Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #51

[Henry2326]

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to citizens to strictly comply with a nationwide lockdown and maintain social distancing norms, as cases of coronavirus mounted steadily despite over a month-long curfew.

In a radio address, Modi said the country was in the midst of a "war" and urged hundreds of millions of citizens to sustain the "people driven" fight and not be misled into believing the spread of the virus has been brought fully under control.

"I will urge you that we should not be trapped into over-confidence and nurse the belief that in our city, in our village, in our streets, in our office, coronavirus has not reached and that is why it will not reach" Modi said.

Modi imposed a lockdown of India's 1.3 billion people on March 25 but experts fear that the world's biggest lockdown has not been able to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and country was witnessing a surge in cases with testing being ramped up.

India's Modi urges citizens follow lockdown as coronavirus cases rise

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Virus tracing app to be launched on Sunday

6 hrs ago
...
The controversial app to help trace people who come into contact with someone with COVID-19 will be launched on Sunday.

The Australian app is based on Singapore's Tracetogether software, which records the Bluetooth connections a phone makes with others so the user can give that data to state health authorities if they catch the virus.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who has recovered from a bout of COVID-19, said it was a more effective approach than checking your diary or trying to remember where you had been.

"The beauty of the app is that it can have a handshake, if you like, with people that you've been in close proximity with, find the phone," he told Sky Sunday Agenda.
...
A broader testing regime and a government contact tracing app are seen as key stepping stones to a relaxation of the economic shutdown.

The government wants at least 40 percent of the population to sign up so officials can do "industrial-scale" contact tracing.

You know, I’m really glad I have location history timeline from Google available to me. Especially now, the days all meld together and I can’t remember what day I went to the vet or the pharmacy. If I do need to track where I went, at least I can.

 

[Henry2326]

SCOTT GOTTLIEB
THREAD: We're not out of the woods in U.S. on #covid. While there are signs of slowing in some areas, and nationally we may have hit a plateau, we're still recording more than 30K infections a day. The trip down the epidemic curve will be far more gradually than the trip up. 1/n

Some models like closely watched IHME predict a symmetric epidemic curve, where slope of decline is proportional to slope of the rise. That was mostly the case in China, but not in Italy. And it won't be the case in U.S. Our decline will be far more gradual, similar to Italy. 2/n Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter

Our mitigation steps were not as stringent as China's, they were leakier, and our epidemic was far more pervasive across our country. We're likely to see a much slower decline in new cases spread across weeks not days. While there are signs of U.S. improvement, it'll be slow. 3/n

We all want this to be over. And things are mostly trending in right direction. But we're still very much in the thick of the epidemic. What we do over next few weeks will determine if we can get this wave more firmly behind us, or whether covid remains a combustible threat. 4/n Scott Gottlieb, MD on Twitter

 

[jjenny]

There are actually 3 states that are forcing nursing homes into accepting covid patients-California, New York and New Jersey.
"“Whoever made this decision, whoever did this, I consider this a sentence of death for all the older patients, whoever is in a nursing home,” he said."
‘Playing Russian Roulette’: Nursing Homes Told to Take the Infected

 

[Trino]

I think it is interesting to see how it may ultimately benefit the states to reopen. If a state orders businesses to open and the owner refuses because they want to be careful, is that business owner now eligible for payroll protection relief? Are the employees eligible for unemployment insurance? Was their money set aside to help businesses get the supplies necessary in order to open safely. I still can't find face masks, can businesses? And the attempt of the government to block funds for states will not help. First responders, health care workers, and teachers will take pay cuts and the states will suffer. And I heard the possibility of legislation that will protect companies from being sued for not providing proper equipment and from employees or customers who catch the virus. Has anyone heard more on this? It is all about money and not about public health!

Teachers are union, and many are tenured. Will not see pay cuts. Their jobs could be cut, but that's based on student population.

 

[MimosaMornings]

You know, I’m really glad I have location history timeline from Google available to me. Especially now, the days all meld together and I can’t remember what day I went to the vet or the pharmacy. If I do need to track where I went, at least I can.

I logged onto my Amazon account and put delivery dates on my calendar also. I spray and leave for three days.
I can tell the few times I have been out by my bank account/debit card activity.
My neighbor could probably tell you each time the car has left the garage too lol

 

[Deleted member 158085]

We hope that viral load will not make any difference. In Spring 2020 the virus arrived in North America. Summer is two months away. We have no idea how this will play out, but anyone who suggests that the peak has passed and we're good to go has not looked into the 1918 pandemic. Spring is the first wave, Fall is the second wave. There was a third wave.

Herd immunity did not work in 1918. Soldiers from Kansas carried the virus to WW1. People died in March 1918, in October 1918, and some experienced a third wave. Herd immunity of some sort was eventually established, or the virus ran out of hosts. Either way, millions died prematurely.

We hope that recovered people are no longer contagious, and that they are no longer susceptible to the virus.

What ended that pandemic? There was no vaccine and no treatment, so what made it finally end? Was it herd immunity? Or something else? Anyone know?

 

[Reasonable & Just]

There are actually 3 states that are forcing nursing homes into accepting covid patients-California, New York and New Jersey.
"“Whoever made this decision, whoever did this, I consider this a sentence of death for all the older patients, whoever is in a nursing home,” he said."
‘Playing Russian Roulette’: Nursing Homes Told to Take the Infected

From the NYT article:

"At the epicenter of the outbreak, New York issued a strict new rulelast month: Nursing homes must readmit residents sent to hospitals with the coronavirus and accept new patients as long as they are deemed “medically stable.” California and New Jerseyhave also said that nursing homes should take in such patients. Homes are allowed to turn patients away if they claim they can’t care for them safely — but administrators say they worry that refusing patients could provoke regulatory scrutiny, and advocates say it could result in a loss of revenue.

In contrast to these states, Connecticut and Massachusetts designated certain facilities for Covid-19 patients alone — considered the safest way to free up hospital beds. The Washington Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities in Washington State, has asked officials to adopt a similar policy; so far, they have not.

“It’s got to happen,” said Robin Dale, the association’s president. “Then we would not have this hodgepodge of every nursing home in the state having one or two positives and crossing your fingers that it works out."

It may have started as a way to free up hospital beds and to make nursing home owners accountable for caring for the people they make huge $$$$ off of. But seriously misguided, IMO, and especially bad thinking once Javits was available and USS Comfort finally started accepting Covid patients. CT and MA did it right. This is not the last we'll hear of it. People will seek accountability and justice in NY. JMO.

 

[musicaljoke]

You cannot physically distance when caring for or shielding someone though. And we cannot be in isolation forever. Also, if it is transmitted by A/C then even that won't work IMO.

Yes, that's true, as in I can't physically distance from the person I am caring for. But if I physically distance from all others, then I can care for someone. The A/C may be a huge problem though. We absolutely have to get that sorted out before the fall.

 

[Inthedetails]

I logged onto my Amazon account and put delivery dates on my calendar also. I spray and leave for three days.
I can tell the few times I have been out by my bank account/debit card activity.
My neighbor could probably tell you each time the car has left the garage too lol

At the beginning of the lockdown, I started a diary....and kept it up for two days. I didn't find comforting, but a downer. Now I wish I had kept with it. Maybe not too late to start again.
jmo

 

[musicaljoke]

Totally insane! I know the decision-makers know people are going a bit stir-crazy now after weeks of lockdowns, but everyone will be locked down for longer with more restrictions, and sadly more infected and more deaths, if they act too soon

Political leaders are in a tough position. I think that they are responding to perceived pressure from the electorate, and real economic pressure. However, good leaders should be able to set healthy goals, and to safely find the right time to open up the economy. They shouldn't be pushed by self-interest groups.

 

[Inthedetails]

From the NYT article:

"At the epicenter of the outbreak, New York issued a strict new rulelast month: Nursing homes must readmit residents sent to hospitals with the coronavirus and accept new patients as long as they are deemed “medically stable.” California and New Jerseyhave also said that nursing homes should take in such patients. Homes are allowed to turn patients away if they claim they can’t care for them safely — but administrators say they worry that refusing patients could provoke regulatory scrutiny, and advocates say it could result in a loss of revenue.

In contrast to these states, Connecticut and Massachusetts designated certain facilities for Covid-19 patients alone — considered the safest way to free up hospital beds. The Washington Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities in Washington State, has asked officials to adopt a similar policy; so far, they have not.

“It’s got to happen,” said Robin Dale, the association’s president. “Then we would not have this hodgepodge of every nursing home in the state having one or two positives and crossing your fingers that it works out."

It may have started as a way to free up hospital beds and to make nursing home owners accountable for caring for the people they make huge $$$$ off of. But seriously misguided, IMO, especially once Javits was available and USS Comfort finally started accepting Covid patients. CT and MA did it right. This is not the last we'll hear of it. People will seek accountability and justice in NY. JMO.

And added to this is that families had to keep a distance, making it virtually impossible to advocate for relatives. Tragic situation, especially when beds at Javits and Comfort were so close by. This must be addressed and fixed immediately.

jmo

 

[COSCitizen]

I’ve been a prepper since Y2K. Don’t hoard, just get a little extra each time and it adds up. My motto is basically the scout motto, Be Prepared.

I want to keep a go bag in my vehicle, but am quite concerned about hot summer temperatures and the effects on everything. I’m in Texas, with really, really hot summers.
Do you or anyone have any suggestions on that? TIA

We lived in rural area where wildfire country was a huge risk for years. After the Hayman fire, I reorganized the garage so our go-bags were right by the cars. The order of evacuation was companion animals into the cars, go-bags and important documents bag second. I also kept the boxes with photos and albums there, so IF, and ONLY IF, there was time, I could load them into the cars. We also had horses at the time, but I always evacuated them to a friend's where I could board them where they would be safe. If I didn't have time to evacuate the horses, I kept spray paint handy so I could paint my cell phone number on them, then open the fence gates and send them down the road. At least that way, the horses would have a chance.

 

[Victoria Chambers]

Nursing homes in NY were forced to accept covid patients. The results were totally predictable. How can nursing home be ordered to accept infectious patients into a vulnerable population is beyond my understanding.
"A month later, Gurwin is battling an outbreak that’s killed 24 residents — only three of whom were hospital transfers — and one staff member, who worked in housekeeping, Almer said. And the nursing home is still mandated to take in recovering hospital patients known to have the virus, potentially increasing its spread in the facility."
At a NY nursing home forced to take COVID-19 patients, 24 residents have died

There is no rational method to this madness!! Many people hand over their life savings In return for quality care in such facilities! This is not how senior citizens should be living out their final days on Earth... these victims and their families are being failed on every level. It is an outrage. And you know what else.. shoot me down if you must but these decisions have to be made with intent.. given the evidence, anybody with half a brain can figure out how this is going to end! To be treated in this bull**** way is not what good citizens have paid for and it is unforgivable to me!!
As Ever, Take Real Care Peeps! X

 

[musicaljoke]

https://nypost.com/2020/04/23/nursing-homes-cant-reject-coronavirus-patients-cuomo-says/

The plot possibly thickens........moo

From the article: "Hanse also echoed some of Cuomo’s own words in saying, “This treacherous virus spreads through nursing homes like fire through dry grass and the state’s March 25 policy served to unnecessarily to fan the flames of this fire.”

You'd think it shouldn't be too hard to provide a separate recovery centre? There are buildings all over the city that are standing empty.

 

[Inthedetails]

Amen to what you said!!!!...

If people behind bars don't count as humans, I guess I'm questioning the values of this culture. If we treat them in a knowingly harmful way, how are we different than criminals who treated their victims in a harmful way?

jmo

 

[Henry2326]

From the article: "Hanse also echoed some of Cuomo’s own words in saying, “This treacherous virus spreads through nursing homes like fire through dry grass and the state’s March 25 policy served to unnecessarily to fan the flames of this fire.”

You'd think it shouldn't be too hard to provide a separate recovery centre? There are buildings all over the city that are standing empty.

I'll take a stab that it's not about buildings. There has to be care givers to take care of them. Albany, GA, outbreak area, has the same issue. The state built a temporary hospital. It's all setup. But there are no people to man it.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

This telehealth thing only goes so far. As I told my mother's doctor:

A 94 year old, losing her hearing, now in the early stages of dementia cannot do telehealth. It isn't remotely possible.

The more people that do telehealth appointments, the better it will be for those who must go in, like your mom and katydid’s mom. They can actually be the only one in the waiting room, and many fewer people will have been there that day touching stuff. This seems like a great partial solution, if doctors can stagger telehealth appointments with in-person appointments so that patients do not encounter each other.

I hope the telehealth thing lasts well past this, because I really hate going to the doctor. If I can get in-person visits reduced by even half, that will make me a happy camper.

 

[CSIDreamer]

If people behind bars don't count as humans, I guess I'm questioning the values of this culture. If we treat them in a knowingly harmful way, how are we different than criminals who treated their victims in a harmful way?

jmo

I agree.

 

[Really?]

Thanks. I can't believe as old as I am that I never noticed or heard of this kind of milk before now. Researching... says it might taste different. Seems like it's a good idea for Pandemic Isolation.

This kind of UHT milk is thermally processed at or above 280° F for at least 2 seconds, not that long, either before or after packaging, so as to produce a product which has an extended shelf life. It's like sterilized. Well, well, now I have to try some.

Here....in the USA?...at least where I am NJ .....I buy it under the brand name “fairlife”. It comes in chocolate too. It tastes the same as regular milk....moo