Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #51

[Satchie]

I don’t know that it’s pointing blame, we did this here in Australia (& New Zealand). I’m not sure exactly how many deaths there were when we started (I’m losing track of time!) but it’s been a few weeks and as of now Australia has 78 deaths and NZ has 17. I think NZ might have been just one death when they shut down, IIRC.

There has been strong public support for the shutdowns. We all saw what was happening in China, Italy, Spain and the growing number of cases in the US (many of our cases had come from travelers to/from the US while they were still reporting low numbers). A shutdown was inevitable, so why wait for many more deaths and an overwhelmed healthcare system.

We also shut our borders fairly early, firstly to anyone who had traveled to China, followed by Iran, Italy & South Korea. Then we just shut the borders to everyone completely. Strong contact tracing of every single case has been in place since the beginning. At first suppression and control of any outbreaks was the plan, never allowing it to overwhelm us, now eradication is potentially a real possibility.

All steps were taken with a fair bit of foresight, and many still thought our government was too slow!

At this stage we’ll be keeping our international borders shut for a long time, while carefully opening up our domestic economy (and potentially allowing travel between the two countries). But not for a few more weeks yet.

moo

That's great news. As above NZ and Oz ordered a shutdown around March 23, a few days later than here in Canada, when the border with the US was closed (March 18, all other flights banned earlier). There were 700 cases in Canada and just a few deaths. Australia had confirmed 1700 cases, in a smaller population. https://www.theage.com.au/national/...y-death-toll-passes-5000-20200322-p54ct8.html

The smaller provinces have planked the curve, however the big heavily urbanized provinces of Ontario and Quebec have not. They are saying it's because of deaths in long term care homes. So Canada's numbers are much higher than Oz.

Here's a graphic comparison of some countries,

Coronavirus in Canada: These charts show how our fight to 'flatten the curve' is going - Macleans.ca

 

[firebird]

Updated April 11. Thank you -- I wasn't aware of the original date.

Typical of Seattle Times and using archive headlines on Friday. MOO

When I click the link it says updated March 11.

 

[Teche]

How wonderful you are able to do that with your family! Every Sunday was dinner at my grandparents house. We had continued family dinners but unable to get together now.

The only way we’re able to see the grandkids is we have an agreement with our daughter and her family. Other then their work, no one “socializes” with outsiders. The schools are closed and the toddler is no longer in daycare. For my husband and me, it was worth the risk. My daughter and her workmates have a separate entrance and elevator to enter NICU and my sil works at a rural hospital ER where they see 6 patients a shift. We’ve learned to FaceTime our son, sil and their 18 month old who live a couple of hours away. They’re essential workers and they have the same assistance from the in-laws who live next door. My heart goes out to those of you who’re separated from your loved ones. For me, staying home is easy, it’s missing loved ones that is hard.

 

[LadyL]

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Someone posted a pretty cool info graphic about masks and risk earlier, but no source. I just happened to find this similar one on Facebook and I have a source link!

Henry/Stark County Health Departments

 

[Sillybilly]

Almost 40 off topic posts have just been removed.

Seriously folks, these threads are dedicated to discussion of Covid19 and that is what members and guests come here to read. Please don't make the thread all about you or hijack it with general chit chat that is not related to the virus and what is being done about it.

Thank you.

 

[Curious Me]

Just a thought-- I mentioned being afraid that maybe vacuum cleaners could spread the virus. I just heard about some study speculating that it's possible the Covid virus can live and be spread up to 100 feet by microscopic particles. Wouldn't some air fans and vacuum cleaners blow those particles around? We weren't born to worry and clean so much!

 

[Tigerlily75]

The coronavirus shutdown is here. So what's banned in Australia and what's not?
By political reporter Jack Snape
Updated 23 Mar 2020, 7:00am

Looks like the shut down started on March 23rd in Australia.

These are the businesses that can stay open during the coronavirus shutdown

Thanks, so if Worldometers is correct, it was 7 deaths recorded as of March 23.

I remember there were some restrictions on “non-essential” gatherings etc before then. Along with some controversy because the PM announced them on a Friday to begin on a Monday - and there was a huge Hillsong conference planned that weekend! (He has a connection to the church). By this point, Scott Morrison who is nicknamed ScoMo was re-nicknamed “SlowMo”.

So there was definitely a public push to shutdown despite low numbers.

 

[katydid23]

The only way we’re able to see the grandkids is we have an agreement with our daughter and her family. Other then their work, no one “socializes” with outsiders. The schools are closed and the toddler is no longer in daycare. For my husband and me, it was worth the risk. My daughter and her workmates have a separate entrance and elevator to enter NICU and my sil works at a rural hospital ER where they see 6 patients a shift. We’ve learned to FaceTime our son, sil and their 18 month old who live a couple of hours away. They’re essential workers and they have the same assistance from the in-laws who live next door. My heart goes out to those of you who’re separated from your loved ones. For me, staying home is easy, it’s missing loved ones that is hard.

We would be able to see my son nd his wife and daughter by now, except there are extenuating issues. My daughterinlaw's mom is having radiation treatments for cancer, which was in remission for several years.

So we cannot bring any potential illnesses to their home because my DIL is helping her father care for Mom at their home. I am happy to sacrifice my time with my granddaughter in order to try and help my friend get through this crisis faster. But I sure do miss hugging her.

Her 5th birthday is on May 15th---I am hoping and praying I can see her in person instead of face time or through the living room window.

 

[mickey2942]

Just received the quarterly update of my husband's retirement account. As of December 31, 2019, increase 20.68% return. As of April 1, 2020, loss of 30%. That is a hefty loss.

 

[otto]

Almost 3 million people sick from the virus. The virus epidemic was in China in January, Italy in February, USA in March. The virus weakens the overall health of everyone who is sick, and may be dormant in people who have no symptoms.

50,000 dead, one million sick in the USA from the virus one month after the start of the local epidemic.

Coronavirus Update (Live): 2,829,934 Cases and 197,244 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Just a thought-- I mentioned being afraid that maybe vacuum cleaners could spread the virus. I just heard about some study speculating that it's possible the Covid virus can live and be spread up to 100 feet by microscopic particles. Wouldn't some air fans and vacuum cleaners blow those particles around? We weren't born to worry and clean so much!

But if your vacuum has a hepa filter, it ought to catch it - I hope.

Edited to fix stupid autocorrect

 

[Satchie]

Does WHO have any suggestions how a very large country can continue a total national quarantine while still keeping their food and medical supply lines up and running?

That is what worries me the most now. I do not believe we can continue this total lockdown and still assure people there will be food and medicines available in the coming months. JMO

WHO has long list of steps that 'need' to happen before a state reopens. But those steps seem unattainable. JMO

I think food/grocery stores and medicine/pharmacies are essential services and will continue to be prioritized to continue. If the meat packing plants are required to protect their workers from the virus, I think the price of meat might rise. Kinda of like during wartime, people didn't eat as much fresh meat. There might be requirements that US drug factories 'retool' to produce high demand drugs, same as car companies are producing ventilators.

I think every decision to reopen a sector should be on a priority basis. This is what people do in any challenging situaton: decide on your priorities and put your energy there. Food and medicine yes, rock concerts, no.

 

[10ofRods]

Remdesivir already failed in clinical trials, too. It's not just hydroxychloroquine. The tests have high error rates, the initial studies to find hidden cases were not properly randomized. I think a couple of "promising vaccines" have fallen by wayside.

I am tired of the hype and can't follow SARS-COV 2 blow by blow.

Yes, a very big disappointment. No one can follow all of this and my DH is really getting antsy with me trying to do any such thing.

Here's where the WHO messaging has gone (they have to do rumor control):

Myth busters

Oof.

 

[10ofRods]

What are the unknowns at this time?

"Well, we talk about it everyday, it is just as important to say what we don't know, as it is to say what we do know.

And when you talk about what we still don't know about covid-19 and this new strain of coronavirus, in terms of how this pandemic will play out...

How,Why, When and Where, a wave, or multiple waves will occur.
If they wll occur and ultimately, even though people dont want to think about this, how many deaths will this cause world wide?

Remember it is not just about what happens in the United Sates that matters, it really matters what happens in other parts of the world because that has a direct affect on us here as well."

SECOND WAVE
.How
.When
.Where
.Why
.How many deaths world wide

video 46 sec
ABC News Live on Twitter



ICYMI: In public health, it’s important to look at what is happening today, as well as what MAY happen in the future, since lives are at stake. So my nightly chat on WNT with David Muir, l looked at some context for the future of what Influenza + Coronavirus could look like.

video Dr Jennifer Ashton on Instagram: “ICYMI: In public health, it’s important to look at what is happening today, as well as what MAY happen in the future, since lives are at…”


Why a Second Wave of Covid-19 Is Already a Worry

Wuhan resident: A second wave is 'absolutely' coming - CNN Video

I'm curious on everyone's opinion. How many do you know, who are prepared for and expecting a second wave? Is this going to be exactly like the first wave or will it be better/worse...in your opinion?

 

[KALI]

I'm go8ng to try to get into that program. We have a lot of elderly in our community.
No info on who to contact yet though.

(@KALI might be interested in this?)

Coronavirus: Newsom announces program for local eateries to prepare, deliver meals to seniors amid COVID-19 pandemic

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) -- In a move he says will allow restaurants across the state to rehire workers, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local governments that will employ eateries to prepare and deliver three meals a day to eligible seniors.

The governor said during his daily coronavirus press conference that the first-in-the-nation partnership will provide an "unlimited" number of meals, with restaurants being reimbursed at rates up to $16 for each breakfast, $17 for each lunch and $28 for each dinner.

"Working with FEMA on ways to provide nutritious meals to our seniors, to get them delivered, but to also get them prepared. We started thinking about building a partnership with our restaurants industry, with kitchens, with our hospitality industry that's been ravaged by this pandemic," Newsom said. "This partnership will allow for the ability for restaurants to start rehiring people or keep people currently employed and start preparing meals, three meals a day, seven days a week and have those meals delivered to our seniors all throughout the state of California.
...

More information on the program program -- dubbed Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Older Californians'' can be found here.
...

 

[anneg]

...If you or I lose our sense of smell - I suggest we insist on being tested.... .

RSBM for focus

Losing sense of smell and taste is interesting to me because that has happened to me multiple times in the past when I've had bad colds. This doesn't happen to me with every cold or flu illness, though.

From what I've read, this symptom in people with COVID-19 occurs without a runny nose or nasal congestion.

A recent Livescience article discusses a study at UC San Diego that "...found that smell and taste loss appear to be common initial symptoms in patients with mild infections." ...

"...Of the COVID-19-positive patients in the study, about 68% said they experienced smell loss and 71% reported taste loss, as compared with 16% and 17% of negative patients, respectively.

Among the COVID-19 patients with smell or taste loss, the decrease in sensation was often "profound, not mild," according to the UC San Diego statement. However, the majority of patients recovered their sense of smell and taste within about 2 to 4 weeks, around the time they'd recovered from infection. "

'Profound' smell loss is a common COVID-19 symptom, study confirms | Live Science

 

[TJtennispro]

Technically you haven’t lost anything unless you pull it out. It will rise back up once we open the economy back up which should have been last week.

Just received the quarterly update of my husband's retirement account. As of December 31, 2019, increase 20.68% return. As of April 1, 2020, loss of 30%. That is a hefty loss.

 

[10ofRods]

In transit for 3 days but a human handled it to put it in your mailbox or drop it off on your porch.

But they handled it only the outside. Hence the gloves and mask when handling the outside. Open with those on.

Take off gloves, disinfect knife or package opener.

Use new or second pair of gloves if truly worried, remove stuff inside and put where ever you think is prudent. Then wash hands again.

We assume the contents of the box are fine, so we do not use a second pair of gloves (we have enough work gloves to be able to do this and let them disinfect in the sun, but choose not to).

Now the stuff is where ever it's going to sit (likely VERY virus free - but we give it as long as we think is sensible) and then we use it.

If it's something like paper towels (YES, we finally got a shipment!), then we just wash after taking it out of its inner plastic wrapper and let the towels sit in the sun for an hour. That's it. Or our backroom, which got up to 110 F today.

 

[firebird]

Technically you haven’t lost anything unless you pull it out. It will rise back up once we open the economy back up which should have been last week.

Right. And it's still a few thousand points up from 2015. So if things have been sitting there for a length of time, their's still been an overall significant gain. That's my situation, thankfully.