Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #51

[cass523]

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase, it is clear an effective vaccine is urgently needed. With experts predicting 12 to 18 months before a vaccine is available, some scientists are considering unconventional ways to speed up the process. One highly debated method involves injecting healthy adults with live coronavirus.

This strategy -- called a challenge trial -- would normally never be considered to test a deadly virus for which there is no effective cure, but these are extraordinary times.

Injecting healthy adults with live coronavirus provides moral dilemma, faster path to vaccine

 

[weepingangel]

Nursing homes getting more funding, emergency response team


Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday his administration would be making $130 million in additional funding available by the end of the week for nursing homes to pay for additional staff, cleaning and personal protective equipment.

Baker said long-term care facilities, including the state's 386 nursing homes, have "unfortunately evolved into a national hotspot," with 10,031 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than half of the state's deaths from the disease.

massachusetts/more at link

 

[tresir2012]

Nursing homes push governors for legal immunity during COVID-19 crisis

As the COVID-19 death toll at nursing homes climbs to nearly 12,000, the nursing home industry is pushing states to provide immunity from lawsuits to the owners and employees of the nation's 15,600 nursing homes.

So far at least six states have provided explicit immunity from coronavirus lawsuits for nursing homes, and six more have granted some form of immunity to health care providers, which legal experts say could likely be interpreted to include nursing homes.



Patient advocates worry that nursing homes accused of extreme neglect could avoid liability.

"I can't even believe this is a topic of discussion," said Anny Figueroa, whose 55-year-old mother was a resident at Andover Subacute & Rehab Center in New Jersey, where law enforcement discovered 17 bodies in a makeshift morgue this month. The nursing home is under investigation by the state attorney general.

Figueroa said her family was kept in the dark about her mother's coronavirus diagnosis, forcing her to demand that she be transferred to a hospital, where she is now in intensive care. Figueroa said she fears immunity will let facilities like Andover "continue to neglect and abuse these helpless individuals because now they are not liable."

Continued at link.

 

[24Roses]

Iowa news today: April 27: 393 more COVID-19 cases in Iowa, 9 additional deaths, over 2,000 recovered We have 393 confirmed new cases today and 9 more have passed awa. We now have a total of 5,868 confirmed cases and 127 have passed away. 2,021 have recovered.
Gov. Reynolds loosening business restrictions for counties with low COVID-19 risk
https://governor.iowa.gov/press-rel...ontinuing-the-state-public-health-emergency-0

 

[BHughes]

Texas' stay at-home order to expire Thursday, businesses to reopen in phases Friday

Texas' stay-at-home order to expire Thursday, businesses to reopen in phases starting Friday

 

[pocketaccent]

5PM ET
Live | The White House

 

[firebird]

From the AG re Civil Rights at this time

https://t.co/374qRe5ZGq?amp=1

 

[Cool Cats]

‘This virus doesn’t take the weekends off’: Gov. Newsom urges Californians to follow stay-at-home orders after crowding at SoCal beaches

With crowding seen at some of Southern California’s beaches over the weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday urged residents to follow physical distancing guidelines, warning that adherence to the orders will affect when the state will begin to ease stay-at-home orders.

“This virus doesn’t take the weekends off. This virus doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful, sunny day around our coasts,” the governor told residents in a news conference.
...
“Those images are an example of what not to see … what not to do — if we’re going to make the meaningful progress that we’ve made in the last few weeks, extend into the next number of weeks,” the governor said.
...

APRIL 27, 2020 - 1:02 PM

Newport Beach now considering closing beaches due to weekend's crowds

An aerial view of beachgoers enjoying a warm, sunny Saturday in Newport Beach amid state-mandated stay-at-home orders to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Newport Beach will consider targeted beach closures in response to the turnout during this weekend’s heat wave.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

DeWine (Ohio) is to share opening guidelines today. Live presser 2pm.

@Tillicum ...which city is this picture?

 

[nhmemorymaker]

DeWine (Ohio) is to share opening guidelines today. Live presser 2pm.

I see the aerial one is the Capital Building in Columbus, showing the original Marzetti's restaurant!! But I don't know the one with the water...

 

[CSIDreamer]

I'm only half-way through reading this, but it's nicely written and informative stuff on hunting for new coronaviruses in bat populations in several countries (China, Myanmar, Kenya), getting the virus genomes, and sometimes finding that the virus has already been contracted by some humans, but hasn't yet caused a major pandemic.

Then there's some info on other diseases that exist in wildlife and examples of small and large 'spillover' events into the human population, including some that spread on a small scale to multiple countries across the world before anyone even realised these people were suffering from a 'new' virus that no one had seen before.


The virus hunters who search bat caves to predict the next pandemic - CNN

I never realized so many viruses came from bats before this. Jmo

 

[TMAN2014]

If viruses like this comes from bats, what would happen if we cut down the bat population? I am sure they prey upon insects or something, that makes them necessary, but at what cost? Is there a point where it is worth it to declare war on bats to prevent a million+ people from dying?

I am sure a scientist is ready to pounce on me for this question!

 

[TMAN2014]

Of course, you have to be careful declaring a war on bats. We saw what happened when they took out "Billy Bats" in Goodfellows.

 

[Tillicum]

I see the aerial one is the Capital Building in Columbus, showing the original Marzetti's restaurant!! But I don't know the one with the water...

I assumed it's Columbus but I can't get a good look at it.

 

[Kadoober]

Illinois Governor Pritzker extended our stay at home order last Friday to end 5/30.

A circuit court judge in Clay County has issued a restraining order to temporarily block the extension.

I am hoping this will be overturned. It's bad enough as it is, with people disregarding the order and throwing parties.

Judge Grants Restraining Order to Block Extended Stay-at-Home Order: Reports

 

[Teche]

Catholic parish life (as we knew it) is not coming no back anytime soon.

Catholic parish life (as we knew it) is not coming back anytime soon.

This is going to be freaky. We Catholics have great difficulty with changes to our services, some more than others. But I think it’s still going to be difficult for all to a certain extent.

I agree that it will provide challenges to us. However, most of the churches in our diocese have been offering virtual masses and prayer services. I have to admit, I absolutely love the virtual experience. We brought our 3 little grandsons on a picnic along a bayou. After lunch I pulled up a virtual mass on my phone and we participated. It was a beautiful experience...gorgeous weather, giant oak trees and the church bells ringing behind us.

 

[realanastasia]

If you need an illustration of how terrible a psychic toll this virus is taking on those who are trying desperately to save ailing patients, see this article from today's New York Times.

Top E.R. Doctor Who Treated Virus Patients Dies by Suicide

 

[Cool Cats]

• Delete - Too political I think

 

[CSIDreamer]

If you need an illustration of how terrible a psychic toll this virus is taking on those who are trying desperately to save ailing patients, see this article from today's New York Times.

Top E.R. Doctor Who Treated Virus Patients Dies by Suicide

That's just so sad.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Indiana has a new website. Be Well Indiana:

Helping Hoosiers Maintain Their Well-Being | Be Well Indiana