Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #70

[ilovewings]

Majority of COVID-19 cases in San Bernardino County are from private gatherings, data shows
...
Over the last 28 days, 71% of those infected with the virus attended a family gathering in the last 14 days. A total of 228 people out of 319 interviewed by contact tracers indicated that they attended a gathering, according to the county's Department of Public Health.

In comparison, 3% of those infected said they had attended a religious service, while another 3% indicated they had attended a protest in the last 14 days.

"Gathering with family and friends from other households -- chatting, laughing, and having a great time -- is precisely how this virus spreads. That's why the State's stay-at-home order banning gatherings among people from different households is an order, not simply advice," read a statement from the county.
...

Who would be surprised? people just are not using common sense.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

I'm not sure that it is quite rare. We are pretty much still discovering how this works. The WHO says, "There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection."
"Immunity passports" in the context of COVID-19

Or here ...
Because there is not yet a clear, measurable marker in the body that correlates with long-term immunity, researchers must piece together the patchwork of immune responses and compare it with responses to infections with other viruses to estimate how durable protection might be. Studies of other coronaviruses suggest that ‘sterilizing immunity’, which prevents infection, might last for only a matter of months.
03 JULY 2020 Six months of coronavirus: the mysteries scientists are still racing to solve
Five coronavirus mysteries scientists are still racing to solve

I am really curious to know whether medical personnel who have had it are back on the job full time and what their antibody levels are like over time. I am sure someone is studying that, and I can't wait to see results.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Fauci holds up New York as model for fighting coronavirus — 'They did it correctly'

NYC to reopen zoos, gardens Monday as part of Phase 4 COVID re-opening plan
Phase 4 is the final phase of re-opening throughout the state. With the Big Apple jumping into the mix, the entire state will enter that stage in one form or another tomorrow.

 

[musicaljoke]

This is where I would love to see us be, where masks and distancing are keeping the virus at lower infections. How can we get there without shutting the country back down again, then opening it up PROPERLY. As for schools, maybe I'm being simple minded, however at the very least push the opening back to October. Kids can go to school in the summer, do home video lessons. We need teachers alive.

Yes, and these decisions don't need to be based on guesswork about when it is safe to reopen and what those stages should look like. The medical science and economic expertise are available and should guide the decisions. It can work if all levels of government, all business, and all the people know the goals, and how to achieve them. But without leadership, the decisions become random, potentially harmful, and ineffective.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

This is a new viral science that has to be mastered as they have found innovative ways to treat and medicate. Also, the politicians follow the scientists' recommendations, of course they are not health or science experts themselves.

BBM.

Unfortunately, no, many absolutely do not follow scientists’ recommendations. <modsnip: name calling>

 

[CharlestonGal]

Thankfully Trump doesn’t have the authority to “do away” with requiring anything to return to work. My place of employment can require whatever they want in terms of testing for me to return to work after testing positive.

That said, the CDC has had guidelines in place for months advising companies on how to determine if someone should return to work. Having two negative tests at least 24 hours apart is only one of several options outlined by the CDC.

I don’t know of any health care workers currently being required to have even one negative test to return to work, and our local health department is recommending using the CDC’s non-test based strategy for return to work.

(Reuters) - The United States is preparing to issue guidance on reducing “unnecessary” testing for COVID-19 as it works to cut turnaround times for tests, a senior U.S. health official said on Thursday.

Details of the guidance are still being hammered out but it would be aimed partly at discouraging COVID-19 patients who have completed home quarantine from getting retested before returning to work or school, said Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Speaking on a call with reporters, he said such unnecessary tests were “clogging up the system.”

U.S. prepares push to reduce 'unnecessary' COVID-19 testing: official

 

[CSIDreamer]

(Reuters) - The United States is preparing to issue guidance on reducing “unnecessary” testing for COVID-19 as it works to cut turnaround times for tests, a senior U.S. health official said on Thursday.

Details of the guidance are still being hammered out but it would be aimed partly at discouraging COVID-19 patients who have completed home quarantine from getting retested before returning to work or school, said Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Speaking on a call with reporters, he said such unnecessary tests were “clogging up the system.”

U.S. prepares push to reduce 'unnecessary' COVID-19 testing: official

Indiana employers can't require a test to return to work. Text:

Sick employees should follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees should not return to work until they meet the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider. Employers should not require a sick employee to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or healthcare provider’s note to return to work. Employees with COVID-19 who have stayed home can stop home isolation and return to work when they have met one of the sets of criteria found here: SYMPTOMATIC people with COVID-19 who have stayed home (home isolated) can stop home isolation under the following conditions: If you will not have a test to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened: You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers) AND other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)AND at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared In all cases, follow the guidance of your healthcare provider and local health department. The decision to stop home isolation should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider and health department. ASYMPTOMATIC people with a positive COVID-19 test result can stop home isolation under the following conditions: Time Based Strategy: At least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test assuming they have not developed symptoms since their positive test. If they develop symptoms, then the symptom-based or test-based strategy should be used. Test Based Strategy: Negative results of an FDA Emergency Use Authorized COVID-19 molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected ≥24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens)

Clark County Health Department

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Yes but who is slowing it down state or WH? That was why I asked for a link. Are you saying we don't need links for facts now?

I will self report so that this can be clarified by a mod.

The Feds are closing testing sites, which obviously slows down testing.

Trump Administration Moving To Close Federally Funded COVID Testing Sites

 

[CharlestonGal]

Yes but who is slowing it down state or WH? That was why I asked for a link. Are you saying we don't need links for facts now?

I will self report so that this can be clarified by a mod.

This was linked and discussed a few days ago. I am aware of no rule that requires the link be posted every time a previously linked article is mentioned.

Nonetheless, here it is again.

U.S. prepares push to reduce 'unnecessary' COVID-19 testing: official

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

The Feds are closing testing sites, which obviously slows down testing.

Trump Administration Moving To Close Federally Funded COVID Testing Sites

From the link - (makes sense to me)
Federal officials say the sites have been closing or transferring to state or local control because it's more efficient to run testing that way. In other instances they argue there are readily available testing sites nearby.

 

[musicaljoke]

From the link - (makes sense to me)
Federal officials say the sites have been closing or transferring to state or local control because it's more efficient to run testing that way. In other instances they argue there are readily available testing sites nearby.

So, do you actually believe that to be true?

From the article: "Critics at the state and federal levels say the shutdowns are a dangerous idea as infections are surging in many states and testing remains scarce in some places. Health officials are especially concerned about the repercussions of the closures in Texas, where seven of the sites are located, the infections are rising quickly."

 

[Trino]

So, do you actually believe that to be true?

From the article: "Critics at the state and federal levels say the shutdowns are a dangerous idea as infections are surging in many states and testing remains scarce in some places. Health officials are especially concerned about the repercussions of the closures in Texas, where seven of the sites are located, the infections are rising quickly."

Bexar Co, TX. If you are in a group of 10 people, there is a 52% chance someone is infected. You can use this site for any US county. See lower left for scale.
https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/

 

[Tippy Lynn]

I am really curious to know whether medical personnel who have had it are back on the job full time and what their antibody levels are like over time. I am sure someone is studying that, and I can't wait to see results.

A co-worker of mine came back to work full-time after testing positive & beating the virus. She had to have 2 negative tests within 24 hours prior to returning to work. Two and a half months later she lost her sense of smell and taste and tested positive for a second time. She is currently in quarantine.

 

[tabitha111]

It goes fast, but it indicates the infections over the course of 143 days the U.S. has seen infections. Note what the map looked like up until 30 days ago and what it looks like now. No wonder people were convinced this was some kind of hoax! It makes me shiver to wonder what this map will look like in 30 days! (this is a very cool map!!)

https://www.corona-per-capita.com/v...oe-Qc00elXBBSsErC8V7b4FqUzSSQue__duLeAzcCmWrs

 

[tresir2012]

The Feds are closing testing sites, which obviously slows down testing.

Trump Administration Moving To Close Federally Funded COVID Testing Sites

Thanks. However the link is 4 weeks old and since then, billions have been sent to states to fund these tests themselves now.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

So, do you actually believe that to be true?

From the article: "Critics at the state and federal levels say the shutdowns are a dangerous idea as infections are surging in many states and testing remains scarce in some places. Health officials are especially concerned about the repercussions of the closures in Texas, where seven of the sites are located, the infections are rising quickly."

Yes, I believe it to be true because it’s logical. It’s more efficient at the local and state levels than having the federal government involved.

Seven testing sites is a drop in the bucket. The question is do you actually believe the critics?

Texas testing sites

ArcGIS Web Application

 

[CharlestonGal]

It goes fast, but it indicates the infections over the course of 143 days the U.S. has seen infections. Note what the map looked like up until 30 days ago and what it looks like now. No wonder people were convinced this was some kind of hoax! It makes me shiver to wonder what this map will look like in 30 days! (this is a very cool map!!)

https://www.corona-per-capita.com/v...oe-Qc00elXBBSsErC8V7b4FqUzSSQue__duLeAzcCmWrs

Success is a double-edged sword in this situation. Lockdown worked as it should. It suppressed the virus nicely. Unfortunately, some seemed to interpret that to mean the virus was overblown and no big deal. Now, of course, we are seeing exactly what this virus does in the absence of mitigation. jmo

 

[Deleted member 158085]

wow! I don’t agree with the “ no mask” folks but calling Congress members idiots?
I also don’t agree with the “ wash your groceries” crowd but I don’t call them idiots.
People have a brain. Seeing someone else without a mask doesn’t make me not wear one. Reading about people washing their groceries, or letting them sit in the garage didn’t make me do that.

I do think it's idiotic not to wear a mask when you know you've been exposed and are waiting for testing. It's also irresponsible and uncaring.

 

[Sundog]

Majority of COVID-19 cases in San Bernardino County are from private gatherings, data shows
...
Over the last 28 days, 71% of those infected with the virus attended a family gathering in the last 14 days. A total of 228 people out of 319 interviewed by contact tracers indicated that they attended a gathering, according to the county's Department of Public Health.

In comparison, 3% of those infected said they had attended a religious service, while another 3% indicated they had attended a protest in the last 14 days.

"Gathering with family and friends from other households -- chatting, laughing, and having a great time -- is precisely how this virus spreads. That's why the State's stay-at-home order banning gatherings among people from different households is an order, not simply advice," read a statement from the county.
...

That's interesting.

71% of those infected with the virus attended a family gathering

3% attended a religious service

3% attended a protest

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Thanks. However the link is 4 weeks old and since then, billions have been sent to states to fund these tests themselves now.

Thanks, but this is an ongoing issue we've discussed here. The article may be 4 weeks old but the issue is not.