Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #52

[CSIDreamer]

I was thinking about this yesterday. All these huge city centre office blocks are going to become a bit redundant I reckon. The big corporates have realised they do not need ALL their staff in ALL the time as most can work from home quite easily, and I doubt they'll require as much desk space ever again. I hope it brings about a shift in the way we work - could be very beneficial for parents trying to juggle working with school pick ups and childcare.

But... what to do with hundreds of massive, expensive, half empty office buildings?

Maybe turn the top floors into condos or something? Apartments?

 

[dixiegirl1035]

GDP falls by 4.8 percent, bringing longest economic expansion on record to abrupt halt

The coronavirus pandemic has slammed into the economy so hard the nation's GDP has fallen by 4.8 percent, bringing the longest economic expansion on record to an abrupt halt.

Gross domestic product, which measures the output of goods and services, sank by 4.8 percent in the first quarter on an annualized basis, according to an initial estimate from the Department of Commerce released Wednesday morning.

It's the steepest decline since the Great Recession, which ended in 2009.

First quarter data captured economic activity up to the end of March, but the second quarter will likely include three straight months of decline.

"You're looking at something like minus 20 percent to minus 30 percent in the second quarter," White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC on Monday, noting that the coronavirus is "the biggest shock since the Great Depression. It’s a very grave shock and it’s something we need to take seriously.”

The Congressional Budget Office estimated second-quarter GDP would be down by as much as 40 percent, for the worst quarter since 1947.

(Keep in mind that the first quarter.. 1/2 of that timeframe really wasn't affected much MOO. Unemployment numbers come out this Friday morning...)

 

[cody22]

https://nypost.com/2020/04/28/more-...amid-nursing-home-coronavirus-crisis-goodwin/

New York Virus News.....moo

 

[Tillicum]

"Out loud" musings on this windy Indiana morning.

The irony of shelter in place. This virus seems to have a knack for finding the most vulnerable (care homes) that have no choice but to shelter in place.

We have to figure this out. It's a global issue.

I wonder if any employees would ever consider sheltering in place at care homes? Ponder that.

Coronavirus: Licking County nursing home staff living at work limiting spread

At noon on March 12, two Licking County assisted living facilities closed their doors to the outside world for the sake of the 225 vulnerable residents within.

They had been preparing for this day for three weeks, enlisting staff who would be willing to commit to 24-7 service for as long as the COVID-19 period of isolation would last; no one knew how long.

They still don’t.

But life on the inside of The Inn at Chapel Grove in Heath and The Inn at SharonBrooke in Newark continues largely in the way it did before, thanks to the 44 staff members who have agreed to live in their workplace — and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Nursing Home Workers Agree to Live On-Site to Protect Residents

Brouker and other fellow staff members are now living in these furnished campers outside the nursing home’s property 24/7.

“I got into healthcare for that reason to help others,” Brouker said.

Brouker says she’s keeping connected through phone calls and texts with her family.

“It’s about saving all senior homes this isn’t just about my home this is in a feel-good story we really need to change what we’re doing and we need to change it quick,” Belanger said.

 

[cody22]

Mayor de Blasio, NYPD Break Up Streets Packed for Brooklyn Rabbi Funeral

New York Virus News.....moo

 

[tresir2012]

Half of Scots coronavirus deaths now in care homes

Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed that 338 of the 656 deaths recorded between 20 and 26 April were in care homes.

The figures bring the total number of people to have died with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus to 2,272.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the deaths included six members of NHS staff and five social care workers.

Ms Sturgeon said that it was "not necessarily the case" that all of the staff members contracted the virus through their work, and in some cases people may not have been in their workplace for some time.

She added: "It is really important for us to understand how many frontline workers lose their lives from this virus and it is also really important that we ensure appropriate investigation into the circumstances and of course learn any lessons that we can."

• Live: Latest on coronavirus in Scotland

The NRS data includes all cases where the virus is mentioned on a death certificate as a potential cause, and provides a wider picture than the figures announced each day, which only cover cases confirmed by laboratory testing.

In the most recent week covered by the statistics, more than half of the recorded coronavirus deaths were in care homes - with one in seven of all deaths in care homes in 2020 now being linked to virus.

Where are Scotland's Covid-19 deaths?

Figures include registration of deaths up to 26 April
Source: National Records of Scotland

(For comparison purposes, population of Scotland is 5.5 million)

 

[Tadpole12]

Some positive news. My bet you have to give it as early as possible in the infection to give it the best chance to work, not to wait until patient is near death.
"Gilead Sciences Inc. said data from a U.S. study of its drug remdesivir showed the medication had met the primary endpoint in a trial of its effectiveness in treating Covid-19."
Gilead Says Remdesivir Hit Primary Target in Covid-19 Study

Placebo, 800 in study

Gilead says remdesivir shows improvement in COVID-19 patients when used early

"when used early"

“We Don’t Always Have Certainty”: Inside the Rise and Partial Fall of a COVID-19 Wonder Drug Stock

We're repeating one of the worst mistakes of the Ebola outbreak in the hunt for a coronavirus cure

 

[Alyce]

I was thinking about this yesterday. All these huge city centre office blocks are going to become a bit redundant I reckon. The big corporates have realised they do not need ALL their staff in ALL the time as most can work from home quite easily, and I doubt they'll require as much desk space ever again. I hope it brings about a shift in the way we work - could be very beneficial for parents trying to juggle working with school pick ups and childcare.

But... what to do with hundreds of massive, expensive, half empty office buildings?

And there will also be the knock on effect of all the cleaners, no longer required, and sandwich/lunch bars who won’t get the level of custom

 

[musicaljoke]

I never realized how many grandparents were raising their grandchildren until I began working in healthcare. There are a fair number of GREAT grandparents raising their great grandchildren.

Yes, there are many, many multi-generational households. Any model for lifting the stay-at-home orders has to take this into consideration, or the results will be catastrophic.

 

[tresir2012]

Children unlikely to transmit coronavirus, says study cited in PM's push to reopen schools
Children unlikely to transmit coronavirus, says study cited in PM's push to reopen schools
NSW report held up as Morrison government seeks return to classrooms across Australia despite warnings from teacher unions

A new report, cited by the chief medical officer as the federal government advocates the reopening of schools, says children are unlikely to transmit Covid-19 between each other or to adults.

The study by NSW Health’s Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), released on Sunday, examined transmission of the virus in NSW schools and childcare centres between March and mid-April.

Examining the spread 18 of coronavirus cases (nine students and nine staff) from 15 schools, the report’s preliminary findings were that only one primary school student and one high school student “may have contracted Covid-19 from the initial cases at their schools”.


“No teacher or staff member contracted Covid-19 from any of the initial school cases,” the report added.

Macartney said the findings built on emerging data overseas showing children were not likely to spread the virus between themselves or to adults.

“A unique aspect of this work is that we were able to look specifically for spread in schools over many weeks and utilise additional testing methods,” she said.

The NSW government said that although school aged children represented around 16% of the NSW population, only 1.7% of Covid-19 cases had been recorded in this age group.

So why have grandkids not been able to see their grandparents then? This doesn't make sense of what we are being told.

 

[musicaljoke]

Coronavirus: Licking County nursing home staff living at work limiting spread

At noon on March 12, two Licking County assisted living facilities closed their doors to the outside world for the sake of the 225 vulnerable residents within.

They had been preparing for this day for three weeks, enlisting staff who would be willing to commit to 24-7 service for as long as the COVID-19 period of isolation would last; no one knew how long.

They still don’t.

But life on the inside of The Inn at Chapel Grove in Heath and The Inn at SharonBrooke in Newark continues largely in the way it did before, thanks to the 44 staff members who have agreed to live in their workplace — and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Nursing Home Workers Agree to Live On-Site to Protect Residents

Brouker and other fellow staff members are now living in these furnished campers outside the nursing home’s property 24/7.

“I got into healthcare for that reason to help others,” Brouker said.

Brouker says she’s keeping connected through phone calls and texts with her family.

“It’s about saving all senior homes this isn’t just about my home this is in a feel-good story we really need to change what we’re doing and we need to change it quick,” Belanger said.

When I read about people like these, it does my heart good. It gives me hope that humanity hasn't entirely fallen into the sewer. There are still Mother Teresas among us. These people should be lauded.

 

[jjenny]

Placebo, 800 in study

Gilead says remdesivir shows improvement in COVID-19 patients when used early

"when used early"

“We Don’t Always Have Certainty”: Inside the Rise and Partial Fall of a COVID-19 Wonder Drug Stock

We're repeating one of the worst mistakes of the Ebola outbreak in the hunt for a coronavirus cure

Yep, since it stops replication of the virus, if not used early, virus already replicated so much that the drug is not going to do well.

 

[Tadpole12]

Yep, since it stops replication of the virus, if not used early, virus already replicated so much that the drug is not going to do well.

Gilead says remdesivir shows improvement in COVID-19 patients when used early

"The trial was testing 397 patients evaluating the safety and efficacy of five-day and ten-day dosing regimens of remdesivir in hospitalized patients with
severe manifestations of COVID-19."

 

[jjenny]

So why have grandkids not been able to see their grandparents then? This doesn't make sense of what we are being told.

The idea that children if infected don't spread it much doesn't make sense to me. They are infected at the same rate as adults, but many infections probably go diagnosed because children in general show less symptoms. But if they are infected, I fail to see why they wouldn't spread it like everyone else.

"“If they are infected, there is no reason to believe that they will not transmit,” Malik Peiris, a professor of medical science at Hong Kong University who specializes in coronaviruses, told STAT, a news organization focused on health and medicine."
Here’s what we know about children, infection rates, and COVID-19

 

[Reasonable & Just]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed>

It's a horrible death, for one thing.

I do think we need to sort out the nursing home situation, and again - this requires federal support and leadership, since we all pay taxes and all have a stake in the well-being of our countrymen. Those states that are dong it right need to be the model for other states, with enforcement at the federal level. We need to create safer housing for the elderly, with COVID units to prevent spread. But that's all pie in the sky - there's no evidence that anyone in charge cares. JMO.

 

[tresir2012]

Face masks would be 'advisory not compulsory' if introduced, confirmed cases nears 20,000: Today's Covid-19 Main Points

(Ireland)

A FURTHER 59 people in Ireland have died as a result of Covid-19, health officials confirmed yesterday evening.

The new deaths include 14 ‘probable’ cases, where the individuals who died were not lab tested but a doctor suspects they had Covid-19

It brings the total number of deaths in Ireland, including probable deaths, to 1,102.

Additionally, 229 new cases of Covid-19 were announced, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 19,877.

The use of masks in public is being considered as part of efforts to tackle coronavirus, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told reporters today but said they would not be compulsory.

“I think we will be in a position to offer revised advice to the Irish public later in the week. Because the science is so uncertain on it, it is not something that we would make compulsory but something we would make advisory.”

His comments came as the Scottish government issued guidance for people to shield their faces in places such as shops and on public transport. The powersharing executive in Northern Ireland is due to consider a similar proposal.

Here are today’s main Covid-19 points:

• The use of face masks in public is being considered as part of efforts to tackle coronavirus in Ireland, the chief medical officer has said.
• Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the number of patients in ICU with Covid-19 are not low enough to ease restrictions on 5 May. He intends to make public the plan on how Ireland will reopen in the coming days.
• Health officials are expecting an increase in the number of people being tested for the coronavirus over the next week after a slight change in the case definition.
• The government has now paid out over €650 million to companies across the country under the temporary wage subsidy scheme.
• Healthcare workers unable to find childcare will be able to remain at home to mind their children while being paid, unions have been told today.
• The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) is to write to the Garda Commissioner over an incident involving one of its members at a Covid-19 checkpoint.
• The coronavirus outbreak has led to some vulnerable patients awaiting transfer to a nursing home, including older people and those with disabilities, left in hospitals for longer than necessary.
• Gardaí have said that a file will be sent to the DPP in relation to alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations by supporters of a legal challenge at the Four Courts in Dublin today and at a hearing last week.
• A formal decision is expected today on procedures for junior cycle students after the cancellation of the Junior Cert. RTÉ reports that it is likely that plans to hold tests in schools in the autumn will be formally abandoned.
• Dublin LGBTQ Pride has cancelled its annual parade for 2020 after initially postponing it until September. Organisers are now planning a virtual parade and concert in June.

Regarding the legal challenge I wanted to read a bit more about that so here is an additional link.

Supporters kept from entering Four Courts for hearing on Waters and O'Doherty case

A crowd gathered outside the Fourt Courts today for the hearing.
Image: TheJournal.ie
Supporters kept from entering Four Courts for hearing on Waters and O'Doherty case
There was a heavy garda presence today as the pair challenged the State over the Covid-19 restrictions.

Tue 1:10 PM 54,375 0

SUPPORTERS OF GEMMA O’Doherty and John Waters were not allowed into the Four Courts building today for a High Court action challenging the State over the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions.

With a heavy garda presence outside and around the Four Courts in Dublin, supporters were prevented from joining O’Doherty and Waters inside the building.

The two have launched a legal challenge against the State over its decision to implement emergency restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

O’Doherty addressed the crowd before entering court today.

Gardaí blocked off the road onto Chancery Place after over 20 supporters of O’Doherty and Waters, one carrying a tricolour, gathered outside the Four Courts building at around 10.30am this morning.

Only O’Doherty, Waters and one other supporter were allowed to enter the small courtroom in the Four Courts complex following discussions with gardaí.

 

[IceIce9]

"Out loud" musings on this windy Indiana morning.

The irony of shelter in place. This virus seems to have a knack for finding the most vulnerable (care homes) that have no choice but to shelter in place.

We have to figure this out. It's a global issue.

I wonder if any employees would ever consider sheltering in place at care homes? Ponder that.

One employee spread Coronavirus to 40 residents. Employee at Illinois Nursing Home Infects 40 Patients with Coronavirus - At least 24 Dead

 

[cody22]

Coronavirus & Chloroquine -- Woman Who Gave Her Husband Fish-Tank Cleaner is Under Investigation for Murder | National Review

National Virus Possible Crime News....moo

 

[cody22]

Warren, Ocasio-Cortez call for temporary halt to big mergers

National Virus News...moo

 

[Tadpole12]

No. It's a horrible death, for one thing.

I do think we need to sort out the nursing home situation, and again - this requires federal support and leadership, since we all pay taxes and all have a stake in the well-being of our countrymen. Those states that are dong it right need to be the model for other states, with enforcement at the federal level. We need to create safer housing for the elderly, with COVID units to prevent spread. But that's all pie in the sky - there's no evidence that anyone in charge cares. JMO.

I Agree.