Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #67

[beatrixpotter]

So is this going to become the new way of life? Open this month, close next month, open again, close again... Every time we get the numbers down and open again, the same people who ignored the guidelines before will ignore them again IMO. Even when masks are mandated, a lot of people are refusing to wear them. If we ever get the numbers down and keep them down, it's gonna take forever.

I remember when we opened up wondering how this was going to play out. But we never locked down long enough in many places to truly bring the numbers down to acceptable levels of reopening. It's hard to look too far ahead. But clearly if the infection rates go up enough to overwhelm hospitals then lock down it is.

It's sort of horrifying to wonder how long this might truly last. Places that locked down longer and harder might be able to open longer than us though. The more infectious people circulating the quicker the numbers go up?

 

[JerseyGirl]

As New Hampshire Trump rally approaches, calls for mask mandate grow louder - The Boston Globe

Governor Charlie Baker weighed in on the importance of people wearing masks if they plan to drive to New Hampshire this weekend for the event.

“Wear a mask,” Baker said. “Wear a face covering.”

As evidence of masks helping to stop the spread of the virus, Baker cited testing done by state officials in Massachusetts following weeks of large Black Lives Matter protests and demonstrations.

“The vast majority of the people who participated in those demonstrations and marches wore masks, and the positive test rate coming out of that was 1.27 percent,” he said.

 

[Dontknow?]

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.

I guess, it's people in neighborhoods should make their own compound in AZ. Got it. I venture out, with protection when needed. Our age limits our survival.

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.

I think we're just going to have to dance! and not feeling social tonight either. Enjoy

 

[Lilibet]

El Centro CA, east of San Diego county, just north of Mexicali Mexico.

El Centro, California (CNN)Coronavirus is winning the battle in El Centro, California. It's in almost every patient in the hospital. Tents are being put up to handle even more cases. It's on the streets, forcing rescuers to put on protective suits and cumbersome masks before they approach people needing help. And it's not stopping. Even as nearby and faraway facilities take patients to try to ease the load, more and more sick people keep coming. And so do the deaths. The workers are exhausted. The virus is not.

<snip>

Imperial County has seen far more coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths than its size warrants. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows the county has three times the number of infections per capita than Los Angeles. And its Covid death rate is nearly twice that of any other California county.

The striking numbers do not surprise some who know this rural, majority Latino community. The virus is merely exposing the underlying problems, says Luis Olmedo of Comité Cívico del Valle, a grassroots justice organization in the Imperial Valley. "We are the poster [child] of those inequities and the reason why we're not able to control Covid."

One in four people in El Centro live below the poverty line, and unemployment rates have steadily been way above the rest of the country, according to El Centro Mayor Efrain Silva.

BBM
Much, much more at link about factors at play in El Centro
Medics are down to their last defense with coronavirus swamping their town - CNN

 

[Bravo]

Night all. Be safe.

 

[beatrixpotter]

Imo, and probably rhetorically speaking.... Where's the American Red Cross? They've been there for all sorts of natural (and sometimes man-made) disasters.

I guess I shouldn't assume, but, IMO, they have the type of organizational structure and a track record of being able to mobilize quickly where help is needed.

I would think that they could provide all sorts of assistance with testing, at least??

Maybe I've not been paying close enough attention, but I haven't seen any hint of their participation in this disaster. Imo

You can't do that while simultaneously trying to pretend it's not a disaster. :/

 

[SouthAussie]

Our state of Queensland is opening its borders at noon today (to all states except Victoria, at the moment).

They are requiring a border pass, which can be completed online, to save delays at their borders.

This should help get their tourism back on track ... Great Barrier Reef, surfing, beautiful beaches.

Border restrictions from 10 July

That makes 3 states and 1 territory that are now open ... out of a total of 8.

(Keeping in mind that our states are huge, with Australia being as large as continental USA - with a much smaller population.)

 

[margarita25]

I hate to wish time away, but can we turn the calendar to mid 2021?

I don’t know, I’m not sure where we will be in a year. It could be worse for all we know. I’m optimistic about a vaccine of course, but again there is no guarantee.

 

[margarita25]

Fetal coronavirus infection is possible, study suggests

A small study strengthens evidence that a pregnant woman infected with the coronavirus might be able to spread it to her fetus.

Researchers from Italy said Thursday that they studied 31 women with COVID-19 who delivered babies in March and April. They found signs of the virus in several samples of umbilical cord blood, the placenta and, in one case, breast milk.

It merits more study, especially of women who are infected earlier in their pregnancies than these women.

Dr. Ashley Roman, a pregnancy specialist at NYU Langone Health, said she and colleagues also detected viral particles on the fetal side of the placenta in several of the 11 cases they examined. The new report adds evidence that in-womb transmission is possible, but it seems rare and to not cause serious problems in the infants, she said.

"The most important thing that pregnant women need to know is it's important to socially distance. It's important to wear a mask, wash their hands," Roman said. "Women don't need to be cut off from society entirely, but they should be concerned about the impact of getting COVID on their own health during pregnancy."

Omg

 

[SoCalDavidS]

When Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide executive order requiring Texans to wear masks in public, he gave counties the opportunity to opt out if they have a low number of active coronavirus cases.

A week later, 78 counties have taken him up on that offer. And a handful of other local governments have insisted that they won't enforce the order even though they don't qualify for the opt-out provision. Officials cited a desire to preserve personal freedoms or concerns about enforcement.

"I think it's an insult to Texans to be required to do something they should have discretion for," said Hugh Reed, the top administrator for rural Armstrong County, near Amarillo, which opted out.

Nearly 80 Texas counties have opted out of Gov. Greg Abbott's mask order. Others refuse to enforce it.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

“As Texas on Thursday set single-day records for deaths from coronavirus and how many people the disease has put in the hospital, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was bracing for even more bad news,” the Dallas Morning News reports.

Said Abbott: “The numbers are going to look worse as we go into next week.”

 

[SoCalDavidS]

A circuit judge ordered Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday to cease issuing or enforcing executive orders related to Covid-19 on the same day that he signed an executive order mandating that Kentuckians must wear a facial covering or mask in public in certain situations.

Scott County Circuit Judge Brian Privett issued a temporary restraining order against Beshear in a case filed by Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and agritourism business Evans Orchard and Cider Mill, LLC, challenging the governor's use of executive power during the pandemic. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, joined the lawsuit last week.

In order to issue and enforce executive orders related to Covid-19, Privett wrote that the governor must first "specifically state the emergency that requires the order, the location of the emergency, and the name of the local emergency management agency that has determined that the emergency is beyond its capabilities."

The move follows other state lawmakers' internal clashes over governors' use of executive power responding to the coronavirus in Michigan and North Carolina. Kentucky is currently one of only four states that are seeing decreases in the rates of new coronavirus cases, as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Judge temporarily blocks Kentucky governor's Covid-19 executive orders -- the same day he requires masks

 

[WichitaFalls]

When Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide executive order requiring Texans to wear masks in public, he gave counties the opportunity to opt out if they have a low number of active coronavirus cases.

A week later, 78 counties have taken him up on that offer. And a handful of other local governments have insisted that they won't enforce the order even though they don't qualify for the opt-out provision. Officials cited a desire to preserve personal freedoms or concerns about enforcement.

"I think it's an insult to Texans to be required to do something they should have discretion for," said Hugh Reed, the top administrator for rural Armstrong County, near Amarillo, which opted out.

Nearly 80 Texas counties have opted out of Gov. Greg Abbott's mask order. Others refuse to enforce it.

This is a perfect example of so many of my fellow Texans attitude. That attitude is discouraging to those of us that follow the science and know something so simple like weaing a mask can make a difference in deaths and horrible suffering. I see it every single day in membes of my own family and friends. I just don't get it, it's depressing to say the least. Stupid bravodo runs rampant. I could just scream. Sigh.

 

[SouthAussie]

A circuit judge ordered Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday to cease issuing or enforcing executive orders related to Covid-19 on the same day that he signed an executive order mandating that Kentuckians must wear a facial covering or mask in public in certain situations.

Scott County Circuit Judge Brian Privett issued a temporary restraining order against Beshear in a case filed by Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and agritourism business Evans Orchard and Cider Mill, LLC, challenging the governor's use of executive power during the pandemic. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, joined the lawsuit last week.

In order to issue and enforce executive orders related to Covid-19, Privett wrote that the governor must first "specifically state the emergency that requires the order, the location of the emergency, and the name of the local emergency management agency that has determined that the emergency is beyond its capabilities."

The move follows other state lawmakers' internal clashes over governors' use of executive power responding to the coronavirus in Michigan and North Carolina. Kentucky is currently one of only four states that are seeing decreases in the rates of new coronavirus cases, as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Judge temporarily blocks Kentucky governor's Covid-19 executive orders -- the same day he requires masks

"Privett wrote that the governor must first "specifically state the emergency that requires the order, the location of the emergency, and the name of the local emergency management agency that has determined that the emergency is beyond its capabilities"

What?? Am I understand this right ... that a judge has been living under a rock?

 

[TravelingBug]

For those considering school starting issues... (this is SW of Phoenix, AZ)

3 teachers using one classroom for summer school, with no students (so teaching virtually) ALL tested Covid+ and one died.

The educators decided to teach virtually while together in the same classroom, but took what they thought were extensive measures: They wore masks, they disinfected equipment and kept distance between each other.

One was initially dx w/ a sinus infection. She's the one who ultimately died. Others in her family also eventually tested positive.

From one of the surviving teachers who is concerned knowing how careful the three of them as teachers were, taking basically every possible precaution:

Skillings said she will return to school if administrators decide to reopen, but she hopes they choose to stay closed until COVID-19 cases decline. She doesn't want them to endure what she went through or what Byrd went through.

"I think of our students and I know how many times a day they touch each other, how many times a day they're out of their seats, especially our younger kids and I can see germs spreading quicker than anything," she said.

From the other, upset about how people are downplaying Covid and/or upset about masks/restrictions:

So much of the national conversation feels unfair, she said, when others haven't experienced what she has.

"It's so unfair to watch the tantrums being thrown on TV," she said. "I am brokenhearted. I lost one of my best friends."

After AZ teacher Kim Byrd dies of COVID, questions over school reopening

 

[10ofRods]

UGH Kansas. Every day they change their minds....mandatory masks/not mandatory etc. It's making me even more crazy than I already am. The good news is that I think they are going to cancel the state fair. I've been super worried about that. It's not official yet, but the news said they are leaning that way.

Are you thinking of going?

 

[margarita25]

On top of that, we have testing problems everywhere.

‘A hot mess’: Americans face testing delays as coronavirus cases hit 3 million mark | KTLA
With a cough and shortness of breath, it took Austin, Texas, resident Sam Lee three tries to get a COVID-19 test.

The first time, he showed up an hour before the public testing site was set to close and was told they had reached capacity. He was turned away from a second center when rain shut it down, and voluntarily left a third after someone ahead of him said they had been waiting in line for more than three hours.

“If you have symptoms and you are just driving around the city trying to figure out how you can get a test, for people who are positive, it is not ideal,” said Lee, who finally got a test on June 29 after he showed up at a site before dawn and waited for more than two hours. Another five days passed before he was able to view the results online, and he didn’t receive a text with the results until seven days after being tested.
...
“I am stunned that as a nation, six months into this pandemic, we still can’t figure out how to deliver testing to the American people when they need it,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute. “It is an abject failure of leadership and shows that the federal government has not prioritized testing in a way that will allow us to get through this pandemic.”
...

San Bernardino County cancels hundreds of coronavirus test appointments, citing shortage | KTLA
San Bernardino County health officials have had to cancel hundreds of appointments for people who signed up to get coronavirus tests, citing a shortage in materials.

“The county’s daily testing capacity has shrunk from about 4,500 to about 1,800,” public information officer David Wert said, adding that the county’s test vendors “are unable to procure supply.”

I’ve seen videos, NBC Nightly News iirc, with people saying the same thing...I saw one guy who upon the third attempt to get tested finally slept in his car overnight in line.

 

[Spider92]

Which U.S. States Have the Oldest Populations? – Population Reference Bureau

This headline really jumped out at me:
One quarter of older Americans live in California, Florida and Texas"
Talk about a bad environment for COVID to be accelerating. Not surprisingly, FL ranks #2 in the country for percentage of residents who are age 65 and older. In FL, 20.5% of the population is in that bracket - that's more than 4 million people. (I was very surprised that my beloved Maine ranks #1 in the U.S. at 20.6%: but at least Maine's COVID is under control).
Anyways, I'm really worried that the deaths in FL could get out of control. People in that age group have constant doctor's appointments and often need outside care - they can't live in a bubble forever. I don't know what rules are in place in FL for nursing home visitations but that's obviously a huge area of exposure.
I was naively convinced two months ago that the virus could not thrive in hot climates but that faulty theory won't be bailing them out. And of course the icing on the cake is the opening of Disney, the resumption of pro sports and then the RNC.
Sorry for the rambling - but I fear this will explode in August.

 

[10ofRods]

"Privett wrote that the governor must first "specifically state the emergency that requires the order, the location of the emergency, and the name of the local emergency management agency that has determined that the emergency is beyond its capabilities"

What?? Am I understand this right ... that a judge has been living under a rock?

Delay upon a technicality while the Judge takes a big gulp of air and considers his own future.

 

[10ofRods]

Airborne transmission of coronavirus in restaurants, gyms and other closed spaces can't be ruled out, WHO says

The World Health Organization published new guidance Thursday, saying it can’t rule out the possibility that the coronavirus can be transmitted through air particles in closed spaces indoors, including in gyms and restaurants.

The WHO previously acknowledged that the virus may become airborne in certain environments, such as during “medical procedures that generate aerosols.” The new guidance recognizes some research that suggests the virus may be able to spread through particles in the air in “indoor crowded spaces.” It cited “choir practice, in restaurants or in fitness classes” as possible areas of airborne transmission.

“In these events, short-range aerosol transmission, particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons cannot be ruled out,” the United Nations health agency’s new guidance said.

No kidding. Once again, the WHO (bless its heart) is lagging (and always does, although it is a very well meaning organization that focuses its energies on bringing the bare minimum of healthcare to the world...its work on hunger, alone, deserves a Nobel Prize).

OF COURSE it is airborne. Air not a technical term. It refers to the total sum of what we each. breath into our lungs. It contains aerosols, microdroplets, droplets (most of which are based on H20) and it contains gases and so forth. Like oxygen.

Why the resistance to this?

What is an "air particle"? Surely they mean "particles in the air."

OBVIOUSLY it's transmitted in subways, buses, houses, offices, airplanes, airports, elevators, restaurants, bars, hospitals, clinics, nursing care, classrooms, waiting rooms, etc. etc. Mostly through entering through the mouth, nose and eyes. From the air.

Sorry for the all caps. It's just so frustrating. It doesn't seem to come in through the skin - is that what they've been thinking due to all the fuss about cleaning products??