use the bathroom because he could have this, and we don’t want anybody else to get sick,” said Lanning.

Lanning called her doctor back, who sent them to Raleigh General Hospital. When they got to the hospital and presented the test ID, Angela said they told her they were only testing people who are already hospitalized and critical. She was told even if they checked him into ER, they could not guarantee they could test him.

Then she called the CDC who told her to go to BARH. At 5 p.m., her husband finally got tested; they first took him to the doctor around 11 a.m.

“My advice to anybody would be, call the CDC,” said Lanning. “If anybody turns you away, if you meet the criteria and have been given a West Virginia testing number, go directly to the CDC.”

The results will come back in about four days.

Lanning said her husband must stay in the hospital for six to eight hours with no visitors. Doctors said his respiratory levels are not good and he may need a ventilator. She said his doctors are working directly with the CDC right now and are going to do all they can to help him. She said she is very grateful to them

wvnstv.com

 

[musicaljoke]

I think the Prez and VP should be tested every day.

I think they should practice social/physical distancing.