Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #67

[Spider92]

Florida's Daily Figures Are Out

Florida Department of Health reporting:
8,935 new cases 120 new deaths
22.7% positivity

https://twitter.com/V2019N/status/1281243140993642501

Can someone explain the distinction between the two positivity rates reported below? TIA.

The percent positivity for the new cases reported Thursday was 18.39%, a record high. It was the tenth consecutive day the rate has been over 14%.

The positivity rate of all tests reported Thursday was 20.72%, also a record high. The median age of people who tested positive in Thursday's results was 38, and has been 40 or below for the past two weeks.

 

[CSIDreamer]

China warns of deadly ‘unknown pneumonia’ in Kazakhstan

The Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan has warned of a deadly “unknown pneumonia” after the former Soviet republic reported a spike in pneumonia cases since June.

“The death rate of this disease is much higher than the novel coronavirus. The country’s health departments are conducting comparative research into the pneumonia virus, but have yet to identify the virus,” the embassy said in a warning to Chinese citizens in the country.

While the Chinese embassy described the illness as an “unknown pneumonia”, Kazakhstani officials and media have only said it is pneumonia.

Late last month officials warned about the rise in pneumonia cases. Kisikova said that doctors were finding 600 people a day with pneumonia symptoms, compared with 80 a day before the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Singapore-based website CNA reported.

“Every day, 350 to 400 patients are hospitalised in the city with either Covid-19 or pneumonia,” she said.

Well, that's just great.

 

[Sundog]

How to safely get international students back to British universities, and perhaps Australia

British universities explore charter flights for international students

 

[CharlestonGal]

https://www.newsweek.com/florida-co...itals-turn-her-away-1516509#slideshow/1605764

 

[ColyH]

I drive a bus and was told to announce to passengers that masks must be worn while in the bus but if someone doesn't wear one then we are not to confront them about it. So far everyone has been good about wearing masks but once they get outside the masks come off.

 

[tresir2012]

My son's wedding is next week. It will be outdoors in their back yard. Seating will be 6 feet apart. There will be the groom, bride, their combined 4 children, groom's parents, bride's parents, the minister and his wife (my FIL and MIL).

After the ceremony we will have a professionally made cake, hopefully the baker will wear mask and gloves. I was going to bring some finger food but couldn't think of anything safe that everyone wouldn't be handling. I thought about fresh veggies, dip, cheese and crackers all in individual containers for each person but I don't have that many containers and I don't want to shop for them. Too many unmasked shoppers in the stores.

I've decided to make ham and cheeses sandwiches wrapped in individual ziplock baggies, 2 per guest. I bought a variety of chips which will also go in individual baggies. Two 12 packs of pop will also be in the cooler. I'll wear masks and gloves while preparing and packaging everything. I'll clean all pop cans with clorox wipes before putting them in the cooler. I'm thinking maybe I should put napkins inside each baggie with food so we won't be touching all napkins in a stack.

I know it doesn't sound fancy but these are crazy times. My mama's heart feels good knowing they are focused on their love for each other and their marriage instead of a fancy wedding. I'm super excited!

Did I miss anything? Any way for Covid to sneak past my safety measures? Mom and Dad are in their 80s, I want to be super careful.

I hope you have a wonderful day. Are you able to have a separate bathroom for Mom and Dad to use exclusively from other guests who are not part of their "bubble" ?

 

[oviedo]

This is what I think may be wrong in FL - people still do not take this seriously. There is a small CPA tenant in our building - 3 CPA's over 40 - one is 61 - recently one of the CPA's has their teenage son coming into their office every day - he is a camp counselor for a day camp at church nearby - so he's bringing in his lunch (always fast food from our local places) and is hanging out at the office all afternoon after finishing his work at the camp. No mask. won't wash hands or use hand sanitizer - etc. the other CPA's are worried he will bring these germs into their office but he is the son of the managing partner. So they mask up and try to stay away from this kid. And the topper - the kids girlfriend was exposed to COVID after a beach family weekend and is in quarantine now - no idea if the boyfriend is still seeing her but my guess is yes. They just aren't taking it seriously IMO. and so it spreads.
JMO

 

[CharlestonGal]

As 56 Florida hospitals hit 100% ICU capacity, DeSantis withholds data

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended the state's refusal to release coronavirus hospitalization data as dozens of hospitals in the state reported they had run out of space in their intensive care units amid a dramatic surge in infections.

At least 56 Florida hospitals in 25 different counties have hit 100% ICU capacity, according to overall hospital data released by the state. Another 35 only have 10% or less capacity remaining. In all, the state has just 962 out of a total of 5,023 ICU beds available as infections continue to rise. One expert said contact tracing has become impossible, because here are so many infections now in South Florida.

 

[oviedo]

As 56 Florida hospitals hit 100% ICU capacity, DeSantis withholds data

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended the state's refusal to release coronavirus hospitalization data as dozens of hospitals in the state reported they had run out of space in their intensive care units amid a dramatic surge in infections.

At least 56 Florida hospitals in 25 different counties have hit 100% ICU capacity, according to overall hospital data released by the state. Another 35 only have 10% or less capacity remaining. In all, the state has just 962 out of a total of 5,023 ICU beds available as infections continue to rise. One expert said contact tracing has become impossible, because here are so many infections now in South Florida.

see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil...
that's Florida IMO - don't get sick here for sure.

JMO

 

[MrX]

It seems like everyday the media needs a new Covid "theme." Today it appears to be "testing," or a lack thereof. This got my wondering how the whole purpose of testing in a pandemic got so distorted in the U.S.? And not just distorted, but the distortion being accepted.

Consider that the purpose of testing (in a pandemic) is to frequently test an entire population in order to identify outbreaks by contract tracing and isolation of the affected area until the virus is eradicated. This is different from standard medical tests, which are used to diagnose an individual patient and monitor the effects of a treatment plan.

What we are doing in the U.S. is testing a tiny fraction of the population. This testing only happens when an individual feels sick and wants to know if they have Covid. So it has nothing to do with using testing as a tool to address a pandemic. This daily reporting of these totally out-of-context test results is just some perverse ritual that serves no purpose, yet is where everyone starts their day. Just a very odd exercise, in my opinion.

 

[Tillicum]

I hope you have a wonderful day. Are you able to have a separate bathroom for Mom and Dad to use exclusively from other guests who are not part of their "bubble" ?

They'll go before coming and go back home if they have to use the bathroom. Same for hubby and me. Their county is a hot spot and my son has contact with at least 100 people a day. He takes all precautions but most customers are not wearing masks.

 

[Alyce]

Interesting article on how the UK is coping with trials in the time of Covid.



Visiting the famous Central Criminal Court in recent days has shown just how difficult it will be to clear the backlog while the virus remains with us.

As only one person at a time is permitted to walk through the imposing main door, robed barristers, solicitors, jurors and court staff must queue for up to an hour each morning just to enter the building.

Jurors can be sworn in — by a judge using a microphone — as they stand, two metres apart, in the marbled corridors. The public benches are sealed off with yellow and black hazard tape. There are Covid warning signs and floor-markings everywhere.

Banished to rickety old chairs usually reserved for the press, barristers have complained that their gowns are being torn by nails poking through the rough fabric. Some learned counsel also augment their wigs with face masks and rubber gloves.

When a trial is concluded, the court staff must deep-clean all the furniture, walls and floor — a process that takes a full day.

Adding to all this indignity, a few days ago, rainwater dripped into the library and holding cells.


How can the agony for bereaved families and victims in high-profile court cases get even worse? | Daily Mail Online

 

[JerseyGirl]

see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil...
that's Florida IMO - don't get sick here for sure.

JMO

COVID-19 data reporting by Florida is unreliable

 

[tresir2012]

Can someone explain the distinction between the two positivity rates reported below? TIA.

The percent positivity for the new cases reported Thursday was 18.39%, a record high. It was the tenth consecutive day the rate has been over 14%.

The positivity rate of all tests reported Thursday was 20.72%, also a record high. The median age of people who tested positive in Thursday's results was 38, and has been 40 or below for the past two weeks.

Home

These are the latest Florida stats.

Current Situation in Florida
Positive Residents

229,367
Positive Non-Residents

3,351
Total Cases

232,718
8,948 New Cases in FL Residents *
Deaths

4,009
120 New Deaths in FL Residents*
8 Positive Residents Out of State
*Reported since yesterday
Testing Results
Positive
232,718
Negative
2,124,680
Total
2,357,398
Positive Cases by Exposure Source
Traveled
2,769
Contact with confirmed case
67,493
Travel & contact with confirmed case
2,682
Under Investigation
141,798
Total
232,718
Positive Cases by Testing Source
Positive by DOH/CDC
8,680
Positive by private labs
220,687
Total
229,367


To me it looks like the case positivity rate overall is less than 10%. Ie 232,718 positives out of 2,357,398 tested.

More info below




Find county-specific information on Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.
See dashboard
Case, monitoring and PUI information on the latest COVID-19 Report
See State Report | See State Linelist | See County Report
Long-term care facilitieswith positive COVID-19 cases
See the Report
Long-term care facility deaths associated with COVID-19
See the Report
Total antibody results for Florida
See Serology Report | See Point-of-Care Report
Pediatric report for Florida
See the Report
Deaths associated with COVID-19 at Florida Department of Correctionsfacilities
See the Report

Everything/anything else being reported is spin IMO. These are the data dashboard links themselves.

 

[weepingangel]

New cases vs total cases ?

Can someone explain the distinction between the two positivity rates reported below? TIA.

The percent positivity for the new cases reported Thursday was 18.39%, a record high. It was the tenth consecutive day the rate has been over 14%.

The positivity rate of all tests reported Thursday was 20.72%, also a record high. The median age of people who tested positive in Thursday's results was 38, and has been 40 or below for the past two weeks.

 

[JerseyGirl]

California and Florida hit new record for average daily coronavirus cases as U.S. hospitalizations surge

California had 7,697 new coronavirus cases based on a seven-day moving average, which is more than 26% higher compared with a week ago, according to the analysis.

Florida’s seven-day average of daily new cases stood at 9,255 as of Wednesday — a nearly 30% jump since last week.

Florida also saw a spike in the percentage of positive Covid-19 tests at 18.4% on Wednesday, after Vice President Mike Pence said the states so-called positivity rate was “flattening.”

Other states that also hit record highs in average daily new cases on Wednesday include Georgia, Ohio and Utah.

 

[dmac55]

It seems like everyday the media needs a new Covid "theme." Today it appears to be "testing," or a lack thereof. This got my wondering how the whole purpose of testing in a pandemic got so distorted in the U.S.? And not just distorted, but the distortion being accepted.

Consider that the purpose of testing (in a pandemic) is to frequently test an entire population in order to identify outbreaks by contract tracing and isolation of the affected area until the virus is eradicated. This is different from standard medical tests, which are used to diagnose an individual patient and monitor the effects of a treatment plan.

What we are doing in the U.S. is testing a tiny fraction of the population. This testing only happens when an individual feels sick and wants to know if they have Covid. So it has nothing to do with using testing as a tool to address a pandemic. This daily reporting of these totally out-of-context test results is just some perverse ritual that serves no purpose, yet is where everyone starts their day. Just a very odd exercise, in my opinion.

I agree

Testing numbers are just a reflection of people who seek out testing, and are tested

It is not an accurate reflection of which or how many people are infected

My view/opinion

 

[Tate123]

see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil...
that's Florida IMO - don't get sick here for sure.

JMO

That is criminal IMO

 

[weepingangel]

congrats to the Couple and families and loved ones. The day will be beautiful I’m certain !
I see you’ve got chips-my first thought lol. What about fruit. Fruit cups?

My son's wedding is next week. It will be outdoors in their back yard. Seating will be 6 feet apart. There will be the groom, bride, their combined 4 children, groom's parents, bride's parents, the minister and his wife (my FIL and MIL).

After the ceremony we will have a professionally made cake, hopefully the baker will wear mask and gloves. I was going to bring some finger food but couldn't think of anything safe that everyone wouldn't be handling. I thought about fresh veggies, dip, cheese and crackers all in individual containers for each person but I don't have that many containers and I don't want to shop for them. Too many unmasked shoppers in the stores.

I've decided to make ham and cheeses sandwiches wrapped in individual ziplock baggies, 2 per guest. I bought a variety of chips which will also go in individual baggies. Two 12 packs of pop will also be in the cooler. I'll wear masks and gloves while preparing and packaging everything. I'll clean all pop cans with clorox wipes before putting them in the cooler. I'm thinking maybe I should put napkins inside each baggie with food so we won't be touching all napkins in a stack.

I know it doesn't sound fancy but these are crazy times. My mama's heart feels good knowing they are focused on their love for each other and their marriage instead of a fancy wedding. I'm super excited!

Did I miss anything? Any way for Covid to sneak past my safety measures? Mom and Dad are in their 80s, I want to be super careful.

 

[KALI]

Brilliant. Actually San Diego and Orange County have some good strong leaders.
Trying to keep people sitting 6 feet apart will be difficult for management of the establishment though. If they're drinking, all the more difficult.

Just because it's nice to see a leader thinking outside of the box...

In the wake of the newest indoor dining closures in SD County on Monday, the Mayor of Poway (a small-ish inland SD Co community nicknamed 'The City in the Country") proposed the city buying a bunch of picnic tables, letting the local restaurants use them for outdoor dining in their lots/streets/whatever works for their locale, basically, and then down the road when the restrictions are lifted, the city will take them back to put into city parks.

It was immediately approved by City Council, they've already purchased AND delivered tables to some local restaurants.

More here on Mayor Vaus' twitter: https://twitter.com/stevevaus?lang=en

Or here, city of Poway:



Obviously nothing is perfect, but given the situation, it's a creative approach for a city to take I think!

And incredibly amazing that they came up with it, voted on it, and have already purchased and started acting on it all in under 2 days!



https://twitter.com/cityofpoway/status/1281007704945745920

Bbm