Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #58

[tresir2012]

"In a related development, the infectious disease modeling group at Imperial College London released its latest estimates yesterday for the United States and individual states. Its analysis suggests that the COVID-19 epidemic isn't under control across much of the United States, with the reproduction number still above the threshold of 1.0 in 24 states. The highest reproduction numbers cluster in the South and Midwest, where outbreaks are still developing.

The group urged states to take caution in relaxing current restrictions and warned that increased mobility following eased restrictions will lead to new spikes in COVID-19 activity, if all factors are kept constant, with a doubling of deaths or worse. Rapid testing, contact tracing, and behavioral precautions are key factors that could offset the resulting rise in transmission.

They also estimated that 4.1% (range 3.7% to 4.5%) of the US population has been infected, with wide variation among states, with a high of 16.6 % in New York. "Overall, we show that while all US states have substantially reduced their reproduction numbers, we find no evidence that any state is approaching herd immunity or that its epidemic is close to over," they wrote."

COVID-19 still rising in much of US; Brazil now 2nd hardest-hit nation

Direct link to the study -

Report 23 - State-level tracking of COVID-19 in the United States

"Nationally, our estimates show that the percentage of individuals that have been infected is 4.1% [3.7%-4.5%], with wide variation between states. For all states, even for the worst affected states, we estimate that less than a quarter of the population has been infected; in New York, for example, we estimate that 16.6% [12.8%-21.6%] of individuals have been infected to date. Our attack rates for New York are in line with those from recent serological studies [1] broadly supporting our modelling choices.

There is variation in the initial reproduction number, which is likely due to a range of factors; we find a strong association between the initial reproduction number with both population density (measured at the state level) and the chronological date when 10 cumulative deaths occurred (a crude estimate of the date of locally sustained transmission). Our estimates suggest that the epidemic is not under control in much of the US: as of 17 May 2020, the reproduction number is above the critical threshold (1.0) in 24 [95% CI: 20-30] states. Higher reproduction numbers are geographically clustered in the South and Midwest, where epidemics are still developing, while we estimate lower reproduction numbers in states that have already suffered high COVID-19 mortality (such as the Northeast). These estimates suggest that caution must be taken in loosening current restrictions if effective additional measures are not put in place."

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Well coming from someone that asked an innocent question, your use of all caps seems pretty judgmental. That goes both ways.

Sorry! I did two posts. That's why in the post that you responded to I said
"Oh, and yeah, potentially on the other hand reverse of it to consider."

First was geared towards our WS member going, then I thought... I forgot to consider the home owner so posted with caps.

I was being adding/correcting myself that I had not considered the homeowners, that is all.

I was "caps" due to my aha moment of my lack of considering the homeowners in my first post.

So yes, I went both ways. And used two all caps on the words "respect" and "them"

Just trying to input @CSIDreamer to give answer to the OP, @Tillicum . Not meant to be judgemental and hope that your comment doesn't reflect that @Tillicum who asked thinks that I am. Her family member never said such.. moving on.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

"In a related development, the infectious disease modeling group at Imperial College London released its latest estimates yesterday for the United States and individual states. Its analysis suggests that the COVID-19 epidemic isn't under control across much of the United States, with the reproduction number still above the threshold of 1.0 in 24 states. The highest reproduction numbers cluster in the South and Midwest, where outbreaks are still developing.

The group urged states to take caution in relaxing current restrictions and warned that increased mobility following eased restrictions will lead to new spikes in COVID-19 activity, if all factors are kept constant, with a doubling of deaths or worse. Rapid testing, contact tracing, and behavioral precautions are key factors that could offset the resulting rise in transmission.

They also estimated that 4.1% (range 3.7% to 4.5%) of the US population has been infected, with wide variation among states, with a high of 16.6 % in New York. "Overall, we show that while all US states have substantially reduced their reproduction numbers, we find no evidence that any state is approaching herd immunity or that its epidemic is close to over," they wrote."

COVID-19 still rising in much of US; Brazil now 2nd hardest-hit nation

 

[tresir2012]

Coronavirus: Pressure grows on Dominic Cummings over lockdown trip - BBC News

Live link that will have today's update later. For now it is all about the PM's special advisor and his quarantine trip. Basics of that story is the SA and his wife had CV19 and they travelled to grandparents in the north of England so someone could care for their child while they quarantined in a separate building. Big hoo ha going on over this and it is deflecting from the real stories like care home deaths. MOO.

ETA travel is considered essential and allowed for medical reasons in England so I think he is being targeted for non CV19 reasons IMO.

from the link in post above -

147 + 9 +7 + 1 = 164

(Of note is it would have been below 100 without those 67 older deaths added on)

15:19
UK nations announce more coronavirus deaths
NHS England has announced 147 more people have died in hospitals in England after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the nation to 25,691.

Of the new deaths announced:

• 28 occurred on 23 May
• 40 occurred on 22 May
• 12 occurred on 21 May

The figures also show 49 of the new deaths took place between 1 and 20 May, 16 were in April, and the remaining two occurred in March with the earliest new death on 13 March.

It comes as nine more people have died in Scotland after testing positive with coronavirus, bringing the total there to 2,270, according to the Scottish Government.

A further seven people have died in Wales, bringing the total there to 1,267, Public Health Wales said.

And one more person has died in Northern Ireland after testing positive for coronavirus, according to the Department of Health.

Separate UK-wide death figures will be released by the Department of Health and Social Care later.

 

[mickey2942]

I consider myself "careful", but I have to go to the bathroom, 4 kids...all that. I am working full time, and go at work, who could hold it that long?! And even went to the bathroom at Walmart!

At some point, we need to live our lives. Rather than becoming like an OCD Howard Hughes.

That being said, I work, but that is it. No hair salons, no pedicures...I have brief contact with people. Not prolonged interactions.

Maybe some people are ready to stay 6 feet away from everyone, including grandkids, for the rest of their lives. Not me. I am going to live my life, and if I skid sideways into heaven on my Harley, it will be well worth the ride.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

What's the issue with bathrooms? I honestly don't know.

I have a few people in and out of my house...and the rules for the bathroom are that anyone entering cannot exit before using my spray bottle of cleanser wit bleach/cloth on the seat, sink spikets and door handle. It's a pretty good habit I have set up... for forever.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I consider myself "careful", but I have to go to the bathroom, 4 kids...all that. I am working full time, and go at work, who could hold it that long?! And even went to the bathroom at Walmart!

At some point, we need to live our lives. Rather than becoming like an OCD Howard Hughes.

That being said, I work, but that is it. No hair salons, no pedicures...I have brief contact with people. Not prolonged interactions.

Maybe some people are ready to stay 6 feet away from everyone, including grandkids, for the rest of their lives. Not me. I am going to live my life, and if I skid sideways into heaven on my Harley, it will be well worth the ride.

If there aren't seat covers in public restrooms I "build a nest".

PS you need a shirt depicting skidding into heaven on your Harley.

 

[Trino]

Well, here's something to consider:
Roughly half of Twitter accounts pushing to reopen are bots!!! Unclear who is behind this stuff.
Roughly half the Twitter accounts pushing to 'reopen America' are bots, researchers found

 

[tresir2012]

If there aren't seat covers in public restrooms I "build a nest".

PS you need a shirt depicting skidding into heaven on your Harley.

We need a pic of "the nest" too.

 

[tresir2012]

Spanish anti-lockdown car protest draws thousands

Big protests.

• 23 May 2020

• Coronavirus pandemic

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionThe far-right Vox party urged supporters to protest the country's lockdown from their cars
Thousands of people in Spain are protesting against the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

The far-right Vox party urged supporters to drive through major cities without leaving their vehicles in order to maintain social distancing.

Protesters in the capital, Madrid, drove in convoy and waved Spanish flags as they called for socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign.

Spain imposed some of the tightest restrictions in Europe on 14 March.

It has eased restrictions in recent weeks, but Madrid and Barcelona have remained under tight lockdown due to their more severe outbreaks of Covid-19.

• How is lockdown being lifted across Europe?
• Spain tightens mask rules for all older than five
• Spain set for basic income to ease crisis pain

Both cities will begin to relax their curbs from Monday by allowing outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people.

Why are people protesting?
The country's two-month lockdown has seen hotels, bars and restaurants all close as well as beaches and other outdoor attractions.

The government says this has allowed it to get the outbreak under control, and the daily death toll has been gradually declining.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionSpain has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionVox leader Santiago Abascal spoke from an open-topped bus in Madrid
But, on Saturday, far-right protesters called for the lockdown to be lifted entirely owing to its impact on jobs and the economy.

Almost one million jobs were lost in March alone, and forecasts suggest the Spanish economy will contract by up to 12% this year as a result of the pandemic.

 

[tabitha111]

Our Governor was in Virginia Beach yesterday (where I reside) to "check and see how the first day of opening the beach was going"....notice anything? love the social distancing...what a great example...rumor has it masks will be made mandatory in our state on Tues....wonder how many folks will comply after this fiasco.... mooo (he's in the blue shirt)Gov. Northam facing criticism for not wearing mask

 

[CSIDreamer]

We need a pic of "the nest" too.

We need a pic of "the nest" too.

Not my own, personal nest.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Spanish anti-lockdown car protest draws thousands

Big protests.

• 23 May 2020

• Coronavirus pandemic

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionThe far-right Vox party urged supporters to protest the country's lockdown from their cars
Thousands of people in Spain are protesting against the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

The far-right Vox party urged supporters to drive through major cities without leaving their vehicles in order to maintain social distancing.

Protesters in the capital, Madrid, drove in convoy and waved Spanish flags as they called for socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign.

Spain imposed some of the tightest restrictions in Europe on 14 March.

It has eased restrictions in recent weeks, but Madrid and Barcelona have remained under tight lockdown due to their more severe outbreaks of Covid-19.

• How is lockdown being lifted across Europe?
• Spain tightens mask rules for all older than five
• Spain set for basic income to ease crisis pain

Both cities will begin to relax their curbs from Monday by allowing outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people.

Why are people protesting?
The country's two-month lockdown has seen hotels, bars and restaurants all close as well as beaches and other outdoor attractions.

The government says this has allowed it to get the outbreak under control, and the daily death toll has been gradually declining.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionSpain has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionVox leader Santiago Abascal spoke from an open-topped bus in Madrid
But, on Saturday, far-right protesters called for the lockdown to be lifted entirely owing to its impact on jobs and the economy.

Almost one million jobs were lost in March alone, and forecasts suggest the Spanish economy will contract by up to 12% this year as a result of the pandemic.

At least they stayed in their cars. Jmo

 

[tresir2012]

Not my own, personal nest.

You think that works?

I prefer the "hover" method.

LOL.

 

[tabitha111]

Not my own, personal nest.

I can not bring myself to use ANY public restrooms at this time. Too many factors to spread disease...one being if they have hand dryers..all those germs and the plumes being blown around and up your nose, two - the plume factor itself, and three I read this morning its dangerous if its a small space (droplets stay in there) with no ventilation..not taking my chances.

 

[tresir2012]

At least they stayed in their cars. Jmo

Yes and I think it looked more dramatic .

 

[CSIDreamer]

You think that works?

I prefer the "hover" method.

LOL.

I can't hover the way I could when I was younger. My hover is more of what I imagine to be a football center position. Lol.

 

[tresir2012]

Our Governor was in Virginia Beach yesterday (where I reside) to "check and see how the first day of opening the beach was going"....notice anything? love the social distancing...what a great example...rumor has it masks will be made mandatory in our state on Tues....wonder how many folks will comply after this fiasco.... mooo (he's in the blue shirt)Gov. Northam facing criticism for not wearing mask

Are they having a selfie ? So nobody is going to take any notice now right?

 

[CSIDreamer]

I can not bring myself to use ANY public restrooms at this time. Too many factors to spread disease...one being if they have hand dryers..all those germs and the plumes being blown around and up your nose, two - the plume factor itself, and three I read this morning its dangerous if its a small space (droplets stay in there) with no ventilation..not taking my chances.

TBH if wishes were ponies, my car would be an RV with a bathroom. But my job is traveling from store to store. I can't go all day without a restroom. Jmo

I have never liked public restrooms.

 

[tresir2012]

Death and despair as Covid migrants flee cities

Coronavirus India: Death and despair as migrant workers flee cities
India’s strict lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus meant that most factories and businesses shut down, rendering millions jobless.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to businesses to keep paying their workers, including daily-wage labourers.

But that didn’t happen, and most of the workers were left with little money and food.

With no prospect of income, they took long journeys to go back to their villages. Some managed to get transport, but those who couldn’t, walked hundreds of miles.

And some of them never made it home as they died because of exhaustion or in accidents.

The BBC’s Vikas Pandey and Anshul Verma report.