Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #75

[Trino]

Millions cannot afford food in pandemic.
26 million Americans are going hungry amid the pandemic. What to do if you're one of them

 

[beatrixpotter]

Amazing that people are forgetting COVID-19 is still out there and active. Went for a walk yesterday in a nearby small park. Large picnic as if nothing was happening.

I live in one of the states with the worst level of cases. We had a falling out last week with friends because they asked if we wouldn't consider NOT wearing masks to get together outside. Their stance is that their psychological and social health is more important than spreading a virus. I was truly ticked they'd even ask me that. Like I suggested masks to begin with with no thought or regard for that choice?

I think they are kind of bat crazy to be blunt. The idea of COVID is so stressful to them they basically went the opposite direction and decided to take no real regard or precautions and convince themselves it's really just totally overhyped and all the data in the news are just fake news and lies.

 

[ilovewings]

I don’t know if it was an outright lie, but the early messaging on masks per our Surgeon General’s now infamous tweet of “STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!” IMO was a confusing, contradictory message that seemed to be saying both that masks were ineffective, so don’t wear them— yet also saying our healthcare providers must have them to protect themselves against this virus.

I still remember my reaction to their non-recommendation. I felt, “Why not wear something. It will help, at the very least, to not to put my fingers to my mouth, so there’s that kind of protection. They already wear them in Asian countries.”
No one in the Task Force came up with the idea of homemade cloth masks at the time of that tweet?

Seems to me that there are levels of protection with masks, depending on the mask, but it is a fact that a mask acts as a barrier, so even if you don't wear a mask per se, but some type of face covering your nose and mouth, that would have provided some type of protection rather than nothing at all.

 

[SouthAussie]

I don't know if anyone here can view this video ... it is from our 60 Minutes show tonight.
(For some reason someone has put the wrong country's privacy on it, so we can't see it in Oz -though I already watched it on TV tonight).

Maybe it is viewable in other countries?

Anyway, it takes you into the red zone - the Covid wards at the Royal Albert Hospital in Melbourne. One of the doctors is a 60 Minutes presenter's sister in law, so I think that is how he got the permission to do this segment. And if you want to hear about the mental anguish the med staff are experiencing, this is the one to watch.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Excuse me if this has already been posted.

A Chinese doctor who fled her home country under threat has claimed COVID-19 originated in a military lab and China and the World Health Organisation covered up facts about its human contagion early on

Dr Li-Meng Yan who fled China to reveal coronavirus truths will never see family again

That one specifically, not seen posted. But many conspiracy type articles which are similar have been posted here since February.

Many of the things she points out are the same things that happened in the US (e.g. at first in US, only folks that had ties to China travel were being tested by CDC and many docs in US knew that it must be more widespread than such and they were ignored and suppressed.... similar to concentrating/ tracking Wuhan market links at first in China)

<modsnip: off topic>

As time has marched on, the US has followed what China did

MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

That one specifically, not seen posted. But many conspiracy type articles which are similar have been posted here since February.

Many of the things she points out are the same things that happened in the US (e.g. at first in US, only folks that had ties to China travel were being tested by CDC and many docs in US knew that it must be more widespread than such and they were ignored and suppressed.... similar to concentrating/ tracking Wuhan market links at first in China)

And the title doesn't line up with the body (which surprisingly used Dailymail.com as a source- is this news site just a ??? ...I forget the word that means only picks up and regurgitates other) She didn't claim that it originated in a military lab, she said "may".. which many have stated, and she worked for an WHO lab ergo the title slides in that it is an WHO coverup.

As time has marched on, the US has followed what China did

MOO

BBM: Let me put it this way ... it doesn't have to be the publication itself, I always pay attention to which journo wrote this publication's article when I consider accuracy and fact checking.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I happened to have one single mask in my medicine chest from last year. I bought it to eliminate grass allergies when mowing the lawn. When I checked it turned out to be an N95. I started wearing it immediately way back in March for grocery shopping....at which time every one was looking at me as if I was crazy but I didn’t care. ( Not much anyway.) I was determined to keep my compromised hubby safe.
Not many people laugh any more and a good half are wearing masks too...except the anti mask idiots...like the one step son. I have to admit though that it’s harder to wear one now that the weather is hot. I can hardly wait to get back to my vehicle and get it off and feel like I can really fill my lungs with air.

Yes there may be a cultural element in understanding/ preventing this virus, but there seems to be such an anti establishment attitude in the younger generation. Certainly not all, but so many seem to have no respect for rules and regulations and no understanding that in demanding their rights, they must also respect the rights of others. I kept noticing it before Covid hit...and wondering what the future would hold with this ‘ dissatisfied’ attitude. I think we are now experiencing it big time in the attitude towards the virus rules. Both in the USA and Canada. Heck, one of our own adult kids even has apparently developed the attitude. From where? Certainly not from us. I don’t know, perhaps the world is just too crowded,,too overpopulated...perhaps they feel they have to fight for space in it.

I was extremely surprised yesterday at Walmart. We did not see one person without a mask. I think we saw 2 with it under their nose but what a huge change.

 

[CSIDreamer]

The [Toronto and District School Board] believes with help from the province, they could come up with about $20 million to create 15-student classrooms from junior kindergarten to Grade 3, and 20-student classrooms from Grade 4 to Grade 8.

To do that, they would end the school day about 45 minutes earlier than normal, and give teachers time to prep after students are dismissed. But that move would require ministry approval, and they would have to reassign teachers.

The board doesn't know at this point if they'll be able to do that in time for Sept. 8.

UPDATE: TDSB looking at delaying start to school year

Are parents being given options to enroll in e learning or physical school? The corporation I live in has 30% of the students opting for e learning. That helps somewhat with space.

 

[ilovewings]

I don’t know if it was an outright lie, but the early messaging on masks per our Surgeon General’s now infamous tweet of “STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!” IMO was a confusing, contradictory message that seemed to be saying both that masks were ineffective, so don’t wear them— yet also saying our healthcare providers must have them to protect themselves against this virus.

I still remember my reaction to their non-recommendation. I felt, “Why not wear something. It will help, at the very least, to not to put my fingers to my mouth, so there’s that kind of protection. They already wear them in Asian countries.”
No one in the Task Force came up with the idea of homemade cloth masks at the time of that tweet?

Seems to me that there are levels of protection with masks, depending on the mask, but it is a fact that a mask acts as a barrier, so even if you don't wear a mask per se, but some type of face covering your nose and mouth, that would have provided some type of protection rather than nothing at all.

 

[tresir2012]

Vicar's story of Covid shock and grief in parish

"I just used to lock myself in my car and cry after every funeral."

For Canon Jan Gould, of the Church of the Resurrection in Ely, Cardiff, the pandemic has been an intensely emotional and challenging time.

She has ministered about 60 funerals since it began, with a third due to Covid-19 and several suicides.

"Coping with that, with the numbers that we were dealing with, was very, very difficult," she said.

Parts of Ely are among the poorest 10% of areas in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Continued at link.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I don't know if anyone here can view this video ... it is from our 60 Minutes show tonight.
(For some reason someone has put the wrong country's privacy on it, so we can't see it in Oz -though I already watched it on TV tonight).

Maybe it is viewable in other countries?

Anyway, it takes you into the red zone - the Covid wards at the Royal Albert Hospital in Melbourne. One of the doctors is a 60 Minutes presenter's sister in law, so I think that is how he got the permission to do this segment. And if you want to hear about the mental anguish the med staff are experiencing, this is the one to watch.

I was able to view in the US. Thanks for posting such a good show, it's the second 60 minutes Australia I've watched that has been linked here.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

This MOO since it hasn't hit the news yet (that I could find this morning). One of my nurse friends from KY got a letter stating that University of Louisville is starting a COVID vaccine trial. They are checking to see if area nurses are interested in participating.

I know that U of L has also been running drug trials for COVID treatments.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

(broken quote)

ilovewings wrote: "okay- you are right: i did a little googling and i guess they initially thought masks were not helpful. Then a couple months later they said masks were helpful -- that kind of mixed messaging confuses people and makes them wary of what they are being told. I am not one of those people who are confused. Wearing a mask makes complete sense but you have to wonder why they were against masking early on"

There are a couple of reasons that come to mind quickly. One, of course, was the PPE crisis that has been discussed already.

Another, is that homemade masks can't be relied upon to protect the wearer. Covid particles are small enough to get through most home made masks, so telling people that wearing masks would protect them would have been be wrong. That fact hasn't changed. However, we now know that wearing masks reduces the risk that those who are infected will spray particles onto others, but at the beginning, the more urgent message was that we needed to social distance. That message still remains one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread.

Messaging has changed, or at least the science has, in terms of homemade masks protecting the wearer. They do offer protection on various levels depending on the quality and fit of the homemade mask.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I was extremely surprised yesterday at Walmart. We did not see one person without a mask. I think we saw 2 with it under their nose but what a huge change.

I mentioned last night that I was going shopping today, to a mall (as you guys would call it). Very well organised, felt safe, and I did not see a single adult without a mask on in any of the shops. I would say, based on my observations of a fairly typical outer-city demographic, that the UK is being pretty compliant. I'm pleased.

 

[Sundog]

Messaging has changed, or at least the science has, in terms of homemade masks protecting the wearer. They do offer protection on various levels depending on the quality and fit of the homemade mask.

One of the major school districts in our region has just advised parents and students that they are not permitted to wear gaiters or bandanas as face coverings when they return to two days of classes this fall.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

It would have to be streamlined. One entrance only, security there. I just feel that it could give all shoppers a greater sense of security and safety. Then perhaps sales wouldn't diminish as much.

The cost of security isn't as much as we think. The security guards at the Melbourne quarantine hotels were making less than a cafe worker, as per a 60 Minutes special that I saw about it.

When it is such a huge problem in various areas of the US, one would think the store managers would do something smart about it. Even if it means increasing some prices a tiny little bit to cover the cost.

To my way of thinking, there are few problems that are insurmountable. They might be more difficult to overcome, but most problems can be overcome with the right effort.


ETA: I do note that it isn't an issue all over the US. Where my friends live in NYS everyone is doing the mask thing in shops and restaurants, and other shared public spaces.

Most stores in the US that I've been in have closed all but one entrance and one exit anyway. It's the only way to enforce limits on the number of people allowed in a store at any given time.

 

[Sundog]

A lot of university students are asking if they can wear face shields in classes, instead of masks. We have to explain that they can wear face shields in addition to masks if they want to, but they need to wear masks/face coverings that cover the nose and mouth.

Some faculty are planning to wear face masks, goggles,and a face shield when they teach. Triple protection.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

One of the most widely respected public health officials in the United States has said he thinks there is no reason not to vote in-person in November, 'if carefully done'.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told National Geographic on Thursday that he felt in-person voting was not impossible, even given the coronavirus pandemic.

'I think if carefully done, according to the guidelines, there's no reason that I can see why that not be the case,' he said.

Anthony Fauci: No reason why we shouldn't be able to vote in-person

I'm going to use my common sense here, just like I did when they told us masks aren't necessary or helpful but I knew they were. While I may vote in person, I would not want my parents to (and they won't), or my friends who live in big cities like Chicago who are more likely to face lines and crowding.

 

[tresir2012]

Coalition must ensure Australia won't be at end of queue for coronavirus vaccine, Labor says

Dr. Anthony Fauci says chance of coronavirus vaccine being highly effective is 'not great'

T cell immunity: What is it and how does it help to protect us from COVID-19? | Imperial News | Imperial College London

 

[Deleted member 158085]

One of the major school districts in our region has just advised parents and students that they are not permitted to wear gaiters or bandanas as face coverings when they return to two days of classes this fall.

That's great! Especially since gaiters can actually make it worse.

I hope Dollar General gets the message because their employees were wearing DG logo gaiters last time I was there. I knew they were worthless for protection then, but I was unaware it could actually make it worse.