Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #46

[otto]

California and Canada are both reporting that 10% of testing kits don't seem to work. Maybe that's it.

However some research seems to show (in China, South Korea, Japan) that the same person can test positive one day, then negative a few days later, then positive again. No studies of how often that happens. But it would certainly cause people using tests in the field to wonder about accuracy.

A study seemed to show that samples taken from up inside the nose did not have this issue - it was throat samples, IIRC.

We definitely need two kinds of global testing (active cases and antibody cases) and then of course, the waiting game to see if people remain immune.

This will take more resources than we can possibly imagine right now.

The 15 minute antibody test that was developed and manufactured in Canada is available and used in the USA, EU and UK. It is not yet allowed to be used in Canada because Canada is still following normal protocols for use of new medical resources.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-canada-rapid-blood-tests-under-review-1.5529590

 

[firebird]

That's odd. Are there no nurses in other parts of the US that can work in NY?

Really odd! Based on my research yesterday, I'd ask if they've tried getting nurses from Montana lol

 

[musicaljoke]

I haven't been able to find a link, but something changed in Alberta in the 1980s, maybe 1986. Prior to that, health care was a standard deduction through work. People who were unemployed were eligible for a subsidy, but paid out of pocket.

When I was a child, many decades ago, we used to get a quarterly OHIP bill which was our family's contribution to the health care system. I think it was waved for low income earners. But I've never had a medical bill in all my adult life.

 

[otto]

Really odd! Based on my research yesterday, I'd ask if they've tried getting nurses from Montana lol

There are currently a couple of thousand Canadian nurses working in Detroit - crossing the border twice a day to help with the virus.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

RSBM
Random thought. There sure is less laundry around here.

Who here finds that they put on sweats, go to bed in same sweats, then half way through the next day say "chit, I'm wearing the same thing I had on yesterday"... hehe not comparable to the college days "walk of shame" where you enter the dorm at 10 am the next day to have everyone see you wearing the same club outfit from the night before... and definitely looking the worse for wear.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

So I’ve got a potato issue.

I’m grateful to have potatoes that the shopper was able to find but they’re not the “protected” kind in the non-net bag,

They’re sitting in the doorway in a closed box. I personally have avoided fresh produce bc it is exposed, moo. I’m buying frozen/jar and cleaning the packaging then transferring it to my own ziplocks, etc if I can. I learned that otherwise I still feel the need to watch my hands even after cleaning the packages, etc. because I feel grossed out or unsure that I got every inch of the surface (the doctor’s “glitter” analogy again comes to mind). Everyone might not go as overboard as me but like I said I’m about the “peace of mind”. I don’t want to have to wash my hands every time I touch something out of my fridge.

Yeah, so anyway, potatoes are sitting there in the doorway. How long does CV live on a potato? I’m not touching them for a while. I know they’ll be okay after boiling but still.
I don’t want to touch them to even clean them or bring them in my kitchen til I know the virus is dead. I’ll wait.

Can I wash the outsides with soap and water in a few days then cut the skin off? Will it soak up the soap? I will wear gloves.

I know I sound like a nutcase. I am.
—

ETA:

I disinfect items at the door before I bring them into the kitchen if they have to come in immediately.

I bring a small tub with bleach and hot water to the doorway (with gloves on).

First the items get wiped with the bleach water or “take a dip”, depending on the container.

Then they go into a different tub where I then bring them into the kitchen to wash with soap and water.

Then I change out the packaging if I can.

All to be sure not to cross contaminate anything while wearing/ switching out gloves.

Oh I also have a separate box outside the door where exterior packaging gets dumped, say the cardboard around a lunch meat packet.

Also, delivery boxes don’t come in. I open them at the doorway with gloves, then put the items like the sealed jars, cans, packages etc in the bleach tub.

Also, when I transfer certain things to the ziplocks, etc., I create small portions with rationing in mind.

If I hadn’t rationed so far I would’ve been in trouble because there was a very long delivery wait. Who knows how long we’ll be here...I am rationing. Logistics and delivery is obviously an issue.

Smoke some pot and give it 3 days. If the potato hasn’t coughed in that time, I’d say it’s good.

 

[musicaljoke]

Who here finds that they put on sweats, go to bed in same sweats, then half way through the next day say "chit, I'm wearing the same thing I had on yesterday"... hehe not comparable to the college days "walk of shame" where you enter the dorm at 10 am the next day to have everyone see you wearing the same club outfit from the night before... and definitely looking the worse for wear.

We're not telling.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Illinois Launches Mental Health Hotline In 'Unprecedented Moment'

“I want to say to all of you – feel all of it,” the governor said at his daily news conference about the coronavirus outbreak. “We are living in a deeply unprecedented moment, and holding the emotional ramifications of that inside will only be harder on you. It’s OK to feel, and please know you don’t have to feel it all alone. I want you to know that we’re here to help.”

Toward that end, Pritzker announced the creation of a new state “source of support,” dubbed Call4Calm, for people who want to get help with mental-health issues arising from the pandemic.

Residents can text TALK to 552-020 and the state will put them in touch with a counselor, he said. For that sort of help in Spanish, people can text HABLAR to the same number.

“This service is free to use, and it’s available to you no matter your personal circumstances, and you will remain completely anonymous,” Pritzker said.

"Feel all of it" - words of wisdom and compassion. I'm glad this resource is available.

 

[cass523]

In late January, President Trump's economic adviser Peter Navarro warned his White House colleagues the novel coronavirus could take more than half a million American lives and cost close to $6 trillion, according to memos obtained by Axios.

The state of play: By late February, Navarro was even more alarmed, and he warned his colleagues, in another memo, that up to 2 million Americans could die of the virus.

• Navarro's grim estimates are set out in two memos — one dated Jan. 29 and addressed to the National Security Council, the other dated Feb. 23 and addressed to the president. The NSC circulated both memos around the White House and multiple agencies.
• In the first memo, which the New York Times was first to report on, Navarro makes his case for "an immediate travel ban on China."
• The second lays the groundwork for supplemental requests from Congress, with the warning: "This is NOT a time for penny-pinching or horse trading on the Hill."

Peter Navarro memos warning of mass coronavirus death circulated West Wing in January

 

[Herat]

The 15 minute antibody test that was developed and manufactured in Canada is available and used in the USA, EU and UK. It is not yet allowed to be used in Canada because Canada is still following normal protocols for use of new medical resources.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-canada-rapid-blood-tests-under-review-1.5529590

These tests are not as straighforward as they appear to be.

There are at least 35% false positives. And the prevalence of disease in the population has a great deal of impact on the stastistics.

So any negative test cannot actually exclude the posibility that the patient is actually positive for the antibody. Sort of just a flip of the coin.

There are numerous similar tests in the pipeline for FDA approval and the number of serologic tests available will increase in the next several weeks.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Who here finds that they put on sweats, go to bed in same sweats, then half way through the next day say "chit, I'm wearing the same thing I had on yesterday"... hehe not comparable to the college days "walk of shame" where you enter the dorm at 10 am the next day to have everyone see you wearing the same club outfit from the night before... and definitely looking the worse for wear.

Yes to all of this!!

 

[Spider92]

Who here finds that they put on sweats, go to bed in same sweats, then half way through the next day say "chit, I'm wearing the same thing I had on yesterday"... hehe not comparable to the college days "walk of shame" where you enter the dorm at 10 am the next day to have everyone see you wearing the same club outfit from the night before... and definitely looking the worse for wear.

ditto! (except for the college dorm part)

 

[squareandrabbet]

I work for a greeting card company. We are currently furloughed. The few stores I've been in I've noticed Easter cards were selling. It's going to be a crazy mess getting things back in shape lol.

I bought a huge batch of cards several weeks ago, when Papyrus was going out of business . Availability was spotty depending upon theme; so I was happy to run away with three Easter cards, lol. I'm also set for 7 years of Mother's and Father's Day cards, for example; and a goodly handful of occasional cards. I felt SO sorry for the store, everyone's loved the cards I bought from them, but on the bright side for the consumer, I got cards as costly as, in one instance, $14.95 (!) for 99 cents.

 

[otto]

These tests are not as straighforward as they appear to be.

There are at least 35% false positives. And the prevalence of disease in the population has a great deal of impact on the statistics.

So any negative test cannot actually exclude the possibility that the patient is actually positive for the antibody. Sort of just a flip of the coin.

There are numerous similar tests in the pipeline for FDA approval and the number of serologic tests available will increase in the next several weeks.

Where did you read that the BTNX test has a 35% failure rate? It has limitations in the sense that it is not for early testing, but it does detect antibodies. It is widely used in the USA, EU and UK, so it must work.

 

[Gardener1850]

Omg you’re right!!!! I was just preaching about not taking risks... holy smokes. I usually ask my friends to help with those things, hold the ladder, etc. That was dumb of me.

Thank youuu.

Yeah I better not do the skylights.

Glad I saw this!

WS saves the day!

ETA: Gosh what was I thinking?! I got a little overinspired there.

It seems Andre Brocelli created and fulfilled that important need for “inspiration”.

Oh dear, I agree, stay off the ladder! But get yourself one of these light bulb changing poles: https://www.amazon.com/Designers-Edge-E3001-Telescopic-Accessories/dp/B008KWRCIS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=VOVBYB4DLXC1&dchild=1&keywords=light+bulb+changer+for+high+ceilings&qid=1586737427&sprefix=light+bulb+chang,aps,198&sr=8-4
I have one and it works for changing my indoor light bulbs up high.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Who here finds that they put on sweats, go to bed in same sweats, then half way through the next day say "chit, I'm wearing the same thing I had on yesterday"... hehe not comparable to the college days "walk of shame" where you enter the dorm at 10 am the next day to have everyone see you wearing the same club outfit from the night before... and definitely looking the worse for wear.

I’m actually keeping my regular schedule, and so is my husband. We still have to let the chickens out when the sun rises anyway. But I know the path to depression for me, and it is paved with sweat pants, television, and lack of any kind of routine.

So I’ve replaced work with the mask project and will replace it with gardening here shortly as well. I did not do makeup the first few days, wore a jogging suit, and did not have a project - and I experienced a lot of anxiety. So now I do light makeup, dress as usual, at least put my hair back, and “go to work” on something.

 

[otto]

I’m actually keeping my regular schedule, and so is my husband. We still have to let the chickens out when the sun rises anyway. But I know the path to depression for me, and it is paved with sweat pants, television, and lack of any kind of routine.

So I’ve replaced work with the mask project and will replace it with gardening here shortly as well. I did not do makeup the first few days, wore a jogging suit, and did not have a project - and I experienced a lot of anxiety. So now I do light makeup, dress as usual, at least put my hair back, and “go to work” on something.

Going for a daily walk, or spending some time in the yard, is a good reason to dress for the day. It's snowing right now.

 

[cass523]

N-95's are the coin of the realm in this crisis, respirator masks that filter 95% of airborne particles. Just as important though are the gloves, gowns, goggles, face shields, surgical masks, all PPE designed to be discarded after every encounter with an infected patient.

Bill Whitaker: Do you have enough masks?

Kelley Cabrera: No.

Bill Whitaker: Do you have enough face shields?

Kelley Cabrera: No.

Bill Whitaker: Gowns?

Kelley Cabrera: No.

Kelley Cabrera is an emergency room nurse at Jacobi…

Kelley Cabrera: We want to help our patients, and we want to do it safely.
Who led a protest to draw attention to the lack of PPE at hospitals nationwide. The problem has gotten so bad there's a hashtag, "Get me PPE," on Twitter with posts like: "I'm a physician at a New York City hospital and this is the PPE I was just handed for my shift" a Yankee souvenir rain poncho.

Bill Whitaker: How do you feel about going into work every day? Are you safe?

Kelley Cabrera: No. Absolutely not. If you do a simple Google search, look at what other countries are wearing in comparison to us. I mean, it makes, I mean, it makes sense that we're getting infected. How could we expect not to?

Kelley Cabrera: We're looking to the CDC for answers, and initially they had certain recommendations for what we should wear. We watched those recommendations be scaled back, not based on science, not because miraculously coronavirus wasn't as contagious. They scaled those back, because they knew that we didn't have the proper supplies.
------------------------
Bill Whitaker: I have seen reports that the intelligence community was notifying the administration back in January that this was happening.

Peter Navarro: This is, like, like, the fake news stuff. It's, like, okay, somebody said…

Bill Whitaker: It's not fake news, sir.

Peter Navarro: It's like, show me the money here. What exactly did they say? Did they say, "There's gonna be a global pandemic that's gonna shut down the entire global economy."

Well, it turns out Navarro himself said almost exactly that. A few days after our interview the news site Axios published this memo Navarro wrote in late January, in which he warned the White House National Security Council the China-born virus could cause a global pandemic, take a "half-million American souls" and cost the economy "$5.7 trillion." He told us he does not contest its authenticity.

Sick doctors, nurses and not enough equipment: NYC health care workers on the fight against the coronavirus

 

[otto]

N-95's are the coin of the realm in this crisis, respirator masks that filter 95% of airborne particles. Just as important though are the gloves, gowns, goggles, face shields, surgical masks, all PPE designed to be discarded after every encounter with an infected patient.

Bill Whitaker: Do you have enough masks?

Kelley Cabrera: No.

Bill Whitaker: Do you have enough face shields?

Kelley Cabrera: No.

Bill Whitaker: Gowns?

Kelley Cabrera: No.

Kelley Cabrera is an emergency room nurse at Jacobi…

Kelley Cabrera: We want to help our patients, and we want to do it safely.
Who led a protest to draw attention to the lack of PPE at hospitals nationwide. The problem has gotten so bad there's a hashtag, "Get me PPE," on Twitter with posts like: "I'm a physician at a New York City hospital and this is the PPE I was just handed for my shift" a Yankee souvenir rain poncho.

Bill Whitaker: How do you feel about going into work every day? Are you safe?

Kelley Cabrera: No. Absolutely not. If you do a simple Google search, look at what other countries are wearing in comparison to us. I mean, it makes, I mean, it makes sense that we're getting infected. How could we expect not to?

Kelley Cabrera: We're looking to the CDC for answers, and initially they had certain recommendations for what we should wear. We watched those recommendations be scaled back, not based on science, not because miraculously coronavirus wasn't as contagious. They scaled those back, because they knew that we didn't have the proper supplies.
------------------------
Bill Whitaker: I have seen reports that the intelligence community was notifying the administration back in January that this was happening.

Peter Navarro: This is, like, like, the fake news stuff. It's, like, okay, somebody said…

Bill Whitaker: It's not fake news, sir.

Peter Navarro: It's like, show me the money here. What exactly did they say? Did they say, "There's gonna be a global pandemic that's gonna shut down the entire global economy."

Well, it turns out Navarro himself said almost exactly that. A few days after our interview the news site Axios published this memo Navarro wrote in late January, in which he warned the White House National Security Council the China-born virus could cause a global pandemic, take a "half-million American souls" and cost the economy "$5.7 trillion." He told us he does not contest its authenticity.

Sick doctors, nurses and not enough equipment: NYC health care workers on the fight against the coronavirus

Sounds like early dementia if he can't remember what he said a couple of months ago about the epidemic in China.

 

[cass523]

Dr. Sheldon Teperman: Every hospital in New York City is teeming with this virus. Right? In my place, there are hundreds and hundreds of patients. Many, many dozens of intubated, sick COVID patients. In the average place in New York City, whether it's NYU, Cornell, Presbyterian, Northwell, Stony Brook, there are hundreds of intubated COVID patients. And a lot of people are dying.

Dr. Sheldon Teperman is chief trauma surgeon at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. The borough has one of the highest COVID-19 death rates on earth. He runs four intensive care units full of critically-ill patients. His days, he told us, seem endless.

It's the same in hospitals all over New York City. Cross town at Brooklyn Hospital Center, overworked doctors and nurses with limited protective gear, some wearing trash bags bound with tape, race from emergency to emergency. At Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, body bags line the hallway. One doctor called conditions there "catastrophic." After another 16-hour day, Jacobi Medical Center's Dr. Teperman came to us exhausted. We maintained social distance, each in a different New York City location.

People need to stay home. New York City is on fire

There are moments in the hospital, you know, where the virus conceivably is pluming into the air because a procedure is being done that creates an aerosolizing of the virus. I mean that's just a fact. Those are the true N95 moments.

Sick doctors, nurses and not enough equipment: NYC health care workers on the fight against the coronavirus