Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #60

[ilovewings]

Had the miserable experience of shopping at Walmart today in Novi Michigan. My experiences at Walmart in Florida were all good. Here in Michigan, not so much. I had to return a vacuum cleaner i bought online (it sounded like a plane landed in my living room): there was one "associate"-- She was coughing, her mask was on her neck, nowhere near her nose and to top it off she was wiping her nose with her bare hand. I wanted to leave but i couldn't cause i had to get this transaction done. I stood as far away from her as I could: There was a plexiglass shield in front of her but i don't think it provided much protection to the customer. In any event i had no problem returning the item- she handed me a receipt which i treated like it had the cooties: threw it away and ran to the ladies' room and scrubbed my hands with tons of soap. she was gross. There was another lady in one of the aisles doing inventory who kept wiping her nose with her bare hands and then touching items. I told my husband, this is why i use soap and water on every item that comes into this house from the grocery store. Sigh

 

[nightowl1975]

Political correctness wins the day- isn't that sad? nobody came out and told those protesters clearly-- you are endangering your life and others if you continue these protests---they probably would not have listened anyway but our leaders have a duty to lead AND IN THIS PANDEMIC WE HAVE NO LEADERSHIP--

After all of the warnings and education and recommendations that have been put out in the last few months, if people actually needed some additional warning or clarification that gathering in groups of thousands of people with no social distancing was a risky thing to do... I dunno. Perhaps this is where a bit of natural selection needs to do its thing for the good of society.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Interesting article about the virus origins in UK.

Coronavirus came to UK 'at least 1,300 times'

"The surprising and exciting conclusion is that we found the UK epidemic has resulted from a very large number of separate importations," said Prof Nick Loman, from Cog-UK and the University of Birmingham.

"It wasn't a patient zero," he added.

The study showed that less than 0.1% of those imported cases came directly from China. Instead the UK's coronavirus epidemic was largely initiated by travel from Italy in late February, Spain in early-to-mid-March and then France in mid-to-late-March.

"The big surprise for us was how fluid the process was, the rate of and source of virus introduction shifted rapidly over the course of only a few weeks," said Prof Oliver Pybus, from the University of Oxford.

Cases that started outbreak mostly came from Europe
80% occurred from 28 Feb-29 Mar

(See graph in link)

Source: COG-UK consortium
"This happened later than perhaps we would have expected," added Prof Loman.

The study estimates 80% of those initial cases arrived in the country between 28 Feb and 29 March - the time the UK was debating whether to lockdown.

After this point, the number of new imported cases diminished rapidly.

The earliest one could be traced back to the beginning of February, but it is possible there were cases even earlier that could not be picked up by the analysis.

The study also says the controversial football match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, on 11 March, probably had very little impact on bringing the virus into the country.

An estimated 3,000 fans flew in from Spain to watch the game, but there were 20,000 people flying in from Spain every single day in mid-March.

See more at link.


So lockdown one week earlier would have made no difference IMO.

I feel like I am part of one big experiment ATM.

I think you're right, locking down a week earlier would not have made much difference. Shutting the airports 2 or 3 weeks earlier would have though!

 

[tresir2012]

Unless it has side effects or longterm issues, that we won't know about because of the big rush.

But that should be discovered with the phase III they are conducting right now. From what I understand, it is an adenovirus that was originally given to chimps apparently. If those PIII trials are ok then they will pilot it in India, with hopefully roll out in UK and US in September. In the UK vaccines are free. What is the deal in the US? Will many want it if they have to pay for it or will it be free there too? MOO.

 

[Sundog]

Johns Hopkins doctor on protests and coronavirus:

“…every human interaction you have puts you at risk…”

“It's a simple biological fact. This virus will thrive in environments where people are in contact with each other.”

“Until there's a vaccine... it's really going to fall to individuals to try and reduce the harm that this virus can cause,” Adalja said. “And that's going to be something that's different for each individual based on their personal risk tolerance.”

Could George Floyd protesters cause a spike in coronavirus cases? Johns Hopkins doctor explains

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Coronavirus: Adults living alone can form 'support bubble' with one other household, says Boris Johnson

Adults living alone in England, including single parents with children under 18, will be able to form a "support bubble" with one other household, the prime minister has announced.

The updated guidelines come into place from Saturday and are intended to ease the challenges of social isolation during the coronavirus lockdown.

Members of a bubble can stay overnight at each other's home, and there is no need to stick to the two-metre social distancing rule.

The relaxation of the rules does not include those who are shielding, meaning guidelines for the "clinically extremely vulnerable" remain unchanged.

Speaking during the government's daily coronavirus briefing, Boris Johnson said the measures are a "targeted intervention" to help those who are most lonely.

"There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are lonely and struggling," he said.

Government officials argue that the bubbles will allow widowed grandparents to visit family members, or have their grandchildren to stay.

 

[tresir2012]

Political correctness wins the day- isn't that sad? nobody came out and told those protesters clearly-- you are endangering your life and others if you continue these protests---they probably would not have listened anyway but our leaders have a duty to lead AND IN THIS PANDEMIC WE HAVE NO LEADERSHIP--

They were told by the UK government but it made no difference. They are still on the streets today, yet I cannot see my family.

 

[tresir2012]

Coronavirus: Adults living alone can form 'support bubble' with one other household, says Boris Johnson

Adults living alone in England, including single parents with children under 18, will be able to form a "support bubble" with one other household, the prime minister has announced.

The updated guidelines come into place from Saturday and are intended to ease the challenges of social isolation during the coronavirus lockdown.

Members of a bubble can stay overnight at each other's home, and there is no need to stick to the two-metre social distancing rule.

The relaxation of the rules does not include those who are shielding, meaning guidelines for the "clinically extremely vulnerable" remain unchanged.

Speaking during the government's daily coronavirus briefing, Boris Johnson said the measures are a "targeted intervention" to help those who are most lonely.

"There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are lonely and struggling," he said.

Government officials argue that the bubbles will allow widowed grandparents to visit family members, or have their grandchildren to stay.

This doesn't apply if the two parts of the bubble are split across a border - it's pathetic.

 

[tresir2012]

Johns Hopkins doctor on protests and coronavirus:

“…every human interaction you have puts you at risk…”

“It's a simple biological fact. This virus will thrive in environments where people are in contact with each other.”

“Until there's a vaccine... it's really going to fall to individuals to try and reduce the harm that this virus can cause,” Adalja said. “And that's going to be something that's different for each individual based on their personal risk tolerance.”

Could George Floyd protesters cause a spike in coronavirus cases? Johns Hopkins doctor explains

Yes it will, I would like to bet, same as the churches and other gatherings.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

They were told by the UK government but it made no difference. They are still on the streets today, yet I cannot see my family.

Simple, meet up with them at a protest; you can get as close as you like

Alternatively, just put your house up for sale and they can pop round for a viewing

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Simple, meet up with them at a protest; you can get as close as you like

Alternatively, just put your house up for sale and they can pop round for a viewing

Who was it recently, said they were going to hire their mum as cleaner and dad as gardener? So they could have a catch up

 

[tresir2012]

Simple, meet up with them at a protest; you can get as close as you like

Alternatively, just put your house up for sale and they can pop round for a viewing

Ah ha. Can't stay overnight though. So a 500 round trip for a house viewing or protest. Shops are opening on 22nd though.

 

[tresir2012]

Who was it recently, said they were going to hire their mum as cleaner and dad as gardener? So they could have a catch up

Yeah good idea. I need a live in cleaner.

 

[24Roses]

Iowa news today: Iowa COVID-19 Information As of 11:00 a.m. (link will change in 24 hrs.), we have 22,516 and 629 have passed away. 13,545 have recovered. IMO there are 339 new cases and 7 more have passed away.
Gov. Reynolds lifts 50 percent capacity restriction for bars, restaurants starting Friday
UNI, ISU announce shortened fall semester, students and staff expected to wear masks on campus

 

[mickey2942]

Yeah good idea. I need a live in cleaner.

I have one, we have been married for over a decade.

Everyone will decide their own level of risk. Some people, think that it is important to have their nails done. Others, will go to the gym, movies, travel. It is all a level of risk.

 

[ilovewings]

Johns Hopkins doctor on protests and coronavirus:

“…every human interaction you have puts you at risk…”

“It's a simple biological fact. This virus will thrive in environments where people are in contact with each other.”

“Until there's a vaccine... it's really going to fall to individuals to try and reduce the harm that this virus can cause,” Adalja said. “And that's going to be something that's different for each individual based on their personal risk tolerance.”

Could George Floyd protesters cause a spike in coronavirus cases? Johns Hopkins doctor explains

That is true: when you leave your house and interact with any other human there is a risk: the question I feel, is one of level of risk: for example, going to the supermarket is a pretty lo to moderate risk with proper precautions such as social distincing and masks. On the other hand protesting. church, rallies, parties, bars represent a much higher risk. Going to the hair salon is a moderate risk depending on precautions taken by the stylist and the client. The highest risk involves lots of people gathering. The virus really likes that alot.

 

[Tony1902]

@KALI, 10ofRods & ilovewings:

Didn’t Otto say once:
‘Watch what they do, not what they say.’
Hope I quoted you correctly Otto..miss ya.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I have one, we have been married for over a decade.

Everyone will decide their own level of risk. Some people, think that it is important to have their nails done. Others, will go to the gym, movies, travel. It is all a level of risk.

Ah this was a jokey thing, a comment a comedian made here in the UK. The irony that we cant visit family, but can have people come to the house to do work. (It's our sense of humour...)

 

[TravelingBug]

So Israel did a slower reopening but then did start opening schools eventually (they were in a much better place than most places in the US at that point).

Here's the latest:

Two weeks after Israel fully reopened schools, a COVID-19 outbreak sweeping through classrooms — including at least 130 cases at a single school — has led officials to close dozens of schools where students and staff were infected. A new policy orders any school where a virus case emerges to close.

<snip>

At least 42 kindergartens and schools have been shuttered indefinitely. More than 6,800 students and teachers are in home quarantine by government order.

And they actually PHASED / small group reintroduced schooling (so even more careful than many states that have already released their school reopening plans for fall):

Schools first began to reopen in early May, with classes staggered in smaller groups or "capsules" of students to prevent a wide outbreak. By May 17, limitations on class size were lifted.

The school with 130 testing positive began with a 7th grade student testing positive, so then they quaratined the entire 7th grade. Then a 9th grader tested positive and they shut the school down, but...

The most significant outbreak appeared last week in the Gymnasia Rehavia, a historic middle and high school in Jerusalem. There, 116 students and 14 teachers were infected, according to the Ministry of Education, and the school closed.

Obviously of note that it was students infected and testing positive before teachers, and the high number of positive cases among students, when teachers were the ones people thought would be bringing it and getting infected at higher rates (despite obviously there being more students than teacher)

After Reopening Schools, Israel Orders Them To Shut If COVID-19 Cases Are Discovered

 

[10ofRods]

I have one, we have been married for over a decade.

Everyone will decide their own level of risk. Some people, think that it is important to have their nails done. Others, will go to the gym, movies, travel. It is all a level of risk.

And each time someone "decides their own risk," they will risk someone else. Where I live, workers must wear masks at reopened businesses (but not goggles). So of course, we're seeing a major uptick in cases. In fact, it's the worst number of daily new cases that we've had. SOMEHOW, community transmission is occurring and the sad news is that one of those upscale senior living apartment buildings managed to get CV19 in its midst, probably due to grocery store transmission. Two grocery store employees at two different major chains are also in the new group of patients.

Coronavirus enters through the eyes as well (so perhaps the grocery workers should have their anxiety eased by having employer-supplied face shields? Still won't be perfect, but if everyone else is going to run around maskless because they "want to", we have to protect the workers who have to deal with them).

Especially our healthcare workers.

On a tangent (but not really): I suspect that now that people in my area have seen today's headlines, the numbers returning to these newly opened businesses will drop. Business was already bad, not rebounding. Gyms just opened, but are nearly empty (and boy are those personal trainers at risk - masks are not going to protect them from the huffing and puffing of the general public if one person is actively emitting virions).

We've seen super-healthy athletes have their bodies destroyed by 6 weeks in intensive care, some of it on ventilators, etc. Since where I live, older people are mostly still sheltering and completely avoiding restaurants, salons, gyms, theaters, etc. and since it is also the case that older people spend more per capita than people aged 18-30 in my county.

Most service businesses run on narrow profit margins. Some actually cling to life only through *increasing* business over their first few years, then staying stable. Zoom-based online "gyms" are doing quite well. But real world gyms are going to collapse, their committed members will join the ones that remain - some will remain. But they will be fewer in number.

All of this could be avoided by people wearing masks, even when weightlifting, but that's not going to happen in my region (L.A. County may require it already - not sure). At any rate, not everyone is obeying even where there are masks required by law.

As the numbers of cases increase through the summer as they are projected to do, parents are going to freak about sending their little ones to school (masked is the plan right now, state-wide). We know kids are less susceptible - but about half will get CV, and some of those will be quite ill - more sick than their parents have ever seen before.

What will happen as that word spreads?