Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #51

[otto]

The drug hasn't been approved for anything as of yet. It's experimental. Of course Gilead wants it to work. And I assume many other people do. Because vaccine is clearly still far away, and we need something that can treat it.

At this time, it's as effective as injecting bleach into lungs.

 

[10ofRods]

[

As long as people are social distancing ie hockey stick apart, you don't need a mask. IMO public health authorities want to emphasize that. When people wear masks, they start feeling they can get closer to people (they have to, in order to hear them). No Canadian public health official or politician is using or recommending them. Canadians are following scientific advice, not folk remedies.

If they are recommended as social distancing is relaxed, it will come with very strong, clear communication about how they should be used.

Wow. Boy do I disagree. You still need a mask.

1. Stay home.
2. If you go out, wear a mask AND
3. Stay 6 feet away from others if you can.

If medically fragile, get a better mask and stay more feet away.

No, people do not have to get closer together to hear. They can speak louder. We're putting stripes on walkways and in other ways teaching people what 6 feet means. Of course, no one wants to wear a mask - but if you're going to walk through the viral wake of a bunch of other people (no one is keeping 6 feet apart in every direction), you are risking a lot if you don't wear a mask.

I don't know who Canadians are following, and I've been posting citations, but am getting pretty worn out. Ultimately, if you can't see the common sense reason to wear a mask, don't wear one.

But as long as you don't, I'm staying home longer, doctors are not going to want to see you in their offices, in California you will have a harder time getting a CV test, etc. Doctors want you to wear masks and they are on the front lines.

Canada hasn't had the situation that we've had in Washington, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, most of Michigan or Los Angeles. And I hope you don't.

But if you do, trust me. You should wear a mask. Wear a mask if there's a wildfire near your house, wear a mask if you're going out in a crowded public place or going to be in a room with other people you don't know. Some scientists say 20 feet is still too close.

Wear a mask. And do your research yourself, don't depend on those experts, because truly, I believe the literature clearly states otherwise.

Los Angeles has mandated it (are you saying that USC and UCLA are filled with non-experts? They have WAY more experience with Covid, at this point than some nations). The county where I'm currently hunkered down does not require it (because the rates are similar to Canada's).

At the same time, perhaps you're young and can withstand getting this. In that case, don't wear a mask.

 

[jjenny]

At this time, it's as effective as injecting bleach into lungs.

There are many trials going on with it.
"Preliminary findings from the randomized trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir, begun in February by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), could come even sooner, lead researcher Dr. Andre Kalil told Reuters in an interview. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new virus that has killed over 190,000 people globally, according to a Reuters tally."
Exclusive: Trial of Gilead's potential coronavirus treatment running ahead of schedule, researcher says

 

[Henry2326]

COVID TRACKING PROJECT
Our daily update is published. We’ve now tracked 5.2 million tests, up 300k from yesterday, another huge day.
Note that we can only track tests that a state reports.
For details, see: The COVID Tracking Project The COVID Tracking Project on Twitter

Many states reported a huge number of tests, including a known backlog clearing from MA (30k+). NY reported almost 50k tests; TX over 20k.
AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, MA, NY, TN, TX all reported over 10k tests.
The COVID Tracking Project on Twitter

The positive rate of these tests is dropping, at least a little. Overall, we're now looking at an 18% positive rate in the U.S.
The COVID Tracking Project on Twitter

 

[Teche]

Kind of like arriving hospital and parking your casket in the corner.

Unbelievable! Would be send “stable” Covid-19 patients to live with his medically fragile family members.

 

[jjenny]

Unbelievable! Would be send “stable” Covid-19 patients to live with his medically fragile family members.

I know. It's absurd. Relatives not allowed to visit, and yet covid patients are brought into nursing homes? Who in the world believes that is a good idea? Covid patients obviously should go to a totally separate facility where they are no danger to other elderly vulnerable people. It's sickening, really, to mandate nursing homes with very vulnerable populations to accept covid patients.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

[


Wow. Boy do I disagree. You still need a mask.

1. Stay home.
2. If you go out, wear a mask AND
3. Stay 6 feet away from others if you can.

If medically fragile, get a better mask and stay more feet away.

No, people do not have to get closer together to hear. They can speak louder. We're putting stripes on walkways and in other ways teaching people what 6 feet means. Of course, no one wants to wear a mask - but if you're going to walk through the viral wake of a bunch of other people (no one is keeping 6 feet apart in every direction), you are risking a lot if you don't wear a mask.

I don't know who Canadians are following, and I've been posting citations, but am getting pretty worn out. Ultimately, if you can't see the common sense reason to wear a mask, don't wear one.

But as long as you don't, I'm staying home longer, doctors are not going to want to see you in their offices, in California you will have a harder time getting a CV test, etc. Doctors want you to wear masks and they are on the front lines.

Canada hasn't had the situation that we've had in Washington, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, most of Michigan or Los Angeles. And I hope you don't.

But if you do, trust me. You should wear a mask. Wear a mask if there's a wildfire near your house, wear a mask if you're going out in a crowded public place or going to be in a room with other people you don't know. Some scientists say 20 feet is still too close.

Wear a mask. And do your research yourself, don't depend on those experts, because truly, I believe the literature clearly states otherwise.

Los Angeles has mandated it (are you saying that USC and UCLA are filled with non-experts? They have WAY more experience with Covid, at this point than some nations). The county where I'm currently hunkered down does not require it (because the rates are similar to Canada's).

At the same time, perhaps you're young and can withstand getting this. In that case, don't wear a mask.

I agree that six feet is not nearly enough without a mask. Im not sure it is even with a mask. But no, wearing a mask does not mean I think I can be only 3 feet away or give my friend a hug. Nope.

We just need to better educate people. Make sure they know that both a mask and six feet are required to protect ourselves and others.

 

[10ofRods]

I'm not in charge of policing Amazon.

If this is true, why are Home Depot and Lowe's also selling them throughout the Western US?

And there are dozens of independent online mask makers whose masks are sufficient for a single trip to a store or drug store. Ironing sterilizes them again. So get an iron, a couple of masks, hang one by the door, learn to put it on without touching it (for practice, it's when you take it off that you might want to put it in a dirty sack, inside a hot car if you live someplace relatively dry - or launder or iron it).

I don't wear a mask in my own yard, but I don't stand near the sidewalk, because at least 1 person walks by every 15 minutes. Leaving a wake of COVid if they have it. Or flu if they have that (it's still flu season). Or the common cold.

I don't wear it if I'm just walking 1000 steps, but I cross the street if I see that someone is coming - or that someone has been - where I'm walking.

But I'm older. And have asthma already. And so forth. YMMV. But you'll be glad one day if you do have some kind of mask and are willing to use it if things progress as world models say they are going to.

Canada has natural social distancing - like Denmark and Norway, with similar weather (sort of - west coast of CA is different). Australia has been doing well with just staying at home. If nearly everyone is staying home (not the case in some Canadian cities and certainly not the case in SoCal), then maybe don't wear the mask.

Does Canada still have major mask shortages? Because the messaging from our CDC didn't change on masks until they felt most places had access to them (turns out there are other issues with federal dispensation of masks, but the CDC did an about-face, which had already occurred in Washington and California).

 

[10ofRods]

It's an upright but I would love to get a Gladiator. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gladiator-17-8-cu-ft-Upright-Freezer/1000437681

That is one bada## freezer. However, they have gone up in price (by a factor of 2??) in the last month!!

Hopefully by the time we have to replace our freezer, it will go back down. (Who am I kidding? China isn't going to be shipping them to us in the next few months).

I learned so much from your discussion with others about freezers. My goodness. I knew I should keep the empty spaces filled but didn't know why.

 

[Tillicum]

Federal judge says Mississippi church can hold drive-in services

A federal judge in Mississippi ruled Friday that the First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs can stay open for drive-in services after police issued the pastor a citation for holding Easter services amid the coronavirus outbreak.

U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills issued the order after the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the church, according to a press release.

 

[firebird]

ITA. They should be added to positive cases though.

Agreed. But that would not only drive down the fatality percentage, but also decrease federal funds to the states/hospitals....so. jmo

 

[KALI]

Regarding Kim. He hasn't been blowing things up or threatening anyone lately, so, this news may be true. Fingers crossed.

Can this pulse monitor detect COVID-19?

Pulse oximeters can provide an early warning sign of COVID-19 for patients in hospitals, but are those devices as effective when people use them at home?

video

Can this pulse monitor detect COVID-19?


I have seen this around the internet that Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong Un is rumored to be dead, according to a Hong Kong broadcast network, while a Japanese magazine is reporting that North Korea’s rocket man is in a “vegetative state” after he underwent heart surgery earlier this month.

A vice director of HKSTV Hong Kong Satellite Television, a Beijing-backed broadcast network in Hong Kong, claimed that Kim was dead, citing a “very solid source.” Her post on the Chinese messaging app Weibo has been shared widely on social media, according to a report in the International Business Times.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/25/north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-rumored-to-be-dead/

 

[Henry2326]

"March 19, first-time prescriptions of the drugs — chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine — poured into retail pharmacies at more than 46 times the rate of the average weekday, according to an analysis of prescription data by The New York Times. And the nearly 32,000 prescriptions came from across the spectrum — rheumatologists, cardiologists, dermatologists, psychiatrists and even podiatrists, the data shows.

As the prescriptions surged in the second half of March, the largest volumes per capita included states hit hardest by coronavirus, like New York and New Jersey. Georgia, Arkansas and Kentucky were other states with relatively high per-capita figures.

In absolute numbers, California and Washington, the earliest-hit states, were among the largest. The biggest number in either category was in Florida, where nearly one prescription was written for every thousand residents.

Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, said the surge created shortages that “put patients at risk who depend on these medications” to treat other illnesses.

“The fact that people reacted to what the White House said in such a way — in the 35 years I’ve been in pharmacy and pharmacy regulation, I’ve never seen that before,” he said.

The data was compiled by IPM.ai, a subsidiary of Swoop, a company in Cambridge, Mass., that specializes in health care data and analytics based on artificial intelligence. It does not include drugs prescribed to patients in hospitals, where some doctors have administered the medication, or those released to hospitals from the Strategic National Stockpile. The data provided to The Times did not include the identities of the prescribers or the patients."

Prescriptions Surged as Trump Praised Drugs in Coronavirus Fight

Eric Topol on Twitter

 

[Satchie]

Wow. Boy do I disagree. You still need a mask.

1. Stay home.
2. If you go out, wear a mask AND
3. Stay 6 feet away from others if you can.

If medically fragile, get a better mask and stay more feet away.

No, people do not have to get closer together to hear. They can speak louder. We're putting stripes on walkways and in other ways teaching people what 6 feet means. Of course, no one wants to wear a mask - but if you're going to walk through the viral wake of a bunch of other people (no one is keeping 6 feet apart in every direction), you are risking a lot if you don't wear a mask.

I don't know who Canadians are following, and I've been posting citations, but am getting pretty worn out. Ultimately, if you can't see the common sense reason to wear a mask, don't wear one.

But as long as you don't, I'm staying home longer, doctors are not going to want to see you in their offices, in California you will have a harder time getting a CV test, etc. Doctors want you to wear masks and they are on the front lines.

Canada hasn't had the situation that we've had in Washington, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, most of Michigan or Los Angeles. And I hope you don't.

But if you do, trust me. You should wear a mask. Wear a mask if there's a wildfire near your house, wear a mask if you're going out in a crowded public place or going to be in a room with other people you don't know. Some scientists say 20 feet is still too close.

Wear a mask. And do your research yourself, don't depend on those experts, because truly, I believe the literature clearly states otherwise.

Los Angeles has mandated it (are you saying that USC and UCLA are filled with non-experts? They have WAY more experience with Covid, at this point than some nations). The county where I'm currently hunkered down does not require it (because the rates are similar to Canada's).

At the same time, perhaps you're young and can withstand getting this. In that case, don't wear a mask.

Thanks for your comments.

Actually there is official advice on masks from the Cdn government: Considerations in the use of homemade masks to protect against COVID-19 - Canada.ca

"Wearing a facial covering/non-medical mask in the community has not been proven to protect the person wearing it and is not a substitute for physical distancing and hand washing. However, it can be an additional measure you can take to protect others around you, even if you have no symptoms."

...[Homemade] masks may not be effective in blocking virus particles that may be transmitted by coughing, sneezing or certain medical procedures. They do not provide complete protection from virus particles because of a potential loose fit and materials used"

....Medical masks, including surgical, medical procedure face masks and respirators (like N95 masks), must be kept for healthcare workers and others providing direct care to COVID-19 patients."

Canada has had serious problems getting a long term supply of PPE for medical workers. But also, officials are committed to following a science-based approach, and following WHO guidelines. Appointed public health officers are the source of guidance, not politicians, TV personalities, etc. (a bit of a dig there at what we sometimes patronizingly view as our wacky neighbours to the south. I love Americans, honestly)

 

[Deleted member 39678]

"March 19, first-time prescriptions of the drugs — chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine — poured into retail pharmacies at more than 46 times the rate of the average weekday, according to an analysis of prescription data by The New York Times. And the nearly 32,000 prescriptions came from across the spectrum — rheumatologists, cardiologists, dermatologists, psychiatrists and even podiatrists, the data shows.

As the prescriptions surged in the second half of March, the largest volumes per capita included states hit hardest by coronavirus, like New York and New Jersey. Georgia, Arkansas and Kentucky were other states with relatively high per-capita figures.

In absolute numbers, California and Washington, the earliest-hit states, were among the largest. The biggest number in either category was in Florida, where nearly one prescription was written for every thousand residents.

Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, said the surge created shortages that “put patients at risk who depend on these medications” to treat other illnesses.

“The fact that people reacted to what the White House said in such a way — in the 35 years I’ve been in pharmacy and pharmacy regulation, I’ve never seen that before,” he said.

The data was compiled by IPM.ai, a subsidiary of Swoop, a company in Cambridge, Mass., that specializes in health care data and analytics based on artificial intelligence. It does not include drugs prescribed to patients in hospitals, where some doctors have administered the medication, or those released to hospitals from the Strategic National Stockpile. The data provided to The Times did not include the identities of the prescribers or the patients."

Prescriptions Surged as Trump Praised Drugs in Coronavirus Fight

Eric Topol on Twitter

Why in the world are doctors prescribing these drugs for the corona virus if they don't help and they have dangerous side affects?

I think the media needs to stop attacking Trump and instead look into why doctors that have no business writing these prescriptions are doing so in such large numbers. My guess is greed.

This needs to stop. JMO.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Regarding Kim. He hasn't been blowing things up or threatening anyone lately, so, this news may be true. Fingers crossed.

Here's the thread for anyone looking for it:

Kim Jong Un in grave condition after surgery

 

[Seattle1]

Healthy people in their 30s and 40s, barely sick with COVID-19, are dying from strokes

April 24, 2020

Reports of strokes in the young and middle-aged — not just at Mount Sinai but in many other hospitals in hard-hit communities — are the latest twist in our evolving understanding of the mysteries of COVID-19. Even as the virus has infected nearly 2.8 million people worldwide and killed 195,000 as of Friday, its origins, biological mechanisms and weaknesses continue to elude top scientific minds. Once thought to be a pathogen that primarily attacks the lungs, it has turned out to be a much more formidable foe — affecting nearly every major organ system in the body.

Until recently, there was little hard data on strokes and COVID-19.

[..]

Now three large U.S. medical centers are preparing to publish data on the stroke phenomenon for the first time. The numbers are small, only a few dozen per location, but they provide new insights into what the virus does to our bodies.

Stroke, a sudden interruption the blood supply, is a complex problem with numerous causes and presentations. It can be caused by heart problems, clogged arteries due to cholesterol, even substance abuse. Mini-strokes often don’t cause permanent damage and can resolve on their own within 24 hours. Bigger ones can be catastrophic.

The analyses suggest coronavirus patients are mostly experiencing the deadliest type of stroke. Known as large vessel occlusions or LVOs, they can obliterate large parts of the brain responsible for movement, speech and decision-making in one blow because they are in the main blood-supplying arteries.

 

[10ofRods]

A while back I was having a discussion with my banker. And for some strange reason our conversation wandered, and we somehow got to a very important question ....."what would be the one product you could not do without". So I told her that I used to say "butter".........but now I would say "coffee creamer".

Congrats on your survival! Please take care.

I do believe you will be in fine shape once you learn about your antibodies (I know it's not certain, but it would be really odd for you not to have better immunity than all the rest of us who didn't get it yet).

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I too think the second wave will be easier. We know what to expect and will be much more prepared IMO. If those infected who survived the first round have immunity there will be less vulnerable to infection during the second wave.

A suggestion for those buying a freezer. Automatic defrost is easier to maintain but freezer burn happens much faster verses manual defrost. Keeping the freezer full helps cut back on the frost. When my freezers start getting empty sections I fill them with containers of water. Reduces frost build up, freezers run less often and stays frozen longer during power outages. Another tip if you have the space. Our two smaller freezers verses one large one, use less electricity and if one dies, you'll only lose half of your food instead of all of it.

my motto.... "i learn something new every day here"

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Great idea...children asking questions. On now

CNN teams with Sesame Street for 'ABC's of COVID-19' town hall

CNN announced it will team with Sesame Street for a town hall on Saturday morning designed to educate children on the novel coronavirus.

The 90-minute event, "The ABC's of COVID-19," will be moderated by CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, anchor Erica Hill and Sesame Street's Big Bird.

The virtual offering will "tackle issues including education, anxiety, screen time and playdates," CNN said.

It was wonderful. Good cause, and well done