Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #66

[JerseyGirl]

Harvard's fall classes will all be delivered online

Harvard University is planning to bring up to 40% of undergraduates back to campus for the fall semester, including all first-year students, the school announced today.

In addition to first year students, Harvard will allow students who need to be on campus “to progress academically” to return as well.

All course instruction however, will be delivered online, including students who are living on campus.

Those returning to campus will be required to be tested when they arrive and then regularly throughout the semester, among other safety protocols including social distancing and dedicated quarantine space in dorms.

If the school maintains their 40% capacity for the spring semester, first-years would return home and the priority is to allow the senior class to return to campus. The school anticipates making a final decision about that matter in December.

Coronavirus pandemic: Updates from around the world

 

[Chelly]

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

Yes. Because our Leaders won't lead.
Our citizens won't stop being selfish and living only in the moment.

 

[tresir2012]

I recommend looking at this article to get an idea about how Black and Latino people are being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. The NYT sued the CDC to get the data.

The Fullest Look Yet at the Racial Inequity of Coronavirus
By Richard A. Oppel Jr., Robert Gebeloff, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Will Wright and Mitch Smith
July 5, 2020

Unfortunately the data are very incomplete and only go through May. But here are the overall results:
Coronavirus cases per 10,000 people
White 23
All 38
Black 62
Latino 73

From the article:
"Experts point to circumstances that have made Black and Latino people more likely than white people to be exposed to the virus: Many of them have front-line jobs that keep them from working at home; rely on public transportation; or live in cramped apartments or multigenerational homes."

"Latino and African-American residents of the United States have been three times as likely to become infected as their white neighbors, according to the new data, which provides detailed characteristics of 640,000 infections detected in nearly 1,000 U.S. counties. And Black and Latino people have been nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as white people, the data shows."

Much more at link.

I posted some stats re UK a couple of threads back also. I'll see if I can find it again.

Also there is no need to sue the CDC as this is the link to the US figures.

COVID-19 Provisional Counts - Weekly Updates by Select Demographic and Geographic Characteristics

The figures are also listed by state.

US Deaths %

Non Hispanic white 53
" " black or AA 23
NH Am.Indian or
Alaskan Native .7
NH Asian 4.9
Hispanic or Latino 16.7
Other 1.3

These CDC figures look significantly different from the NYT stats though. I know one is cases and the other is deaths but something doesn't look quite right.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Mr. Trudeau ain't no dummy. Wasn't Bolsonaro available?

Like Trump, López Obrador does not wear a mask in public and has opted for opening the economy over onerous lockdown measures. López Obrador has also said he has no need to get tested for the virus, even though several officials near him, including his treasury secretary, have tested positive.

Adding to López Obrador's risk, he will be flying on a commercial airline to Washington, D.C. He refuses to use the presidential plane, calling it too extravagant for a country as poor as Mexico. Without a direct flight from Mexico City to D.C., López Obrador will have to make a stop in a major U.S. city and arrive the night before his meeting with Trump. And he'll have to get tested in the U.S. too.

A White House spokesman said everyone in the Mexican traveling delegation will be tested for COVID-19.

López Obrador wants to celebrate the start of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, that went into effect last week.

Mexico's President Weathers A Of Criticism Over Meeting With Trump

 

[Sundog]

Update on Herman Cain from his facebook:

(Dan here) Herman asked us to thank everyone for praying for him. It's making a difference. He's still in the hospital but he's making progress and we expect to hear more encouraging news as the week progresses. So thank you, everyone, and keep them coming! God is listening.

Herman Cain

Thanks for the update. Glad he is doing okay, hope he continues to improve. Sending prayers and positive thoughts.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Restaurants and gyms must close again in Florida's Miami-Dade County

Starting Wednesday, these businesses must close, according to the mayor:

• Restaurants (except for takeout and delivery services)
• Ballrooms
• Banquet facilities
• Party venues
• Gyms and fitness centers
• Short-term rentals

Giménez said outdoor activities — including condominium and hotel pools — can stay open strict social distancing and masks rules. Summer camps and child care centers can also stay open with certain capacity limits.

Office buildings, retail stores and salons are also allowed to stay open.

Beaches will reopen tomorrow, "but, if we see crowding and people not following the public health rules, I will be forced to close the beaches again," he said.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Like Trump, López Obrador does not wear a mask in public and has opted for opening the economy over onerous lockdown measures. López Obrador has also said he has no need to get tested for the virus, even though several officials near him, including his treasury secretary, have tested positive.

Adding to López Obrador's risk, he will be flying on a commercial airline to Washington, D.C. He refuses to use the presidential plane, calling it too extravagant for a country as poor as Mexico. Without a direct flight from Mexico City to D.C., López Obrador will have to make a stop in a major U.S. city and arrive the night before his meeting with Trump. And he'll have to get tested in the U.S. too.

A White House spokesman said everyone in the Mexican traveling delegation will be tested for COVID-19.

López Obrador wants to celebrate the start of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, that went into effect last week.

Mexico's President Weathers A Of Criticism Over Meeting With Trump

Neither López Obrador nor Trump wear masks. Both have uncontrolled outbreaks of virus in their countries.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[JerseyGirl]

Neither López Obrador nor Trump wear masks. Both have uncontrolled outbreaks of virus in their countries.

What could possibly go wrong?

He's flying commercial. No mask, no test to date. No direct flights to DC from Mexico City so he'll land somewhere in the US and change plans. Great, him and his entourage. They won't be tested until they reach DC?!

 

[gitana1]

Yes.


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 Meet Recommended Positivity Levels?

Thank you. That makes sense.

 

[JerseyGirl]

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said cases of coronavirus across the state have declined since reopening began in May.

"Every expert warned us on the reopening that you could see the numbers start to go up," Cuomo said noting that that scenario hasn't happened.

"Our premise was you could moderate the activity so you could start the reopening but monitor the number of cases and control the phased reopening to keep the number of cases down. And that's just what we've done for the past seven weeks. We're actually down from where we were when we started reopening, which as you'll remember, no one predicted."

New York City will enter phase three reopening today, but unlike other areas, phase three in the city will not include indoor dining. Personal car services and some recreational activities are allowed to reopen.

Coronavirus pandemic: Updates from around the world

 

[anneg]

Vaccine trial news
Trial of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine delayed, investigators say, but July start still possible

My DIL just texted me that UNC and Duke (NC) will be conducting phase 3 vaccine trials. But clinicaltrials.gov doesn't show them yet. My husband and I might enroll once more information is available.

 

[gitana1]

Hopefully, with no known underlying conditions, his experiences and death will be a wake-up call for non-believers and will encourage mask wearing, crowd avoidance, and social distancing.

I hope. But I’m not holding my breath just yet. Because people feel that’s rare. And they are right. However, whats not rare is the need for those under 60 to be hospitalized in order to survive. Including young people in their 20’s.

A guy in my state died last week. 51. He had been isolating. But decided to go to a party after several months. He was overweight and had diabetes.

Unbeknownst to him, another person there was sick.

That guy finally told people he was positive for COVID. The 51 year old got sick within three days of the party. Sent a FB message about it saying he regrets going and that he was “stupid” to do so. He was dead the next day.

 

[gitana1]

Vaccine trial news
Trial of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine delayed, investigators say, but July start still possible

My DIL just texted me that UNC and Duke (NC) will be conducting phase 3 vaccine trials. But clinicaltrials.gov doesn't show them yet. My husband and I might enroll once more information is available.

What are the qualifications to enroll?

 

[tresir2012]

Thanks for the update. Glad he is doing okay, hope he continues to improve. Sending prayers and positive thoughts.

Good news. I wonder if he is on Hydroxychloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine saved coronavirus patients' lives, Michigan study shows

 

[gitana1]

Thanks! That's really helpful!

I’m afraid to look. I spent two hours Sunday in a crowded Home Depot. I was within a foot or two of several people. But everyone wore a mask. As did I.

And it has high ceilings and they had the fans in the ceilings beating down on us.

I keep worrying. I had to go though. Time constraints on a rental project.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Large antibody study adds to evidence herd immunity to COVID-19 is 'unachievable'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A large antibody study is adding to evidence that a so-called herd immunity is "unachievable."

Spain's coronavirus study showed that only 5% had developed antibodies and the other 95% remain susceptible for the virus.

"Even if infection with the COVID-19 virus creates long-lasting immunity, a large number of people would have to become infected to reach the herd immunity threshold. Experts estimate that in the U.S., 70% of the population — more than 200 million people — would have to recover from COVID-19 to halt the epidemic," the Mayo Clinic reports.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Anti-police demonstrations may have sparked new coronavirus cases, some cities now acknowledge

Good to hear some truth, because I really couldn't believe all those articles stating otherwise. Window-dressing. It was ALL dangerous, starting with Liberate all the way down the timeline

 

[gitana1]

Good news. I wonder if he is on Hydroxychloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine saved coronavirus patients' lives, Michigan study shows

It will be interesting to know. It looks like it might help if given super early, otherwise it can hurt?

 

[gitana1]

Good to hear, because I really couldn't believe all those articles stating otherwise. Window-dressing. It was ALL dangerous, starting with Liberate all the way down the timeline

The only reason the protests wouldn’t have sparked more of a spread is if they hadn’t been mostly wearing masks. But that volume of people chanting and yelling and singing, is going to cause issues if some are unmasked. It doesn’t make sense otherwise.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

He's flying commercial. No mask, no test to date. No direct flights to DC from Mexico City so he'll land somewhere in the US and change plans. Great, him and his entourage. They won't be tested until they reach DC?!

At this point, my only concern is for the Secret Service agents - at least one of whom is likely driving Kimberly Guilfoyle and Don Jr back home from SD, I think (last time I checked). The privileged will do what they want - it's always the employee who suffers for a buck as well as for the duty they cherish.