Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #69

[Simply Southern]

Exactly. A good customer service mentality helps, too - like offering a mask or face shield or curbside service, but we need to stand firm either way. I think it is HUGELY helpful that corporations have finally stepped up. Maybe if WalMart, Target, and CVS had taken the lead a long time ago and normalized this, the poor workers at the smaller stores wouldn't have had to deal with so much pushback, harassment, and outright violence.

It will be interesting to see how big box handles the "refusal encounter". Many in my area are claiming, I gotta health condition.

Its just a big issue for some folks.

 

[margarita25]

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp sues Atlanta over mask requirement as coronavirus surges in the state

“Local officials who had issued mask mandates as hospitals filled up were outraged this week as Kemp overrode their judgment. The governor’s order came on the same day Georgia recorded its second-highest number of coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, logging 3,871 cases and 37 deaths.

Before Kemp filed his lawsuit Thursday, Bottoms said in an online news conference that his order would not stop Atlanta from enforcing its mask ordinance.

“I am not afraid of the city being sued, and I’ll put our policies up against anyone’s, any day of the week,” she said.”

 

[SouthAussie]

On another note, one of the leadings brands of activewear - Lorna Jane - released a line of clothing this month and claimed it was "anti-viral".

They have now been forced to re-brand the line of clothing as "anti-bacterial" after the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practioners called them out on it.

(Also found in this article is info about a celebrity chef - fined $25,200 ... and a medical practioner - fined $37,800 ... who both tried to cash in on the virus.)


"I suspect Lorna Jane are cynically trying to exploit fears concerning the COVID-19 pandemic to sell clothes."
"The only thing that will be 'terminated' by the 'shield particles' is the money in your bank account."
https://www.smh.com.au/business/con...t-spruiked-as-anti-virus-20200716-p55cmi.html

 

[Reasonable & Just]

It will be interesting to see how big box handles the "refusal encounter". Many in my area are claiming, I gotta health condition.

Its just a big issue for some folks.

In addition to offering face shields, maybe kiosks where they can order and pay for a curbside delivery in 30 minutes or less. Otherwise...sorry, Charlie. Tell it to the bouncer.

 

[margarita25]

NBC Nightly News Broadcast (Full) - July 16th, 2020 | NBC Nightly News

 

[SouthAussie]

I think it needs to be re-emphasized that wearing masks and keeping social distance works best in tandem. Also, that wearing masks is to help contain the spread more than preventing infection to oneself. So it's about performing a civic duty. But that requires people to care for others, as a community. It requires empathy. It's not always easy to appeal to our better natures. Some people will only take action once it affects them personally. Or they don't understand that their individual choices could harm or kill another person. It was the same with drunk driving regulations and anti-public smoking laws. It takes time to change attitudes. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of time to turn things around.

Which is why many of us are upset about the conflicting messages and the botched early response to the pandemic.

Instead of trying to place blame, however, we need leaders and official at the local, city, state and federal level to take immediate action to aggressively tackle the problems arising and not just throw up their hands and sigh, "Oh, well, people die every day."

Make no mistake, this is worse than the flu. Worse than car accidents. In just half a year, over 140,000 have died and countless more have suffered severe health setbacks. In fact, we don't even yet know just how far reaching the quality of life effects are on those who have 'recovered'. That's not even going into the costs of healthcare. People are losing their insurance when laid off. This rippling effect is going to continue to create waves of economic, financial and personal devastation. Ignoring it, denying it, obfuscating numbers will NOT make the problem go away.

We need to support each other, protect each other and work towards beating this terrible contagion. I'm heartened by the strides being made in terms of vaccines and therapeutics. But we have to do our part to hold the line and not make matters worse until an effective vaccine can be rolled out globally.

You know what, Zoriah? I think your post is great and very explanatory - and from a NZer who has been through many weeks of severe and successful lockdown and other measures. How many times do people have to say what seems to be working the best in virus containment and suppression?

The people who are not complying are not going to comply ... until it touches them personally. They are going to go around acting 'semi-normal' and insisting on their 'freedom' while many others are falling ill and too many of them dying. imo


As for those who refuse to wear a mask, Toner doesn't mince his words. "They will get over it," he says. "It's just a question of how many people get sick and die before they get over it."
'We'll be living with masks for years': COVID-19 through the eyes of a pandemic expert

 

[Deleted member 158085]

New York Govenor Cuomo launched a nationwide ad campaign to encourage Americans to wear masks --> Be #NewYorkTough and Mask Up, America!

I truly appreciate his leadership. This is great.

 

[MsArk]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An Arkansas woman is accused of siphoning almost $2 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), money she allegedly used to fund a lavish shopping spree and pay off a student loan.

Ganell Tubbs, 41, of Little Rock, applied for COVID-19 relief funds through the PPP on behalf of two businesses, The Little Piglet Soap Company, LLC, and Suga Girl Customs, LLC.

Tubbs received the money on May 5 and, two days later, spent $8,000 to pay off a student loan, according to the indictment. One week later, prosecutors say she went shopping online, spending roughly $6,000 on products from Apple, Michael Kors, Sephora, Northface, Nike, and others.

Tubbs’ second PPP application for The Little Piglet Soap Company on May 5 netted her a loan of $414,375, according to the news release.

Arkansas woman charged in nearly $2 million COVID-19 relief fraud

 

[margarita25]

Colorado:

Gov. Jared Polis Issues New Mask Mandate For The Entire State Of Colorado

“Gov. Jared Polis issued a statewide mask mandate on Thursday as the number of COVID-19 cases are showing what he called a “significant uptick.” The governor has spent months urging people to wear masks in order to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, and now he has issued an executive order that will go into effect on Friday which requires it.“

[...]

“”Colorado’s response is dictated by cold, hard data and the data is beginning to be alarming. … The good news is there is time to act but we’re on the knife’s edge. … To the extent that there’s been a party the last week or two, the party has to end,” Polis said, referring to the fact that the time is now for Coloradans to return to more adherence to social distancing measures and behavior that prevents the spread of the virus.“

—-

Colorado's COVID-19 outbreaks increase for first time since early June
July 15

 

[KALI]

To stop from going totally crazy. I go out.
I am 67 years old.
I wear a mask if I will encounter people.
I spend more time sequestered in my home then I want to, definitely.
Unfortunately, everything I do, has this virus in my foresight.
So, my car is stocked with necessities I never imagined that I would ever need.
I am very careful. Obviously, I don't want this virus.
However for me. I refuse to stay locked up in my house.
I stay away from people, I dine out at restaurants that adhere to all CDC requirements. Which are most in my neck of the woods here in San Diego, California.
Everyone here is aware and masked up. Everywhere.
In their cars, walking, everywhere.
IMO, this virus is a "people" disease.
The poor living in tight quarters are it's favorite victims.
Why don't our leaders acknowledge this truth and teach them, how to conquer this virus and stay safe, instead of shutting down Everything?
I cannot even fathom how many people will die and how many businesses will go bankrupt due to terrible leadership.
I honestly, See a bloodbath.
Small business owner in California
Moo, Jmo

 

[ZoriahNZ]

It's not always a matter of education/information. Sometimes people don't have a choice. Not everyone can pick and choose their employment. Not everyone can work from home. Not everyone can dine out, or even have their own car and can avoid public transport.

Lockdowns are last resort when less stringent measures are not working. When voluntary measures are not being complied with, then enforced mandates have to happen to ensure public health.

While data collection is ongoing, medical experts are obviously coming to a consensus in terms of the most high risk environments for virus transmission. Those environments have to be targeted first, it's just logical. Restaurants, bars, theatres, gyms, churches and other places of mass gathering clearly are problem areas. Were super spreader events can create outbreak clusters. In New Zealand one woman caused dozens of people to be infected at a wedding reception. Another cluster was caused by one student at a high school, 38 (students, staff and families) infected.

Lockdowns have worked for some countries because they're basically starving the virus of new hosts. Staying at home for 2 to 3 weeks can make a big difference.

But that's harder when there is no support from the government for those being asked to stay at home. In NZ an income subsidy was offered to all people impacted financially. Rent freezes and mortgage holidays were implemented. Small business loans that were interest-free were also offered by the government. It was a multi-tiered approach to ensure that people weren't left abandoned.
Add universal health care to that, and you can see why we may have weathered a long lockdown that some may have called too strict.

The bottom line is we can now have open schools, our economy is recovering, we have no community transmission of the virus and very few new cases. Our total deaths for 5 million population is 22.

I am so glad that we acted early and aggressively against this virus. But it was only possible because of clear leadership, consistent communication, and great personal sacrifice from the general public.

 

[tmar]

Great to hear about the Reproductive Rate.
I am here, in lockdown, wondering with great number increases, if they will 'lock us down', even more.
If so, I just follow the rules.

Coronavirus Australia live news: Calls for healthcare worker infection database as cases rise in Victoria

Coronavirus Australia live news: Calls for healthcare worker infection database as cases rise in Victoria

Dannielle Maguire

7 hrs ago
...
12 minutes ago
Paul Kelly says the reproduction rate is 'looking very positive'

The ACMO is asked about Victoria's reproduction rate — the number of people infected by a single positive case.


I will be talking about that tomorrow. We do have some information on that, but it is a bit premature. Suffice to say that it is looking very positive compared with what it was about three weeks ago.

He has a message to "our friends in Victoria".

"There are a lot of restrictions and other things going on, in terms of contact tracing, and isolation of cases, and also restrictions in terms of the lockdowns, for those areas. My message is to be patient.

"It does take time because of the biology of the virus, before these types of restrictions, and the isolation of cases and contact will demonstrate that we are starting to get on top of the situation in Victoria.

"These are large numbers today, that is disturbing, but we do have good indications, that those mobility restrictions, and movement restrictions around Melbourne, in particular, are working and people are taking notice.

"It does take a couple of weeks before we see those signs, and so I remain hopeful about the situation in Victoria, but, please, take note of everything that is being asked of you."
:
Our GREAT LEADERS.
Prime Minister states:
We have an open account with Victoria. I have said that to the Premier. He has got an open book with us. He can call down what he needs as is required, and I have got to say all the premiers and chief ministers have been equally supportive to the Victorian government.
So it is a problem to solve in Victoria by the Victorian government, but they are getting no shortage of help and assistance from the rest of the country. It is a national effort."

 

[musicaljoke]

New research examining COVID-19 and human sperm suggests potential risks for male infertility as well as sexual transmission.

A study published last month in JAMA analyzed semen samples of 38 COVID-19 patients and found the presence of the virus in 15% of them.

According to researcher Dr. John Aitken, COVID-19’s pathological impact on those tested is underscored by data that shows active cases dramatically reduce testosterone to luteinizing hormones.

Coronavirus can cause male infertility and be transmitted sexually, research suggests

This has been a topic of interest by other researchers.

"Testes from COVID-19 patients exhibited significant seminiferous tubular injury, reduced Leydig cells, and mild lymphocytic inflammation. We found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the testes in the majority (90%) of the cases by RT-PCR, and in none by electron microscopy. These findings can provide evidence-based guidance for sperm donation and inform management strategies to mitigate the risk of testicular injury during the COVID-19 disease course."

Pathological Findings in the Testes of COVID-19 Patients: Clinical Implications - ScienceDirect

 

[tresir2012]

I followed very early on as well, then found the thread shortly after it was created. It was a wealth of knowledge and hot with current scientific data.

I did not watch the WHO conferences, after the first one or two. I did read the media/thread updates from WHO. I listened to "other" US Sources.

I lost faith in WHO early in the ball game. But I had an advantage of knowing some really smart insiders. I ordered N95s shortly after New Years was fully stocked and prepared by the end of Jan. Just had that feeling ....

It was frustrating because no one would listen. There was not a media focus and my friends and neighbors thought I was nuts, until March when they needed N95s and toilet paper.

Yes, this got out of hand quickly. No one, not one country was prepared for the magnitude of a fiercely contagious deadly virus.

Moo....

Except maybe China? WHO wanted to call it a PHEIC on the 21st Jan but the 15 experts who met on the 22nd did not agree. So it was not declared until the 30th Jan. I don't know the reason for that. Maybe someone else remembers the reason for that delay? Perhaps they believed they had tracked and contained the US and EUR cases at that point?

 

[tresir2012]

Yes, very true, however things changed very quickly, within days.

Just by the luck of the Gods, a US expert just happened to be visiting family in Lombardi, Italy the week of the 6th and prior to. Very quickly he returned to Germany and back to the US within days. I knew the day they announced returning to the US it was bad and was just waiting for the news to drop. Very shortly the first WH presser with the 15 day Stop the spread plan. "Somebody knew something" around the 8th of March that changed folks mind.


Moo....

I think they must have lost track of it at that stage via the contact tracing or they discovered it in the sewage from earlier samples they had taken. MOO

 

[tresir2012]

I think a lot of people were alerted to coronavirus when Tom Hanks and his wife tested positive on March 11.

On March 12 Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell tested positive for the virus. That was also in the news. Wasn’t he the player who touched all the microphones?

Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 - Wikipedia

Yes, and Tom Hanks was in Australia at that point so it had reached a southern hemisphere continent making it global at that point perhaps. All continents except South America had it by then. MOO.

 

[tresir2012]

Yeah sturgeons handing it great if you turn a blind eye to the care home crisis there, The Nike cover up and the deliberate and blatant attempts to undermine the U.K. government at every opportunity. She claimed not to know what “stay alert” meant when Boris said it, but the following week used the slogan “stay vigilant”... alrighty then.

For such a small, sparsely populated country like Scotland, with no major airport hub, the death rate is shockingly high too. But yeah sturgeons handled it incredible. Props to her.........

What was the Nike cover up? I haven't heard of that.

 

[musicaljoke]

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00183.2020

Johnny S. Younis, Zaid Abassi, and Karl Skorecki
01 JUN 2020 https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00183.2020

Is there an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility? The ACE2 connection

...Among several extra-respiratory organs, ACE2 is highly expressed in the human testis (5, 23). This raises the question of whether COVID-19 in males, via the ACE2, may have adverse reproductive implications, especially in young men planning to have children.

 

[tresir2012]

New research examining COVID-19 and human sperm suggests potential risks for male infertility as well as sexual transmission.

A study published last month in JAMA analyzed semen samples of 38 COVID-19 patients and found the presence of the virus in 15% of them.

According to researcher Dr. John Aitken, COVID-19’s pathological impact on those tested is underscored by data that shows active cases dramatically reduce testosterone to luteinizing hormones.

Coronavirus can cause male infertility and be transmitted sexually, research suggests

If anything will make guys wear a mask, this news will IMO.

 

[FrostOwl]

It's possible that Stockholm is getting close to herd immunity, as the number of new cases are not getting higher even as people are less careful of social distancing, and other means of protection against the corona virus (no requirement of face masks here in Sweden). It's possible that the number of people in Stockholm with antibodies and/or T-cells is as high as 40 percent, to get herd immunity at least 40 - 45 percent of the population have to be immune.
Stockholm kan närma sig flockimmunitet