Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #54

[otto]

Fears grow as coronavirus bears down on Mexico City

Mexico Virus News....moo

Again, just like China with 24/7 crematoriums trying to deal with the dead.

 

[Inthedetails]

Some weeks ago, I commented that I thought it was a mistake that the government did not shut down 50 states at one time- so the virus could be snuffed out. That's what the models said.

But despite widespread shutdowns in large population states, with generally excellent compliance to social distancing, the virus hasn't been suppressed nearly as fast as predicted. And, it appears that never would have been the case, unless the shutdown was for five months or more. Which realistically was never going to happen.

So I retract that original statement. I'm not sure states like North Dakota or Wyoming should have ever shut down. Maybe only the larger cities in rural states like this. The outbreaks are in different timelines in the various states, which extends the outbreak timeline.

I'm resolved to face the fact that states will all open up and will be living with coronavirus though the fall. The curve has been flattened. No hospitals are overrun. I guess as long as hospitals are not overrun, we will not be going back to shutdowns. There will be no suppression of coronavirus. Peoples behavior has been modified, treatment options show some promise, we are better prepared with protecting the vulnerable, and we have more PPE and testing- not enough, but more than before. Deaths per infection should decrease considerably.

The Massachusetts population is 7,000,000, with 1,000,000 in my age group of 50-59.

150 people in my age group have died. 98.4% had pre-existing conditions, which I don't have. So 2.4 people in my personal bracket have died in Massachusetts. So it seems that I have a 0.00024% chance of dying. 1 in 400,000. Probably much less with a low dose. I have not seen meaningful statistical evidence of permanent COVID-19 damage in healthy people (I completely discount media tales of one-offs in a country of 330 million).

So give it to me now. I'd like a very low dose of coronavirus please, and I'll go quarantine for a couple weeks and be good to go, and most likely safe for others to be near through the outbreak.

I agree - as long as the hospitals are not overrun, places will open up and communities will deal with the virus. The goal all along was to protect the health-care system.

jmo

 

[Henry2326]

China accuses Mike Pompeo of repeated lies over coronavirus origin

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/china-us-who-coronavirus-1.5559201

Beijing spokesperson also raises the possibility the novel coronavirus didn't originate in China

"U.S. intelligence agencies said last week that there was no evidence that the virus was man-made, but did not rule out an accident or leak scenario with a world renowned infectious disease lab located some 12 kilometers from the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market in Wuhan."

I agree with Beiging and so does the research.

Emergence of genomic diversity and recurrent mutations in SARS-CoV-2 - ScienceDirect

This research confirms no lab. One of the authors believes that a carnivore is a possibility.

This research of the genomes submitted from around the world, leads to a jump to humans as far back as October 6th. The data continues to lead to China, but....they don't have Italian genomes yet. The paper describes a possibility that an epidemic began in China at the same time as Europe.

Go to the science thread to read more.

 

[cody22]

Health care workers who volunteered to help New York with coronavirus pandemic must pay state income taxes, Cuomo says


New- New York Virus News.......New York State is gonna charge New York State income tax on the income, these volunteers were paid for in their home state, while volunteering in New York during the Virus ........moo

 

[Bravo]

Thank you, @Bravo, @CeeCeeCat, @cody22 and all you others for the well-wishes. I do feel very fatigued as well. Not sure if this is because of not eating or if, indeed, it is the virus.

Least we all here can do is support you. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids.

 

[pocketaccent]

138 employees at Central California meat plant test positive for coronavirus
...

The company employs about 900 workers at two plants in Hanford and Vernon and continues to operate.

The company first reported “several” of their employees tested positive for the virus more than a week ago, the Fresno Bee reported Wednesday.

Ninety-seven of those infected live in Kings County, 30 are Tulare County residents, and the remaining 11 live in Fresno County, KFSN-TV reported.
...

 

[dmac55]

"A tweet from U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Wednesday afternoon said that she was grateful the work would continue."

"Sinema said the decision to "disregard the science that should be the basis of Arizona public health policies — and the White House's guidelines for re-opening — is concerning and disappointing."

ASU to continue COVID-19 modeling despite health department instructions
Arizona State University to continue modeling work despite health department instructions

Update:

In reversal, Arizona announces 'ongoing partnership' with university coronavirus modeling experts
In reversal, Arizona announces 'ongoing partnership' with university coronavirus modeling experts

 

[musicaljoke]

Contact tracing is vitally important in fighting the spread of the coronavirus. It helps reduce the growth & spread of viral clusters. People who are notified that they may have come in contact with an infected person can then take precautions and self isolate. While we didn't have a tracing app here in NZ, we had a task force dedicated to mapping out each and every case that came back positive. The notifications went out to those who potentially were exposed. This is another way that we were able to crack down on the virus, reducing community transmission.

Our Public Health Unit in N. Ontario, Canada, does this too. In our Health District, which is huge, we have 9 cases remaining, with the last new case on April 28th. Our Health Unit has been able to keep up with the contacts.

But I wonder how would they manage in cities where there are hundreds of new cases a day? Do the larger centres have the labour force to identify and isolate even just the obvious contacts?

 

[branmuffin]

Fears grow as coronavirus bears down on Mexico City

Mexico Virus News....moo

The fifth most populous city in the world. Doesn't look good for Mexico since they only went into phase 3, the highest level of response, on April 21st.

 

[Henry2326]

Stanford University Covid forecast model can be found at

Extended Results COVID-19

Choose a state to see the coming forecast curve.

I compared this curve for Arizona after reading the ASU story. Appears that the curve here is consistent. Anything above 25% uptick in social distancing keeps them on the exponential curve.

This is the research paper discussing the forecast methodology.
https://web.stanford.edu/~chadj/sird-paper.pdf

Also placing this post in the science thread.

 

[Chelly]

I was tested yesterday. I am not ill but it's required for me to return to work. I had the throat swab which was not so bad. I had an appt. and I was in and out in about 20 min. Brief medical history. Who I was exposed to back in March. Swab and out the door I went. I agreed to stay on at 30 hrs. a month with a very light case load. Reports I can do in Office or from home. Piece of sanity lol.

Great news @Bravo

 

[Chelly]

From the link:
A conspiracy theory that claims that 5G internet is behind the coronavirus outbreak has led to arson attacks on more than 70 cell phone towers in the UK.

The conspiracy theory began to gain traction in the UK in late March and early April, coinciding with the rising number of cases in the country and its nationwide lockdown. Conspiracies around phone signals have existed for years, however.

The scaremongering is thought to have led directly to arson attacks on mobile phone infrastructure.

On April 15, Mobile UK, an organization representing Britain's four mobile operators, told Business Insider that roughly 50 phone masts had been attacked across the country — the majority of which were not actually 5G-enabled.

more at link ...

Hate to hear this. Conspiracy theorists are damn idiots. moo!

 

[otto]

The fifth most populous city in the world. Doesn't look good for Mexico since they only went into phase 3, the highest level of response, on April 21st.

I'm surprised. It was a long time ago that Mexico was objecting to tourists from the North - claiming they were importing the virus. Mexico had ample time to prepare and take good measures. However, it's possible that they have the same factor that we see in some higher risk populations in the USA and the UK - they live as multigenerational families in one home. That seems to be a factor with increased cases.

 

[BUF]

Thank you. I would have been there by now ... in my former life. Now I'm just thankful that Daddy made it back home. He's a pilot. At the beginning of all this, flights were cancelled, and I was worried sick that he wouldn't make it back. Baby arrived in a Covid-free hospital. So, considering everything, all is good.

Glad it all worked out so well! It must be agony for you not going there.

 

[Inthedetails]

Kids have been in the news in NY, CA, and now IL....
(names changed to initials by me)

"SG's 6-year-old son N is hospitalized at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital battling a mysterious inflammatory illness that mimics symptoms of Kawasaki's Disease and appears to be linked to COVID-19.

"[Dr.] Belmonte said in several of the cases, kids test negative for COVID-9 but positive for the antibodies, meaning the syndrome is showing up later. N. has tested positive for COVID-19, but his mom has no idea how he was exposed."

Illinois coronavirus: Park Ridge boy, 6, battles mysterious illness possibly linked to COVID-19

 

[jjenny]

Well, I have not been feeling well this week. Started on Sunday with an attack of acid reflux (woke me up!). I said if I wasn't better today, I'd make a Dr's appt. No appetite, headache, stomach discomfort, some nausea. When I got to Dr, they had me wait outside b/c of the headache symptom. The Dr. called me back in full riot gear. Never saw a nurse at all. B/c of my headache, and low-grade temp (they took it 4 times!) and my job (Home day care provider), the Dr. strongly advised I get tested for Corona. It wasn't as unpleasant as I expected. Got a nasopharyngeal swab and a throat swab. She thinks the two together are most accurate.

Do I think I have Corona? Not really, but how can one know? I don't have any cough or breathing issues. People are frequently presenting with gastric symptoms. So we shall see. The bad part for me: I can't work until the test comes back neg, so lots of people needing to find alternate day care for several days. I also help with a couple of elderly neighbors, so will not be able to do that either :*( Dr. thinks the test results should be back no later than Mon. Til then, I'm isolating in my master bedroom (has attached bath). Still not wanting to eat. I got an RX for Pepcid. Keep me in your prayers.

Do you have any pepcid? There is a study going on to see if an ingredient in it helps to fight corona virus. Maybe it doesn't, but you have heartburn anyway.

 

[Chelly]

Oh, just to set the record straight, I never meant to comment in an unpatriotic way. I feel the same as you do in your love for the USA. I love my country the USA! Having said that, I envy those countries that seemed to have defeated the virus. That sounds heavenly to me.

I applaud the leaders of the countries who have done the right thing for their citizens. i.e......putting country before self.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

An EXCELLENT summary for folks as to up to date information that has been learned re COVID and how not just ARDS/lung. MOO

good one. thanks

 

[Chelly]

There have been no cases of COVID-19 associated with ingestion of food, but the question is well-founded. COVID-19 is, after all, caused by a virus which enters the body through the nose or mouth. Food items are, after all, objects which may be contaminated with the virus and placed in the mouth — but like many other viruses, bacteria and parasites, these will be swallowed and most likely destroyed by stomach acids. Should the virus survive into the intestine, there is no pathway which will carry it to the lungs.

Not really. Routine practices of hygiene, storage, cleansing and cooking which are already practiced in commercial shops and restaurants will also help eliminate this virus from our food.

So can you acquire COVID-19 from food?

The bottom line answer is ... no.
--

So it seems like the biggest risk of takeout would be handling the packaging IMO. Which is the same risk you take shopping at the supermarket. IMO.

I wouldn't mind ordering a pizza (haven't yet because we prefer making our own) or Chinese food but I draw the line against foods that are assembled by workers like hamburgers, subway-style sandwiches, etc. I haven't gone into any fast food outlets and if I did the only thing I might possibly buy is french fries and only cooked to order. Don't eat much from fast food joints.

Shopping in the supermarket for veggies is not an issue for me since most veggies are either cooked or washed by me and DH.[/QUOTE]
Excellent post.....IMO!

 

[Bravo]

Great news @Bravo

Thanks so much my friend