Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #60

[anneg]

This is what scares me as I work with two coughers every day.

Do they wear masks?

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Do they wear masks?

Yes. But one gal had hers literally falling down constantly today. It's not going to be effective.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

O m g
no wonder some people don’t take this seriously. Still different / conflicting info coming out every day
I thought this (asymptotic spread) was a huge concern.

Yeah, I call BS on this. We've read too many stories about asymptomatic people passing it to large groups of people.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Yeah, I call BS on this. We've read too many stories about asymptomatic people passing it to large groups of people.

This news is coming from the WHO so you may be right.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

This news is coming from the WHO so you may be right.

They've all messed us around a bit from the beginning, from politicians to the CDC and the WHO. I'd rather hear, "we don't know" than some BS

I also think they (any of them) ought to be dang sure about something like this before voicing it, because this kind of information will result in people letting their guard down.

 

[KALI]

The stress and lockdown seems to have made crazy people crazier.
This sentiment includes, our news media and politicians!
MOO.

Retail rage is new reality for workers in age of coronavirus

RETAIL RAGE

For weeks Samantha Clarke calmly listened to the insults and threats directed daily at her and her employees by people who learned they couldn't enter the Modesto, California, store without wearing a mask and following other coronavirus-related rules.



But never, says the 17-year veteran of retail sales, did she expect she'd be sucker-punched and knocked to the floor, blood gushing from her battered face. Not until it happened recently after a customer was told the last above-ground swimming pool in stock had just been sold to someone else.





"I've been in retail my whole life. I've been at this particular job 17 years and I've never heard of anyone being attacked, ever," Clarke said by phone one recent evening after finishing the night shift.



But in retrospect she says, perhaps she should have seen it coming.



"We had the normal upset customer from time to time, but rarely did someone lose their temper and cuss at us," she says of life before the store she manages began operating under state-issued coronavirus safety guidelines.



"Now it's just daily, sometimes back to back to back," she said.



{snip}



After Clarke put photos of her bloody, bruised face on her personal Facebook page along with an explanation of what it's like to work in retail sales these days, it was shared thousands of times, prompting her to create a separate page, "Retail Life During COVID-19," to handle the response. Within days the page attracted tens of thousands of followers.



Several comments came from others who say they work in retail too and since the pandemic have been faced with an unending string of abuse.



"My co-worker was spat on by a person who wouldn't wear a mask," one person who said she worked in retail in Riverside, California, told Clarke.



Others posted news stories of attacks occurring around the country, including at a Flint, Michigan, Dollar Store where a security guard was shot to death last month after telling a woman she couldn't enter without a mask.

{snip}



The masks seem to upset customers the most, said Clarke, although many shoppers don't like rules requiring people to stay 6 feet apart or the store's policy of banning the return of items during the pandemic.



"I had one lady threaten to burn the store down because we wouldn't take her return," she said. "It's insane."



Clarke was attacked on May 6 as she was hearing a complaint from a woman angry the pool she wanted to buy was gone by the time she got there. A cashier had agreed to hold it for 30 minutes but by the time she arrived, about an hour later, the hold had been lifted and it was sold.



"She just started throwing stuff off the counter and in such a rage that items were hitting her baby stroller," Clarke said, adding she couldn't tell if there was actually a baby in the woman's stroller, which was covered by a blanket.



She was about to tell her to leave, Clarke said, when she was hit.



By the time she got up, blood gushing from a gash above one of her eyes, the woman had left. Clarke followed her outside and got a fairly good photo of her, her face partially obscured by a mask. But the woman had used the baby blanket to cover the car's license plate before she drove away.



An ambulance took Clarke to an urgent care center to have the gash above her eye patched.



(continued at link)
BBM & SBM

 

[margarita25]

Gene study suggests coronavirus came to California multiple times - CNN

“(CNN)A new genetic study suggests the coronavirus was carried into California several times by travelers, and that the state missed several opportunities to use contact tracing to stop further spread.

The report, published in the journal Science on Monday, also strongly indicates that at least one cruise ship outbreak started with a virus transmitted by a single person infected with a strain of the virus that spread in Washington state early in the pandemic.”


—-

Report:

Genomic surveillance reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Northern California | Science

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has spread globally, with >52,000 cases in California as of May 4, 2020. Here we investigate the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Northern California from late January to mid-March 2020, using samples from 36 patients spanning 9 counties and the Grand Princess cruise ship. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the cryptic introduction of at least 7 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages into California, including epidemic WA1 strains associated with Washington State, with lack of a predominant lineage and limited transmission between communities. Lineages associated with outbreak clusters in 2 counties were defined by a single base substitution in the viral genome. These findings support contact tracing, social distancing, and travel restrictions to contain SARS-CoV-2 spread in California and other states.

 

[mickey2942]

Brazil stops releasing Covid-19 death toll and wipes data from official site

I guess that whole, "It is no big deal, everyone get to work" didn't work out too well.

 

[KALI]

Well now hubby and I are dealing with fires.
It's hot and windy here in So. California.
Tomorrow's forecast is for 100 degrees farenheit here.
Worse then today.
I'm most certainly not a drama queen. Just the facts.
I fear fires more then both the Corona Virus or protests can ever throw at me.
I am not at home. All I care about is hubby and our two dogs getting out of there if evacuation orders are given.
It's looking like a scary night. Smoke all around our neighborhood.
Where there's smoke. There is fire?
I hope not, we've been through this so many times.
* I want out of Southern California so bad.
I can't take another season of fires.
Thanks for listening. I wouldn't know where else to vent.
All will probably be okay. I despise this waiting game of where the fires are going next

 

[Tadpole12]

Quarantine fatigue is real. Here's how to overcome it - CNN

Oh. That was a good article.

For sure, at first it was an adrenaline high,
how to negotiate life within a pandemic.
War ready. Protectorate of family mode.

But now, it's kind of wait and see for my province.
Anticipation.

 

[margarita25]

Oh. That's was a good article.

For sure, at first it was an adrenaline high,
how to negotiate life within a pandemic.
War ready. Protectorate of family mode.

But now, it's kind of wait and see for my province.
Anticipation.

Well said, tadpole. I’m getting a giggle over here because you described it so well...that’s exactly how it was for me too! War ready, protectorate, the adrenaline...

 

[margarita25]

• A man who attended “multiple house gatherings” on the New Jersey shore infected at least a dozen people in Pennsylvania with the virus, health officials said. Officials in Bucks County, Pa., said in a statement on Saturday that of the 33 new cases in the county, 11 were tied to an individual who visited a New Jersey beach “during the past two weeks.” On Monday, an official said that a 12th infection had been linked to the man. “This is exactly why we can’t let our guard down now, even if it feels ‘safe’ to be at the beach,” said Dr. David Damsker, the director of the Bucks County Health Department. New Jersey’s governor said the state would allow public and private swimming pools to reopen on June 22.
  
  [...]
  
  “Casinos along the Las VegasStrip reopened their doors last week to a flood of visitors after a 78-day hiatus. But figuring out when and where people contract the virus and then quickly tracing their contacts poses a particular challenge in Las Vegas, where guests outnumbered residents by 20 to 1 last year.”
  
  [...]
  
  “A new option for college essays: ‘How I Spent My Quarantine.’
  The Common Application, the system used by more than 900 colleges in the United States, is giving high school students who are applying to college in the fall a chance to talk about how the virus has changed the course of their lives and education.”
  
  https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/06/08/world/coronavirus-live-updates.amp.html?usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA=&amp_js_v=0.1#link-5f401a75
  -much more at link

——

Sad article :

Opinion | For Older People, Despair, as Well as Covid-19, Is Costing Lives
‘This is like being in prison.’

——

Texas Medical Center sees 40 percent increase in coronavirus hospitalizations

“Experts say you should wait three to five days, which means now is the time to test if you were at last week's protest with 60,000 people.”

[...]

“This week, the state will allow restaurants to increase capacity to 75 percent, and large amusement parks in Texas will reopen soon.

"Personally, I would say, right now we're not ready to go through the next gate," Boom explained. "We've seen an uptick in infections. It's gotten steeper. I think we should slow down, pause and see what happens over this next week and 10 days."”


—-

America Is Giving Up on the Pandemic

 

[margarita25]

Gottlieb says there's "no question" protests will increase coronavirus spread

—-

Holidays, protests lead to uptick in California COVID-19 cases, experts say

—-

COVID-19 tests for protesters see startup challenges in Minnesota

“Attempts to track outbreaks of COVID-19 among Twin Cities protesters through mass testing are being complicated by a supply shortage at some clinics and concerns among protesters about the information they'd have to disclose if they tested positive.

M Health Fairview is not testing anyone who is asymptomatic for now, despite an advisory from the Minnesota Department of Health to test anyone involved in mass demonstrations over the past week — whether they appear to be sick or not.

"While M Health Fairview is working quickly to increase our COVID-19 testing capacity to include asymptomatic individuals who were involved in recent mass public events, national shortages of lab testing supplies require us to prioritize testing for those admitted to our care facilities and symptomatic individuals at this time," said Dr. Mark Welton, M Health Fairview's chief medical officer.

State health officials worry about a surge of COVID-19 cases involving protesters, first responders and others at recent mass events — right as cases appear to be trending downward in Minnesota.”

 

[ilovewings]

They've all messed us around a bit from the beginning, from politicians to the CDC and the WHO. I'd rather hear, "we don't know" than some BS

I also think they (any of them) ought to be dang sure about something like this before voicing it, because this kind of information will result in people letting their guard down.

I don't believe it because it does not make sense: if someone has the virus but is asymptomatic, how could they not spread it? it sounds like the WHO thinks it can only be spread by someone who has obvious symptoms like coughing and sneezing. Remember the WHO initially said (when the virus first appeared in China), that there was thought to be no transmission between people (how did that turn out?): then the WHO was against masks (now they are for masks): One just has to use one's brain and make your own determination what you believe -- and I agree they should not voice this kind of information without really knowing for sure -based on evidence.

 

[ilovewings]

Yes. But one gal had hers literally falling down constantly today. It's not going to be effective.

I see people all the time with masks -- under their nose!!! i want to say, do you really think that is providing protection???? Duh

 

[tresir2012]

My question is, how did they start the trial in April. And then declare it safe by June 6th?

Is that long enough to declare it safe and effective?

It has been in human trials for at least a month I believe. The article I posted explained they are gambling by manufacturing it even though trials are not complete, in order to have it ready by September. If the trials fail, they will dump what they have made.

Reposting the BBC link from last thread

Drugs firm to begin making potential virus vaccine

Even if it is only 80% effective that should stop it in its track as it would reduce the famous R number.

From the link above -

One of the new partnerships is with the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. The other is a $750m (£595m) deal with two health organisations backed by Bill and Melinda Gates.

The two charities, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and GAVI vaccines alliance, will help find production facilities to produce and distribute 300 million doses of the vaccine. Delivery is expected to start by the end of the year.

Mr Soriot has said he expects to know by August if the AZD1222 vaccine is effective, while CEPI chief executive Richard Hatchett said there is still a possibility the vaccine may not work.

AstraZeneca's licensing agreement with India's SII is to supply one billion doses for low and middle-income countries, with a commitment to provide 400 million before the end of 2020.

Mr Soirot said the company was building a number of supply chains across the world "to support global access at no profit during the pandemic and has so far secured manufacturing capacity for two billion doses of the vaccine".

"Having a vaccine is one thing but you need to produce it at scale and I can tell you that It is not an easy thing to do," the pharmaceutical boss told Today.

He has described the coronavirus pandemic as "a global tragedy" and "a challenge for all of humanity".

AstraZeneca has already agreed to supply 300 million doses of the potential vaccine to the US and a further 100 million to the UK, with the first deliveries expected in September.

Here is an article from today that is a little more explanatory about the Phases and stage the trials are at.

Prof: Oxford University Vaccine for Covid-19 Close to Roll Out

Prof Carrington said of the Covid-19 vaccines one of the furthest along in clinical trials is AZD 1222 developed by Oxford University.

Initially, human trials showed that this vaccine was safe, well tolerated and triggers a strong immune response.

A phase three clinical trial involving 10,000 UK volunteers will now test whether people who receive AZD 1222 are less likely to get infected by Covid-19 or to develop symptoms than volunteers who are given a non-Covid-19 vaccine.

Minster of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said that African Union was leading a charge to have any Covid-19 vaccine to be patent free which mean that it would available globally.

 

[squareandrabbet]

Everyone I know is suffering mental health effects from just what you describe (the head-whipping of being told one thing, then another; seeing one thing go in one direction, then all hell breaks loose in another).

It is definitely changing my life too, and I am very down today. We had this gradual reopening thing going on, and now, if you look at actual new cases in California today, we're back at one of our highest rates. This bump up is because starting even before Memorial Day, people started just going back to normal. Everyone thinks that their own "normal" is okay to do. See the same friends. Maybe change where meet-ups occur (back then, restaurants were still take out only).

But there's still been a bump-up in cases. And now, as my two adult children go back to their "regular lives," I'm realizing that it's statistically more likely they'd transmit to me right now, than it was in April.

The data from South Carolina suggest that large crowd gatherings, even at the beach, cause a rise in transmission. So what will the protests cause? Keeping in mind that many protesters will be asymptomatic, first there won't be much change - but then, just as at the beginning of all this, they will return to "normal life" and perhaps to classrooms, jobs, nightlife, etc.

So for those of us who are more vulnerable (and that would include restaurant workers and healthcare workers), it's depressing and mind boggling.

Having said all that, restaurant workers who know proper mask use can be relatively safe - in fact, with some planning, very safe. Early detection of CoVid is key to avoiding the seriously negative outcomes such as the ones mentioned just above, in this thread.

So what do we do? Do we go get swabbed once a week? And what do you do? I'm so sorry you have to plaster stuff on your windows.

But the mental health effects (for me, anger, grief, disappointment, cognitive dissonance, even a sense of unreality) are real. How are we supposed to make sense of this?

I'm watching Belgium (worst major nation for CoVid) with its very specific reopening plan, well-reasoned and very very clear. It's not about signs in windows (that's stupid IMO). Belgium is allowing restaurants to open with more separation of tables, but they are allowing one table to be larger (I think that's what they're doing). Only staff wear masks. In France, people are voluntarily wearing visors that allow eating if they're feeling really vulnerable. No one under 12 wears masks in Belgium and they're going. back to school today - so they'll be our guinea pig. I suspect cases will go up *slightly* (as we're already seeing in California due to our pre-Memorial Day loosening).

My daughter was about to go on her annual trip to San Diego, but the thing that made her cancel was the hotel's discouraging her to come. They said they wouldn't be opening the pool area until later in the summer, which was a big part of their family vacation. It's so frustrating to have to wait for more data to come in - and then to have these freakin' WILD CARDS (protests, etc) thrown into the mix.

California is nearly back up to its highest rate of daily new cases of CoVid. The only good news is that a larger number are being treated at home while supposedly quarantined. Fewer ICU admissions.

I think you are right to be skeptical. @Sundog 's "The Atlantic" article/editorial has this information inside (BBM):

Notice the weaselly construction. The signatories “do not condemn these gatherings as risky” not because the potential risk for disease transmission is lower than at the Michigan protests, but because they are unwilling to criticize an anti-racist gathering, no matter how risky it might be. The implication is that protests could succeed, leading to less racism and improving public health

Another article on the so-called Open "Letter" from the "medical professionals", same source, says this:

By Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,000 epidemiologists, doctors, social workers, medical students, and other health experts had signed the letter. The creators had to close a Google Sheet with signatures to the public after alt-right messages popped up, but they plan to publish a final list soon, says Rachel Bender Ignacio, an infectious disease specialist and one of the letter’s creators.

So, that's "the narrative"...

But...

People are looking at friends and family members like they are nuts, if they say "Either coronavirus is a problem; or it isn't."

Well, I'm sure they will be convinced that we should believe the "medical professional" identified by/as...

"Black female who's tired, USAF vet"

???

Or maybe, the one kinda, sorta implausibly named "Art Therapist"?

Gee, it couldn't possibly be the case that these people are lying to us, and the "1,000 medical professionals" is actually... a random Google petition where anyone could sign their name, and in fact some did?

That's kind of... almost... evil, isn't it?

Represent a social justice position, feign to cast it as having the weight of a thousand verifiable "medical professionals" behind it as signatories, all but telling the entire world that they will be safe from coronavirus even if they don't shelter in place...

issue a press release, say "1,000 medical professionals agree"...

release it and count on people not bothering to look at the signatures to see if the people are really, in fact, medical professionals?

Like those old movies where the prop envelope of "cash", contains cut-up phone books the size and shape of dollar bills?

. Look and see.

Open Letter.pdf

 

[Cool Cats]

June 8, 2020, 2:48 PM EDT

When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again

Many epidemiologists are already comfortable going to the doctor, socializing with small groups outside or bringing in mail, despite the coronavirus. But unless there’s an effective vaccine or treatment first, it will be more than a year before many say they will be willing to go to concerts, sporting events or religious services. And some may never greet people with hugs or handshakes again..

These are the personal opinions of a group of 511 epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists who were asked by The New York Times when they expect to resume 20 activities of daily life, assuming that the pandemic and the public health response to it unfold as they expect.

 

[tresir2012]

Nick Cordero began stem cell treatment for lungs, Amanda Kloots says

Update on Nick Cordero. This guy has really been thru it. Now receiving stem cell treatment.

 

[tresir2012]

This news is coming from the WHO so you may be right.

LOL