Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #47

[SouthAussie]

That would mean boycotting N95 masks though.

My state's health dept have just pulled N95s from the hospitals, as a precautionary measure.
We had an ICU nurse contract the virus.
My state (thankfully) has incredibly low virus numbers, but the nurse may have caught the virus from a patient.

The N95s (of a certain well-known brand) did not pass the "fluid strike" test.


More than 600,000 coronavirus face masks have been withdrawn from South Australia's hospitals because of concerns they do not adequately protect against infections.
More than 600,000 face masks withdrawn from SA hospitals over coronavirus concern

 

[tresir2012]

It was not a pandemic until that point. There are certain criteria to be met, and covid hadn't reached it until that point, or there wasn't enough information to declare it one until that point.

The WHO know what they're doing, more than most governments seem to.

At what point does it stop being an epidemic or crisis and become a pandemic?

"What’s the difference between a pandemic, an epidemic, endemic, and an outbreak?" What’s the difference between a pandemic, an epidemic, endemic, and an outbreak?

This link states a pandemic is an epidemic that travels between countries. It says an easy way to remember is the letter P for "passport" which is needed for travel.

So it seems as soon as it travelled to another country other than China, it was a pandemic. MOO.

 

[squareandrabbet]

I don't think that works because someone can have the virus, but have no symptoms---have no fever or cough, etc.

Yeah, at the risk of coming across like Typhoid Mary, lol, I'm more than willing to have someone jab my finger or w/e because I'm convinced I don't have it.

But it's difficult to argue that if there's literally no way in the world that anyone can tell if someone is a raging contagion-bomb, without paying for some expensive test for every person on the face of the planet; well then, we just need to test everybody under the sun before anybody can get back to work; or produce anything that someone else needs to live upon.

If a certain category of provider is "down" to, say, 10% of active individuals (farmers, healthcare workers, individuals in the supply chain); the 10% cannot take care of 100% of the population with the goods and services they produce, and that's just common sense.

 

[tresir2012]

My state's health dept have just pulled N95s from the hospitals, as a precautionary measure.
We had an ICU nurse contract the virus.
My state (thankfully) has incredibly low virus numbers, but the nurse may have caught the virus from a patient.

The N95s (of a certain well-known brand) did not pass the "fluid strike" test.


More than 600,000 coronavirus face masks have been withdrawn from South Australia's hospitals because of concerns they do not adequately protect against infections.
More than 600,000 face masks withdrawn from SA hospitals over coronavirus concern

What are they using now?

 

[tresir2012]

Of Interest in Reopening...
"You can't replace lockdown with nothing," Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies program, said at a recent briefing. Stressing the importance of a well-informed and committed population, he added, "We are going to have to change our behaviors for the foreseeable future."

Any government that wants to start lifting restrictions, said Tedros of WHO, must first meet six conditions:

1. Disease transmission is under control

2. Health systems are able to "detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact"

3. Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes

4. Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures

5. The risk of importing new cases "can be managed"

6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal

I wish he had done this with China.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

That would mean boycotting N95 masks though.

And some important medications.
And the elastic we are making masks with.
And a lot of our techie gadgets people now can’t live without.
And a host of other things we don’t even realize.
You might as well completely boycott Walmart since so much of what we buy there comes from China,

 

[SouthAussie]

What are they using now?

I think they could be using another brand/type of N95. I really am guessing though .... because there is talk of several brands/types of N95s.
They seem to be only pulling one type of N95 from the hospitals.

 

[FrostOwl]

Well, I got an interesting letter from my employer (hospital) that I have been "krigsplacerad" (something like wartime placing), if the Swedish government decides to order "allmän tjänsteplikt" (general official duties) due to the corona pandemic. In reality it doesn't really mean much difference for me, my placement will be where I work, and more or less my regular duties, to keep up with the transcription load of patient case records being done. The only additional duties my colleagues and I have got is to help in the tent outside the emergency department where the triage is done for the moment (4-hour shifts from 08 a.m. to midnight). I have better take warm clothes on, as even if the daytime temperatures are pleasant, evenings/nights/early mornings are still chilly.

 

[oviedo]

So today's attempt at the IRS payment status portal returned this (after just one try):

Please Try Again Later
We are unable to provide you with the status of your payment or perform the action requested because:

• The tax return information you entered does not match our records; or
• You have already accessed the system the maximum number of times today.

Please come back after 24 hours and try again.

 

[Gardener1850]

Coronavirus Australia live news: Australia 'leading the world' in detecting COVID-19 cases, restrictions in place for at least another four weeks

11 hrs ago
...
ABC News

• Attention of Government "has now been turning to the road out, having worked through the road in"
• Mr Morrison warned the country must prepare for some "very sobering news" in terms of the economy in the months ahead
• Mr Morrison said Australia is "doing relatively well" at suppressing coronavirus
• Australia is not planning to eradicate the disease, although acknowledged this could be a byproduct of the current approach due to the economic impact. Neither is it looking to develop herd immunity
• There are three goals that need to be in place before lifting restrictions: More "sentinel testing", increased "industrial capability" tracing and greater local response capability
• Mr Morrison said Australia "has one of the most extensive testing regimes in the world today" but still "needs broader testing"
• There are no plans to change the social restrictions for the next four weeks
• Mr Morrison said economic "lifelines" will run for six months, but could change depending on the circumstances, the health and economic advice at the time

• Restarting some elective surgeries will be considered on Tuesday, including IVF procedures
• Mr Morrison released a list of seven national principles for schools but added that schools were state responsibilities
• "The health advice has been consistent that for children schools are a safe space for children," Mr Morrison said.
• National Cabinet agreed a financial plan for people with disabilities building on $1 billion in financial assistance for NDIS providers to support increased costs and maintaining business viability
• If employers are withholding JobKeeper payments from staff, the Prime Minister said they should be reported to the police and ATO, saying it is "appalling behaviour"
• The Prime Minister said despite having "valid criticisms" of the WHO, Australia would continue working with them

Thanks for posting tmar, but you forgot a link. Here is one for the above info: Coronavirus Australia live news: Australia 'leading the world' in detecting COVID-19 cases, restrictions in place for at least another four weeks

I wish I lived in Australia right now. Their approach to re-opening seems more reasonable and safer than here in America. If I lived there I would be proud of my government saying 4 more weeks and also they have assured people they will be taken care of economically for 6 months. That's being more realistic IMHO and it's reassuring they have a plan in place. America just seems like so much chaos right now. JMO.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

Good afternoon everyone.
I am all news’d out today, can’t bear to listen to even one more loss of life. I can catch up tomorrow, after all.

Instead, and in between bouts of work at the laptop (I opened a new account this morning, which is giving me hope that even though we are far from emerging from this, people are planning for life beyond the pandemic), I hung out in the garden with the cats. Of the many strawberry plants I potted up recently, one was a sad little scrap with dead leaves and little hope. I have given this one extra water and feed, additional compost, put it in bright sunshine - and today, there is a small, vibrantly green leaf poking out from the soil. When everything else is grim, these little shoots of life are so encouraging.

Stay safe, Sleuthers

 

[tresir2012]

"Coronavirus: US loses more than 20m jobs since mid-March - BBC News" Coronavirus: US loses more than 20m jobs since mid-March - BBC News

21 million jobs lost in the US. UK on three more weeks lockdown. Captain Tom completes his 100 laps.

Can't believe three more weeks lockdown. You cannot be serious, man!

Does anyone from UK know of any promised small business rate relief grants being received yet? Have heard it is on it's way but that is all so far.

Also from the link great pic from Kruger National Park.

Posted at 13:2013:20
Lion around: Big cats find a new resting place
A ranger at South Africa's Kruger National Park has shared pictures of an unlikely sight - a pride of lions sprawled out across a road usually packed with tourist vans.

The famous park, like many other places in the country, has been closed to the public. South Africa is currently under a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.

More than 2,500 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the country and only essential services are allowed to operate during the lockdown period, which was recently extended until the end of April.

Social embed from twitter

Kruger National Park@SANParksKNP

Kruger visitors that tourists do not normally see. #SALockdown This lion pride are usually resident on Kempiana Contractual Park, an area Kruger tourists do not see. This afternoon they were lying on the tar road just outside of Orpen Rest Camp.
Section Ranger Richard Sowry



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This is a bit surreal. Police to stop people sitting on benches for too long!!!!!!

Posted at 14:2614:26
Police told: Stop people sitting on benches too long

Danny Shaw

BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

Police have been told to stop people working in parks or sitting on benches for a long time.

Guidance to officers in England says neither activity is likely to be a “reasonable excuse” for someone to leave their home during the lockdown.

But the advice - from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing - said people can move to a friend's address for a ‘cooling-off’ period “following arguments at home”.

It said such moves must be “genuine” and “measured in days, not hours”.

The advice comes from a three-page document designed to help officers enforce the lockdown measures which were brought in three weeks ago and look set to be extended.

Part of the guidance spells out that it is acceptable to buy luxury items while shopping, and that driving somewhere to exercise is acceptable as long as "far more time" is spent walking than driving.

 

[Gardener1850]

Dr. Fauci endorses Tinder hookups 'if you're willing to take a risk'

I have no words. Someone please tell me he was misquoted or his words were taken out of context.

 

[NuttMegg]

This is about thousands upon thousands of small businesses. And medium-sized businesses, and sure, large businesses. More than that, though, it's about life. Yes, life- our family's lives, our mental health and well-being, and that without a healthy economy, even our physical well-being and health are in tremendous jeopardy. Unbelievable jeopardy. How does a local government fulfill it's duties, let alone state and federal, without any revenue? The US economy could very well totally collapse if things aren't opened up before too long, and opened up in as responsible manner as is possible. If there's a total collapse, nothing is coming back and many more millions of lives will be destroyed. The world's economy also depends on the US economy- we're all connected and perhaps we're connected a bit too much.

I see no reason why certain folks cannot continue to self-isolate, even if most things are "opened" up on a rolling basis. We'll keep getting more availability of testing, hopefully a wider availability of different therapeutics, and we continually are learning more about this virus. I can see our entire healthcare system collapse if we stay shutdown too long, as well. Doctors, nurses, techs, drug makers, medical device makers-- all depend on other workers and constant revenue.
I say that because our federal govt. is printing money hand over fist to try to get us through this crisis, and we can't keep that up without dire consequences for long, either. ( though we've done a great job of doing that for years...)

Testing testing testing, why doesn't the federal government do it with the DPA?.

 

[they'll get you]

Are we even sure it came from a bat?

NO.

 

[tresir2012]

Well, I got an interesting letter from my employer (hospital) that I have been "krigsplacerad" (something like wartime placing), if the Swedish government decides to order "allmän tjänsteplikt" (general official duties) due to the corona pandemic. In reality it doesn't really mean much difference for me, my placement will be where I work, and more or less my regular duties, to keep up with the transcription load of patient case records being done. The only additional duties my colleagues and I have got is to help in the tent outside the emergency department where the triage is done for the moment (4-hour shifts from 08 a.m. to midnight). I have better take warm clothes on, as even if the daytime temperatures are pleasant, evenings/nights/early mornings are still chilly.

Do you think Sweden will need to lockdown at some point or will you be able to get thru without it?

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Coronavirus: Another 861 COVID-19 deaths in UK hospitals takes total past 13,000

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has warned that coronavirus deaths will keep rising for some time to come.

The number of coronavirus patients who have died in UK hospitals has gone past 13,000 after another 861 deaths.

The Department of Health announced the increase, which takes the total to 13,729

 

[Gardenista]

RBC Heritage will be played in June, PGA Tour says. Spectators won’t be allowed

 

[mickey2942]

I'm "essential" so I'm working every day ... which is probably a good thing since my kids are all home. lol

You know what sort of burns me...all of my kids are working. As "essential workers". And unemployment benefits are being increased by $600 a WEEK! On top of the weekly benefit amount. With an extension available.

That is more money than two of my kids make, working fulltime. At "Essential Jobs". It is a typical government program that seems to reward people who don't have jobs.

My daughter is actually very angry about it. Her friends are planning trips, buying new clothes. Meanwhile, my daughter goes to work every day, for less money than her friends will get on unemployment.

There is something very wrong about this picture.

 

[NuttMegg]

Testing testing testing, why doesn't the federal government do it with the DPA?.

Will Trump tell Alaska today that they should go back to work? The IHME peak for Alaska is supposed to be April 18, but those data per IHME are valid based on full social media distancing through May 2020. Some people are going to listen to him, drop their diligent distancing, and put so many in peril, in a state where it's often hard to get to the doctors, sometimes requiring many-hours long flights in tiny planes from the villages, in horrendous weather. And the main provider of air travel within the state, and its far-flung villages just went bankrupt. Charters of tourists will fly around, but villagers will be out of luck,. These villages haven't even been hit yet because of the success of social distancing, open the villages up, fly in "sport" trophy hunters and fisherman, tourists and people from the large cities and there goes the health in the village, for the most part ethnicities which have fewer natural defenses, even to alcohol. Will they be told to get back to work and just deal with the influx of outsiders, without a federal testing program?