Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #66

[Bravo]

My father died in hospice in November. In retrospect, I'm glad it happened then because he too would have died alone.

So sorry for your loss. We took a drive a few weeks ago to my Parents grave. I told them they are in a better place right now.

 

[beatrixpotter]

Ten out of the 12 hospitals in Texas' Rio Grande Valley are now full

Hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley sounded the alarm Saturday as their beds filled to capacity with COVID-19 patients and some began transferring patients elsewhere.

Ten of 12 hospitals in Hidalgo, Cameron and Starr counties are now on “diversion status,” which means all their beds are full, although Hidalgo County spokesperson Carlos Sanchez said it’s a “fluid situation so diversions may be lifted at any moment.”

Sanchez said the state has sent medical personnel and supplies to the area to help overwhelmed hospitals, “but personnel remains a concern.”

In the Rio Grande Valley, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has more than tripled over the past two weeks, from 253 people on June 22 to 820 on July 4.

And how the heck are we supposed to just "learn to live with" this?? I mean unless we just abandon people to die in their homes? Because it should be abundantly clear no community can just live with this. We lack the medical resources to treat everyone.

 

[tabitha111]

My 89 year old father that I often lament about on here has been admitted to Walter Reed this morning. He tested neg for Covid btw (we just got that news) he is having some issues with right side weakness that just happened this morning and they have found fluid around (not in) his lungs. I too hate that people say "well they would have died in 4 months anyways" that is truly awful..these are real people who mean something to someone. No one is immune to illness and grief.

 

[musicaljoke]

'I accept full responsibility:' Calvary Chapel pastor talks church's COVID-19 outbreak

"I accept full responsibility. I'm the leader of the church,” said Pastor Arbaugh.

When the church reopened its doors they implemented all COVID-19 required precautions.

"We kept all of the rules to the letter of the law,” said Pastor Arbaugh.

Last Wednesday the church immediately closed and was thoroughly cleaned after Paster Arbaugh and other leaders of the church found out some in the congregation had tested positive for COVID-19.

"We've had a lot of people, mostly staff is where it started and then it kind of spread out,” said Pastor Arbaugh.

Now at least one person is on a ventilator. However, Pastor Arbaugh said that member was already in the hospital. At least 50 others have tested positive for the virus, including Pastor Arbaugh and his wife although he said they have both since recovered. He said the majority have reported mild symptoms and he has been in constant communication with people within the church.

"If I could have done it all over again I would have said 'no hugging’,” said Pastor Arbaugh.

Pastor Arbaugh said when they initially reopened many people were happy to be back and were giving one another hugs.

He said not stopping that is something he accepts responsibility for and stricter rules will be in place when they eventually reopen.

How do you take full responsibility for someone's death? I appreciate his willingness to see that he was responsible, but what exactly does he mean?

Is it just a phrase, something to say at a time of great grief, or do you support the family, pay off the mortgage, put the kids thru university, make meals for the dependents, do the chauffeur runs, tuck the kids into bed, teach the family values, share the stories and legacies ...

 

[Bravo]

My 89 year old father that I often lament about on here has been admitted to Walter Reed this morning. He tested neg for Covid btw (we just got that news) he is having some issues with right side weakness that just happened this morning and they have found fluid around (not in) his lungs. I too hate that people say "well they would have died in 4 months anyways" that is truly awful..these are real people who mean something to someone. No one is immune to illness and grief.

So sorry to read about your Dad. Sending you and your Dad healing thoughts.

 

[tabitha111]

and then there is this-





Helen Branswell
@HelenBranswell
·
2h

ICYMI:
@DrTomFrieden
parses the US #Covid19 data, & it's awful. Read this thread. "Huge viral reservoir in the US: at least 1M people with contagious COVID19 among us today. No national strategy.... We have months of risk, suffering, economic hardship & restrictions ahead."

Dr. Tom Frieden
@DrTomFrieden

1/10 Another week, more spread of #Covid19. Bottom line: it’s worse, will continue to get worse, and will take months to improve substantially. We are going in the wrong direction, fast

 

[musicaljoke]

I think it soon will be out of control just about everywhere.

Not if we can help it.

 

[Tate123]

My father died in hospice in November. In retrospect, I'm glad it happened then because he too would have died alone.

I'm sorry for your loss. You are blessed he wasn't alone. <peace>

 

[HongKongPhooey]

My 89 year old father that I often lament about on here has been admitted to Walter Reed this morning. He tested neg for Covid btw (we just got that news) he is having some issues with right side weakness that just happened this morning and they have found fluid around (not in) his lungs. I too hate that people say "well they would have died in 4 months anyways" that is truly awful..these are real people who mean something to someone. No one is immune to illness and grief.

Sending you positivity and a hug from England xX

 

[tresir2012]

You're wrong. The States that are under 5% positive also need to be taking action NOW in order so as not to reach 5%. Some States can still get a grip on this But a plan of action is a cert. Prevention is always better than cure X

These are WHO rules regarding the 5% not something I just pulled out of the air. Here is the link again that explains reopening can be considered below 5% positivity so maybe take your argument up with WHO if you think it is wrong or provide a link to back it up.

Which U.S. States Meet Recommended Positivity Levels?

"If a positivity rate is too high, that may indicate that the state is only testing the sickest patients who seek medical attention, and is not casting a wide enough net to know how much of the virus is spreading within its communities. A low rate of positivity in testing data can be seen as a sign that a state has sufficient testing capacity for the size of their outbreak and is testing enough of its population to make informed decisions about reopening. Which U.S. states are testing enough to meet the WHO’s goal?

The graph below compares states’ rate of positivity to the recommended positivity rate of 5% or below. States that meet the WHO’s recommended criteria appear in green, while the states that are not testing enough to meet the positivity benchmark are in orange."

See graph at link.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Michigan garage sale may have exposed attendees to virus

People who attended garage sale should monitor themselves for symptoms of virus

CHARLOTTE, Mich. – Health officials in Michigan on Thursday said that people who went to a garage sale near the community of Charlotte last weekend may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The Lansing State Journal reported that the Barry-Eaton Health District said in a news release that a person who was working at the garage sale on the West Kalamo Highway from June 26 until June 28 reported having symptoms of the virus...

Hosting a garage sale and attending a garage sale during a pandemic? You can't fix stupid

My mom's tiny town just had their big yard sale weekend last week. I think people are nuts.

 

[10ofRods]

And how the heck are we supposed to just "learn to live with" this?? I mean unless we just abandon people to die in their homes? Because it should be abundantly clear no community can just live with this. We lack the medical resources to treat everyone.

I guess in one scenario, everyone runs about and does their level best to get CoVid. We reopen schools as normal, put kids on school buses, open up the colleges and universities, recruit new medical students (from a very thin pool) as the current ones get CoVid and take a month or two to recover. We live with decreasing numbers of nurses and techs per patient.

New York only managed to get to about 20-22% of its population being CV+ after what they went through.

It'll still take a long time to get through the entire population.

BTW, people who leave nursing homes after an average of 13.7 months are not always leaving due to death.

And people stay far, far longer in assisted living.

Further, please keep in mind that in several states (including mine), people who were not in nursing homes to begin with were transferred to nursing homes for their very brief stays/hospice care before dying.

At any rate, the average age of death in Italy was 79 (hardly any nursing homes) and in the US, we don't know what it is, but perhaps 70-72. The earliest data said 69, but I do not believe that got through peer review.

If you all think 70-72 is the point in time where we just give up on folks, please let me know, as it changes my worldview considerably.

Anyway, if "Society" decides to get all focused on everyone getting CoVid ASAP, I'll just remain my usual avoidant, a-social self, as I intend to avoid it. Too late for me to move to Australia or New Zealand or Vietnam, so I'll just have to avoid it here at home. Currently, that means 4X more people have to get CoVid (and 4X will die) in my county, before we ever get to where Sweden is - and that's surely where we're going.

Given, however, that the overall health indices of my State (California) are not as good as Sweden's (but better than many other U.S. states), we'll have lots of hospital expenses to cover. There goes the state budget (which is about half of total spending in many states - so the shift away from police, fire, education, roads and infrastructure into health expenses will be quite dramatic).

How long will this take? I've decided I'm not as interested in that question today, but welcome any estimates.

 

[Lilibet]

OK, I'm probably going to sound like a Pollyanna even though I don't mean to. I'm 78, live alone and have several health conditions so maybe I do know where people are coming from.

There is no need to be depressed, the world is an interesting place even though right now we can't go running around in it. Get on YouTube and watch movies, documentaries, all sorts of interesting things on there. You can even learn to knit, crochet, cook, probably tat if you want to. There is no need to let your brain atrophy, use it, enjoy.

Take a look out the window in the morning and see the beautiful sunrise/sunset. Read the Bible, marvel at the beautiful world God has given us. Pray.

You can read a book, write a book, call up for take out, get a bowl of fish, a canary. The possibilities are endless.

Learn to sew, work on a photo album, write your memories of this virus and everything else that's going on in the world. Who knows, in a hundered years someone might find your writings and learn something from them.

Take this time to work on yourself, do not sit around contemplating your naval, be glad you've still got one.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but there is sooooo much to do at home, to learn about in this world. If push comes to shove, you pick up the phone and cheer up someone else.

BBM

I know you mean well @Trident, and your suggestions are great for those who are feeling a bit low because they are at loose ends, but a depressed person isn’t depressed because they are failing to put enough effort into life. Depression is a very tricky thing, and to be told there is “no need to be depressed” if you’ll just do this and this and that and that and, and, and....is not helpful.

Respectfully, perhaps you don’t realize or acknowledge that a depressed person may not be able to pull themselves together to do any of this, including praying and reading the Bible, no matter how much they want to. And feeling like a failure because they blame themselves for not trying hard enough, they will feel more depressed. And that could tip someone over the edge to giving up.

I say this as someone who has struggled with depression and takes medication. It is the medication that enables me to do many of the positive things you suggest, and it helps me stay positive right now. I don’t have the option of handling depression without meds. I’ve tried. I’ve really, really tried. I’m really glad you are able to do so many positive things without needing meds for messed up brain chemistry. But the truth is, we are living in tough times that are unprecedented and many people who have never felt deep depression are struggling, and not for lack of trying.
JMO

 

[ilovewings]

My father died in hospice in November. In retrospect, I'm glad it happened then because he too would have died alone.

I am sorry for the loss of your father.

 

[Lilibet]

If you all think 70-72 is the point in time where we just give up on folks, please let me know, as it changes my worldview considerably.

If that’s the case, at 74 I’m toast. I try not to dwell on it, but I already feel discounted by young people. Their careless actions, whether they realize or intend it or not, say to me that I no longer count as someone worth living if push comes to shove. So I stay home and I will do so as long as it takes to feel safe venturing out. I expect that will be a long time. It’s a good thing I’ve accepted that I just have to deal with it, as the President now advises.

 

[CharlestonGal]

If that’s the case, at 74 I’m toast. I try not to dwell on it, but I already feel discounted by young people. Their careless actions, whether they realize or intend it or not, say to me that I no longer count as someone worth living if push comes to shove. So I stay home and I will do so as long as it takes to feel safe venturing out. I expect that will be a long time. It’s a good thing I’ve accepted that I just have to deal with it, as the President now advises.

You're worth every bit as much today as you were 10 or 20 or 50 or 74 years ago. Don't let anyone tell you different.

 

[tabitha111]

So sorry to read about your Dad. Sending you and your Dad healing thoughts.

Thank you Bravo, thank you HK Phooey.
Didn't want to mention it until we knew if it was Covid or not. (he has not been wearing a mask) Now I am glad my two brothers flew in and are there for him. I live 3 hours away, got my A/C fixed this morning in my car (kept putting it off) just in case I need to go up there.

 

[10ofRods]

My 89 year old father that I often lament about on here has been admitted to Walter Reed this morning. He tested neg for Covid btw (we just got that news) he is having some issues with right side weakness that just happened this morning and they have found fluid around (not in) his lungs. I too hate that people say "well they would have died in 4 months anyways" that is truly awful..these are real people who mean something to someone. No one is immune to illness and grief.

{{{Hugs}}} At least you can rest easy about the CoVid thing right now. It's so hard to have such an elderly parent. You are in my thoughts today and throughout the days to come - none of this is easy.

It must be hard to try and remember to focus on your own health, at the same time. He's in good hands.

 

[Lilibet]

You're worth every bit as much today as you were 10 or 20 or 50 or 74 years ago. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Thanks so much @CharlestonGal! I do know that deep down, but I have to work hard to swim against the tide of negativity toward old folks. And being in the “forever young” generation Bob Dylan sang about doesn’t help! How did I get this old anyway!

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Thank you for that post - and the work you do. I know that our campus is retrofitting the library successful and some computer labs (so that the students can take their online classes, ha). The problem with many of our newer building is that the A/C vents are right over the podium area and whiteboards can't be moved to reorient the classroom - or the floor is sloped, amphitheater style.

If we could solve the ventilation issue, we'd be installing tons more partitions and that would work for a lot of profs.

Indoor dry air allows CoVid to live in the air longer. We'd have to teach students to wipe down their chairs and desks/tables. Faculty could definitely bring in their own disinfectants (many were doing so in March). But the "living in the air" thing is a big problem and the observed 72+ life of CoVid inside metal ducting is...concerning.

We have no doors that open to the outside, either, just to more overly-ventilated space inside the same building.

If only there were a way of cooling a little plexiglass pod for the prof and the prof could get by without a whiteboard (what a huge thing that is, though - I don't know how math and science can be taught without the board)...

This all sounds like some dystopian future, and yet, here we are.

Instead of a white-board, couldn’t you do the writing on your computer/laptop screen and have it projected to a whiteboard/screen?

ETA - I see that you would have to provide the equipment yourselves.