Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #74

[tmar]

Essential poll: Australians more worried about stopping Covid spread than reviving economy

Essential poll: Australians more worried about stopping Covid spread than reviving economy

Katharine Murphy Political editor

4 hrs ago
Australians rank stopping community transmission of Covid-19 higher on their list of priorities than restarting the economy and putting it on the road to recovery, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll, which shows people are increasingly nervous about the second wave.

The latest survey of 1,010 respondents found 62% of the sample ranked stopping community transmission as their most important issue, compared with more than half of respondents who nominated either economic recovery (55%) or managing the economy (53%) as very important.

 

[Tadpole12]

The bunkers are ridiculous against covid. Australia is not experiencing riots, rebellions, martial law, looting. The bunkers are being sold in Queensland. The people there are going to the beach, going surfing, going out to eat, going shopping, going to work.

The 'inquirers from Victoria' are under stage three lockdown - not a tough lockdown.

Most people in Melbourne wouldn't have enough room in their city backyards for a bunker. They too are not experiencing looting, riots, rebellions, martial law. They are into Day Nine or so of a tighter 6-week lockdown. By the time a bunker arrived and was installed, the lockdown will be over. Their numbers are definitely on the decrease, and things are starting to look quite good for them.

It is a stupid sales tactic. Unless a person is a rare (to us), illogical, conspiracy theorist, I can't imagine anyone here would want a bunker.

Even in a bushfire, you wouldn't want to be trapped in one of them. Smoke pouring in through the ventilation system, choking anyone inside. Even the fire crews have to wear heavy masks when combatting a bush fire, due to the intense heavy smoke.

Yes, geared towards preppers.

Private Bushfire Shelters or Bunkers - Country Fire Authority

Would have to meet code.

What's weird is they have a Facebook site, but the phone number is wonky?

ETA ty SA, phone number is valid.

 

[tmar]

How Texas went from a coronavirus slow burn to an explosive disaster

How Texas went from a coronavirus slow burn to an explosive disaster

By North America correspondent Kathryn Diss

8 hrs ago

Coronavirus in Texas went from slow burn to explosion
America's coronavirus outbreak first erupted in Washington state before New York became the country's epicentre in April.

The situation was more of a slow burn in the country's south, with states like Texas, Florida and Arizona recording relatively lower rates of infection.

That all changed in May.

Texas's curve quickly shot up and Dr Patel remembers her team being shocked to have 30 patients at one time.

Then they had 90. They thought there was no way they could handle 100.

A few weeks ago, during the peak of infections in Texas, they hit 160 patients.

"The second peak clearly happened after Memorial Day," Dr Patel said.

"We started seeing a steep incline and it was just relentless."

Several US states said mass gatherings to celebrate the May 31 federal holiday caused a spike in COVID-19 infections.

"It really stretched every resource we had, both the manpower and the equipment, Dr Patel said.
They broke their records for the highest number of people on ventilators and dialysis machines at any one time.

The huge rise in cases in Texas is being seen as a direct consequence of lifting coronavirus restrictions too early.

The state started opening up again in May, though the Governor has since issued a statewide mask mandate and shut down bars again.

Some Texan bars have simply started serving food so they can be classified as restaurants and remain open, according to local media.

Texas sees early signs of improvement, but doctors fear another spike
Texas has started the see the first signs that cases are starting to decrease.

By most accounts, putting a pause on fully reopening the state and issuing the mask mandate has helped slow the spread in the state.

But while cases have come off the peak of 15,000 new infections in a day, Texas is still averaging about 8,000 a day.

And more than 8,000 people have died from close to half a million COVID-19 infections.

Doctors and nurses are hoping they have seen the worst of it, but with schools reopening this month and autumn rapidly approaching, concerns of a second spike are ever present.

 

[SouthAussie]

Yes, geared towards preppers.

Private Bushfire Shelters or Bunkers - Country Fire Authority

Would have to meet code.

What's weird is they have a Facebook site, but the phone number is wonky?

Just had a look ... it is a typical mobile phone number here.

 

[Trino]

How Texas went from a coronavirus slow burn to an explosive disaster

How Texas went from a coronavirus slow burn to an explosive disaster

By North America correspondent Kathryn Diss

8 hrs ago

Coronavirus in Texas went from slow burn to explosion
America's coronavirus outbreak first erupted in Washington state before New York became the country's epicentre in April.

The situation was more of a slow burn in the country's south, with states like Texas, Florida and Arizona recording relatively lower rates of infection.

That all changed in May.

Texas's curve quickly shot up and Dr Patel remembers her team being shocked to have 30 patients at one time.

Then they had 90. They thought there was no way they could handle 100.

A few weeks ago, during the peak of infections in Texas, they hit 160 patients.

"The second peak clearly happened after Memorial Day," Dr Patel said.

"We started seeing a steep incline and it was just relentless."

Several US states said mass gatherings to celebrate the May 31 federal holiday caused a spike in COVID-19 infections.

"It really stretched every resource we had, both the manpower and the equipment, Dr Patel said.
They broke their records for the highest number of people on ventilators and dialysis machines at any one time.

The huge rise in cases in Texas is being seen as a direct consequence of lifting coronavirus restrictions too early.

The state started opening up again in May, though the Governor has since issued a statewide mask mandate and shut down bars again.

Some Texan bars have simply started serving food so they can be classified as restaurants and remain open, according to local media.

Texas sees early signs of improvement, but doctors fear another spike
Texas has started the see the first signs that cases are starting to decrease.

By most accounts, putting a pause on fully reopening the state and issuing the mask mandate has helped slow the spread in the state.

But while cases have come off the peak of 15,000 new infections in a day, Texas is still averaging about 8,000 a day.

And more than 8,000 people have died from close to half a million COVID-19 infections.

Doctors and nurses are hoping they have seen the worst of it, but with schools reopening this month and autumn rapidly approaching, concerns of a second spike are ever present.

Then, there's the Lt. Governor.
Dan Patrick, the Republican lieutenant governor of Texas, told Fox News' disproportionately older audience Monday night that he and other American seniors would be willing to risk dying from the coronavirus in order to ensure that the economy doesn't slide into a serious recession.
On Dr. Fauci: “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about."
GOP Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick doubled down on earlier controversial comments he made about reopening his state, saying late Monday that there are "more important things than living.”

 

[mickey2942]

We have got to push schools to step up and figure this out, other counties have.

Virginia has given schools a free pass. No SOLs, don't have to worry about accreditation, don't have to attend or have a passing grade, everybody moves up to the next class regardless of knowing the material. . What kinda of lesson does this teach to our kids. You can do a bad job or not try and still get the reward.

This is setting the US up for major failure for our future adults.

My granddaughter a 4.4 grade point student has 4 classes this semester. School is over at 12 each day, the afternoons are for teacher planning and conferences. What planning time do they need they are using a predesigned state program thats been available for years.

She is so disheartened, as 4 classes is the maximum allowed. Grandson, again 4.4 GPA is in the same boat, entering middle school with 4 classes, he won't obtain enough credit for HS, if this doesn't change.

Yes, I would be petrified if my grandkids were attending in person class, but I am becoming more fearful of their future.

These kids are smart, participate in many programs, have won academic state and national awards, competitions. They have bright futures, somethings got to change. as I don't see the virus leaving in the next year, many longer.
Moo...

Won't they let kids take credits online to graduate on time? That seems to be insanity to hold kids back. And I agree, this is such an odd situation, for so many people. So many jobs have just "disappeared". My cousin is an event planner, he was constantly busy. Now, he is considering getting a CDL.

 

[SouthAussie]

<RSBM>
GOP Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick doubled down on earlier controversial comments he made about reopening his state, saying late Monday that there are "more important things than living.”

There are? I wonder what they would be.

Perhaps to let all the elderly, the medically compromised, the 'weaker' people die off ... leave their estates to the younger people, so they can go spend the money and help the economy.

 

[Tadpole12]

I can't keep up so sorry if already posted.

Crazy scenes on beaches in England as thousands soaked up sunshine

oh, that is tight.

 

[Trino]

The assigned seat idea is great and hopefully that's what we'll do when we reopen in 2021.

All of this works only if either the child's parents or the testing bureau tells the school right away that a kid has CoVId. We're so slow with testing right now, it might be a week's worth of disentangling where that child was the whole time. Maybe longer.

You could, in fact, assign kids to "pods" and let them be 6 feet away in the classroom, but play briefly together in small groups on the playground.

I am very strongly in favor of as much outdoor education as possible - for all kinds of reasons. Utilize every part of the school. Ask for volunteers to help supervise if necessary. All the adults in PPE (although it's said there's no PPE for teachers in California and that we're facing, once again, a nationwide PPE shortage).

We'll also have a lot of brand new teachers in the mix in 2021, with so many retirements (which stings the state budget, again).

The local elementary school has classrooms designed to hold 25 (or more) kids. Every classroom is like that. There's no room to separate kids. Even the hallways are maybe 5 ft. across. The cafeteria is small, designed so every seat is filled. The district is going to announce the plan at the end of the week. Lots of luck.

I was listening to a physician on the way home today. He reminded us that a school has administrators, secretaries, counselors, janitors, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, delivery personnel. The virus isn't limited to kids and teachers.

 

[tmar]

Australia among world's highest coronavirus death rates in aged care sector

Australia among world's highest coronavirus death rates in aged care sector

Sky News Australia

2 hrs ago
The rate of coronavirus deaths in Australia's aged care sector now ranks among the highest in the world, with at least 218 lives lost so far.

Federal agencies reportedly failed to prepare despite warnings from overseas the elderly were most vulnerable to the disease.

 

[10ofRods]

That's ...

32.50 per hour
1300.00 per week
5200.00 per month
62,400.00 per year


WOW....

So...one of my nephews is pondering out loud (not around me) whether he should just not go back to work.

Neither he, nor any of his numerous friends (and apparently their parents) seem to know that you can't just continue to collect unemployment if you're offered your job back and the place of work is open again.

He's making so much more money right now than he ever has before - and it will come to an end some day. If the old rules go back in place, he won't be eligible for unemployment again for a looong time. His girlfriend is doing the same thing.

Right now, they are living like royalty.

And I just read that Trump is expecting states to use their CARE funds to pay 25% of the increased benefit.

My question is...how long do most states even have UI and does the federal act already passed require them to continue UI indefinitely?

Georgia for example only goes for 20 weeks. Was that extended and paid for by the Federal Government? I think it was. What now, though?

 

[Trino]

This whole Covid thing is so crazy. I have a stupid summer cold, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat. It is nothing. A slight dry cough. It is NOT Covid!

Are we supposed to think that every aliment is Covid now?!

Day care (SLP, MN) required a COVID-19 test when 3 yr old came down with a cold. Tested negative. Out of daycare for 3 days.

 

[SouthAussie]

Our Melbourne Year 12 students, who are about to sit their final exams have been given some leeway.

Due to the home stresses of covid - perhaps having to work their after school jobs more, or babysit more, to help their families - their Education Dept is going to review all of their exam results and make concessions for all Year 12 students. They will take their exam results, and consider their year-long assessment results, and average them out to produce a final result.

The Education Dept hopes this will assist those students in achieving their University and other aspirations.

https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/heal...ration-for-exams-amid-covid-stage-4-c-1222962

 

[tmar]

Alpacas provide new hope for a COVID-19 cure

Alpacas provide new hope for a COVID-19 cure

Liam Mannix

6 hrs ago

On several acres of rolling green pasture in Bairnsdale there's a very special herd of alpacas.

But in their veins flow tiny fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19.
They are the start of a project that could one day turn their unique virus-busting antibodies into a powerful treatment for the global pandemic.

Australian researchers, working with the super-intense light generated by the Australian Synchrotron, are attempting to extract and purify them. If the research goes well, they could later be injected into or inhaled by patients - a potent preventative or cure.
Most animals, including humans, produce just a single type of antibody, a Y-shaped protein used for neutralising viruses.

Coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, are covered in sharp spike-proteins that are used to enter human cells. The top part of the Y on an antibody sticks to that spike, gumming up the spike - like chewing gum on a shoe - so that it can't stick to the cell.

Camelids, a species that includes alpacas, llamas and camels, produce two types of antibodies, one similar to human antibodies and the other dramatically smaller, called a nanobody.

 

[SouthAussie]

I can't keep up so sorry if already posted.

Crazy scenes on beaches in England as thousands soaked up sunshine

I was reading yesterday that England has had an uptick in its new cases.


The UK has recorded more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since late June, new government figures have revealed.
The last time the number was over 1,000 was on June 26.

The UK has seen a gradual rise in coronavirus infections since it began lifting lockdown restrictions in mid-June.
The government has put the next stage of reopening, which had been due to take effect August 1, on hold for at least two weeks.
Coronavirus: UK records more than 1,000 new cases for first time since June | ITV News

 

[musicaljoke]

Australia among world's highest coronavirus death rates in aged care sector

Australia among world's highest coronavirus death rates in aged care sector

Sky News Australia

2 hrs ago
The rate of coronavirus deaths in Australia's aged care sector now ranks among the highest in the world, with at least 218 lives lost so far.

Federal agencies reportedly failed to prepare despite warnings from overseas the elderly were most vulnerable to the disease.

Sadly, and to our great shame, we in Canada have you beat by a long shot. I'm sure that Australia does not have one of the highest CoVid deaths among the aged in care centres.

As of June 1, Canada's long-term care COVID-19 deaths totalled 6,007, or 82 per cent of the country's total.

COVID-19 deaths in long-term care in Canada twice the average of other countries - AlbertaPrimeTimes.com

 

[tmar]

India marks fourth day of 60,000 new infections

India marks fourth day of 60,000 new infections

Sky News Australia

2 hrs ago
India has recorded its fourth consecutive day of more than 60,000 new coronavirus infections with 62,064 new cases in the past 24 hours.

The nation’s total death toll reached 44,386 after reporting 1,007 new virus-linked fatalities as it becomes the most infectious country in the world.

 

[tmar]

Sadly, and to our great shame, we in Canada have you beat by a long shot. I'm sure that Australia does not have one of the highest CoVid deaths among the aged in care centres.

As of June 1, Canada's long-term care COVID-19 deaths totalled 6,007, or 82 per cent of the country's total.

COVID-19 deaths in long-term care in Canada twice the average of other countries - AlbertaPrimeTimes.com

Australian aged care deaths, I am afraid, are increasing in numbers, after the date of the article you posted.
But I agree, your numbers are horrid.

 

[musicaljoke]

Australian aged care deaths, I am afraid, are increasing in numbers, after the date of the article you posted

It's an awful thing when Covid gets into the care homes. Our Premier shed tears when he spoke of it in a news update.

 

[SouthAussie]

Sadly, and to our great shame, we in Canada have you beat by a long shot. I'm sure that Australia does not have one of the highest CoVid deaths among the aged in care centres.

As of June 1, Canada's long-term care COVID-19 deaths totalled 6,007, or 82 per cent of the country's total.

COVID-19 deaths in long-term care in Canada twice the average of other countries - AlbertaPrimeTimes.com

This is why our Prime Minister sent AUSMAT into Victoria ... to take over the health management of the aged care sector.

ScoMo insisted on doing this in late June - and Victoria accepted - and we are now seeing deaths of aged care residents who contracted covid prior to that, and have now lost the brave fight against their virus illness.

I feel the deaths will likely slow down once the effect of AUSMAT management becomes apparent.

Federal Health Minister announces AUSMAT will be deployed to Victoria to help aged care sector – will “not hear a word against” aged care nurses - The Weekly SOURCE