Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #67

[Cool Cats]

'There's no one coming to the rescue:' Millions of Americans go hungry as the pandemic destroys lives

“The demand is unprecedented and unlike any challenge that we've faced in food bank history in the United States. We’ve really never seen the level of need that we’re seeing now, and having seen it come about as quickly as it’s come about, it’s been a real shock,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief operating officer at Feeding America.

“It’s just a mad dash to make sure nobody’s going hungry during COVID,” said Christopher Robertson, director of Market to HOPE, a food pantry that operates within Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. “The folks we’re seeing now are new people. A little less than half of the people who came in during the month of June were brand new people."

COVID-19 crisis heaps pressure on nation's food banks

Food banks are facing a steep drop-off in the bread and butter of its operations: food donated by supermarkets and farms. "And what we're anticipating is that those donations will drop to zero."

Boxes of food are set up for a drive-through food distribution run by Food Bank for the Heartland on March 16 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The food bank, based in Omaha, Nebraska, serves both Nebraska, and many parts of western Iowa.

"..Congress needs to extend the enhanced unemployment insurance benefits that are scheduled to expire at the end of July, and commit to higher funding levels for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other initiatives. “It has buffered, to a great extent, the immediate challenge of securing food for families who suddenly found themselves without jobs,” she said.

“What we are concerned about is the unemployment benefits are going to be discontinued at the level they are at right now and unless we have additional investment … we’re going to have a very significant gap,” between the food people have and what they need, she said. Feeding America predicts an 8 billion meal gap over the next year if policymakers don’t act.

 

[Dontknow?]

No, I think that people will start going underground, like during Prohibition. Mask compliance is wide-spread - a couple of nut cases make a public scene and grab headlines, but you can't shop without them. But, as many of us noticed, the mask orders had no effect on numbers. So you are right, it will be a constant yo-yo of close/open/close. There are enough people that had enough of the first closures that unlicensed bars, restaurants, clubs, gyms, etc., will find a willing clientele, in my opinion.

Governor Ducey is going to announce the closure of in-restaurant dining in 10 minutes, which puts AZ right back where we were in March.

AZ here. I have no words I can say here about this at the moment. SMDH

 

[Lilibet]

And more from Dr Fauci...

On why we’re seeing a surge in cases:
Anna Rothschild: So are you saying that in these states, are you saying that it’s a mix of politicians not following guidelines and people not following orders?

Dr. Anthony Fauci: Yes. It is both. I mean, it’s not a unidimensional thing. It’s complicated. There are some governors and mayors that did it perfectly correctly. They stayed exactly. They wanted to open up, so they went through the guidelines of opening up their state. But what happened is that many of the citizenry, said, “You know, well, I’m either going to be locked down or I’m going to let it all rip.” And you could see from just looking, documented on TV and in the papers of still photos of people at bars and congregations, which are a perfect setup, particularly if you don’t have a mask. Yeah, then there are some times when despite the guidelines and the recommendations to open up carefully and prudently, some states skipped over those and just opened up too quickly.
BBM

Fauci: ‘I Don’t Think You Can Say We’re Doing Great. I Mean, We’re Just Not.’

 

[Lilibet]

AZ here. I have no words I can say here about this at the moment. SMDH

(((((@Dontknow?))))) Many of us are very concerned about AZ. Please stay safe!

 

[LadyL]

Florida teen fighting for her life against COVID-19; family begs people to wear masks

Just two weeks ago, 16-year-old Halene O’Connell was a normal, healthy teenage girl, ready to start the summer before her senior year at Milton High School.

But today, she’s in a coma and on a ventilator fighting for her life at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, battling a severe case of COVID-19 — and her family is begging the community to wear masks and practice social distancing so they don’t end up in a hospital bed too.

Halene has always been healthy and has no underlying health conditions, according to Barlianto, who previously lived in Pensacola for eight years before moving to Washington.

Fourteen days ago, Halene woke up with a fever and nausea. Her parents took her to a doctor, but since she didn’t have shortness of breath — one of the primary symptoms of coronavirus — she wasn’t immediately tested for COVID-19.

Halene was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit on June 28, put in a medically-induced coma and placed on a ventilator. She’s remained there since, and though she’s now in stable condition, she’s still comatose and requires a ventilator to breathe.

Due to having been in a coma for so long, it’s unclear what path forward Halene faces if and when she wakes up. At the very least, she’ll need to learn how to breathe, eat and walk on her own again, and doctors aren’t sure yet what the long-term implications could be of both the coma and the virus.

She could also become diabetic or have blood clots when she recovers, just a few of the side effects of which little is known about the coronavirus.

“She’s been on the ventilator and sedated for so long, we’re not sure how it’s going to affect her brain,” Barlianto said.

‘COVID just doesn’t care’

It isn’t clear yet where or how Halene initially contracted the virus.

Barlianto said her sister and family weren’t wearing masks before Halene contracted the disease, though the teen herself wasn’t overly social and wasn’t going out and doing much before she got sick.

Halene’s mother and father, Robert and Carrie O’Connell, and her 18-year-old sister, Hailey O’Connell, have all since tested negative for the coronavirus. But Robert and Hailey have still quarantined themselves in their Milton home since Halene fell ill, and Carrie has been in the hospital room with her daughter since day one, not allowed to leave.

Man in famous 9/11 photo dies from COVID-19 in Florida: ‘He was a fighter’,

“They’ve allowed my sister to stay in the room with her since the first day, however, my sister cannot leave because the room is negative pressure so that COVID air will not be released,” Barlianto said. “My sister has been there the whole time and has not left. They’re feeding her and giving her coloring books, but she has nobody. We’re grateful she’s allowed to be in the room, but I know it’s a daily, minute-by-minute roller coaster ride of stress.”

Doctors are constantly coming in and out and trying to figure out new ways to treat young Halene. The teenage has received plasma from a coronavirus survivor that they’re hopeful will help, and they believe she’s at least halfway through her battle at this point and is on an uphill trend to recovery.

Barlianto launched a ******** campaign last week to raise money for her sister’s family since they can’t work at the moment, and since they have “no idea” what the hospital stay will end up costing.


The family is also asking people to share Halene’s story on social media with the hashtag #MaskForYou, and begging people to wear masks when in public and practice social distancing because her story demonstrates that the virus doesn’t discriminate and can infect anyone.

Barlianto added that the virus is emotionally taxing on the entire family, as they can’t visit Halene and Carrie in the hospital room, they can’t send flowers and they can’t call her and ask how she’s doing.

The coronavirus “is nothing like the flu,” Barlianto said, and should be taken more seriously in Florida as it has in Washington state.

“It’s very confusing. COVID just doesn’t care,” Barlianto said. “It’s like, everybody line up, I’ll take you, let’s take you. It’s just taking random people. It’s not for the sick anymore, it’s not just for the elderly. It’s just attacking anybody at any time.”

I wonder why she can't have a cell phone in there? Maybe because it would interfere with the machines somehow?

 

[Lilibet]

This poor woman!

Alionar's ordeal started March 9 when she developed a headache, followed by a low-grade fever. She tried to qualify for the coronavirus test, but it took 30 days.
The results came back positive.
Since then, her list of symptoms has grown.

Oregon woman has battled coronavirus symptoms since March - CNN

 

[Lilibet]

I wonder why she can't have a cell phone in there? Maybe because it would interfere with the machines somehow?

It could be she didn’t bring her phone in with her and now no one can deliver it. Anyone in our congregation who thinks they might be admitted to the hospital has been advised to take their device and charging cord with them so they can communicate.

 

[tresir2012]

I wonder why she can't have a cell phone in there? Maybe because it would interfere with the machines somehow?

She is in a coma on a ventilator so cannot use a phone or other device. unless I have misunderstood. If you mean Carrie, the mother, yes I agree I also wonder why she cannot have a phone in there.

 

[TravelingBug]

Bumping from the start of the thread.

Bold/color/font size done by mods not me, just to be clear.

This post lands at random.

The Covid19 forum was set up by Tricia for those who take this virus seriously and are concerned about its effects on them and their loved ones. If you aren't concerned about Covid then please don't post here with a view to downplaying or minimizing the threat and making others feel that their concerns are not warranted.

If Covid does not concern you, this thread is not for you.

And:

Bumping an excerpt from Tricia's post when she set up the Covid19 forum:

"THIS THREAD IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY AND WANT TO POST ABOUT FACTS AND ABOUT SOLUTIONS."

 

[SouthAussie]

Unfortunately... The Mayor has made no secret of her desire to close everything, so when the Governor tosses this over the fence to her, it's going to be pretty comical joining the endless stream of cars driving out to where things are still open!

Nothing like the potential to spread the virus a little further, hey?

 

[HongKongPhooey]

This poor woman!

Alionar's ordeal started March 9 when she developed a headache, followed by a low-grade fever. She tried to qualify for the coronavirus test, but it took 30 days.
The results came back positive.
Since then, her list of symptoms has grown.

Oregon woman has battled coronavirus symptoms since March - CNN

Thanks for posting this. I can relate to a lot of her ongoing issues but thankfully on a lesser scale

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Nothing like the potential to spread the virus a little further, hey?

I honestly cant believe people are so stupid to do this. It beggars belief

 

[MrX]

AZ here. I have no words I can say here about this at the moment. SMDH

I was a complete wreck leading up to, and during his presser, and then when he made his proclamation it was like the weight of the world was lifted. He did offer options - I believe his slogan is "You are Safer at Home," which is sound advice for people that don't care to venture out.

 

[LadyL]

She is in a coma on a ventilator so cannot use a phone or other device. unless I have misunderstood. If you mean Carrie, the mother, yes I agree I also wonder why she cannot have a phone in there.

yes the article references them not being able to call 'her'
I assume they meant the mother too

 

[SouthAussie]

So... they would rather a Covid positive crew member got back on a flight and spread it to passengers and other crew?

I think the unrest in Hong Kong at the moment might be swaying the airlines decisions, and they are circumventing problems by cancelling flights instead of their staff getting stuck in Hong Kong should China close Hong Kong.

China is really 'upset' that Canada and Australia are offering safe haven to protesters trying to flee the country and to the Hong Kong students that are already in our countries.

 

[LadyL]

It could be she didn’t bring her phone in with her and now no one can deliver it. Anyone in our congregation who thinks they might be admitted to the hospital has been advised to take their device and charging cord with them so they can communicate.

I would've thought they would prepare her in advance that she won't be coming out and to bring things to do with her like a phone etc. but maybe there wasn't time.

 

[KALI]

Not sure if this is the info. You wanted.... food prices have not dropped, to the contrary. No prices have "dropped", only customers.
Just had a party of 5 who'd made reservations for tomorrow night, call and cancel. Caller said they're afraid of getting Covid-19.

KALI what's the market like for businesses, have the prices dropped?

I see so many restaurants for sale on the SD site, values ranging from millions of dollars to Food truck operations for thousands.

What going on on that front?

 

[tmar]

'This lockdown seems different': second time around, Melbourne is on edge

'This lockdown seems different': second time around, Melbourne is on edge

Calla Wahlquist

1 day ago
...
A city on edge
There is a nastiness to the public discourse that was absent in March. A desire to apportion blame – to the Andrews government for infection control failures in hotel quarantine; to Black Lives Matter protesters despite repeated confirmation that no transmissions have been traced back to the march; and to poor and migrant communities who have been blamed for the spike in family to family transmission.

That nastiness is driven in part by frustration, but also by fear. Australia did not have community transmission on this scale when the cases peaked in March. The risk is more pronounced.

“I guess this time it feels closer, it feels claustrophobic,” one person tells Guardian Australia. “Not the lockdown, but the thought that this outbreak, if it continues on, could see us tipping over into what we always saw as another country’s experience ... I’m scared the safety barrier is broken.”

 

[beatrixpotter]

Oh, Florida.

Florida man filmed screaming in a Costco over mandatory mask rule has been fired

I saw someone defend this guy online today saying we ought to have mercy for stressed out people and how awful cameras are around all the time. I have never once thrown a screaming fit at a store or restaurant and I'm sure I never will. I have NO sympathy for someone aggressively screaming at an elderly woman and a store employee. <modsnip>

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I was a complete wreck leading up to, and during his presser, and then when he made his proclamation it was like the weight of the world was lifted. He did offer options - I believe his slogan is "You are Safer at Home," which is sound advice for people that don't care to venture out.

The irony is, if people get infected they may end up like me. Three months on and only venturing out once a week to do a food shop because of the ongoing fatigue. I'm not exactly feeling like socialising and partying right now, that's for sure.