Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #73

[Jax49]

Jacksonville woman arrested after intentionally coughing on cancer patient in viral video

A woman who deliberately coughed on someone at Pier 1 in a video that went viral was arrested for assault just over a week ago.

Hunter was arrested on July 22. She bonded out immediately. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 19.

 

[neesaki]

BBM.

Here’s her reasoning:


“I did not speak, react, or engage. Simply stood to document the behavior. When bullies are faced with accountability they must acknowledge the unacceptability of their actions. Within 30 seconds of filming her tirade was done and she left the poor staff in peace.”

Sprague added that she was “off to find a COVID test.”

“Yesterday I learned firsthand the power of conscientious bystanders. It took 30 seconds to end 15 minutes of aggressive harassment.”

Jacksonville mother could pursue charges against woman who coughed on her at Pier 1

Yes, learned of these details later. I thought she’d already filed charges. I hope she did. It’s unfathomable to me what the suspect did, even without Covid!

 

[Sundog]

Dr. Birx visited Virginia last week. She met with our state legislators, governor, and a few friends of the governor. This was ALL behind closed doors, no media were allowed.

Dr. Birx later spoke to the press in a very short PC, that most Richmond stations did not even play. The governor nor any Virginia state official showed up for the PC, just Dr. Birx all by herself. Our local media had a very hard time obtaining just a few clips of the PC.

She recommended CLOSING bars, and rolling back to phase 2, as Virginia has not only metro but rural outbreaks. Eastern shore (beach/chicken processing plants) running 16 to 21% positivity, and rural counties 15 to 25 % positivity.

Our state numbers are running 7.2 to 7.8 % which is not a true reflect of virus prevalence. NOVA ( 40% of VA population), has contained the virus and running below 5%., where the rest of our health districts are above 9 to 20%. Factoring in NOVA numbers scuse the outbreak we are experiencing in the entire rest of the state.

Our governor, who is a Physician, did NOT listen or take the advisement of DR. Birx. He stopped the sale of alcohol at 10pm, and is closing bars at 12pm, in Eastern Virginia only, limiting gatherings to 50 or less.

The CDC team is on its third trip to eastern shore to try and contain, with no assistance from our state leaders.

MOO, Virginia cases will continue to rise in rural areas, as the governor has ask local counties to NOT roll back restrictions, it could affect cities CARES funding from the state. We have NO state wide testing, and rank in the lowest for testing in the US.

Some governors are NOT listening to the CDC, WH taskforce, nor are they using dollars received under CARES to provide an effective response to COVID.

A national responsse will not work, the federal government does not have jurisdictions over the states. We have seen in recent weeks how federal intervention is NOT received well in most states.

When the 15 day plan was issued by the WHTF it was up to individual governors to close schools, businesses, etc.

I don't see this ending any time soon. I hear the same message my state leaders hear, daily from CDC, WHTF, Dr. Fauci, all being ignored.

Shaking my head in Virginia.....as we brace for high wind and flooding in the middle and western rural communities over the next two days from the tropical storm. Stressing our local volunteer EMS personnel even more.

White House expert recommends Northam close bars, limit indoor dining

Dr. Birx recommended Northam close bars 'where social distancing isn't possible' and limit indoor dining, according to WRIC.

She said that these restrictions would be most effective statewide, but ultimately it's up to Northam.

"It could really prevent Virginia from having the experience that our southern states have had by starting mitigation efforts sooner rather than later," Birx said.

MOO....

Dr. Birx met with the Governor of Ohio last week, also, and he followed her advice on a number of issues, including closing bars early, and other initiatives. She has been travelling across the country and meeting with governors, state health department officials, and others, advising them of mitigating actions they can take to deal with hot spots in their communities.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Her family reunion feels unsafe. But her 98-year-old grandma wants her there. — The Washington Post

“Rowe, an attorney and yoga teacher in Potomac, Md., tried to explain she was worried she might get her grandma sick. But Davis said her faith had kept her healthy for almost a century.

“My soon-to-be 99-year-old grandmother is ready to write me out of the will,” Rowe said half-jokingly, “because I told her covid is real.”

Across the country, families are facing fraught decisions — and fierce disagreements — over whether to see one another this summer. From California to Chicago to Charlotte, family gatherings of all kinds have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks that have sickened scores of people. But as the pandemic drags on, it is testing relatives’ resolve to remain apart.”

“Last week, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) warned people not to assume spending time with relatives was risk-free.

“The number one activity of those who have tested positive recently, reported by a staggering 44 percent . . . was attending family gatherings,” he said at a news conference in which he tightened mask and travel restrictions. “We have people saying, ‘We’re not going out. We’re going to rent a beach house together with 20 or 30 of our family and we are staying home.’ But they are spreading the virus.”
———
Wow....44 percent.

I can’t imagine having a family reunion during this time. At the current rate, my family has realized that Thanksgiving and Christmas will be vastly different with each of us in our own place seeing each other via zoom. I can’t see plane trips/quarantine after arriving for 14 day’s/timely test results as a realistic option. I would like to hibernate from mid November to mid January and forego the holidays.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trump attacks Dr. Birx after she said U.S. reached 'new phase' in coronavirus fight

It was not immediately clear which of Birx's remarks Trump was referencing in the tweet. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for clarification.

Birx had warned on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that the U.S. had entered a "new phase" in its battle against the virus.

"What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread ... it's more widespread and it's both rural and urban," Birx said.

 

[MrX]

The US economy could benefit if the nation were to "lock down really hard" for four to six weeks, a top Federal Reserve official has said, as a senior White House official warned America was entering a new phase in which the coronavirus was "extraordinarily widespread" in rural areas as well as cities.

The US economy, which in the second quarter suffered its biggest blow since the Great Depression, would be able to mount a robust recovery, but only if the virus were brought under control, Neel Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, told CBS' Face the Nation.

"If we don't do that and we just have this raging virus spreading throughout the country with flare-ups and local lockdowns for the next year or two, which is entirely possible, we're going to see many, many more business bankruptcies," Kashkari said.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-...utbreak-enters-new-phase-20200803-p55hws.html

It sounds OK in theory, but the reality is that very few places have been successful pursuing this strategy. How would New Zealand look today if it was located in Central Europe, with multiple land borders? Once a country goes down the path of virus eradication it has to be prepared to close every time there are new cases. What's happening in Australia now will probably be a guide for the future.

 

[Sundog]

Trump attacks Dr. Birx after she said U.S. reached 'new phase' in coronavirus fight

It was not immediately clear which of Birx's remarks Trump was referencing in the tweet. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for clarification.

Birx had warned on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that the U.S. had entered a "new phase" in its battle against the virus.

"What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread ... it's more widespread and it's both rural and urban," Birx said.

It's really sad that Dr. Birx is caught between the leadership of two political parties during an election year, but knowing her ability and professionalism, she will forge on and continue to do whatever she can on behalf of our country.

 

[Sundog]

I was talking to a friend about how things are going over there and we both had such different image - Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max, all of Monty Python's A


It sounds OK in theory, but the reality is that very few places have been successful pursuing this strategy. How would New Zealand look today if it was located in Central Europe, with multiple land borders? Once a country goes down the path of virus eradication it has to be prepared to close every time there are new cases. What's happening in Australia now will probably be a guide for the future.

Universities in New Zealand are trying to find ways to have their international students enter the country for classes this fall, they are urging the government to support them in this effort, as they, like other universities across the U.S. and in other countries, are highly dependent on the tuition paid by international students in order to balance their budgets.

 

[Sundog]

Her family reunion feels unsafe. But her 98-year-old grandma wants her there. — The Washington Post

“Rowe, an attorney and yoga teacher in Potomac, Md., tried to explain she was worried she might get her grandma sick. But Davis said her faith had kept her healthy for almost a century.

“My soon-to-be 99-year-old grandmother is ready to write me out of the will,” Rowe said half-jokingly, “because I told her covid is real.”

Across the country, families are facing fraught decisions — and fierce disagreements — over whether to see one another this summer. From California to Chicago to Charlotte, family gatherings of all kinds have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks that have sickened scores of people. But as the pandemic drags on, it is testing relatives’ resolve to remain apart.”

“Last week, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) warned people not to assume spending time with relatives was risk-free.

“The number one activity of those who have tested positive recently, reported by a staggering 44 percent . . . was attending family gatherings,” he said at a news conference in which he tightened mask and travel restrictions. “We have people saying, ‘We’re not going out. We’re going to rent a beach house together with 20 or 30 of our family and we are staying home.’ But they are spreading the virus.”
———
Wow....44 percent.

I can’t imagine having a family reunion during this time. At the current rate, my family has realized that Thanksgiving and Christmas will be vastly different with each of us in our own place seeing each other via zoom. I can’t see plane trips/quarantine after arriving for 14 day’s/timely test results as a realistic option. I would like to hibernate from mid November to mid January and forego the holidays.

We had to cancel our family reunions this summer, of course, with one that had been scheduled in Nova Scotia, the other in P.E.I. (mother's side/father's side of family). Ever hopeful, we're looking at summer 2021.

But families also have to go to other events at times, like my brother who this weekend had to go to a funeral for his son in Ontario. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario has established directives for funeral homes, but from the live stream of the funeral that I was able to watch, a number of people didn't wear masks during the service in the chapel. Very few were permitted to attend in person, but instead of having them sit far apart in the large chapel, they had them all together in the front pews. That surprised me, given the excellent directives given in advance of the service by the funeral home. My brother started the long drive back to Alberta today following the service, so they will have to stay in hotels and eat on the road. They are taking all the precautions they can, and they wear masks.

 

[MrX]

Universities in New Zealand are trying to find ways to have their international students enter the country for classes this fall, they are urging the government to support them in this effort, as they, like other universities across the U.S. and in other countries, are highly dependent on the tuition paid by international students in order to balance their budgets.

This is exactly the point - we have seen, time and again, that the only thing that really works is existing in an isolation bubble. Anything that enters brings the risk of starting the whole cycle over again.

 

[Tony1902]

Desperate for a pool? You can now rent a private one by the hour


Might be just me, but I just don’t think I’d feel comfortable using a stranger’s home pool, but more pertinent to this thread—I wouldn’t feel safe, no matter what the CDC says about it. JMO

I live in coastal Louisiana & except for the deep end (11’) it’s blood temp. Better to take a cool shower instead.

 

[tresir2012]

I live in coastal Louisiana & except for the deep end (11’) it’s blood temp. Better to take a cool shower instead.

I agree. No pools or ocean for me.
I have seen a study where they had to bring the water temp to almost boiling before the virus was no longer present.

ETA link to the study.

Coronavirus able to survive near boiling point of water, study shows

 

[margarita25]

COVID updates: Birx on coronavirus; WHO looks at Wuhan; NYC party boat


New 90-minute COVID tests in Britain also can detect flu
Millions of rapid coronavirus tests will be brought to British hospitals, care homes and laboratories starting next week, the United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care announced Monday. In just 90 minutes, the two new tests will be able to detect COVID-19 and other winter viruses – including the flu.

"We’re using the most innovative technologies available to tackle coronavirus," said British Health Secretary Matt Hancock in a statement. "Millions of new rapid coronavirus tests will provide on-the-spot results in under 90 minutes, helping us to break chains of transmission quickly."

 

[margarita25]

Complaining about wearing a mask because of coronavirus? These nurses don't want to hear it

Nurses working in intensive care and emergency departments throughout Melbourne say it is frustrating to hear the public complain about wearing light masks for brief periods, when they are forced to wear painful, heavy-duty personal protection equipment (PPE) for hours a day.
The nurses, many of whom have been working overtime as the number of hospital admissions has risen in Victoria, told 7.30 they experienced pressure injuries and bruising from wearing N95 masks and face shields, and were sore for days after their shifts.
They cannot take the masks and other PPE off while on shift, even to drink water.

"We're dehydrated because we can't drink all the time," Royal Melbourne emergency department nurse Mel Pearson said.
"It's a lot harder to just go pee if we want to.
"We have pressure injuries on our forehead and bruising on our chins and our noses.
"Seeing people in the community complain about their masks that they have to wear for half an hour to go to the shops is a little bit disheartening when our masks actually cause us physical injuries, just to keep us and our patients safe."


Melbourne nurses say the public's mask complaints are 'annoying'

And if they’re short on PPE and only one set for the day, we’ve seen where some have had to hold it and not go to the bathroom, in order to avoid cross contamination.

 

[tresir2012]

Coronavirus updates: There may never be 'silver bullet', WHO warns - BBC News

BBC update.

Summary

1. New tests for Covid-19 and flu that can give results in 90 minutes are to be rolled out in the UK next week
2. While hopes for a vaccine are strong, there may never be a "silver bullet" for the coronavirus, the WHO warns
3. The pandemic is likely to be "lengthy", the UN health agency says, and response fatigue is a risk
4. Infections in the Australian state of Victoria are surging - many businesses to close under new lockdown
5. UK firm Hays Travel has said up to 878 employees out of 4,500 may lose their jobs because of the pandemic
6. Diners at UK restaurants to get 50% off meals as "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme launches
7. Manchester, in northern England, declares a major incident after a rise in the infection rate
8. Globally, more than 18 million infections and 689,000 deaths have been recorded - Johns Hopkins University

 

[musicaljoke]

The Tour de France’s departure in Copenhagen has been pushed back a year to 2022.

The Grand Départ was scheduled for 2021 but has been moved to avoid a clash with Euro 2020 games which are being held in the city next year.

Euro 2020 was rescheduled to next year due to coronavirus.

Copenhagen Mayor Frank Jensen said: “Many of us have been looking forward to getting the Tour de France to Denmark next year, and now we unfortunately have to wait a little longer.

“On the other hand, Danes can look forward to an even bigger bang of a yellow folk festival in 2022, when the Tour start will not be squeezed by the European Championships and the Olympics and we have hopefully got the coronavirus at a greater distance”.

There were due to be three stages in Copenhagen – a 13km (8 mile) time trial and two road stages.

Coronavirus updates: There may never be 'silver bullet', WHO warns - BBC News

 

[JerseyGirl]

'This epidemic is now out of control': Why social distancing and face masks aren't enough

"This epidemic is now out of control. And it's out of control mostly because of our own behavior," said William Haseltine, chairman and president of ACCESS Health International.

"People have not taken the consistent warnings of our health officials seriously. They are gathering in private and in public places without adequate protection. They are ignoring the advice."

At least 30 states suffered higher rates of new deaths this past week compared to the previous week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In 12 of those states, the increase in deaths was at least 50%: Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Mississippi, Michigan, Ohio, Maine, Virginia, West Virginia and Alaska.

And test positivity rates -- an indicator of how rampantly a virus is spreading -- remains stubbornly high in more than 30 states.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Coronavirus outbreak hits Norway cruise ship that stopped at dozens of ports: "We have made mistakes"

A Norwegian cruise ship line halted all trips and apologized Monday for procedural errors after an outbreak of coronavirus on one ship infected at least 5 passengers and 36 crew. Health authorities fear the ship could have infected dozens of towns and villages along Norway's western coast.

The 41 people on the MS Roald Amundsen who tested positive have been admitted to the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsoe, north of the Arctic Circle, where the ship currently is docked.

But since the cruise ship line often acts like a local ferry, traveling from port to port along Norway's western coast, the virus may not have been contained onboard. Some passengers disembarked along the route and may have spread the virus to their local communities.

A total of 69 municipalities in Norway have been affected.

 

[10ofRods]

I agree, many examples of states and feds working together. Hurricane, earthquakes, national disasters all provoke a positive unified effort. But, Federal assistance must be requested by the state. FEMA can't just roll in. My experience with hurricane response in the SE, localities control response to the citizens, supported by the State, usually National Guard, FEMA supports the state and goes where the state tells them.
Again, everything is controlled by the state.

I'm sure, any state could invite the federal government in to enforce a lock down. I don't see this happening. When some of the small towns in NC and SC tried to close the barrier islands to vacationers, the governors intervened and threatened arrest.

MOO...the question is....

Why are states refusing to follow the TF and CDC guidelines? Governor Northam, MD could not answer that question after Dr. Birx visited Virginia. His response.... I have my own set of matrix that I use. Of course we are not privy to that matrix.

CDC has guidance for everything, opening the states, schools, recreation etc. Its laid out by category and is available to everyone on the website. All facets of healthcare, states, localities use CDC guidance to enact polices, state and local laws.

I'm not sure why states are NOT working with the federal government on COVID.


ETA... link to Northam FB page for the above comments. He does NOT have PCs on the state website.

Governor of Virginia

Moo...

My view is that the federal response has been so changeable and that the feds are so slow to respond, that most states have had to wing it and build their own response.

6 months in, and we still don't have a workable federal plan that starts with the basics (testing) and covers data collection (now split into parts).

We needed to have state-to-federal interfaces (ongoing communication, webinars, visits, staffing in Washington, staffing at CDC, etc., etc)

It doesn't work if there are not people staffing the federal side.

IMO. And the reasons for this opinion are not on topic per WS.

 

[JerseyGirl]

'Stop! Sanitize!': Alabama principal parodies MC Hammer ahead of students' return to school amid coronavirus

With schools in certain states starting to open for in-person learning during the the ongoing pandemic, Alabama principal Quentin Lee wanted to make sure the more than 300 students at Childersburg High got the message about the school's new restrictions.

In a musical parody of MC Hammer's “U Can’t Touch This,” Lee shows how the school is looking to keep kids safe.

Water fountains? Doorknobs? Vending machines? Can’t touch this. Students are also told to social distance and Lee is seen with a no-contact thermometer. The song ends with a, “Stop! Sanitize!” to drive the point home.

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