Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #59

[CSIDreamer]

I had no issues with going out to dinner, sitting on a huge deck looking over a lake. We had wings and poutine.

But I would not have gone out to dinner, sitting inside, with AC.

That sounds absolutely amazing!

 

[mickey2942]

That sounds absolutely amazing!

I actually considered what food is touched the least. Hot wings, usually come from fryer, with tongs, to basket. No contact at all with hands. Same with poutine, hot fries, cheese, covered with gravy.

Great, I considered those to be the "healthiest" items on the menu. Times have definitely changed!

 

[tmar]

Has England abandoned social distancing? Parks, beaches and beauty spots packed

Has England abandoned social distancing? Parks, beaches and beauty spots packed

Chris Kitching
5 hrs ago
...

© Getty Images Social distancing was a challenge given the huge turnout at Bournemouth beach in Dorset Beaches and beauty spots were busy again on Tuesday.

There are fears more people in England are ignoring social distancing rules as the coronavirus lockdown is eased and temperatures soar above 25C.

Beaches and beauty spots were packed on Bank Holiday Monday and popular again on Tuesday have fuelled concerns that weeks of progress could be undone by a second wave of Covid-19.

 

[margarita25]

I actually considered what food is touched the least. Hot wings, usually come from fryer, with tongs, to basket. No contact at all with hands. Same with poutine, hot fries, cheese, covered with gravy.

Great, I considered those to be the "healthiest" items on the menu. Times have definitely changed!

 

[BeckyF]

A local dance studio, privately owned, is requiring everyone to wear a mask, get temp taken, and sign a waiver before entering. I guess they are afraid of getting sued if someone gets sick. I can't imagine dancing with a mask on. I'll stay away awhile longer.

 

[margarita25]

First wave of coronavirus is not over, health expert warns

First wave of coronavirus is not over, health expert warns

Ellena Cruse
8 hrs ago
...
A World Health Organisation expert has warned the world is still in the midst of the “first wave” of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Executive director Dr Mike Ryan said thedisease is "actually on the way up".
He also said efforts to restart the economy in some countries and help millions of people who have lost their jobs risks reigniting coronavirus outbreaks.

Dr Ryan said: “Right now, we’re not in the second wave. We’re right in the middle of the first wave globally.

“We’re still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up.”

Ohhhh...my man Dr. Mike...

Man.

He’s my man. You all know this. Whatever this man says is like GOLD to me. I still want to buy this man a drink one day.

I’d be worried if he said that.

Shoot, I don’t want to skip all the conferences I’ve missed gah. I don’t want to miss a single word he says and how he says it (and Doc T and Dr. M).

Sigh. What to do.

Ok I’ll watch May 22 and May 25, then go back to catch up from Apr 22 if time permits.

 

[tmar]

Russia reports record coronavirus deaths, recoveries

Russia reports record coronavirus deaths, recoveries

5 hrs ago
...
Russia on Tuesday recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll of 174 but said more than 12,000 people had also recovered over the past 24 hours.

Health officials said Russia's total death toll from the pandemic had reached 3,807 and its number of cases had hit 362,342, the third-highest in the world after the United States and Brazil.

The number of new cases has been steadily dropping and authorities have begun easing lockdown measures in some parts of the country.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Sorry if this has been posted:

A drug treatment called Remdesivir that appears to shorten recovery time for people with coronavirus is being made available on the NHS. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was probably the biggest step forward in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis began.

Remdesivir is an anti-viral medicine that has been used against Ebola. UK regulators say there is enough evidence to approve its use in selected Covid-19 hospital patients. For the time being and due to limited supplies, it will go to those most likely to benefit.

The US and Japan have already made similar urgent arrangements to provide early access to the medicine before they have a marketing agreement. The drug is currently undergoing clinical trials around the world, including in the UK.

Coronavirus anti-viral drug 'biggest step forward'

 

[margarita25]

Rsbm
Health officials said Russia's total death toll from the pandemic had reached 3,807 and its number of cases had hit 362,342, the third-highest in the world after the United States and Brazil.

The number of new cases has been steadily dropping and authorities have begun easing lockdown measures in some parts of the country.

Re: Brazil, man this is surreal. I actually posted when it happened “that anyone headed to Carnival should be thinking about turning back around right about now....”

I know they did attribute Mardi Gras to many Louisiana cases (which we also predicted)...I wonder how many people ended up attending Carnival and how much of role that played nationally (and internationally).

Man.

 

[10ofRods]

First wave of coronavirus is not over, health expert warns

First wave of coronavirus is not over, health expert warns

Ellena Cruse
8 hrs ago
...
A World Health Organisation expert has warned the world is still in the midst of the “first wave” of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Executive director Dr Mike Ryan said thedisease is "actually on the way up".
He also said efforts to restart the economy in some countries and help millions of people who have lost their jobs risks reigniting coronavirus outbreaks.

Dr Ryan said: “Right now, we’re not in the second wave. We’re right in the middle of the first wave globally.

“We’re still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up.”

Although...as others are publishing, it's the spread into rural and semi-rural areas that's now at hand. If we were to look at per capita deaths for rural and semi-rural regions, they would very much be on the rise, but it's encouraging that in New York and New Jersey and London, rates are falling. For me, that brings a huge sigh of relief.

But for those in more isolated nations, the peak of the crisis is still head and that's a huge concern.

Here's some more good news:

Antibody levels in NYC may be as high as 50%.

Now, that data is from a pre-print, but it involves one of the largest samples to date (over 11,000 people).

Several studies now state that it may be possible to test antibodies in a much less invasive way. I keep worrying about testing kids, and my granddaughter knows she might have to have a "shot" (pinprick), and she's trying to be brave. But, it's now theoretically possible to test via saliva. Here's a summary. NOT that this is all worked out yet, but in a bulletin from Stanford University, it's clear that Stanford School of Medicine thinks it will have a saliva test worked out by autumn. Fingers crossed.

As it's becoming clearer that social distancing is a crucial part of preventing CoVid transmission, we realize that people in closed volumes of air who must, because of their work, deal with CV+ people, are highly vulnerable (healthcare workers). China already is out ahead of us in terms how they do ducting and air filtration in hospitals. Like all of our aging infrastructure in the US (and elsewhere), we need to realize that tax money needs to be spent on this. Instead of everyone owning more pairs of shoes per person than everyone else on the planet, Americans need to invest in health (IMO). Here's an article about the urgent need for better ventilation in hospitals.

 

[10ofRods]

I said I'd post more about weather, humidity and CoVId. The conservative view is that warmer, more humid weather will bring down transmission rates.

Keep in mind that this is a very modest effect, but every little bit helps.

It is very unlikely to go away altogether just because of weather.

Still, studies are underway in places like Hawaii, Tahiti, Taiwan and Malaysia where, despite some high population density (especially in the last two) and use of public transport (or in the case of Oahu, use of circulating air in high rise office buildings), rates have remained very low. Other factors are at play.

For example, where there are subways, the temperature may be lower underground (I don't know of any studies about humidity in subways). Brazil remains perplexing but IMO, the total inability of the government to do testing and its reluctance to shut down or enforce social distancing are factors - plus...well, it's fall in the southern hemisphere.

Hawaii and Tahiti are permanently in the tropics and do not have the same seasonality. Southern Mexico and Guatemala also seem to be faring better than northern Mexico (though it's so hard to tell, as people are obviously dying of CoVid without diagnosis).

Still, social distancing, masks, handwashing and warmer weather (all together) may help us curb the pandemic until fall/late fall. Some universities seem to be planning on lower enrollments for the January-April segments and trying to amp up summer sessions.

There are big exceptions to all of this (Ecuador) but many other variables as well.

 

[dotr]

This story will go a long way towards good PR, imo.
Dog waits months at Wuhan hospital for dead owner

Xiaobao is seen on its way to the Wuhan Small Animals Protection Association. Asiawire / Wuhan/SAPA
''A dog in Wuhan, China waited at a hospital every day for more than three months for its owner.
Unfortunately, there would be no reunion.
The dog’s owner had died from COVID-19 just five days into his treatment at Wuhan Taikang Hospital, staff said. He had arrived with the dog in February''.

''The dog waited in the lobby of the hospital and searched for its owner every day. Patients and medical staff reportedly fed the seven-year-old male canine.''

''Wu even had Xiaobao moved far away from the hospital, only to see the dog return''

''After some complaints about a dog at a hospital, though, authorities became involved and Xiaobao was taken by the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, which will find him a new home.''

 

[10ofRods]

This story will go a long way towards good PR, imo.
Dog waits months at Wuhan hospital for dead owner

Xiaobao is seen on its way to the Wuhan Small Animals Protection Association. Asiawire / Wuhan/SAPA
''A dog in Wuhan, China waited at a hospital every day for more than three months for its owner.
Unfortunately, there would be no reunion.
The dog’s owner had died from COVID-19 just five days into his treatment at Wuhan Taikang Hospital, staff said. He had arrived with the dog in February''.

''The dog waited in the lobby of the hospital and searched for its owner every day. Patients and medical staff reportedly fed the seven-year-old male canine.''

''Wu even had Xiaobao moved far away from the hospital, only to see the dog return''

''After some complaints about a dog at a hospital, though, authorities became involved and Xiaobao was taken by the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, which will find him a new home.''

What a sweetie pie.

 

[LadyL]

This story will go a long way towards good PR, imo.
Dog waits months at Wuhan hospital for dead owner

Xiaobao is seen on its way to the Wuhan Small Animals Protection Association. Asiawire / Wuhan/SAPA
''A dog in Wuhan, China waited at a hospital every day for more than three months for its owner.
Unfortunately, there would be no reunion.
The dog’s owner had died from COVID-19 just five days into his treatment at Wuhan Taikang Hospital, staff said. He had arrived with the dog in February''.

''The dog waited in the lobby of the hospital and searched for its owner every day. Patients and medical staff reportedly fed the seven-year-old male canine.''

''Wu even had Xiaobao moved far away from the hospital, only to see the dog return''

''After some complaints about a dog at a hospital, though, authorities became involved and Xiaobao was taken by the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, which will find him a new home.''

poor baby
I hope his new humans are just as kind to him as his original human obviously was

 

[mickey2942]

Re: Brazil, man this is surreal. I actually posted when it happened “that anyone headed to Carnival should be thinking about turning back around right about now....”

I know they did attribute Mardi Gras to many Louisiana cases (which we also predicted)...I wonder how many people ended up attending Carnival and how much of role that played nationally (and internationally).

Man.

The president of Brazil definitely has not helped. I wonder if the people will blame him, and start a whole social unrest movement against his presidency.

Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

 

[Trino]

she takes the cake today lol
We had one person DEMAND that they list COVID positives by zip code....
Seriously...like everyone lives works and shops within the lines of their zip code????
I ALSO live rural, and everyday I drive in and work 8 hours at the biggest hospital in the most infected county of my state.
People don't understand that even though I like to live rural, I also am willing to make the drive to the A1 hospital for work.

Texas has this info by zip code. Yes. I would like it because I am rarely leaving my zip. I'd like to know if it would be better to shop elsewhere.

 

[CharlestonGal]

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article242972936.html

Tyranny? Histrionic much?

Do you know what a tyrant does when you call him a tyrant? He ships you off to an interment camp or just cuts to the chase and chops off your head in the town square. He definitely doesn't turn the other cheek while you frolic in his front yard.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

I said I'd post more about weather, humidity and CoVId. The conservative view is that warmer, more humid weather will bring down transmission rates.

Keep in mind that this is a very modest effect, but every little bit helps.

It is very unlikely to go away altogether just because of weather.

Still, studies are underway in places like Hawaii, Tahiti, Taiwan and Malaysia where, despite some high population density (especially in the last two) and use of public transport (or in the case of Oahu, use of circulating air in high rise office buildings), rates have remained very low. Other factors are at play.

For example, where there are subways, the temperature may be lower underground (I don't know of any studies about humidity in subways). Brazil remains perplexing but IMO, the total inability of the government to do testing and its reluctance to shut down or enforce social distancing are factors - plus...well, it's fall in the southern hemisphere.

Hawaii and Tahiti are permanently in the tropics and do not have the same seasonality. Southern Mexico and Guatemala also seem to be faring better than northern Mexico (though it's so hard to tell, as people are obviously dying of CoVid without diagnosis).

Still, social distancing, masks, handwashing and warmer weather (all together) may help us curb the pandemic until fall/late fall. Some universities seem to be planning on lower enrollments for the January-April segments and trying to amp up summer sessions.

There are big exceptions to all of this (Ecuador) but many other variables as well.

What about 101 degrees F and 10% humidity? That's what my home weather station is reading right now in Sacramento.

Does the low humidity cause the virus to spread more easily?

 

[CharlestonGal]

How Covid-19 has ravaged India's richest city

"Last night in just six hours I saw 15 to 18 deaths all from Covid-related causes. Never before have I seen so many people dying in a single shift," a doctor from KEM hospital - one of the many government institutes treating coronavirus patients - told me.

He refused to be named for fear of repercussions.

"It's a war zone. There are two to three patients per bed, some on the floor, some in corridors. We don't have enough oxygen ports. So even though some patients need it, they can't be given oxygen."

A doctor at Sion Hospital, another government facility, said they are splitting one oxygen tank between two or three patients. The space between beds has been reduced to accommodate more people. He added that there was no proper hygiene in areas where Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) is worn and taken off.

In Mumbai's hot and humid weather, doctors are drenched in sweat within minutes of wearing the kits.

Videos from both Sion and KEM hospital, showing people being treated next to dead bodies, and wards overflowing with patients, have caused a furore on social media."

 

[CharlestonGal]

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Governor Ralph Northam announced a statewide mask mandate during his press conference Tuesday afternoon that will begin Friday.

The mandate will require anyone in an indoor public space to wear a face mask.

Gov. Northam announces statewide mask mandate to begin Friday