Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #46

[tresir2012]

Coronavirus live news: Pope celebrates Easter mass by live stream as lockdowns tighten worldwide

Pope gives virtual Easter Sunday mass.

 

[tresir2012]

That's brilliant news Boris made it!
Love from Australia.

And to you. Happy Easter everyone.

I was going to say something about BoJo going to his second home but I guess Downing street is his work place so he is forgiven for wanting to recuperate at Chequers.

"Chequers - Wikipedia" Chequers - Wikipedia

 

[PommyMommy]

'I woke up and couldn't taste or smell:' A possible early sign of coronavirus

Londoner Holly Bourne has not had the widely recognized coronavirus symptoms -- a cough or high fever -- and therefore is not eligible to be tested by the UK's National Health Service (NHS). But her experience of suddenly losing her sense of smell, combined with "weird head rushes," headaches and exhaustion led her doctor to diagnose her "straight off the bat" with Covid-19 over the phone.

[...]

India reports over 900 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours

[...]

India reported its biggest single-day jump in cases on Saturday, when it reported 1,035 new cases.

According to the Indian Council for Medical research (ICMR), 17,143 additional samples were tested on Saturday.

These Boston health care workers supported their New York counterparts by sending them meals during the coronavirus fight

[...]

"We just had this helpless feeling and we wanted to do something for them," Lisa MacGregor, a nurse at Brigham, told CNN. "With the Boston marathon terror attack, people were sending us cards and food. I just remember how stressed we were and how much that meant to us."

So the staff at Brigham raised money and sent restaurant meals to two of New York's hardest-hit emergency rooms, Mt. Sinai Queens and Elmhurst Hospital.

[...]

South Korea to test all travelers entering from US for coronavirus

[...]

Director Jung said that the measure was taken because "as the ratio of positive cases among those entering from the US continues to rise, and the risk of community spread in the US continues to rise, we deem that the risk of infection of travelers from the US has risen."

The Navajo Nation is under a weekend curfew to help combat the spread of coronavirus

The Navajo Nation enacted a 57-hour curfew over the holiday weekend in an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus among its more than 250,000 members.

As of Saturday, there were 698 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 24 deaths, among members of the Navajo Nation living in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer said in a news release.

[...]

Russian coronavirus cases see largest daily increase, jumping by more than 2,000

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia jumped by 2,186 within 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 15,770, according to Russian state news agency TASS on Sunday.

The jump is the largest daily increase in cases in Russia since the outbreak began.

[...]

Colombia announces deaths of first two doctors as a result of coronavirus

[...]

Ruíz said the two doctors who died received the best care and had the best protection, but he said "we are facing a phenomenon that in the world takes the lives of many people and among them, unfortunately, health workers."

[...]

Spain adds more than 600 coronavirus deaths, the highest in three days

Spain recorded 619 deaths due to coronavirus in the past 24 hours, according to new data from the Spanish Health Ministry on Sunday.

This is the highest daily death toll for the past three days and represents a 3.7% increase. The total number of fatalities stands at 16,972.

[...]

US overtakes Italy as country with highest number of coronavirus deaths - CNN

 

[tresir2012]

Well, we can't even get professional masks, there are certainly not going to be enough spacesuits for everybody.

It was a joke.

I have no idea how they are going to do it but I can't wait to find out so others can copy it.

 

[PommyMommy]

UK likely to be worst-affected country in Europe, expert fears

[...]

"The numbers in the UK have continued to go up, I do hope that we're coming close to the number of new infections reducing, and in a week or two the number of people of people needing hospital reducing," he said, adding that he hoped the number of UK deaths would plateau and start to fall in a couple of weeks.

[...]

Farrar also said a second or third wave of coronavirus was "probably inevitable."

He said he thought a vaccine will be available during autumn this year, but that it will not be available on the scale required to protect people around the world.

"If we put their efforts together, we can develop both the vaccine and treatment in the fastest time possible," Park said at a briefing on Sunday. Such cooperation would cut down the time taken for administrative reasons and provide infrastructure or resources needed, Park said.

South Korea to form a coronavirus treatment development support group

[...]

Race for a vaccine: This week, a study published in The Lancet medical journal warned that coronavirus lockdowns across the globe should not be completely lifted until a vaccine for the disease is found.

China's draconian restrictions on daily life appear to have halted the first wave of Covid-19 across much of the country, but the researchers used mathematical modeling to show that premature lifting of measures could result in a sweeping second wave of infection.

Spain begins gradual steps towards loosening coronavirus restrictions

[...]

People who can’t work at home and whose places of employment are reopening may return to work after the Easter holidays. The move is aimed at such sectors as construction and manufacturing – but non-essential retail outlets, bars and places of entertainment must remain closed. Restaurants can only offer take-out. Hairdressers will only be able go to clients’ homes but can’t open their salons and banks will have a minimum service with only a few branches open.

The government announced over the weekend that police would begin handing out 10 million protective masks at metro stations and other transport hubs to workers after the Easter break, while reiterating guidance on social distancing and regular washing of hands.

[...]

Italian prime minister offers message of hope, saying "we will be able to recover soon"

[...]

“We miss the smiles of relatives, the hugs of friends, the beautiful traditions of our country, the handshakes in the church, in the square, at the bar. The sacrifices that each of us makes on this important Sunday are a gesture of authentic commitment to what really matters and that we will be able to recover soon," Conte added.

[...]

Reopening the US will not be "one size fits all," Fauci says

[...]

"It is not going to be a light switch that we say, okay, it is now June, July or whatever, click, the light switch goes back on," Fauci said. "It's going to be depending where you are in the country, the nature of the outbreak that you have already experienced and the threat of an outbreak that you may not have experienced."

Fauci said he believes this approach is needed to try to prevent a "rebound" or second wave of coronavirus cases. He said there will be people who do get infected after restrictions are loosened, but by reopening gradually, there will be time to identify those cases and isolate them.

[...]

US overtakes Italy as country with highest number of coronavirus deaths - CNN

 

[sallye818]

WARNING: shows people in coffins

“In three days, I lost my husband and son to an ugly plague. I watched my son go from completely well and whole and happy to being gone in three days.”

'Unimaginable' pain: Coronavirus robs Michigan woman of whole family

This is unbelievably sad and painful. I pray Sandy will hold onto her faith at this time and know she will see her husband and son once again, because of Easter. And soon will be able to hug her friends and loved ones again for comfort in her bereavement.

 

[Sundog]

Here’s Where Coronavirus Hides in Your Body

Here is where coronavirus hides in your body

Good article, with link in article to original research paper in the journal Nature. Helps to better understand how COVID-19 virus replicates in the throat, and perhaps why it was suggested early on by Dr. James Robb, UC San Diego, to take zinc lozenges if you begin to feel any cold-like symptoms. He suggested that if you feel this beginning, then it is best to lie down and let the lozenges dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynyx and to use as directed. I am not using zinc regularly, due to its potential toxic effects, but have some on hand if needed. MOO.

 

[musicaljoke]

Adding here. Farmers struggling, wages cut There is a lot going on here

New White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is working with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to see how to reduce wage rates for foreign guest workers on American farms, in order to help U.S. farmers struggling during the coronavirus, according to U.S. officials and sources familiar with the plans.

Opponents of the plan argue it will hurt vulnerable workers and depress domestic wages.

The measure is the latest effort being pushed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help U.S farmers who say they are struggling amid disruptions in the agricultural supply chain compounded by the outbreak; the industry was already hurting because of President Trump's tariff war with China.

"The administration is considering all policy options during this unprecedented crisis to ensure our great farmers are protected, and President Trump has done and will do everything he can to support their vital mission," a White House official told NPR.

The nation's roughly 2.5 million agricultural laborers have been officially declared "essential workers" as the administration seeks to ensure that Americans have food to eat and that U.S. grocery stores remain stocked. Workers on the H-2A seasonal guest-worker program are about 10 percent of all farmworkers.

U.S. farmers say they have had to cut back on production because of the high number of restaurant and hotel closures. Cory Lunde, a spokesman for the Western Growers Association, said U.S. farmers are fighting to keep "our farms afloat in the face of the near-total collapse of the food-service sector" and more recent slowdown in the retail market.armers are having problems

Lee Wicker, deputy director of the North Carolina Growers Association, said Trump administration officials are trying to look at ways to help because "they understand that we're in trouble and they want to secure the food supply for the American people."

"When a farmer goes out of business, you know, he doesn't come back," Wicker said. "Food supply is a national security issue and, as bad as this COVID-19 crisis is, perhaps it can be a catalyst to start a conversation about our agriculture policy and having sustainable agriculture and diversity."

White House Seeks To Lower Farmworker Pay To Help Agriculture Industry

Meanwhile, in Canada:

"The Canadian government has lifted travel restrictions on temporary foreign workers who many farmers say are the backbone of the country's agricultural industry.

"On Saturday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food said the horticultural industry, lead by Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS), will charter and pay for planes to bring workers into the country.

"Farmers will have to adhere to strict two-week isolation rules or risk forfeiting their right to bring in foreign workers in the future, the ministry said. "

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/canada-lifts-travel-restrictions-for-foreign-workers-1.5505579

Foreign workers are covered by publicly funded health care.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The latest jobs report from Altarum, a nonprofit research firm for government health insurers, found the health care sector lost 43,000 jobs in March -- the largest decline in three decades -- amidst the ongoing pandemic.
...
"Let's be clear, elective surgeries are the lifeblood of many hospitals, if not all hospitals," said Mary Dale Peterson, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. "They account for 50 to 60% of profits for most."

Hillcrest Medical Center CEO Kevin Gross said surgeries are down 75% systemwide, which creates a massive revenue problem, resulting in layoffs as the hospital "seeks to balance our resources against the economic impact we are seeing."
Health care workers fear losing their jobs during coronavirus pandemic

 

[Sundog]

My Hairstylist has a plan to get colour to customers. I will do an e-transfer to pay. They will contact me with a pick up time. When they see me pull up they set product outside the door with instructions. I will take all precautions handling the bag. Not sure how it will turn out as I have 2 different glaze colours. It's my cut that's about to get interesting. It's rather intricate. Oh and my Hair guy and his husband live on the top floor of their establishment. It was a former Temple so no need to leave their home except to go downstairs. This could be interesting with the result

A colleague of mine from work and I were consulting by phone on some work issues, and at the end of the call we talked about some coping strategies related to working from home, and we got on the topic of hair coloring, and she told me that for over a year now she has been ordering her color from E-Salon online and only pays about $20 for the color, and it comes with developer, applicator comb, etc. She said that she only goes to her stylist for a cut every month and that he marvels at the product/color she uses. So finally I gave it a try, went online and was impressed with how they help you figure out the right color/mix and the options. You can download a picture of you want, which they recommend, although I didn't do that. I did an order yesterday and so will see what happens. My stylist has offered to leave color and developer, etc. on her doorstep, but I decided that I would try E-Salon one time to see how it goes. They have a video on their website that gives suggestions as to how to apply it to the back of your head. I know it will all be a challenge, but as we all learn to be more self-sufficient during this pandemic and stay-at-home period, perhaps this will be another ability we will acquire. I was disappointed in my stylist who I have been going to for over 10 years, as the day that Ohio's governor ordered closing of all but essential businesses, she decided to still see clients at her home, the same day and ongoing. I was shocked and blurted out "is this legal" as this seemed to defeat the purpose of closing down her salon and moving her business to her home. Many, if not most, of her clients have been with her for a long time and are in the older range, from 60 + and I worry about this.

 

[Rocco]

It was a joke.

I have no idea how they are going to do it but I can't wait to find out so others can copy it.

I thought it was FUNNY! Anyone who took it seriously needs to lighten up.

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Research published in the federal agency’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal shows the contagion spreading far further than previous official suggestions — and also getting spread on people’s shoes.

“The aerosol distribution characteristics … indicate that the transmission distance of [COVID-19] might be 4 m,” the report says, translating as more than 13 feet.

“Furthermore, half of the samples from the soles of the ICU medical staff shoes tested positive,” the researchers wrote of samples taken at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/12/the-coronavirus-can-travel-at-least-13-feet-new-study-shows/

 

[Sundog]

Meanwhile, in Canada:

"The Canadian government has lifted travel restrictions on temporary foreign workers who many farmers say are the backbone of the country's agricultural industry.

"On Saturday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food said the horticultural industry, lead by Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS), will charter and pay for planes to bring workers into the country.

"Farmers will have to adhere to strict two-week isolation rules or risk forfeiting their right to bring in foreign workers in the future, the ministry said. "

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/canada-lifts-travel-restrictions-for-foreign-workers-1.5505579

Foreign workers are covered by publicly funded health care.

They are covered by publicly funded health care if they are given temporary immigrant status, otherwise Canada doesn't cover people. And I assume they will pay into the system from their pay checks, as most Canadians do? I am only asking this because there are some people who think that Canadian health care is free, and I know that when I lived in Canada about 35 years ago that health care was deducted from my pay check to pay into the health care system.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Indiana

Positive 7928
Deaths 343
Tested 42489

ISDH - Novel Coronavirus: Indiana Novel Coronavirus Map

Deaths reported is an increase of 13 from yesterday.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I started following this thread closer when the pics started showing people in China being physically chased, captured and thrown into a white box shaped thingy hitched to a vehicle. Oh my goosh,,,,,the Hazmat Suited Dudes.

Then we saw people collapsed on the sidewalks in their business suits.

Yikes, we were due for a trip to the beach house......so..
March 6th I loaded up on TP....56 double rolls in all, dried and canned beans. Bought some salt pork . Corn bread mix. Glory seasoned southern style blackeye peas.yummy.
Meats n veg......etc etc.

sounds like a nice trek! So how far did you travel from home?


March 7th we made our way down.
I scooped out some soil from last years pots.

I’ve been saving the coffee grounds, egg shells, potato peels and lint from the dryer.......etc.
I’m planting seeds I scavenged from my variety of peppers and 3 different tomatoes. Basil seed should be here Tuesday.

Back on our last trip here I had bought the sweetest cantaloupe I had ever tasted. It was so good I saved some seeds. Woot ! I hope I get a melon or two.

Happy holidays....stay safe

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Fever is your friend for adults - put the tylenol and other antipyretics down. Dr. Campbell spends this video explaining why.

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[tresir2012]

"Coronavirus and chloroquine: Is there evidence it works? - BBC News" Why a drug to treat malaria is selling out around the world

Reality check on chloriquine in this article.

"There has been a global surge in demand for drugs normally used against malaria to tackle the coronavirus, as governments urgently seek out treatments for the new disease.

Chloroquine, and a related derivative, hydroxychloroquine, have gained attention - despite the World Health Organization (WHO) saying there is no definitive evidence they work.

So what is the current evidence of their effectiveness as a treatment for the coronavirus, and who is using them?

What do we know about these drugs?
President Trump has frequently referred to the potential of hydroxychloroquine in White House briefings. At a recent press conference, he referred to it and said: "What do you have to lose? Take it."

In a video removed by Facebook for breaching its misinformation guidelines, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro claimed "hydroxychloroquine is working in all places".

Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionHydroxychloroquine: "What do you have to lose? Take it."
Tablets containing chloroquine have long been used in the treatment of malaria to reduce fever and inflammation, and the hope is that they can also inhibit the virus that causes Covid-19.

"Chloroquine seems to block the coronavirus in lab studies. There's some anecdotal evidence from doctors saying it has appeared to help," says James Gallagher, BBC health correspondent.

There is insufficient evidence at the moment from current trials as to their effective use in treatment of patients with Covid-19.

There are also risks of serious side effects, including renal and liver damage.

"We need larger, high-quality randomised clinical trials in order to better evaluate their effectiveness," says University of Oxford 's Kome Gbinigie, author of a report on anti-malarial testing for Covid-19.

More than 20 trials are being carried out, including in the US, UK, Spain and China.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove says the UK is "conducting rapid clinical trials on anti-malarials" to assess if they are able to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on those affected.

In the US, various trials are under way for a combination of drugs including chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and an antibiotic called azithromycin, for treating Covid-19 patients.

Which countries have authorised their use?


More at link

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I started following this thread closer when the pics started showing people in China being physically chased, captured and thrown into a white box shaped thingy hitched to a vehicle. Oh my goosh,,,,,the Hazmat Suited Dudes.

Then we saw people collapsed on the sidewalks in their business suits.

Yikes, we were due for a trip to the beach house......so..
March 6th I loaded up on TP....56 double rolls in all, dried and canned beans. Bought some salt pork . Corn bread mix. Glory seasoned southern style blackeye peas.yummy.
Meats n veg......etc etc.

sounds like a nice trek! So how far did you travel from home?

Sweden's Relaxed Approach could Already Be Backfiring.

Sweden is isolating the old and the vulnerable and allowing all others to continue living as normal.
9,141 confirmed cases and 793 people have died, experts worry weaker measures may be leading to a more severe outbreak in the country of just 10 million citizens.

Sweden's Relaxed Approach to the Coronavirus Could Be Backfiring

March 7th we made our way down.
I scooped out some soil from last years pots.

I’ve been saving the coffee grounds, egg shells, potato peels and lint from the dryer.......etc.
I’m planting seeds I scavenged from my variety of peppers and 3 different tomatoes. Basil seed should be here Tuesday.

Back on our last trip here I had bought the sweetest cantaloupe I had ever tasted. It was so good I saved some seeds. Woot ! I hope I get a melon or two.

Happy holidays....stay safe

This is a fascinating story of how Sweden is handling...article is only 3 days old... it will be something for all of us to follow. So though I am Swedish, I don't understand some of these cultural points being made. I would appreciate some knowledge from WSers.
Why are there so few multigenerational families?
How is this interpreted? 40% of households are single-person with no children households? (the link provided is in Swedish!!)
I really want to follow this one...........

 

[nhmemorymaker]

"Coronavirus: England's oddest events hit by the lockdown - BBC News" The eccentric events cancelled by coronavirus

Just had to post this link to show you what mad stuff we usually get up to at Easter. You have probably all heard of welly throwing but some of these are way above that tame occupation.

Image captionNudeFest2020 hopes to return in September with naked dodgems
"The Easter and Spring Bank Holidays mark some of the oldest - and oddest - traditions in England's eclectic calendar. As the lockdown continues, here's a look at some of the more unusual events cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus.

Bottle-kicking contest

Media captionThe Hallaton Bottle Kicking contest is akin to a rugby scrum
The Hallaton Bottle Kicking contest - a ferocious thousands-strong rugby scrum in Leicestershire - has been cancelled on Easter Monday.

The tradition pits teams from Hallaton against neighbouring Medbourne to wrestle kegs of beer over the hills back to their respective village.

"The rules are very simple - there aren't any rules," chairman Phil Allan told the BBC.

"We do add… that there is no murder, no gouging or no riding on horseback with the bottle allowed… it is actually like a very ferocious rugby scrum."

The event also involves the parading of a hare pie which is later "scrambled" or thrown into the crowd.

Mr Allan urged loyal supporters and fans to stay safe and look forward to next year's event.

Worm charming championships

Image copyrightTORI COX
Image captionWorm charmers must prove their liquid concoctions are safe by drinking them first
Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming has been cancelled in South Devon on 1 May.

"All worms are diligently practising social distancing. Therefore they have requested that they do not charm this year," the event's Facebook page said.

Normally, about 100 teams of three compete to charm the greatest number of worms from their 1m (3ft) square patch of grass. But digging is banned.

They are allowed to use their own liquid concoctions to tempt the mini beasts and favourites include water, beer, gravy and sugar.

"People try to simulate the sound of rain to coax the worms out," said chairman Steve Thomas. "We've had everything from tapping on the ground to musical instruments and a team with a mobile phone in each corner of their patch blaring out noises."

As part of the day Old Father Worm imparts his knowledge in the form of "cheats" and school children sing "cheers to the worm". "

More craziness at link.

sooooooooooooo funny... had to borrow this one for further sharing. Thanks soooo much for the enlightenment!!

 

[tresir2012]

"Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says 'it could have gone either way' - BBC News" Boris Johnson: 'It could have gone either way'

" Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said it "could have gone either way" as he thanked healthcare workers for saving his life after being discharged from hospital.

Mr Johnson, 55, was taken to London's St Thomas' Hospital on Sunday - 10 days after testing positive for Covid-19.

He had three nights in intensive care before returning to a ward on Thursday.

He said in a video on Twitter that two nurses stood by his bedside for 48 hours at the most critical time.

Mr Johnson said he had witnessed the "personal courage" of hospital staff who "kept putting themselves in harm's way, kept risking this deadly virus".

Downing Street said the PM would continue his recovery at his country residence, Chequers.

"On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work. He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas' for the brilliant care he has received.

"All of his thoughts are with those affected by this illness." "

More at link