Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #77

[JerseyGirl]

Just three weeks after surpassing 5 million confirmed coronavirus infections, the U.S. on Monday quietly rolled past 6 million cases.

 

[tresir2012]

Hundreds to isolate after poultry factory outbreak

"Ninety-six staff at Banham Poultry in Norfolk have tested positive for Covid-19, a rise of 21 since Thursday.

So far 477 of the workforce of about 800 people have had tests.

But Norfolk public health director Dr Louise Smith said all staff must self-isolate for 14 days "if they have not tested positive or not been tested".

• What do we know about the Banham Poultry outbreak?

"Staff and their households, including children, must self-isolate for 14 days, if they have not tested positive or not been tested," she said."

US tops six million coronavirus cases

"The US has now surpassed six million cases of Covid-19 - almost a quarter of the world's total, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University.

It said the country added one million new infections in less than a month. More than 183,000 people have now died.

In the UK, France and Spain, the infection rate dropped compared with Sunday's figures - but the tallies may be readjusted later on.

It comes as children across Europe prepare to return to schools this week.

The total number of confirmed cases globally has now surpassed 25 million, with more than 846,000 Covid-19 related deaths. The true number of cases is likely to be significantly higher, because many people who have had the infection but did not show symptoms have not been tested.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the emergency authorisation of vaccines requires a "great deal of seriousness and reflection".

The UN body's chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, said every country had the right to approve drugs without full trials, but it was "not something that you do lightly".

The WHO says that 33 potential vaccines are currently up for clinical trials, and a further 143 are in pre-clinical evaluation."

Continued at above link.

We were discussing numbers of deaths in previous posts and USA has almost 25% of the world's cases but only about 21% of the world's deaths, so the cases and deaths are slowing.

Also from above link

"On Monday, Johns Hopkins reported that there were now more than six million coronavirus cases across the US.

The university - which has been collecting US and global coronavirus data since the outbreak began late last year in China - reported the first infection in America on 21 January.

The country reached its one-million mark in 99 days, on 28 April, and 43 days after that the number of infections doubled.

• Where are the world's coronavirus hotspots?
• Trump signs virus aid order after talks collapse
• The millions of Americans 'hanging by a thread'

Three million cases were confirmed within the next 28 days, rising to four million on 23 July, after only 15 additional days.

The five-million mark was surpassed in another 17 days and it took the US 22 more days to top six million infections."

 

[SouthAussie]

Just three weeks after surpassing 5 million confirmed coronavirus infections, the U.S. on Monday quietly rolled past 6 million cases.

Not so quietly elsewhere ... much of the rest of the world noticed. Still at about 1/4 of the world's total.

US tops six million coronavirus cases
US passes 6 million COVID-19 cases as WHO warns countries against reopening too quickly
US coronavirus caseload tops 6 million: Live news

 

[Cool Cats]

Economist: Pay Americans $1,000 each to take a coronavirus vaccine

One in Three Americans Would Not Get COVID-19 Vaccine

“If we don’t get herd immunity, we’re not getting our economy back and we’re not getting our society and our lives back,” Robert Litan, an economist who served in the Clinton administration and the Brookings scholar who authored the report, told Yahoo Finance (video above). “If you paid $1,000 a person — so for a family of four you’re talking $4,000. In these hard times, that’s a lot of money and I think a lot of people would take the vaccine for $1,000.”

Once the U.S. epicenter, New York's coronavirus cases have decreased dramatically. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

 

[MimosaMornings]

October 1st is Mid-Autumn Festival in China, and it is the second largest holiday after Chinese New Year. Mid-Autumn Festival is like our Thanksgiving in the U.S. Everyone travels to their home town to be with family. People have at least a week off work. I wonder how they will handle it this year.

October 12th is Thanksgiving holiday in Canada. I wonder if people in Canada will be travelling for that holiday this year. I know when I lived in Canada over 30 years ago, when I was a college student, we traveled to be with family for Thanksgiving. Similar to Thanksgiving in the U.S.

Social distancing and masks. Staying in hotels versus staying with elderly parents or relatives. Avoiding air travel or cramped/overcrowded buses/transit.
Two days off unless you have seniority and snag a few extra days. Typical is Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Haven’t seen the grands since last December. Our family is trying to figure how to manage it this year with some members lax with precautions and others understanding we need a plan since Covid is here to stay. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be very different this year.
JMO

 

[musicaljoke]

My 88 year old (independent and 100% cognative father) has been on lockdown since March in Calgary.
I hope that he and his wife can visit their grandchildren. This is such a cruel disease.

Yes, it is cruel. It's bitterly cruel for the elderly like your dad. I hope that he can see his grandchildren too, and that Covid numbers don't escalate because of school starting. He's wise to self-isolate, even though it's so difficult to be away from the little ones. Hopefully he stays safe to enjoy the children another day. Grandchildren are the joy of one's life during the senior years.

It's also cruel when seniors read horrible comments that minimize the seriousness of the virus and brush off the number of deaths as being mostly old people. It's like hearing that they don't matter to anyone anymore. There are people who don't care that the elderly are locked down and that their days are long waiting for their community to get Covid under control. It's heartbreaking to read some of the selfish comments that cut deeply when a senior reads them. It's heartbreaking to read that some are suggesting the death rate is 1%, hardly worth the trouble. The death rate among the elderly is much higher, even as high as 80%.

These are supposed to be the Golden Years.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

 

[ilovewings]

Economist: Pay Americans $1,000 each to take a coronavirus vaccine

One in Three Americans Would Not Get COVID-19 Vaccine

“If we don’t get herd immunity, we’re not getting our economy back and we’re not getting our society and our lives back,” Robert Litan, an economist who served in the Clinton administration and the Brookings scholar who authored the report, told Yahoo Finance (video above). “If you paid $1,000 a person — so for a family of four you’re talking $4,000. In these hard times, that’s a lot of money and I think a lot of people would take the vaccine for $1,000.”

Once the U.S. epicenter, New York's coronavirus cases have decreased dramatically. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

You could not pay me to take a vaccine that I feel would be rushed.

 

[tresir2012]

Interesting.

FDA willing to fast track coronavirus vaccine before phase three trials end

"The chief of the Food and Drug Administration is prepared to bypass the full federal approval process in order to make a Covid-19 vaccine available as soon as possible, according to an interview in the Financial Times.

Insisting that the move would not be due to pressure from the Trump administration to fast track a vaccine, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn told the newspaper that an emergency authorization could be appropriate before phase three clinical trials are completed if the benefits outweigh the risks.

“It is up to the [vaccine developer] to apply for authorization or approval, and we make an adjudication of their application,” Hahn said. “If they do that before the end of phase three, we may find that appropriate. We may find that inappropriate, we will make a determination.”

Sounds like he is inviting them to make an EUA application right there IMO.

Has this already been posted? China authorises Sinovac for EU for high risk groups.

Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine gets emergency use approval in China

 

[Simply Southern]

I let loose with a hysterical scream at my husband back in March. He's lost 80 lb.

WOW!!! That's great. Lots of determination, self discipline and hard work, I'm sure.

I hope you both are able to find ways to celebrate.

 

[Simply Southern]

Congratulations, he must feel fantastic. In March when the pandemic hit, I decided that I was high risk for COVID due to my weight, and so I started on a weight loss plan to lose 2 1/2 pounds a week, and so far have lost 50 pounds. I have ten pounds to go and then the challenge of maintenance. I gave up most sugar and carbs, and eat something every three hours and try not to let myself miss these small healthy snacks/meals, otherwise I would get too hungry and it would be difficult to follow the plan. I used to work long days and nights at the office and be starved when I left work and eat too much. Now that I am working remotely, I am more in control of my daily schedule and so this was a good time to do it. My motivation was mostly that I was at high risk from COVID due to weight, and I wanted to increase my chances of survival of I got COVID. I am also hoping to eventually be able to get off hypertension medication.

Congratulations!!! A great achievement !!! It takes true commitment to give up of sugars and carbs.

I'll be cheering you on for those last few pounds!!

 

[MrX]

Not so quietly elsewhere ... much of the rest of the world noticed. Still at about 1/4 of the world's total.

US tops six million coronavirus cases
US passes 6 million COVID-19 cases as WHO warns countries against reopening too quickly
US coronavirus caseload tops 6 million: Live news

I think a big part of the "quiet" is the changing narrative - once the death rate dropped, a "surge" of cases was supposed to overwhelm the healthcare system. Instead, another million cases came and went, with the "case count" being the only headline. At this point I think most people in the U.S. have moved on to other things. In my opinion there may be fewer-than-expected takers for a vaccine - not because of safety concerns, but because of apathy.

The NBA and NHL got kudos for their resumption of play in "bubbles," but I think baseball had the biggest effect - they've managed to travel, play, manage outbreaks and are on track to complete a season that no one thought was possible. When Juan Soto, one of the game's brightest young stars, tested positive on opening day, it could have been the end. Instead they put Mr Soto on the shelf until he tested negative twice in 24 hours, and kept on playing.

 

[ilovewings]

I think a big part of the "quiet" is the changing narrative - once the death rate dropped, a "surge" of cases was supposed to overwhelm the healthcare system. Instead, another million cases came and went, with the "case count" being the only headline. At this point I think most people in the U.S. have moved on to other things. In my opinion there may be fewer-than-expected takers for a vaccine - not because of safety concerns, but because of apathy.

The NBA and NHL got kudos for their resumption of play in "bubbles," but I think baseball had the biggest effect - they've managed to travel, play, manage outbreaks and are on track to complete a season that no one thought was possible. When Juan Soto, one of the game's brightest young stars, tested positive on opening day, it could have been the end. Instead they put Mr Soto on the shelf until he tested negative twice in 24 hours, and kept on playing.

Here's what I think: since the pandemic hit America, it was lots of older people, who got sick and died : Now it is hitting younger people who are either asymptomatic or have milder symptoms. the other thing that has changed is most older people remain isolated-- I know my husband and I are IMO most older people have not "moved on to other things"-- older people are still hunkering down, as they should. It is still important for younger asymptomatic people to quarantine and not spread the virus to more vulnerable people. The school situation is still an issue-- as far as sports, we shall see what happens with NFL football. I don't see life just movin' on my friend.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I wish we collectively knew of some way to help you.

Ahhh look thanks so much but honestly I'm ok most of the time. Permanently working from home so I can deal with fatigue days ok. I think in the big scheme I've been lucky. They are definitely getting fewer. My "brain fog" is less and less and my taste and smell seem better.

I just dont think it's something to be trifled with so I think it's important to share stuff now and then, but on this thread I think we are mostly of the same opinion anyway.

I'm enjoying my week's leave. Weather kind so far and we've been working in the garden

 

[doublestop]

I'm not directing this post to anyone in particular, but just in general to everyone involved in this discussion tonight. I have been wondering lately what number of deaths from COVID were to be expected (to date) in the U.S., even if we had done everything "right," as if that were possible, hypothetically.

From the New York Times newsletter today:
"Here’s a jarring thought experiment: If the United States had done merely an average job of fighting the coronavirus — if the U.S. accounted for the same share of virus deaths as it did global population — how many fewer Americans would have died?

The answer: about 145,000.

That’s a large majority of the country’s 183,000 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

No other country looks as bad by this measure. The U.S. accounts for 4 percent of the world’s population, and for 22 percent of confirmed Covid-19 deaths. It is one of the many signs that the Trump administration has done a poorer job of controlling the virus than dozens of other governments around the world."

 

[MrX]

Here's what I think: since the pandemic hit America, it was lots of older people, who got sick and died : Now it is hitting younger people who are either asymptomatic or have milder symptoms. the other thing that has changed is most older people remain isolated-- I know my husband and I are IMO most older people have not "moved on to other things"-- older people are still hunkering down, as they should. It is still important for younger asymptomatic people to quarantine and not spread the virus to more vulnerable people. The school situation is still an issue-- as far as sports, we shall see what happens with NFL football. I don't see life just movin' on my friend.

You are exactly right, and that's part of the disconnect that I often feel. It's like this has split into two "niche," for lack of a better word, conditions. Seniors are still living like it's April, with real concerns about serious outcomes, while pretty much everyone in younger demographics experience this as an "annoyance." I rarely see those gaps bridged - the people I know who have voluntarily curtailed their activities are people with at-risk spouses, but they are all over 60.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

She got ill when the pandemic hit - and still is, six months later

Managed to copy the link I mentioned earlier. Not the cheeriest of reads tho.

 

[10ofRods]

UK has slightly less than 1% of the world's population and 5% of the world's deaths. (41504 out of 857243). (UK is about .0088 of the world's population). So, same ratio as the US (5X as many deaths as would be proportionate to population).

So in very close proximity to the same rates as the US, unless we're quibbling over fractions of a percent. (US has 4.3% of world population).

Together, these two English-speaking nations constitute about 27% of the world's deaths, with just 5% of the world's population.

More has been written about CoVid in English than in any other language (it is the language of science, after all). Both nations think of themselves as modern. Compare to Canada or Australia and it's just mind-boggling.

Per capita, UK has more deaths than the US, which is another significant number. It's fine to criticize the US for its botched handling - we knew it was coming, did nothing to scale it down, etc, etc. But we are not exactly in this league all by ourselves. Belgium beats both the UK and the US.

COVID-19 deaths per capita by country | Statista

From the New York Times newsletter today:
"Here’s a jarring thought experiment: If the United States had done merely an average job of fighting the coronavirus — if the U.S. accounted for the same share of virus deaths as it did global population — how many fewer Americans would have died?

The answer: about 145,000.

That’s a large majority of the country’s 183,000 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

No other country looks as bad by this measure. The U.S. accounts for 4 percent of the world’s population, and for 22 percent of confirmed Covid-19 deaths. It is one of the many signs that the Trump administration has done a poorer job of controlling the virus than dozens of other governments around the world."

 

[tresir2012]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

They said it was promising in phase 2 and they may have partial results already. It also would be emergency use only so offered to those with serious health issues. Probably Cancer, Dementia, Diabetes, immune problems etc. MOO. Why shouldn't they be given the chance? Especially when so many have already died this could be a lifeline. That's why they would do it, to save lives. I think it is a great idea to offer it to them. I would have either of the top three, if I had the offer.

 

[ilovewings]

You are exactly right, and that's part of the disconnect that I often feel. It's like this has split into two "niche," for lack of a better word, conditions. Seniors are still living like it's April, with real concerns about serious outcomes, while pretty much everyone in younger demographics experience this as an "annoyance." I rarely see those gaps bridged - the people I know who have voluntarily curtailed their activities are people with at-risk spouses, but they are all over 60.

The nature of this virus is what has caused so many problems-- for older people and people with certain pre existing conditions, the virus can be fatal and make people very sick; for younger people who are healthy, for the most part (though there are exceptions), they are either asymptomatic or mildly ill, so those people who don't get symptoms or who get only a mild illness, like the flu or a cold, they think, what's the big deal? but of course they can spread the virus to more vulnerable people; it seems they don't think about that much.

 

[MimosaMornings]

What should you do if someone isn’t wearing a face mask as you shop in Charlotte? — The Charlotte Observer