Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #40

[JerseyGirl]

‘This virus is no joke’: Kentucky officials don’t wait for surge of coronavirus cases to tighten restrictions

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has described his growing alarm that some Louisville residents were not taking the outbreak seriously. Fischer said his staff had spotted groups of people playing sports and pushing their children on swings in the city’s parks — defying social distancing recommendations.

Fischer ordered the closure of playgrounds, basketball courts and soccer fields in Louisville's 120 parks and extended the city’s state of emergency to May 10.

 

[margarita25]

Italy’s Poorer Southern Regions Brace for a Surge in Coronavirus Infections
As the virus ravaging Italy’s wealthy north advances down the peninsula, the consequences in the south could be even more dire
Updated March 29, 2020 6:54 am ET

“New cases are rising across Italy. The most affected southern city is Naples, one of the most densely populated places in Europe.

“But new cases are rising across Italy, including in its depressed south, where hospitals are less equipped to deal with a health emergency. The most affected southern city is Naples, one of the most densely populated places in Europe with nearly 1 million people squeezed into 46 square miles, and its surrounding region of Campania. The authorities in Naples are terrified that what happened in northern Italy could repeat itself.

“In the South, the situation is about to explode dramatically. The next 10 days here will be hell,” Vincenzo de Luca, Campania’s governor, said in a recent letter addressed to the central government. “There is the real possibility that there will be a tragedy in the South, on top of Lombardy’s.”

[...]

“Southbound
Italy's coronavirus outbreak is spreading from north to south”

 

[margarita25]

Coronavirus crisis: Spain's Princess Maria Teresa first royal to die from COVID-19

 

[JerseyGirl]

TN doctors urging local officials to request authority for distancing order amid COVID-19

The Tennessee Medical Association is urging local officials to request authority from Gov. Bill Lee to allow them to issue a "Stay at Home" or similar order in jurisdictions throughout Tennessee amid the coronavirus pandemic.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Coronavirus test results in Texas are taking up to 10 days

Though Texas has dramatically increased its testing capacity, many who have gotten one are waiting days on end, and sometimes a week or more, for the results.

In addition, Texans might not take isolating themselves seriously — or their friends and family might not take extreme precautions — until they have confirmation of a positive case.

As tests have surged nationally, federal officials have acknowledged possible shortages of materials like swabs and reagents that healthcare providers and technicians require. Even the private labs that process a majority of Texas cases have suggested there may be delays triggered by the surge in demand.

 

[Anirtak]

Good morning. I'm sidelined until the first week of April. I am presumed positive due to exposure to a known positive patient and I'm symptomatic. Thankfully they're mild symptoms. The worst is the headache that doesn't go away and being tired. I fell asleep last night while my husband was talking, I was sitting straight up on the couch. It scared him a bit because that's not something that I do. Still have a headache but I'm glad it's not the more severe symptoms.

 

[Darling136]

Good morning. I'm sidelined until the first week of April. I am presumed positive due to exposure to a known positive patient and I'm symptomatic. Thankfully they're mild symptoms. The worst is the headache that doesn't go away and being tired. I fell asleep last night while my husband was talking, I was sitting straight up on the couch. It scared him a bit because that's not something that I do. Still have a headache but I'm glad it's not the more severe symptoms.

Wish you all the best!
Hope that the test results come soon and all stays mild.

 

[JerseyGirl]

COVID-19 cases climb to nearly 750 in Virginia with 17 deaths

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said it could take weeks to get testing and protective medical supplies because of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Washington state now reporting 4,300 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 175 deaths

As of Saturday, March 28, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington state has risen to 4,300 with 175 deaths.

In addition:

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee adjusts ban on funerals, issues more coronavirus guidance to real estate agents

 

[Anirtak]

Wish you all the best!
Hope that the test results come soon and all stays mild.

They are not even going to test me. Just presuming that I'm positive even though I'm a healthcare worker. My facility is in denial. Everyone is sniffling, low grade temps and some coughing. We finally got masks this week, totally ridiculous. I'm self isolating at home and have been except for work and grocery pickup (not inside shopping). My husband is going to do the pickup today that I had planned.

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Republic records highest daily death toll, Northern Ireland restricts movement: Today's Covid-19 main points

(Ireland)

IRELAND RECORDED ITS highest daily death toll in the coronavirus outbreak yesterday after 14 people lost their lives in a 24 hour period.

A further 294 cases of Covid-19 were also confirmed yesterday evening, bringing the total number of cases here to 2,415.

All 14 new deaths confirmed yesterday are located in the east of the country. The median age of these deaths is 81.



In Northern Ireland, the Executive announced sweeping new powers last night to combat the spread of Covid-19. Similar to measures announced in the Republic on Friday, the new regulations will restrict movement.

Penalties ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000 are being introduced to enforce the new powers.

Here are today’s main Covid-19 points:

• Another 294 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Republic of Ireland and 14 more people with the disease died, health officials confirmed yesterday evening.
• In Northern Ireland, 49 more coronavirus cases were confirmed yesterday bringing the total number of cases to 324. The death toll stands at 15.
• New measures prohibiting people from leaving their homes without a reasonable excuse kicked in last night in Northern Ireland.
• A man who spat at gardaí and claimed he had coronavirus is to appear before the courts in Cork this afternoon.
• The Aer Lingus plane sent to China to collect €20 million worth of personal protective equipment for Irish healthcare workers is due to return this evening.
• Specsavers has suspended all routine testing for the foreseeable future and is now providing emergency care and delivery only. Customers are asked to contact their local Specsavers store by phone Monday to Friday between 10am to 2pm.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Remember when West Virginia did not have 1 case for days? They were the last State to report a positive virus.

Update:

West Virginia now has 113 positive coronavirus cases in the state

 

[JerseyGirl]

Michigan cases total 4,658; Death toll rises to 111

It will take weeks to see the results of the stay-at-home order and other social distancing measures that have been put in place. Additionally, the state is still reporting results from a backlog of tests.

 

[SA55]

Coronavirus won't stop police arresting domestic abusers

Authorities are preparing for a spike in domestic abuse cases during the UK's coronavirus lockdown, a senior police officer has told Sky News.

Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe, from West Midlands Police, said data from China and Italy suggested incidents could "increase by three-fold" over the coming weeks, and that some abusers have already tried to manipulate the crisis.


"We did have one or two cases last week where offenders told us 'you cant arrest me, I've got COVID-19' but yes we can," she said.

This has been one of my many concerns from the beginning. The abused partners and children that now are confined to small enclosed spaces with their abusers.

This hideous virus is bringing out the best in so many people, but it also will bring out the worst in others.
Prayers for those confined that are in fear of someone they live with. MOO

 

[musicaljoke]

Coronavirus test results in Texas are taking up to 10 days

As tests have surged nationally, federal officials have acknowledged possible shortages of materials like swabs and reagents that healthcare providers and technicians require. Even the private labs that process a majority of Texas cases have suggested there may be delays triggered by the surge in demand.

If human lab testing is anyway similar to veterinary lab testing, then I can understand how the shortage of reagent could be such a weak link. From what little I know, lab testing equipment is often leased with a contract that includes a requirement to obtain reagents from the company that installed the equipment.

The equipment is designed so that it accepts reagent packages from the leasing company, much like a printer uses ink that's packaged in a particular way for your particular printer.

If a high number of the state or province's testing equipment comes from a single source, and that source isn't prepared to dispense reagent, then testing falls behind on a large scale.

Our veterinary practice in Ontario was supplied by reagent from a company in California. At the best of times we had to order way ahead of our needs due to constant delays.

My impression could be *completely wrong* and human lab testing may work differently. Do we have a lab technician on board?

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Coronavirus: Self-isolating London man runs half marathon on balcony


Quarantine could not stop one London man from achieving his goal of running a half marathon while supporting a good cause.

Time spent self-isolating can be quite repetitive, but Sam Hustler has taken this monotony to new heights.

The 27-year-old is running a half marathon for charity on his four-metre-long east London balcony.


That's roughly 5,500 lengths each way.

Mr Hustler had planned to join 14,000 other runners for the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 29 March before the coronavirus pandemic forced it to be postponed.

But he was glad he would still be able to compete in his first half marathon when the event organisers got creative and replaced the race with a "virtual" local landmarks run instead, where participants run around their local area and snap photos of their local sights.

 

[margarita25]

Spain coronavirus: How nation became one of world's pandemic hotspots - CNN

“Unseasonably warm weather, Champions League football and other major events, homes on the beach and the café culture: just a few of the factors that may have helped carry an insidious virusacross southern Europe -- from country to country and city to city, from Italy to Spain and Portugal.”


[...]

“On February 19, nearly 3,000 Valencia football fans traveled from Spain to Milan to watch their team play Atalanta in a European Champions League game. Some 40,000 Italians were also at the game, many of them from Bergamo and surrounding towns.”

[...]

“Milan was buzzing that evening, according to the Mayor of Bergamo, Giorgio Gori. Besides those who attended the game, "others watched it from their homes, in families, in groups, at the bar," Gori said this week. "It is clear on that evening there was an opportunity for a strong spread of the virus."”

[...]

But in other respects, life in Spain went on pretty much as normal. Bars and cafes were open; unseasonably warm weather brought Spaniards out into common spaces. Rallies for International Women's Day on March 8 brought tens of thousands onto the streets across Spain, including a crowd estimated at 120,000 in Madrid. Two female cabinet ministers who attended the event later tested positive for coronavirus, although it's not known how they contracted the virus. Opposition parties have criticized the government for allowing those events to go ahead.”

Health workers prepare to receive the first coronavirus patients at Ifema exhibition complex in Madrid on March 22.

Atalanta fans cheer during a Champions League match between their team and Valencia on February 19 in Milan.

-more at link

 

[JerseyGirl]

Dr. Acton explains why Ohio could diagnose 10,000 cases of coronavirus per day at peak

A day after announcing that Ohio might see as many as 10,000 daily new cases of COVID-19 within weeks, Ohio's health director insisted that current pandemic occurrences in New York, Louisiana and elsewhere prove the point.

"You don't have to trust the models to see what is happening," said Dr. Amy Acton at a Saturday news briefing.

"If there's anyone out there who thinks that New York, Louisiana, New Jersey, or what's happening in Michigan is not going to happen across the border in this state...I don't know what more to say. This is what we expect from an infectious disease."

 

[margarita25]

Good morning. I'm sidelined until the first week of April. I am presumed positive due to exposure to a known positive patient and I'm symptomatic. Thankfully they're mild symptoms. The worst is the headache that doesn't go away and being tired. I fell asleep last night while my husband was talking, I was sitting straight up on the couch. It scared him a bit because that's not something that I do. Still have a headache but I'm glad it's not the more severe symptoms.

Hi Anirtak,

Sorry to hear this and big hugs to you. I hope your headache feels better soon. Thankfully your other symptoms are mild. Thank you for the sacrifices that you and health workers have made, and will make.

You all are heroes.

Please keep us posted on your recovery.

 

[PingTheRouter]

Australian government has said that social distancing measures and other things have been working to slow the virus in Australia

from a 30% per day jump in infections by Sunday it was down to 13% per day

that is not bad but i hope we can get it much lower than that as the weeks continue