Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #46

[PommyMommy]

Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter
THREAD: On #COVID19 testing, another way to increase total capacity is to make sure machines that are available are being used near capacity. That's not happening now. There are things we can do to sharply increase testing rates by squeezing more out of our current platforms: 1/n
9:43 AM - 11 Apr 2020

Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter
1. Starts with getting labs to use machines they have. Right now, platforms aren't being used at full capacity, in part because some smaller labs say reimbursement for technical component too low. No excuse for that. Congress, CMS will step in. All labs need to step up in crisis.
9:45 AM - 11 Apr 2020

Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter
This is especially true when it comes to Abbott M2000, a widely available platform. Labs should be made whole, and reimbursement levels made complete. But in crisis moment, policy may be slower to catch up to the reality on the ground. We all must step up.
Abbott Tests to Detect Covid-19 Aren’t Being Run, Birx Says
9:48 AM - 11 Apr 2020

Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter
2. Also means making sure demand matches supply in local markets. We don't have truly national market for tests because it's not efficient or effective to ship samples long distances. So some markets have more capacity and less demand, others lots of demand and limited capacity.
9:50 AM - 11 Apr 2020

Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter
Big clinical labs like LabCorp and Quest are swing capacity, and they've directed their services to markets that need it most. Going forward we should continue to direct platforms to highest risk, highest demand markets that lack capacity right now, as part of national approach.
9:52 AM - 11 Apr 2020

Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter
We need to increase platforms and kits to get to right coverage levels, but there's also much more capacity in current system if all labs already in game do their part. We can get many more tests, maybe double current output, by getting the systems in place to run at fuller tilt.
9:56 AM - 11 Apr 2020

 

[tresir2012]

I’m curious how these special masks are made and what they look like. Unfortunately, no pictures of them at that link.

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I did a search and this update about Spain came up so I watched it. Very informative. Apparently some sectors are going back to work and masks will be handed out at the entrance to stations where travellers could end up closer together. They also discuss possibilities of different regions coming out of lockdown as places like the Balearics are not so affected as Madrid for example.

(Mostly MSM is discussed in the update but mods please delete if not allowed.)

 

[PommyMommy]

Health care workers are using TikTok to keep their spirits up

When the beat drops, these health care workers know it's all about the footwork.

Medical professionals across the country are participating in dance challenges on social media. It's helping them share smiles and blow off steam during the demanding coronavirus pandemic.

[...]

Africans in China say they have been evicted from their homes as virus fears spark xenophobia

The African community in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou is on edge after widespread accounts were shared on social media of people being left homeless this week, as China's warnings against imported coronavirus cases stoke anti-foreigner sentiment.

[...]

If the US stops social distancing in May, forecasts show the coronavirus could rebound in July

The projections are based on new modeling scenarios run by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington that assume social distancing policies will end from next month.

[...]

"If we were to stop at the national level May 1st, we're seeing (in models) a return to almost where we are now sometime in July, so a rebound ... Definitely there's a very substantial risk of rebound if we don't wait to the point where most transmission is near zero in each state."

The research center plans to release state-level analyses based on the new models next week, Murray said.

[...]

British medical TV drama donates ventilators to London coronavirus field hospital

British medical drama "Holby City" has donated fully working ventilators from its set to be used in London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital field hospital.

[...]

German President to give rare address as death toll jumps by 171

Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to address German citizens in a rare televised speech on Saturday night on the coronavirus crisis.

The German president's role is largely ceremonial, and typically the president addresses the nation only once a year during the annual Christmas message.

[...]

US coronavirus cases top 500,000, at least 18,777 dead

There are at least 501,615 cases of coronavirus in the US and at least 18,777 people have died in the US from coronavirus, according to a Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the United States.

[...]

Nearly 60,000 people have recovered from coronavirus in Spain

A total of 59,109 people in Spain have now recovered after contracting coronavirus -- an increase of more than 11,000 over the past three days -- according to new data from the Spanish Health Ministry released Saturday.

[...]

Nurses describe the emotional pain of Covid-19

[...]

Dario has been a nurse for 20 years, but she said she has never witnessed anything like this crisis.

This experience will mark all of us,” she said.

One dying patient has recently asked Dario to read her the last rites. "We are not priests of course, but we tried to do our best," Dario said. She prayed with the elderly woman. She passed away later, alone, far from her family.

Attorney Michael Avenatti released from jail temporarily over coronavirus concerns

The judge said Avenatti will have to return to custody in 90 days. The temporary release came after Avenatti’s lawyers said he was at risk for contracting coronavirus because he had pneumonia last year.

Avenatti will be required to be held in quarantine at the jail facility for 14 days to ensure he doesn’t have the virus and can’t spread it into the community, the judge said.

[...]

Senate leaders call for more funding for American workers

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are pushing for Congress to pass more money for the Payroll Protection Program –– a program for small business aid in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

McConnell and McCarthy issued a statement today supporting the continued funding of the program without any other provisions. So far, Democrats are demanding money be added for states and hospitals before they will support the effort.

[...]

United Kingdom's coronavirus death toll rises by 917

The United Kingdom's death toll from coronavirus has risen by 917 to reach 9,875, according to new figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The numbers are current as of 5 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) April 10.

[...]

Coronavirus live updates: US reaches half a million cases - CNN

 

[tresir2012]

Health care workers are using TikTok to keep their spirits up

When the beat drops, these health care workers know it's all about the footwork.

Medical professionals across the country are participating in dance challenges on social media. It's helping them share smiles and blow off steam during the demanding coronavirus pandemic.

[...]

Africans in China say they have been evicted from their homes as virus fears spark xenophobia

The African community in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou is on edge after widespread accounts were shared on social media of people being left homeless this week, as China's warnings against imported coronavirus cases stoke anti-foreigner sentiment.

[...]

If the US stops social distancing in May, forecasts show the coronavirus could rebound in July

The projections are based on new modeling scenarios run by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington that assume social distancing policies will end from next month.

[...]

"If we were to stop at the national level May 1st, we're seeing (in models) a return to almost where we are now sometime in July, so a rebound ... Definitely there's a very substantial risk of rebound if we don't wait to the point where most transmission is near zero in each state."

The research center plans to release state-level analyses based on the new models next week, Murray said.

[...]

British medical TV drama donates ventilators to London coronavirus field hospital

British medical drama "Holby City" has donated fully working ventilators from its set to be used in London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital field hospital.

[...]

German President to give rare address as death toll jumps by 171

Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to address German citizens in a rare televised speech on Saturday night on the coronavirus crisis.

The German president's role is largely ceremonial, and typically the president addresses the nation only once a year during the annual Christmas message.

[...]

US coronavirus cases top 500,000, at least 18,777 dead

There are at least 501,615 cases of coronavirus in the US and at least 18,777 people have died in the US from coronavirus, according to a Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the United States.

[...]

Nearly 60,000 people have recovered from coronavirus in Spain

A total of 59,109 people in Spain have now recovered after contracting coronavirus -- an increase of more than 11,000 over the past three days -- according to new data from the Spanish Health Ministry released Saturday.

[...]

Nurses describe the emotional pain of Covid-19

[...]

Dario has been a nurse for 20 years, but she said she has never witnessed anything like this crisis.

This experience will mark all of us,” she said.

One dying patient has recently asked Dario to read her the last rites. "We are not priests of course, but we tried to do our best," Dario said. She prayed with the elderly woman. She passed away later, alone, far from her family.

Attorney Michael Avenatti released from jail temporarily over coronavirus concerns

The judge said Avenatti will have to return to custody in 90 days. The temporary release came after Avenatti’s lawyers said he was at risk for contracting coronavirus because he had pneumonia last year.

Avenatti will be required to be held in quarantine at the jail facility for 14 days to ensure he doesn’t have the virus and can’t spread it into the community, the judge said.

[...]

Senate leaders call for more funding for American workers

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are pushing for Congress to pass more money for the Payroll Protection Program –– a program for small business aid in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

McConnell and McCarthy issued a statement today supporting the continued funding of the program without any other provisions. So far, Democrats are demanding money be added for states and hospitals before they will support the effort.

[...]

United Kingdom's coronavirus death toll rises by 917

The United Kingdom's death toll from coronavirus has risen by 917 to reach 9,875, according to new figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The numbers are current as of 5 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) April 10.

[...]

Coronavirus live updates: US reaches half a million cases - CNN

TY for the updates. Looks like UK will hit 10k tomorrow, Easter Sunday. Some good news is that, as a daily % increase, the deaths are falling. Yesterday was 12% and today is 10%. I am also watching Germany figures on the upwards trajectory. They allowed those in the North to head to the Baltic coastline for this weekend and wonder if that was a mistake.

 

[bluedivergirl]

It came from rats though didn't it? Or was that the Black Death?

Black Death/Bubonic Plaque/Yersinia Pestis - all the same thing. Bubonic Plague still occurs, and is treatable with antibiotics. It comes from flea bites. The fleas are carried on rats. Many historians believe Black Death was worsened because cats were considered 'devils' and many, many cats were killed. Rats had free reign.

 

[wishBones1962]

Sadly, a LOT of times, meds are given without the physicians giving enough thought - my mother died from just such a "medical error" and I was disabled by another medication error last July. Well-known medication problems, yet two mistakes.

We seriously, as private citizens, need to do our best at being our own self representatives. Even that effort, seems to fall flat, far too many times. Due diligence(?) not sure if that is the term I am seeking.

Even now, with the healthcare system using up to date electronic based records, medication errors ARE happening. With the current situation, under such pressure, the HC workers are now exhausted. Making errors even more likely.

As I am sitting here reading, drinking my morning coffee....I am learning so much about this situation. Even with all of the efforts I personally make, to keep updated, I hadn't heard the metformin issue till just now. I take metformin x2. as well as Lisinopril. Both, being drugs identified as complications to catching the virus.

Some days, well, most days, I just read and scroll. As I am also a live in caregiver for my 94 yr old father, I must take his needs into consideration also. Bottom line, we are both in the "high risk" category.

This global crisis, will be testing every society. Every culture. Every level. Rich/poor. Young/old. All colors, all genders. We are all trying to figure it out, as we go along,

Frightening. Sometimes even terrifying. No reference books to dig into. We are all on a fragile future. Everywhere we turn, we cannot even find comfort.

I will continue to practice the self isolation directives with my elderly father. We just got very lucky in that late stepmom had 1 box of medical face masks, and 2 boxes of the gloves.
And that I just slid in under the time line, moving from another state to help my father.

Now, we sit and wait and hope we do not contract the virus.

 

[Trident]

Black Death/Bubonic Plaque/Yersinia Pestis - all the same thing. Bubonic Plague still occurs, and is treatable with antibiotics. It comes from flea bites. The fleas are carried on rats. Many historians believe Black Death was worsened because cats were considered 'devils' and many, many cats were killed. Rats had free reign.

Thing is, was PNEUMONIC plague carried by rats? I know it was blown through the air. SEPTICIMIC(sp) got in the blood, although by air or rats I do not know. BUBONIC was carried by flea bites off of rats. People on the second story/floor were luckier 'cause rats couldn't climb stairs.

My computer has gone a bit "off" so I have a hard job copying "sites". It's easy to look up.

 

[Trident]

We seriously, as private citizens, need to do our best at being our own self representatives. Even that effort, seems to fall flat, far too many times. Due diligence(?) not sure if that is the term I am seeking.

Even now, with the healthcare system using up to date electronic based records, medication errors ARE happening. With the current situation, under such pressure, the HC workers are now exhausted. Making errors even more likely.

As I am sitting here reading, drinking my morning coffee....I am learning so much about this situation. Even with all of the efforts I personally make, to keep updated, I hadn't heard the metformin issue till just now. I take metformin x2. as well as Lisinopril. Both, being drugs identified as complications to catching the virus.

Some days, well, most days, I just read and scroll. As I am also a live in caregiver for my 94 yr old father, I must take his needs into consideration also. Bottom line, we are both in the "high risk" category.

This global crisis, will be testing every society. Every culture. Every level. Rich/poor. Young/old. All colors, all genders. We are all trying to figure it out, as we go along,

Frightening. Sometimes even terrifying. No reference books to dig into. We are all on a fragile future. Everywhere we turn, we cannot even find comfort.

I will continue to practice the self isolation directives with my elderly father. We just got very lucky in that late stepmom had 1 box of medical face masks, and 2 boxes of the gloves.
And that I just slid in under the time line, moving from another state to help my father.

Now, we sit and wait and hope we do not contract the virus.

I wish there was a way many of us "high risk" people could band together in one place to be "safe", if there is such a thing. United we stand, divided we fall.

 

[NuttMegg]

BJ got regular NHS care that everyone got. He is also not yet out of the woods.

I think he has the best UK/International doctors hovering over him 24/7, with special treatment all the way. No link, just a hunch.

 

[Sundog]

Article says that Michigan has the 3rd highest cases of COVID-19 in the country. If you read the exceptions in Michigan's stay-at-home order, however, there are a lot of exceptions, although on the face of it, it does sound like a stricter ban than they had before.

Michigan stay-at-home order now bans visits to friends, relatives, governor says

 

[tresir2012]

I think he has the best UK/International doctors hovering over him 24/7, with special treatment all the way. No link, just a hunch.

The best UK doctors are NHS. Fact.

(Some may also work in private clinics)

"Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital | Top Doctors" Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital | Top Doctors

St. Thomas' is really the best.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

I think he has the best UK/International doctors hovering over him 24/7, with special treatment all the way. No link, just a hunch.

Completely agree.

 

[tresir2012]

I wish there was a way many of us "high risk" people could band together in one place to be "safe", if there is such a thing. United we stand, divided we fall.

There is. It's called Websleuths.

 

[Darling136]

This is awesome. Our president (USA) got all kinds of pushback when he wanted to close down the borders early on and I have no doubt that caused things to be worse in our country.

I dont remember that there was a proposal by president to close the borders between the US-states? maybe i missed this...

 

[BUF]

Article says that Michigan has the 3rd highest cases of COVID-19 in the country. If you read the exceptions in Michigan's stay-at-home order, however, there are a lot of exceptions, although on the face of it, it does sound like a stricter ban than they had before.

Michigan stay-at-home order now bans visits to friends, relatives, governor says

This is the one I really don’t get...

Residents may visit a home outside of the state or return to Michigan from another state or drive to a Michigan state park, the Free Press reported.

 

[Gardenista]

I dont remember that there was a proposal by president to close the borders between the US-states? maybe i missed this...

I never heard about states, just other countries.

 

[Sundog]

This is the one I really don’t get...

Residents may visit a home outside of the state or return to Michigan from another state or drive to a Michigan state park, the Free Press reported.

I agree, this concerns me, too. But I think that that they want to make sure that people can visit relatives in border states like Indiana and Ohio, but if so they should say that. There are also people who work in an adjacent state but live in Michigan, and they have their medical care providers in another adjacent state. I wish they had authorized only those trips, as it sounds like you can just drive to Indiana or Ohio for any reason. MOO.

 

[PommyMommy]

New York City public schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year

[...]

De Blasio said reopening schools for a few weeks is unrealistic because of the amount of preparation that is needed to do it safely. He said bringing students back until June does not provide much reward academically, and if buildings did reopen, many of them would have to close again because of individual coronavirus cases.

City officials will be working with the state of New York to meet state regulations of how many hours students have to be in the classroom. Student classrooms hours will be consistent with social distancing guidelines, the mayor said.

[...]

NYC mayor wants homeless residents in hotel rooms and out of homeless shelters by April 20

Mayor Bill de Blasio plans on having at least 6,000 vulnerable single homeless residents in hotel rooms by April 20, the New York City mayor said at a press conference Saturday.

Homeless seniors will be prioritized and any homeless person with symptoms or has tested positive for Covid-19 will be moved to a hotel, de Blasio said.

[...]

Laid-off flight attendants across Europe train to help hospitals with coronavirus crisis

A cabin crew from SAS Scandanavian Airlines underwent training at Sophiahemmet hospital in Stockholm to learn how to "best how to take care of patients to relieve the hard-working heroes in healthcare" using their existing medical emergency training, said SAS on Twitter.

SAS temporarily halted most of its flight traffic on March 16 and temporarily laid-off 90% of its total workforce.

[...]

Harvard president participating in antibody study after recovering from coronavirus

The president of Harvard University said he and his wife will be donating plasma to help combat the coronavirus.

Lawrence Bacow and his wife, Adele, tested positive for the virus on March 24.

Bacow said in a letter to the community that they have volunteered to participate in research at the Ragon Institute with the hope that their coronavirus antibodies can be used to create a therapeutic.

[...]

Florida governor accelerates delayed infrastructure projects with less people on the road

[...]

On average, the interstate sees "well over 100,000 cars a day" but "now you're dealing with volumes that are probably 40,000," allowing for increased road closures without affecting as many people, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Kevin Thibault said.

DeSantis says the sped-up contract will increase day time operations and allow for longer hours. Thibault projects FDOT will be able to "get this work done in one to two months."

At least 343 homeless people have tested positive for Covid-19 in New York City, official says

[...]

About 20 of those individuals have died, the official said. So far, 37 homeless people have been discharged from the hospital, 139 are in isolation within the shelter system, 81 are still in the hospital and 35 are in self-isolation with their families, the official added.

Constitutional lawyer says Trump may not have the authority to reopen states

[...]

Page Pate, a criminal defense and constitutional attorney, told CNN that the Constitution and US Supreme Court interpretation does not give the President the authority to override governors' decisions.

"If we have a governor enact a particular restriction that's more restrictive than the President wants, of course the President can suggest that the governor not do that," Pate said. "But as far as coming in and telling a specific governor you've got to reopen your schools, you have to allow businesses to reopen, a president can only do that if the state restriction interferes with interstate commerce."

[...]

Spanish authorities to distribute millions of masks this week

The Spanish government will distribute roughly 10 million masks to workers returning to their jobs beginning this week when restrictions on some workplaces, such as construction sites, will be relaxed.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the masks would be distributed at places like subway stations and other transport hubs by police officers or civil protection workers. Their use would be recommended but not required.

[...]

Coronavirus live updates: US reaches half a million cases - CNN

 

[Darling136]

I never heard about states, just other countries.

Ok, sorry, you were answering this to the post about Western Australia closing borders, which is a state in Australia, this has confused me.

 

[tresir2012]

I agree, this concerns me, too. But I think that that they want to make sure that people can visit relatives in border states like Indiana and Ohio, but if so they should say that. There are also people who work in an adjacent state but live in Michigan, and they have their medical care providers in another adjacent state. I wish they had authorized only those trips, as it sounds like you can just drive to Indiana or Ohio for any reason. MOO.

So it's not really a stay at home order then. That's weird.