Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #64

[margarita25]

Michigan shooting: 3 charged in Family Dollar security guard killing - CNN

 

[10ofRods]

Right now in my own family, my 89 year old father, who doesn't mask up..oh and he is in Costco today (but of course he has to wear a mask in there) went over to my sister's house yesterday to borrow her rescue inhaler because he has "been short of breath" for the last few days and has a rash on his arm...will he use the pulse ox my sister also gave him..why no!! Even though I was begging him last night to please take his pulse ox.
It is almost like he wants to get this virus. We siblings have been emailing his cancer dr since he goes in tomorrow for a checkup. (he is cancer free)
I have given up on him to be honest. It is my mother and my handicapped sister that lives with them (she is a diabetic and over age 60) that I worry more about...since dad rules the roost and what he says goes...I hate this. Its so hard to get through to him.

{{{hugs}}} My late mother ruled the roost when it came to health matters (3 cancers, 1 of them a chronic leukemia, a bunch of other issues). We lost her first. Dad thought he'd just up and die out of grief, but that didn't happen and he lived on alone for 7 years. His degree of risk taking soared. Drove cross country to see family (at age 95). With just his little dog and cash, no credit card - and he was profoundly deaf. Came back with a form of pneumonia that old people get from being around smokers (his sister and nephew, where he stayed for 2 weeks - the nephew died of lung cancer but Dad survived his pneumonia, after passing out and terrifying me at a holiday celebration).

Stubborn dads are no picnic. Mine would *never* have used an oximeter and would have tried to self-treat (he got dizzy frequently, COPD). I don't know how old your dad is, but mine was definitely getting a bit careless and forgetful in his mid-90's, but as stubborn as ever. He made it to 99 (well, he cheated a little by proclaiming it December when it was actually October...) He would have lived longer if he had followed my advice and used his walking stick regularly.

At a certain point, there's nothing we can do. Not even following them around 24/7 is going to work, realistically. I too gave up, but always went to his doctor's appointments and tried and tried to make sure he followed their instructions. Arguments galore.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

I paused my gym membership - and haven't made a cleaning appointment despite being hounded....I'm sticking with home, work, grocery, that's about it for me.

Same for me. Although, I must admit my life hasn't really changed much since Covid-19. I guess it has a little, but not much. I'm basically doing my normal, except for a few minor changes. I haven't participated in my ladies golf league this summer, no dinner dates with my husband and no sports for our youngest. I feel fortunate that we live on an acreage with plenty to do outside without needing to worry about social distancing. And thank goodness for facetime so I can still see and chat with all non work friends. I feel for everyone who lives in the metro with no where to go.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for the next three months of one of the two drugs proven to work against Covid-19, leaving none for the UK, Europe or most of the rest of the world.

Experts and access to medicines campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown it is prepared to outbid and outmanoeuvre all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.

“They’ve got access to most of the drug supply [of remdesivir] so there’s nothing for Europe,” said Dr Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University.

I know there are folks who will boast about this action. I find it totally and absolutely disgusting.

Ya know... there is going to be more times in the future than less where the USA is going to have to work with the rest of the world...

NO science-based leadership at all, but we are still going to steal all the cookies.

Disappointed but not surprised. He’d better hope the US develops a vaccine first too, if we’re not doing sharing.

 

[tabitha111]

I got called today to come in and get my second shingles shot. It was Walmart Pharmacy and the pharmacist said...please come in before the fall when cold and flu season is all around us. Of course I will go this week...but I thought that was interesting what she said. They had stopped doing vaccines, (because I did go in a month ago to try to get it) but our state goes into phase 3 soon, so they are starting back up again.

 

[Tony1902]

I got called today to come in and get my second shingles shot. It was Walmart Pharmacy and the pharmacist said...please come in before the fall when cold and flu season is all around us. Of course I will go this week...but I thought that was interesting what she said. They had stopped doing vaccines, (because I did go in a month ago to try to get it) but our state goes into phase 3 soon, so they are starting back up again.

They are starting here in SW Louisiana in July which is just around the corner. No date given.

 

[Black Widow]

I ended up canceling my dental cleaning/checkup. I'm a little to admit it, but I got cold feet and just didn't think it was the right thing to do. I tossed and turned all night long worrying about the strict procedures for entering the office. The routine appointment wasn't urgent, and DH is overdue for his cleaning due to COVID-19, so we will both schedule our visits in a week or two unless cases in Michigan surge.

I have glaucoma and due to Covid my six month check up had been postponed by about three months. They finally called to say they had reopened and were taking all precautions. ..and to wear a mask. I was apprehensive,,,,but knowing how extremely fussy my opthalmologist is I agreed to go. Well yes,,,the office, once I was inside, was well controlled. It was outside the office in a very narrow hall to the office door that was the issue. Two elderly couples in their mid to late eighties barged up....cloth masks on but no distancing...right on top of me,,,,hammering on the locked office door yelling to get in...
( it was lunch hour)....I beat a hasty retreat back outside the building to wait. I almost yelled at the couples, but bit my tongue knowing they were frantic and stressed. I arrived home after my appointment stressed and totally exhausted. When I return in a week, I will be informing the staff first that they are to collect me outside at my appointment time....I am not going through that again.

 

[COSCitizen]

I have glaucoma and due to Covid my six month check up had been postponed by about three months. They finally called to say they had reopened and were taking all precautions. ..and to wear a mask. I was apprehensive,,,,but knowing how extremely fussy my opthalmologist is I agreed to go. Well yes,,,the office, once I was inside, was well controlled. It was outside the office in a very narrow hall to the office door that was the issue. Two elderly couples in their mid to late eighties barged up....cloth masks on but no distancing...right on top of me,,,,hammering on the locked office door Yelling to get in...
( it was lunch hour)....I beat a hasty retreat back outside the building to wait. I almost yelled at the couples, but bit my tongue knowing they were frantic and stressed. I arrived home after my appointment stressed and totally exhausted. When I return in a week, I will be informing the staff first that they are to collect me outside at my appointment time....I am not going through that again.

What is WRONG with people?

 

[tresir2012]

COVID-19 Outbreak Among College Students After a Spring Break ...

Has this been posted?

On March 27, 2020, a University of Texas at Austin student with cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath had a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On March 28, two more symptomatic students had positive test results, alerting the COVID-19 Center at the University of Texas Health Austin (UTHA) to a potential outbreak; the center initiated an outbreak investigation the same day. UTHA conducted contact tracing, which linked the students’ infections to a spring break trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, during March 14–19. Among 231 persons tested for SARS-CoV-2 in this investigation, 64 (28%) had positive test results, including 60 (33%) of 183 Cabo San Lucas travelers, one of 13 (8%) household contacts of Cabo San Lucas travelers, and three (9%) of 35 community contacts of Cabo San Lucas travelers. Approximately one fifth of persons with positive test results were asymptomatic; no persons needed hospitalization, and none died. This COVID-19 outbreak among a young, healthy population with no or mild symptoms was controlled with a coordinated public health response that included rapid contact tracing and testing of all exposed persons. A coordinated response with contact tracing and testing of all contacts, including those who are asymptomatic, is important in controlling future COVID-19 outbreaks that might occur as schools and universities consider reopening.

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Figure). Further, many Cabo San Lucas travelers reported prolonged exposure and reexposure to multiple other travelers because they shared hotel rooms in Mexico and apartments or other shared living spaces upon return to Austin.

Among the 231 (80%) persons tested, 183 (79%) were Cabo San Lucas travelers, and 48 (21%) were contacts of travelers with diagnosed COVID-19, including 13 (6%) household contacts and 35 (15%) community contacts (Table 1). Among all persons tested, 110 (55%) were male, and the median age was 22 years (range = 19–62 years); 179 (89%) were non-Hispanic white. The prevalence of underlying medical conditions was low (15; 8%), but nearly a quarter (45; 24%) were current smokers. Overall, 64 (28%) persons had a positive test result, including 60 (33%) of 183 Cabo San Lucas travelers, one (8%) of 13 household contacts, and three (9%) of 35 community contacts. Persons for whom testing was performed reported a median of four contacts (range = 0–15) from the 2 days preceding symptom onset (or date of testing, if asymptomatic) through their date of self-isolation. No persons were hospitalized, and none died.

Among the 64 persons with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results, 14 (22%) were asymptomatic and 50 (78%) were symptomatic at the time of testing (Table 2). Among those who had a positive test result, the most commonly reported symptoms were cough (21; 38%), sore throat (18; 32%), headache (14; 25%), and loss of sense of smell or taste (15; 25%); only six (11%) reported fever. Among persons with negative test results, 84 (50.3%) reported symptoms; the most commonly reported symptoms were cough (58; 41%), sore throat (46; 32%), headache (29; 20%), and loss of sense of smell or taste (22; 14%); 13 (9%) reported fever. The odds of having a positive test result were significantly higher among those who were symptomatic than among those who were asymptomatic (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.8–7.4). There were no significant differences in the types of symptoms reported among persons with positive and negative test results, nor were there any significant differences in smoking status among persons with positive and negative test results.

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[paste:font size="5"]Discussion
Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among a group of college-aged travelers and their contacts demonstrated that 28% had positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results, approximately one fifth of whom were asymptomatic when tested. Asymptomatic transmission has been documented in multiple settings and has led to large outbreaks (2–6). Asymptomatic persons or those with mild symptoms likely play an important role in sustaining SARS-CoV-2 transmission during outbreaks, especially in younger populations, such as the one described here. The high prevalence of asymptomatic persons underscores the importance of testing both symptomatic and asymptomatic persons after a known COVID-19 exposure.

No constellation of symptoms was diagnostic of COVID-19 in this population. Similar proportions of fever, cough, sore throat, and headache occurred among persons with positive test results and those with negative results. Because testing supplies were limited, only symptomatic persons were tested during March 28–30. Some persons might have reported symptoms as a means to get tested during that time. A possibility also exists that a separate, concomitant respiratory illness occurred among travelers and contacts in March that might explain the similarities in symptoms between those who had positive test results and those who had negative results. Although persons with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results in this analysis were not tested for influenza or other respiratory illnesses, widespread transmission of influenza was reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during March 8–March 21.** Recent studies have demonstrated variability in symptoms such that strict implementation of guidance that emphasizes a symptom-based approach to COVID-19 testing could result in missing a diagnosis of COVID-19 in a sizeable proportion of cases (7,8).

During contact tracing interviews, Cabo San Lucas travelers reported sharing housing in both Mexico and upon return to Austin. The proximity created by this shared housing likely contributed to transmission through ongoing exposure and reexposure to SARS-CoV-2. This pattern of social interaction, in which residents gather frequently to socialize and share facilities, is common among many college-aged persons and might lead to propagated spread, similar to the continued person-to-person transmission observed in long-term care facilities (5). The prevalence of shared housing and prolonged exposure experienced by the college-aged Cabo San Lucas travelers highlights the importance of universities and schools considering how to align students’ living arrangements with CDC recommendations for living in shared housing†† as they plan to reopen.

The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, the majority of students were only tested for SARS-CoV-2 once because of limited test availability at the time; therefore, some asymptomatic or presymptomatic cases might have been missed. Second, seven travelers and contacts did not reside in Austin and were tested elsewhere. For these seven, investigators relied upon self-reported test results, and information on demographic characteristics and symptoms was not available. Third, a number of PUI forms had missing information regarding demographic characteristics, symptoms, or underlying health conditions. Although it is possible that the missing information regarding symptoms and underlying health conditions could influence the prevalence of symptoms seen in this investigation, the variability of reported signs and symptoms is consistent with what has been published in recent literature (7,8). Fourth, the diagnostic sensitivity of the RT-PCR test used is not yet known. Although this particular RT-PCR test demonstrates an analytic sensitivity of 95% at concentrations of 46 copies of virus/mL, the first systematic reviews suggest that similar RT-PCR tests are demonstrating a false-negative rate of 2%–29%§§ (9). Finally, the significant overlap between students who went on the trip together and those who shared living quarters after returning to Austin made it difficult to estimate accurate primary and secondary infection rates.

As schools and universities make decisions about reopening, it is important that they plan for isolating and testing persons with suspected COVID-19, quarantining their contacts, and implementing suggestions described in CDC’s Considerations for Institutes of Higher Education.¶¶ Coordination between educational institutions and health authorities can facilitate rapid identification of cases, contact tracing, active surveillance, and identification of clusters. Contact tracing and testing of close contacts, regardless of symptoms, is important in limiting spread, especially in young and healthy populations living in shared housing and in controlling future COVID-19 outbreaks that might occur as schools and universities consider reopening.

 

[margarita25]

What is WRONG with people?

A lot, apparently. This has all been quite the learning experience.

eta: That’s the risk and problem when you do go out. People still insist on getting in your face. I see it when I’m out walking. I have to be the one to literally make an effort to cut and go the other way because it’s obvious they’re coming right at me full speed and have no intention of implementing distance.

 

[mickey2942]

I got called today to come in and get my second shingles shot. It was Walmart Pharmacy and the pharmacist said...please come in before the fall when cold and flu season is all around us. Of course I will go this week...but I thought that was interesting what she said. They had stopped doing vaccines, (because I did go in a month ago to try to get it) but our state goes into phase 3 soon, so they are starting back up again.

Note, that 2nd shot is a dosey! You might get a fever the 2nd day. I had one last month. 1st shot, no problem. 2nd one.. I wondered if I had Covid. Just FYI.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I have glaucoma and due to Covid my six month check up had been postponed by about three months. They finally called to say they had reopened and were taking all precautions. ..and to wear a mask. I was apprehensive,,,,but knowing how extremely fussy my opthalmologist is I agreed to go. Well yes,,,the office, once I was inside, was well controlled. It was outside the office in a very narrow hall to the office door that was the issue. Two elderly couples in their mid to late eighties barged up....cloth masks on but no distancing...right on top of me,,,,hammering on the locked office door yelling to get in...
( it was lunch hour)....I beat a hasty retreat back outside the building to wait. I almost yelled at the couples, but bit my tongue knowing they were frantic and stressed. I arrived home after my appointment stressed and totally exhausted. When I return in a week, I will be informing the staff first that they are to collect me outside at my appointment time....I am not going through that again.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm sorry that you had such a stressful experience, but I can certainly sense what you endured. I saw my ophthalmologist on June 18 that was a rescheduled appointment from early April. I was more than a little apprehensive about the protocol, but everything was done in a very orderly manner that didn't cause anxiety or stress. Same when I went back to order new glasses two days later.

I started feeling anxious and very concerned about the dental appointment yesterday. I went to bed at @10:00 and could not sleep. I was so keyed up that I started getting a headache. I got up and had some juice and tried to calm myself down. I went back to bed, continued tossing and turning, and got up to take some Tylenol at 2:00AM. I had pretty much decided that I would not go to the dental appointment because just thinking about what it would be like was making me anxious and stressed beyond belief. Based on what I was told in the confirmation call with the patient coordinator, I suspected that the hygienist and dentist would probably be wearing full protective gear and that I would be given PPE as well. Frankly, the image frightened me

 

[CharlestonGal]

Inflated by late data, Arizona reports record 4,682 new coronavirus cases - KTAR.com

PHOENIX — As expected after some results were delayed the previous day, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported a single-day record of 4,682 new coronavirus cases Tuesday morning.

The state also reported 44 new deaths, increasing the pandemic totals to 1,632 fatalities along with 79,215 cases.


Monday’s report included only 625 new cases because Sonora Quest Laboratories, which performs most of Arizona’s COVID-19 testing, missed the daily deadline for submitting data. That came after four consecutive daily state reports with at least 3,000 new cases.

 

[margarita25]

This is such a great Guardian today...... So much more news in there than just the Fauci remarks.

For example:
The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for the next three months of one of the two drugs proven to work against Covid-19, leaving none for the UK, Europe or most of the rest of the world.

Experts and access to medicines campaigners are alarmed both by the US unilateral action on remdesivir and the wider implications, for instance in the event of a vaccine becoming available. The Trump administration has already shown it is prepared to outbid and outmanoeuvre all other countries to secure the medical supplies it needs for the US.

“They’ve got access to most of the drug supply [of remdesivir] so there’s nothing for Europe,” said Dr Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow at Liverpool University.

I know there are folks who will boast about this action. I find it totally and absolutely disgusting.

Ya know... there is going to be more times in the future than less where the USA is going to have to work with the rest of the world...

NO science-based leadership at all, but we are still going to steal all the cookies.

Yep. This is disgusting if true, moo, which I don’t doubt.

I could say more about this, specifically wrt to our situation with WHO.

IMO, the fair and equitable and prioritized distribution of PPE and therapeutics, etc., doesn’t go over well with some. Neither will a vaccine, moo.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Our ICU's are very pod like...command post in the middle and rooms surrounding it. In each of the ICU's there are several negative pressure rooms. Those are and were used pre covid for any patient with an infectious disease. Precovid patients with contagious illnesses, like flu were and are housed in the negative pressure rooms in the general ICU.
We also had a unit that was brand new and previously unused, specifically designed for isolation units. That was opened for the first time with Covid.

I hope this helps and I am sorry I am not better at painting the picture, @MimosaMornings

Anyone else work in a larger medical center? I work in a university hospital and would love to hear your experiences.

Thank you!

 

[ilovewings]

I’m doing all I can and the neighbor walks out and gets the mail every day. No wipes no leaving it for three day. I have seen helpful neighbors find someone else’s mail in their box and walked over and casually put the mail in another mailbox. Kids grabbing deliveries (yippee Amazon!)! The dog food delivery was interesting because they used a knife to open the outer cardboard and sliced open the actual dog food pouch inside.

After reading articles like this - makes you wonder.....Without testing, how do I know that I don’t have it? Or that I didn’t have it?

 

[Chelly]

You may want to head over to the thread where WS folks congregate if they are positive and they are discussing.

WS Members/loved ones who have Coronavirus and testing

Thanks @dixiegirl1035 . I forgot all about that thread. CRS these days.

 

[10ofRods]

Disappointed but not surprised. He’d better hope the US develops a vaccine first too, if we’re not doing sharing.

We're already invested (heavily) in the Oxford vaccine being manufactured in India. We are paying for 300,000,000 doses, whereas UK has paid for 30,000,000 and there are other nations involved as well (but mostly USA/UK). It's already been produced and is sitting there waiting for the testing to be done.

I don't see how any vaccine proposed by the US could now be "first."

The Oxford vaccine looks as good as any - and Oxford will be getting a percentage. I'm certain that US Medical Universities will also develop vaccines, but look for those to be less-than-national, given our Federal commitment to just one vaccine (which I believe is short-sighted, but nothing to be done about it at the moment).

If, for example, Johns Hopkins were to complete testing on a vaccine, they could produce and sell it worldwide (would they?) or they can just use it for their own in-network patient care or in association with larger networks of clinics and hospitals. It seems a bad idea to quash local production of vaccines, IMO. We need to support local research, throughout the country - but usually, vaccines are standardized for an entire nation.

 

[margarita25]

We're already invested (heavily) in the Oxford vaccine being manufactured in India. We are paying for 300,000,000 doses, whereas UK has paid for 30,000,000 and there are other nations involved as well (but mostly USA/UK). It's already been produced and is sitting there waiting for the testing to be done.

I don't see how any vaccine proposed by the US could now be "first."

The Oxford vaccine looks as good as any - and Oxford will be getting a percentage. I'm certain that US Medical Universities will also develop vaccines, but look for those to be less-than-national, given our Federal commitment to just one vaccine (which I believe is short-sighted, but nothing to be done about it at the moment).

If, for example, Johns Hopkins were to complete testing on a vaccine, they could produce and sell it worldwide (would they?) or they can just use it for their own in-network patient care or in association with larger networks of clinics and hospitals. It seems a bad idea to quash local production of vaccines, IMO. We need to support local research, throughout the country - but usually, vaccines are standardized for an entire nation.

Ob boy oh boy this reminds me, boy do I have a very important transcript to post. Marking spot to post ASAP, note to self: “pillars”.

 

[tresir2012]

Here's some info about Remdesivir being approved for manufacture in India. It will be marketed under licence from Gilead and under two different names.

India starts producing generic Remdesivir amid pandemic

CIPLA has launched the drug under the brand name "Cipremi", while Hetero under the brand name "Covifor".

Both companies have already received approval from the country's Drug Controller General, as part of their agreement with Gilead Sciences.

“As part of the risk management plan, CIPLA will provide training on the use of the drug, informed patient consent documents, conduct post-marketing surveillance as well as to conduct a Phase IV clinical trial on Indian patients,” said a statement by the drugmaker.

In a 52-week high, CIPLA's shares climbed over 9% in Monday's trade after it announced the launch of Cipremi.

The Mumbai-based drugmaker said that it will be marketing and supplying the drug through both government and open market channels. Though it has not yet made public the details on the pricing of the generic drug, confirmed their spokesperson.

Hetero Pharma, on the other hand, said it plans to make 100,000 dosages of Remdesivir available across the country over the next three-four weeks for treatment of severe COVID-19 patients.

Remdesivir trials and situation in India

In May, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the drug for adult and pediatric patients hospitalized with suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection, particularly those on oxygen support.

After the authorization, Gilead had entered a non-exclusive licensing agreement with one Pakistani and four Indian firms for the manufacturing and distribution of Remdesivir to 127 countries. The company had also said the licenses are royalty-free until the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the end of the public health emergency or a vaccine is approved.

More info at link.