Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #62

[10ofRods]

Us, too. My DD holds dual Aussie/US citizenship (her paternal birthright) and it is breaking our hearts to see what is happening in the US. We have so many people that we love in the US - people that I lived amongst for 17 years. Our annual trip to see them has been curtailed ... for how long?

Such a good question. What if the US gets to a steady rate of CoVid that's way higher than what Australia thinks is acceptable?

It doesn't seem as if we'll ever do more than bring CoVid into some kind of socially acceptable equilibrium.

I am extremely optimistic about an eventual vaccine/antibody treatment, but like others, I can't feel confident about a new vaccine. I mean both personally and as an actual end to the rates that the US/UK are seeing.

I need to see vaccines rolled out at medical institutions that I trust, who are transparent, and where the right kinds of scientists and doctors are overseeing it. We've found a way, collectively, to make HIV much less of a threat, we can beat CoVid. I know we can. But how long will it take? My heart sinks. I thought maybe 2 years until we Americans were permitted again in Europe (or maybe anywhere).

But now, I think it may be longer and it's hard to deal with. I know it's a relatively small thing (travel) compared to death. But we still have feelings.

 

[tmar]

US records highest one-day total in coronavirus cases since April

US records highest one-day total in coronavirus cases since April

Amanda Holpuch in New York, Maanvi Singh in Oakland and agencies

2 hrs ago
...
The US has recorded a one-day total of 34,700 new COVID-19 cases, the highest level since late April, when the number peaked at 36,400, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

A coronavirus resurgence is wiping out two months of progress in the US and sending infections to dire new levels in southern and western states.

Administrators and health experts warned on Wednesday that politicians and a public that, in many cases, is tired of being cooped up are letting a disaster unfold.

Related: Texas COVID-19 cases hit all-time daily high as Houston hospitals near capacity

While newly-confirmed infections have been declining steadily in early hot spots such as New York and New Jersey, several other states set single-day records this week, including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Disneyland Resort Cancels July 17th Reopening, Delays Theme Parks Returning

https://twitter.com/DisneyParksNews/status/1275949428474474497/photo/1

 

[beatrixpotter]

Calling in the army after the first death in a month (in his 80's)? Strikes me as totally unsustainable. The more I look at the "success stories," the less "successful" they look.

Is success based on their results or your feelings about how they got them though? What exactly is not successful in their results compared to the US?

 

[ilovewings]

Looks like the Detroit News is holding Whitmer accountable

Whitmer feels heat from Detroit paper over coronavirus: She 'must answer for nursing home policy'

i am disappointed that gov whitmer is still doing it-- i dont understand
why she continues doing something so deadly for people in nursing homes

 

[24Roses]

Some Iowa news: UPDATE: 28 Dubuque County jail inmates test positive for COVID-19
Special Olympics Iowa extends suspension of activities through end of July
Masks Will Be Required in ISU Classrooms for Fall 2020 Semester
Iowa State Research to Develop Home Test Kit for COVID-19
Surge in COVID-19 Cases in Story County Cause Businesses to Voluntarily Re-Close
Some Iowa bars, restaurants closing again over coronavirus concerns
Iowa State releases plan for 50% Jack Trice Stadium football capacity

 

[MsMarple]

Washington State: Starting Friday, June 26, masks will be mandatory in public, indoors and out when it’s impossible to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others:

Inslee said that any style of face covering is acceptable.

"Any covering that will cover the nose and mouth will do in this case," he said at a press conference on Tuesday. "What you choose is your choice. We're just appreciative if everyone could think of this as the new part of etiquette in our state."

Inslee said the masks were necessary to mandate because coronavirus has continued to spread as the state reopens.

While Inslee cited the outbreak in Yakima County, which has run out of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, he said that the spread of coronavirus continues throughout all parts of Washington state.

Exceptions to the mask rule include those who have health issues impacted by face coverings, those who are deaf or hard of hearing and children under the age of 5, and when it's impractical, such as when eating in public. Children aged 2 or under should not wear a face mask.
Washington state requires face masks in public starting Friday

My county, Jefferson, plans to move to Phase 3 on June 29, congintent upon one more meeting to go over any final recommendations before sending it to the State.
https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/9995/Community-Situation-Report-6-22-20?bidId=

 

[MrX]

Is success based on their results or your feelings about how they got them though? What exactly is not successful in their results compared to the US?

Shutting down, peeking out and then shutting down again isn't "success." It's denial of the fact that this thing may be with us forever and we will need to learn to live with it. How long can they keep sending out the army after every death or new case? How far will their society fall if the rest of the industrialized world moves forward with coping rather than hiding?

 

[weepingangel]

Massachusetts
https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-june-24-2020/download
The COVID-19 Dashboard includes daily and cumulative data on:

Confirmed cases
Testing by date
Cases by hospital, county, and age/sex/ethnicity
Hospitalizations
Deaths
Hospital capacity and census


https://www.mass.gov/doc/weekly-covid-19-public-health-report-june-24-2020/download
The Weekly Public Health Report includes enhanced, more granular information to be updated on a weekly, or biweekly basis.

This data includes:

Case and testing information by city/town
Massachusetts residents subject to COVID-19 quarantine
Cases and deaths in Long Term Care Facilities
Individuals released from isolation (recovered)
Updates on nursing facility audit results
PPE Distribution

 

[weepingangel]

Well now that’s a good idea

Disneyland Resort Cancels July 17th Reopening, Delays Theme Parks Returning

https://twitter.com/DisneyParksNews/status/1275949428474474497/photo/1

 

[10ofRods]

I think Australia's strategy has been:

First, close international borders
Next, close state borders
Get the virus under control in each state with testing, and isolation of positive cases
Mandatory 14-day quarantining for any Aussies returning to their home from elsewhere
Ensure that all medical facilities (especially ICUs) were equipped to handle multiple intakes
Loosen statewide restrictions
Open up travel within each state (social distancing and sanitisation strictly in place)
Open up travel to 'safe' states

My state moves to stage three on Monday. Opening up nightclubs and entertainment venues at 50% capacity, social distancing still in effect. Not all states are at the same point, but we are all moving towards the same goal. It takes community compliance.

It is all a guessing game. But it is a guessing game that is planned out by National Cabinet - which is all of the state leaders conferring and agreeing on strategy, with expert advice.

It may be a guessing game, but Australia played it brilliantly. It could be put into use in the US, even now, if only we were united (and we'd have to go down one level in some states - to counties/boroughs, but we could do it).

Right now, we aren't going to do it. It would have been way easier to plan this and do it and still be doing it (some places not reopening).

If we can get back to 20,000 cases per day, that's still 600,000 cases per month - and it will take months to make a dent in the "herd immunity" problem. By the end of the year, We'd have 3,600,000 cases - ~1% of our population if my maths are right. If the death rate drops from current 5% because the more vulnerable are protected/dead, to, say 3% (optimistic given that 30% of Americans have at least one underlying condition), well...that's a lot of deaths. And still no closer to herd immunity (6% of us will have had CoVid, something like that).

Now personally, I believe way more people have CoVid than the US authorities know. I base this on scientific studies of things like CoVId rates in sewer water or serological studies (faulty but still a pointer). It sounds odd, but if that's true and many people don't even realize they're sick, that's great. So maybe...20% of us will have had CoVid by Jan 1 2021.

But we'll need to roll another year or so, absent a vaccine, for most people from the rest of the world to feel comfortable coming here. Meantime the world economy will rebuilt, rationally and carefully, without us.

 

[10ofRods]

Calling in the army after the first death in a month (in his 80's)? Strikes me as totally unsustainable. The more I look at the "success stories," the less "successful" they look.

Does it have to be sustainable? What if a particular thing is very rare? If it's rare, we don't have to do it very many times or make it sustainable.

I'm not sure what you mean by "success" btw.

 

[LadyL]

It's up to local leaders to promote the ways to
ameliorate the virus.
- Mandate mask wearing
- hope the population follows along
- implement social distancing
- encourage people to stay home
- start enforcing the social distancing in bars and restaurants. Fl. officials snatched the alcohol licenses of a couple college bars near UCF (Orlando).
Encourage your local leaders to get aggressive.

just based on my social media friend's attitudes and posts, I'm not optimistic

 

[CSIDreamer]

I believe some epidemiologists have stated that by the time this virus ends, whenever that will be, 60-70% of the population will have become infected - that means there will be a lot more deaths (obviously)- i think the virus does what it does-- here is where though we can try and prevent the virus from infecting us (each of us)-- masks, physical distancing- gatherings, crowds, are incubators for the virus and with the re-opening of the states and people acting like there is no virus and gathering in large groups, having rallies, the virus will spread like wild-fire--- younger people will, for the most part, be unscathed by the virus but they will spread it to older folks and others with weak immune systems who will get very sick and/or die. As long as the covidiots continue to act like there is no virus to worry about, we all are at high risk.

Washington State: Starting Friday, June 26, masks will be mandatory in public, indoors and out when it’s impossible to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others:

Inslee said that any style of face covering is acceptable.

"Any covering that will cover the nose and mouth will do in this case," he said at a press conference on Tuesday. "What you choose is your choice. We're just appreciative if everyone could think of this as the new part of etiquette in our state."

Inslee said the masks were necessary to mandate because coronavirus has continued to spread as the state reopens.

While Inslee cited the outbreak in Yakima County, which has run out of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, he said that the spread of coronavirus continues throughout all parts of Washington state.

Exceptions to the mask rule include those who have health issues impacted by face coverings, those who are deaf or hard of hearing and children under the age of 5, and when it's impractical, such as when eating in public. Children aged 2 or under should not wear a face mask.
Washington state requires face masks in public starting Friday

My county, Jefferson, plans to move to Phase 3 on June 29, congintent upon one more meeting to go over any final recommendations before sending it to the State.
https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/9995/Community-Situation-Report-6-22-20?bidId=

That mask exception for deaf and HOH is a bit different. We either use ASL or lip read. The problem with lip reading is everyone else's mouth is covered. Jmo

 

[mickey2942]

Sisolak: Nevada to require face masks in public to fight COVID-19 spread

Now, there is a governor who is putting his feet to the fire. He is not palming off the "mask mandate" to some businesses, and making it their responsibility to enforce a "suggestion".

He took the responsibility to make it statewide. Kudos to Sisolak.

 

[Sundog]

Federal Trade Commission warns against contact tracing scammers. Attorneys General of some states have also warned people to be careful of emails they receive, as well as text messages.

COVID-19 contact tracing text message scams

 

[10ofRods]

I wonder if he rubbed his eyes after touching something, like the gas pump, that had virus on it. Also, he hadn't been out shopping in a long time and wasn't used to taking precautions while out. You get better at it the more you do it.

I got pinkeye in March (first time in my life) and think I probably got it on my last shopping trip in mid March. (I wasn't wearing a mask yet and had no hand sanitizer.) Just thinking about trying not to touch my face made my eyes and nose itch. But I don't think my pinkeye was COVID related.

Gas Pump.
Shelf.
Credit Card Machine.
Cart.
Check-out counter.

BUT, most likely: a person at the register who had CoVid.

In my opinion. Or a person standing right behind, 1 foot away (as keeps happening to so many of us). If the wait is 5-10 minutes, that's probably plenty.

My poor DH, if I ever let him go to the store alone, I'd grill him about every detail (although he's the type that would have volunteered most of the details and we'd be onto deciding what to do next).

Thing is, that story really made me think. What DO we do if that happens? I'd do exactly as the author ultimately did (no spoilers).

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Well now that’s a good idea

They only placed blame on the State & Governor Newsom 3 or 4 times, which is nice. Heck, the first sentence they mention how practically every one of their other parks is a go.

Nary a word about the spike in CA cases, and wanting to keep cast members and guests safe. But at least it looks like Governor Newsom bought himself another couple of weeks to see what happens with the virus.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Sisolak: Nevada to require face masks in public to fight COVID-19 spread

He said that enforcement of the mask directive would be handled by licensing agencies and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and that he “would hope it doesn’t get to the point where we have a police officer walking around with a ticket book.”

Sounds like Governor Sisolak has not ruled out ticketing citizens who disobey his order to wear masks in public.

I wonder what kind of fine he figures would be appropriate. Will there be exceptions for the poor who cannot afford to pay a fine? If not will they be put in jail?

Sisolak: Nevada to require face masks in public to fight COVID-19 spread

 

[jjenny]

i am disappointed that gov whitmer is still doing it-- i dont understand
why she continues doing something so deadly for people in nursing homes

Michigan designated some nursing homes as "hubs" where these patients are supposed to be taken. Right now Michigan is actually doing pretty well covid wise. There cases are not rising rapidly like in some other states. So I would say she did a good job.
"Whitmer's letter to the GOP lawmakers noted her administration's response included the creation of regional hubs for COVID nursing home patients with specialized staffing and infection control, as well as facility inspections, technical assistance to isolate and prevent the spread of infection and "prioritized" personal protective equipment for staff."
Whitmer won't cooperate with GOP inquiry on virus in nursing homes