Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #75

[CSIDreamer]

82k cases but how many tested and negative? I.e. what's the positivity rate?

928,614 tested
8.8% positive

 

[musicaljoke]

Schools were supposed to start taking students, but that's been pushed back - in some districts all the teachers called in sick to prevent it. So it's all remote, at present.

Maybe my view is very narrow, but I've talked to restaurant owners, and driven by some places that are bars with restaurant licenses. Bars that are open are doing huge business and there is no oversight, so to say that "bar closures" had anything to do with AZ's numbers is false. This is what has me vexed - bars are open, cases are dropping, authorities tout the closure of bars for the decline. They are either lying, or have no idea why cases are dropping, and just want the credit.

There were some significant measures taken in July to reduce the spread and they have been effective, just as we would expect. Even if not all the people followed the recommendations, the general population took an active role in reducing the spread, and it has paid off.

In July, cities and counties mandated the use of masks, large gatherings of more than 50 people was prohibited, certain businesses, like bars and gyms were closed, and dine-in services was limited to 50% capacity. Although those measures were not the more severe shut down measures taken elsewhere, they still helped to slow the transmission rate. I don't believe the rate would have slowed without determined people behind it.

Drop in COVID-19 deaths likely indicator Arizona is past peak

 

[musicaljoke]

Moo...

• Good news rarely sells. Cases are declining daily in the US, but rarely do we see this reported. When cases increase its front page news.
• CDC send teams into AZ to target counties with high positivity rate.
• Bars open, YUP, but these folks may not experience symptoms or they may be mild. They may experience mild symptoms and put it off as a hangover, staying up to late and partying. Young folks don't want to test, quarantine messes up going out, partying and puts a stop to fun.
• Hospital admissions could be down due to younger population with less complications.

These are just thoughts. After searching media I can't find one single article for why cases are down, in any of the states reporting declines. But one things for use hospitals can't fudge the number of admissions, required to be sent to HHS daily. The admission report controls the disbursement of emergency drugs and plasma.

The good headlines are out there too.
Alabama coronavirus cases fall after state issues mask mandate

 

[tmar]

NSW health authorities confirm Sydney supercluster

NSW health authorities confirm Sydney supercluster

Sky News Australia

2 hrs ago
New South Wales health officials have confirmed a Sydney coronavirus supercluster after two outbreaks were genomically linked.

Authorities discovered a close genomic fingerprint between two Thai Rock restaurants despite a 34 kilometre separation between the two sites.

The cluster accounts for 153 infections, while authorities remain uncertain how the virus spread from the Wetherill Park restaurant to the Potts Point restaurant.

 

[musicaljoke]

I’m predicting the anti-vaxers refusing and protesting the vaccine.
In Australia there’s been near zero numbers of the common flu due to masks, lockdowns, a rise in flu injections and better hygiene.


Free COVID-19 jabs for all Australians

7news Sunrise.

This is absolutely fantastic. I wonder if some of the measures we are taking now will continue long after CoVid is written into history. We've been unnecessarily complacent about flu deaths.

 

[musicaljoke]

Last year I waited until the end of September to get my flu shot, so that it would have a longer lasting effect into January and February. Does anyone know the ideal time frame for getting the flu shot and how long it will be effective? I need to do some research on this.

ETA article that answers my own question, on when is the beset time of year to get a flu shot

What’s the best time of year for a flu shot? - Harvard Health

ETA

Our flu shot program doesn't start until sometime in November. The program may start earlier this year because of the increased demand, and not necessarily because starting earlier is the best practice.

 

[tmar]

More than 90 per cent of Victoria's COVID-19 cases linked to family of four, inquiry hears

More than 90 per cent of Victoria's COVID-19 cases linked to family of four, inquiry hears

9News Staff

3 hrs ago
A family of four returned travellers sparked the coronavirus outbreak at Melbourne's Rydges hotel, the hotel quarantine inquiry has heard.

More than 90 per cent of Victoria's COVID-19 cases have been linked back to the family staying at the quarantine hotel.

The outbreak has been blamed for the state's second wave.
Department of Health and Human Services epidemiologist Dr Charles Alpren gave evidence that the Rydges Hotel was mainly the incubator for the state's coronavirus crisis.
Data showed of almost 1600 cases genomically tested in the past month, more than 99 per cent were linked to the Rydges outbreak, and just 12 cases to Stamford Plaza.

The family of four returned to Melbourne from overseas on May 9.

They soon developed symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19, moving to the Rydges on May 15.
By May 25, three staff had also developed systems.

Five days later genomic testing confirmed they were all linked.

Asked if the first workers infected were hotel staff or contracted security guards, Dr Alpren said: "My understanding is they were a mixture".
There are no conclusions as to how they became infected, but an episode of environmental contamination in the family's room was named as a possibility, as well as the family being allowed outside with security guards.

 

[musicaljoke]

I think I likely wouldn't care who chose not to have a covid jab.
Bit like the flu vaccine ... heaps of people have the jab, heaps of others dont.
You measure the risks you are willing to take for yourself. As long as you are not putting others in jeopardy through your choice. imo

Normally I wouldn't care either, but in this case, if we intend to eradicate CoVid, enough people will have to accept the vaccination.

 

[tresir2012]

928,614 tested
8.8% positive

Oh that seems quite low.

Just saw some good news.

US stocks hit new high after coronavirus crash

The S&P 500, one of the widest and most prominent US market measures, inched higher on Tuesday to close at 3,389.78 - about three points above its 19 February record.

Other US indexes have also rebounded.

The Nasdaq hit another record after surpassing its prior high in June while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is within about 5% of its February record.

More at link.

 

[LadyL]

Why though?

Do they think Covid is a hoax? That it's gone? That it won't affect them?

Or do they just not care?

Pandemic denial: Why some people can't accept Covid-19's realities - CNN

 

[Simply Southern]

This is absolutely fantastic. I wonder if some of the measures we are taking now will continue long after CoVid is written into history. We've been unnecessarily complacent about flu deaths.

I certainly hope so, especially with schools. PreCovid I ate lunch at the school often with the grandkids. The kids NEVER washed their hands and no hand sanitizer.

Yup, we would leave the class and head straight to the lunch line. The first year, I ask the teacher ....do the kids wash their hands before they eat? No, they can wash them after lunch when the go to the bathroom.

We had a long line of sinks at our school outside the cafeteria, everybody had to wash their hands.

Moo....

 

[LadyL]

U.S. couple dies hours apart just two days after losing their son to coronavirus

 

[SouthAussie]

Normally I wouldn't care either, but in this case, if we intend to eradicate CoVid, enough people will have to accept the vaccination.

I notice that ScoMo is on TV already saying that we all need to have the vac, not just for ourselves but for everyone. (And they are not anticipating the availability of the vac until the end of the year.) They did similar with the contact tracing app, did lots and lots of publicity about it by the top medical people and the PM.

So, I imagine there will be a really high level of compliance. It will only be the die-hards who refuse the vac, I think. Once the govt has approved its safety.

Maybe there will be vaccines given in schools, as well as in large places of employment. They will likely do everything they can to reach every segment of the community. imo

 

[Simply Southern]

More good news...
FDA greenlights expansion of COVID-19 study to VCU Medical Center after positive data
CORONAVIRUs FDA greenlights expansion of COVID-19 study to VCU Medical Center after positive data

The drug is being developed by CalciMedica. (Source: NBC12)
By Adrianna Hargrove | August 18, 2020 at 12:17 PM EDT - Updated August 18 at 12:17 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Food and Drug Administration announced that they will allow VCU Medical Center to test a new COVID-19 drug after an independent group of researchers agreed.

The drug is being developed by CalciMedica. It is a potent and fast-acting inflammation-blocking drug that helps maintain oxygenation into the lungs. It is one of the few drugs in the country that can also be used in tandem with other drugs like Remdesivir and Dexamethasone.

Recently published data, reviewed and approved by a group of independent national experts, showed that the drug Auxora, plus standard of care, reduced ventilator use by more than 50% and more than doubled the rate of recovery compared to standard of care alone.

Expert Auxora developers at CalciMedica can explain how this therapy works and the scientific evidence that supports its potential to improve outcomes for severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients.

Because of this data, the FDA is expanding access of this drug to be used in up to 400 patients at 40 US locations, including Richmond, many of which are COVID-19 hotspots.

 

[Clair Louise]

A study has been conducted to work out the differences between the order of appearance of Covid symptoms as compared to flu symptoms. There seems to be a specific order in which symptoms appear, in most people, and this may help people to determine the likelihood of having covid or flu.

Covid symptoms - order of appearance
1.Fever
2.Coughing
3.Equal likelihood of sore throat, headache or muscle aches
4.Nausea/vomiting
5.Diarrhoea

Flu symptoms - order of appearance
1.Cough or muscle aches
2.Headache
3.Sore throat
4.Fever
5.Equal likelihood of vomiting/nausea and diarrhoea

Scientists find the order that COVID-19 symptoms will most likely appear in

When I get the flu, I first of all and quite suddenly, get the muscle aches and fever followed by a headache and sore throat. I may not get a cough for days after the other symptoms.

 

[Simply Southern]

More good news!!! Wouldn't this be great for schools, as well.

Disinfecting robot developed at UVA helps prevent the spread of COVID-19

Disinfecting touch points is one of the ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. That’s why a University of Virginia aerospace and mechanical engineering professor is working to keep people safe with a robot.

Tomonari Furukawa has been working for some time with a team to develop a semi-autonomous robot for virus disinfection in hospitals and other healthcare environments.

A few weeks ago, Furukawa brought the robot to a COVID-19 testing site in Richmond to see if the technology can be effective in that type of condition where germs are prevalent. Furukawa says the trial was successful.

“We can not make any mistakes in the disinfection, so the robot is able to do it. Our robot is able to create a map of the environment and show which part has been infected, disinfected,” Furukawa said.

 

[SouthAussie]

When I get the flu, I first of all and quite suddenly, get the muscle aches and fever followed by a headache and sore throat. I may not get a cough for days after the other symptoms.

Yes ... it does say cough OR muscle aches for the first flu symptom. I think it said in the article that the order of symptoms applied to most people in their study. There are always anomolies, I think.

 

[Simply Southern]

Absolutely amazing !!!!

Virginia Tech has 0.027% positivity in 3,663 coronavirus tests

Nearly all of those who were tested for the coronavirus at Virginia Tech were negative.

From Aug. 9 to Aug. 16, the university tested 3,663 individuals. Of those tested, one person was a true positive, while four others tested positive for antibodies of the coronavirus.

 

[tmar]

Australians stranded overseas as airlines fly with as few as four economy passengers

Australians stranded overseas as airlines fly with as few as four economy passengers

Elias Visontay


2 hrs ago
Planes flying into Australia are carrying as few as four economy passengers, as airlines frustrated with the government’s international arrival cap begin to acknowledge they are prioritising business passengers and more expensive tickets to remain profitable while complying with the limits.

Some flights are restricted to as few as 30 passengers under the government’s restrictions on arrivals.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Qatar Airways – one of the few remaining airlines to fly to Australia – told the Guardian that when finalising passenger lists to make sure each flight complied with the limits the airline considered the “commercial value” of tickets.

“In order to ensure the continued viability of our operations to Australia, [the] commercial value of tickets sold must also be taken into consideration to be able to operate each flight.”

 

[musicaljoke]

Who remembers the schools of years ago, where kids walked a mile or so to their community school and one teacher taught all the children from the nearby families? They were what today we call pods.

I bet it wouldn't be impossible to do something similar again by using community centres, gyms, churches, meeting rooms, etc.