Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #77

[tresir2012]

So the CDC is telling the states to get their vaccination plans in place for Covid. This is good news. They are expecting a successful Phase III obviously. Am glad to see this preparation.

Health Officials Worry Nation’s Not Ready for COVID-19 Vaccine

 

[katydid23]

Our schools provide ipads to all students who need one.

Our schools do too. But that doesn't fix all the issues concerned. For example, wifi? Many do not have wifi at home.
And assistance at home with schoolwork. Some students do not have adequate assistance to do the school work, even if they have a notepad and wifi access. Someone needs to motivate them, supervise them, help them figure out how to and encourage them to follow through.

About 1/3 to 1/2 of the low income students @ LAUSD never followed through with the online program for elementary education.

 

[SouthAussie]

My granddaughter just started Kindergarten last week. They live in Ventura County, California.

The first week of school was 'from home.' There was a ZOOM meeting the first morning. The students all saw each other and introduced themselves, quickly, one by one. Then the teacher explained to the class and the parents, how it would go.

She gave a quick overview of the lesson plan for next 2 weeks. Then she gave the link to a short teaching video the students could log onto later that day.

And she emailed some assignments for the week, to each student.

When they complete the days assignment, they can send it back to the teacher, a couple days at a time. So K did Mon and Tues schoolwork and sent it in on wed morning. And the remainder she sent in on Friday morning.

The teacher sent comments back to the student about the work. K was given some harder, higher level homework to do because she is already reading at a 2nd grade level, it seems.

So for her, this system is working because she can move faster academically. BUT MY CONCERN IS THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS.

I think, as an only child, she needs to learn how to be in a classroom and learn those kinds of social interactions she will need.

Yes, she does need social interactions ... all children do. But this won't last forever - and in the meantime she is sort of socialising via the internet, as so many of us do, and as she likely will continue to do throughout her childhood.

It sounds like a great Kindergarten plan by her teacher. Gives the children 'busy work' that can be done when the home PC is available, and the class has all met each other now.

 

[tresir2012]

More good news.

Coronavirus research updates: Antibodies persist for months rather than dwindling

First US person receives the trial vaccine.

Man who lost SEVEN family members to coronavirus becomes first American dosed in Oxford's trial | Daily Mail Online

 

[cass523]

CDC tells states to prepare for vaccine Nov. 1, raising red flags from health experts

Several experts expressed concerns a vaccine may be rushed through and say they don't understand how there could be accurate data on it by Nov. 1

CDC says vaccine may come Nov. 1; political motive feared | king5.com

 

[tresir2012]

This cannot be a US political motive because UK Gov are getting prepared too. This document came out 6 days ago.

Consultation document: changes to Human Medicine Regulations to support the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines

Here's the MSM Evening Standard discussing the above document.

Virus vaccine hope as ministers fast-track mass rollout plan

 

[SouthAussie]

This cannot be a US political motive because UK Gov are getting prepared too. This document came out 6 days ago.

Consultation document: changes to Human Medicine Regulations to support the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines

Here's the MSM Evening Standard discussing the above document.

Virus vaccine hope as ministers fast-track mass rollout plan

I think many countries are preparing a rollout - for when a safe and effective vaccine is ready. Australia started planning for this in May.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-covid-vaccine-roll-out.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-12/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-plan-australia/12547450

 

[cass523]

JMO
Do public schools even have that many computers to accommodate students?

A kindle doesn’t work on the platform here, it has to be a newer iPad. Craigslist, NextDoor and FB Marketplace has lots of posts with parents looking for cheap used iPads and laptops.

I toured some of the elementary schools in my area last year, many are older and still have deferred maintenance/repair from previous storms/floods. They do not have large assembly halls or a large gym. The high schools have those.

What about the areas that the only internet provider is via satellite internet? And this isn’t out in the boonies/middle of nowhere type place. And you’d better hope it doesn’t rain while you’re wanting to use the Internet. Use too much and they throttle the speed. It’s not an unlimited plan.

Zoom/online only might be satisfactory for middle to high school ages, but I don’t see it as a good substitute for elementary children.
That’s just my opinion after observing videos from the past 2-3 weeks.

Article I read earlier today on children in the US who have no internet connection, or computer

Millions of students have no internet while sheltering at home. See who is affected by home learning environments without technology access. April 14, 2020

Schools have closed nationwide to prevent the spread of COVID-19, meaning a majority of the more than 56 million K-12 students in the US will attend school online in the spring. Some students will be able to make this transition easier than others. According to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 14% of children ages 3-18 don't have internet access at home. More than 9 million schoolchildren will face difficultly completing assignments online.

In the article. graphs and information on:

Percent of students in households with no internet or computer access by income
Percent of students in households with no internet or computer access by race
Homeless students in the US
Students with disabilities
American Broadband Initiative in 2019.

Policies to expand universal home internet access may receive renewed attention in response to coronavirus shelter in place orders. In the meantime, some school districts are getting creative to provide access to digital learning. South Bend, Indiana is deploying buses as wifi hotspots and New York City is distributing 300,000 Apple iPads to students. Responses vary based on a school district’s ability to provide resources.

More than 9 million children lack internet access at home for online learning

 

[Knitty]

dbm wrong thread, sorry

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Tom Seaver Dead At 75 Battled Dementia, COVID-19

Tom Seaver, one of the greatest Mets players of all time -- died Monday after a battle with dementia and COVID-19. He was 75.

"We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away," his wife Nancy and daughters Sarah and Anne told the National Baseball Hall of Fame. "We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you."

Seaver passed away peacefully at his home in Calistoga, California surrounded by his family, according to the HOF.

The HOF says Seaver's death was more specifically caused by complications from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.

MLB Legend Tom Seaver Dead At 75 After Battle With Dementia, COVID-19

 

[weepingangel]

Tom Seaver Dead At 75 Battled Dementia, COVID-19

Tom Seaver, one of the greatest Mets players of all time -- died Monday after a battle with dementia and COVID-19. He was 75.

"We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away," his wife Nancy and daughters Sarah and Anne told the National Baseball Hall of Fame. "We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you."

Seaver passed away peacefully at his home in Calistoga, California surrounded by his family, according to the HOF.

The HOF says Seaver's death was more specifically caused by complications from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.

MLB Legend Tom Seaver Dead At 75 After Battle With Dementia, COVID-19

 

[MimosaMornings]

All our students get chromebooks. I think they're called that lol.

Lol. They provided those to high school students and some of the middle school ones. Depends on the demographics where in the city/county the school is located - not all schools in the district are equal. It’s not a new issue but more apparent when schools went online only.

 

[Simply Southern]

No specific indication of what vaccine this may be. According to the NY Times, the potential vaccines are simply labelled as Vaccine A and Vaccine B. Although it does say that the details seem to match the vaccines being developed by Moderna and Pfizer.

(Although this NYT article is paywalled, all a person has to do is sign up for a free account like I did - using your email address - and it can be read)
C.D.C. Tells States How to Prepare for Covid-19 Vaccine by Early November

Paraphrasing (I believe this is allowed as per TOS) Dr Fauci and Dr Hahn have said that a potential vaccine may be available to certain groups - they don't indicate which groups they are - before clinical trials have been completed, as long as the vaccine data is overwhelmingly positive.
The (3) govt guidance documents suggest the groups may be health care professionals, long-term care employees, other essential workers and national security employees.

Impeccable timing though. Right before what could be a dangerous covid winter, with many people having to stay inside. imo

I don't think they will name the company/s until FDA authorization is requested. Currently only the independent safety board has access to the trial data.

Right now, only the safety board has access to the trial data, said Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Health and Human Services. As for when trial results will be available, "we cannot determine if it will be the middle of October or December.":

Coronavirus vaccine: Fauci says there's a legitimate way to end trials early - CNN


I posted this up thread, it's a draft out for public comment. It's a 4 phase plan, prioritizing certain groups.

https://www.nationalacademies.org/n...ion-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-seek-public-comment

National Academies Release Draft Framework for Equitable Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine, Seek Public Comment
News Release | September 1, 2020

 

[Simply Southern]

The problem is that I-Pad's, Chrome books, whatever, do not help a majority of students who receive Special Education services. They don't help kids who don't have internet access.

And, they don't help single parents, or even two parent households, that rely on school and after-school programs for child care.

I am quite interested in the salary and benefits schedule for all of these school district employees who are hanging out at home, not working. School lunch personel, coaches, para professionals, security...

My city and country the salaries are the same. Ticks me off kids are our roaming and playing everyday by 12:30. Not one single person laid off and they hired more people to clean.

Governor left it up to the cities, bigger ones did well, small ones struggle, lack internet connectivity, parents work, the list is endless.

 

[LadyL]

Canada sees 492 new coronavirus infections as global cases near 26 million

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Shepparton Villages joined a club last month that it desperately did not want to be part of: it became an aged care home with a case of coronavirus.

But unlike scores of tragedy-hit homes around Victoria – where 424 aged care residents have died in the past seven weeks – Shepparton Villages managed to get on top of its outbreak.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/...d-covid-19-in-its-tracks-20200902-p55rlu.html

 

[Simply Southern]

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Trump administration is canceling some of its remaining orders for ventilators, after rushing to sign nearly $3 billion in emergency contracts as the COVID-19 pandemic surged in the spring.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement affirming that the national stockpile has now reached its maximum capacity for the life-saving breathing machines, with nearly 120,000 available for deployment to state and local health officials if needed.

<modsnip>

Coronavirus Live Updates: HHS cancelling ventilator contracts, says stockpile is full

Moo, the cancelled ventilator had less bells and whistles, very basic. ECMO ventilators were in demand, more advanced..removes the blood from the body oxygenates and returns.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Moo, the cancelled ventilator had less bells and whistles, very basic. ECMO ventilators were in demand, more advanced..removes the blood from the body oxygenates and returns.

Any idea overall how ECMO worked? I only know personally of one person put on one and he didn't make it.

 

[Simply Southern]

Any idea overall how ECMO worked? I only know personally of one person put on one and he didn't make it.

When Ventilators Don’t Help COVID-19 Patients, This Might

Ventilators have gotten a lot of attention in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. But hundreds of hospitals around the world have another, less publicized weapon that might help some of the most desperately ill patients survive when ventilators aren’t enough.

Right now, hundreds of COVID-19 patients in intensive care worldwide are being kept alive using a life support technology called ECMO and the skills of specially trained teams of nurses, respiratory therapists, technicians and doctors.

Meanwhile, experts are tracking in real time how well ECMO works in treating COVID-19. But early indications are that it could offer a last chance at life for a subset of the sickest COVID-19 patients: those who were relatively young and healthy before becoming infected with the novel coronavirus.
With more time and data, it will be possible to see if will be possible to see if ECMO saves as many people as it did during the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009, when 60% of the patients critically ill enough to need ECMO were able to survive the viral infection.

ECMO saves as many people as it did during the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009, when 60% of the patients critically ill enough to need ECMO were able to survive the viral infection.

 

[mickey2942]

I should have said they've all got them for years. This isn't pandemic related.

Are your schools completely closed down?

I think that they are doing several various models here.

I taught Special Education kindergarten and Preschool for years. In a Title One school, very low income area, almost all of the children were eligible for free breakfast and lunch. Many of my students didn't even speak English when they started school.

The things we worked on, were things like sitting at a desk, playing with toys, listening to a story. And those children are the ones who are not being served now.