Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #78

[weepingangel]

Where'd the wood go? Lumber is the latest COVID victim

More at link
Like the toilet paper shortage that perplexed Americans in the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the more recent lumber shortage caught many by surprise and has been difficult to remedy.

On Friday, lumber futures hit yet another record high, more than double the price at the start of the year, but locally many people would be willing to pay more if they could find product to buy.

“What we are seeing is historic in a number of ways, from pricing to availability,” Rendine said.



COVID-19 spike on Nantucket tied to tradespeople
More at link
A surge in the community spread of COVID-19 on Nantucket has been linked to individuals on the island who work in trades such as construction and landscaping.

As of Thursday, the island had reported 77 coronavirus cases, seven of which were identified on Sept. 9 and another seven the day after, according to a statement from the Nantucket Select Board.

 

[10ofRods]

I can hardly describe Covid-19 compounded with fire and suffocating smoke from these fires.
It is hell.
On earth.
Adding to this enjoyment is every tax agency coming down hard on our 60 seat restaurant with serious threats to take away our liquor licence by the 28th of this month.
Killer virus be damned.
Pay our taxes.

I'm so sorry.

 

[10ofRods]

There are a lot of wealthier Chinese people, believe it or not. Maybe they hold more esteemed positions in their community, not sure.

And a lot of our international students are from other countries ... eg: South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, India.

We think of some of these nations as poorer nations. The students who are sent here come from a reasonable degree of wealth. Their parents fly them back and forth during semester breaks. And the students get jobs (often in hospitality) to provide themselves with money while they are studying.

IMO

ETA: I agree, our relationship with China at the moment seems quite rocky. I imagine the returning students will be primarily from other countries ... unless we patch up the relationship. Or perhaps Chinese students being able to return will be part of patching up the relationship.
Two of our journos just fled China the other day (and 14 US journos were expelled back in March).
The future looks like Cold War 2.0 as a superpower cracks down

Thank you for that detailed reply - that's how it is here in California (most international students come from well-off families). So, I'd think that the funds to pay the tuition are still available from the parents of Australia's student base.

I am so curious how all of this will turn out, politically.

 

[MrX]

Poor protesters. Have nothing better to do. They are only going to end up extending the Melbourne lockdown if they spread the virus.
It is said the stage four lockdown will only end if "the daily average number of cases are between 30 and 50 by 28 September, the city will enter stage three of restrictions."

IMO

Ms Capp said the protests were "confronting" and left some business owners at the market in tears.

"It was very confronting to see the way that the protestors completely disrupted and intimidated people at the market," she said.
9NEWS LIVE BLOG: Coronavirus breaking news and updates

Coronavirus: Melbourne lockdown extended by two weeks

"Because all you are doing is running into a third wave and we'll all be locked up again," Mr Andrews said at a news conference.

Freudian slip, or just being honest? Still amazed that it took this long for cracks to form.

 

[tresir2012]

I have tried to explain quite a few times that the issue in Victoria is said to be due to staff working in multiple aged care facilities and spreading the virus. Maybe those posts were missed among the many posts in these threads.


It came as four coronavirus outbreaks in Victoria were traced to aged care staff working at multiple facilities
The Victorian aged care sector is trying to stop casuals from working at a number of different residential homes because, in some cases, staff who were unwell had inadvertently brought the virus into aged care facilities.
However, many workers say they'll be unable to make ends meet with the restrictions, and the Health Workers Union (HWU) is threatening to lodge legal action over the directive if providers don't back down.
Aged care home evacuated after two residents die, cluster grows

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said there was still "a lot of travel between facilities" in Victoria's aged care sector, a week after the government announced support to help providers restrict each worker to one centre to reduce the risk of COVID-19 being transferred.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...lities-as-outbreaks-grow-20200726-p55fl9.html

COVID-19 has exposed the issues of employees working across multiple aged care facilities during a pandemic after a few aged care workers carried the coronavirus between different nursing homes in Victoria.
Since identifying cross-site transmission as an issue, the Federal Government's Department of Health is providing guidance and support to Victorian aged care providers in transitioning to single site operations for their workforce.
Victorian aged care facilities transitioning to single site operations

One of the articles I posted said there were only 29 deaths but the other had over 500. What was the timeframe of that rise in LTC deaths? Your posts are from 1 and 2 months ago as one of mine was too and I had completely missed those numbers previously, till I read them in your link. I only really started looking since the FBI and DOJ got involved in the US.

Are there investigations ongoing in Canada and Australia? I am not aware of it if there are. There are not any in the UK AFAIK.

ETA I see you have posted the recent data in your additional reply. TY.

 

[musicaljoke]

I feel your assessment is "an after the fact" description. Our country is capable of so much more than what we have had to experience.

The CDC has always been an organization providing leadership and guidance and diminishing them to "a pamphlet" is very sad to me.

Of course, states must take on individual responsibility for the particulars of their constituencies, but in the beginning, I was truly envisioning our governors working together with the strength of the CDC so we could really beat this thing "together"...

Yes, it's called the "United" States for a good reason. But, right now, CoVid is winning and no one remembers how to work in unity.

 

[musicaljoke]

Are there investigations ongoing in Canada and Australia? I am not aware of it if there are. There are not any in the UK AFAIK.
TY.

IIRC some time ago, there was a discussion about inquests into CoVid deaths in LTC, and yes, there are ongoing investigations into Canada's dismal failure to protect seniors in LTC.

Quebec’s top coroner announces inquiry into coronavirus-related deaths in long-term care homes

Quebec’s chief coroner has ordered a vast public inquiry into the role negligence and other factors played in the thousands of deaths in Quebec residential senior care, a probe that promises to be far more exhaustive than the limited investigations already under way.

The inquiry will examine some of the 4,858 deaths in Quebec’s system of seniors’ care and housing attributed to COVID-19, along with dozens of other cases in which people died under mysterious circumstances or from violence and neglect. Deaths in long-term care facilities represent 91 per cent of Quebec’s deaths from COVID-19.

The inquiry adds to several investigations and inquests under way into seniors’ care in Canada, where more than 80 per cent of deaths have taken place. Investigations are being conducted in Ontario and Quebec, the hardest hit provinces by far, but unions, advocates and opposition critics have called for inquiries in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia.

 

[tresir2012]

IIRC some time ago, there was a discussion about inquests into CoVid deaths in LTC, and yes, there are ongoing investigations into Canada's dismal failure to protect seniors in LTC.

Quebec’s top coroner announces inquiry into coronavirus-related deaths in long-term care homes

Quebec’s chief coroner has ordered a vast public inquiry into the role negligence and other factors played in the thousands of deaths in Quebec residential senior care, a probe that promises to be far more exhaustive than the limited investigations already under way.

The inquiry will examine some of the 4,858 deaths in Quebec’s system of seniors’ care and housing attributed to COVID-19, along with dozens of other cases in which people died under mysterious circumstances or from violence and neglect. Deaths in long-term care facilities represent 91 per cent of Quebec’s deaths from COVID-19.

The inquiry adds to several investigations and inquests under way into seniors’ care in Canada, where more than 80 per cent of deaths have taken place. Investigations are being conducted in Ontario and Quebec, the hardest hit provinces by far, but unions, advocates and opposition critics have called for inquiries in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia.

Thanks for the link. I have found this link about an inquiry too but results won't be available till Sept 2021.

Quebec announces another inquiry into government's management of COVID-19 pandemic - OttawaMatters.com

:-(

 

[tresir2012]

This appears to be quite a disturbing report by the military based on when they were used in LTC homes during the Covid crisis.

Abusive behaviour, cockroaches, force feedings documented by military in Ontario long-term care homes - iPolitics

 

[tresir2012]

Australian government acted with 'hubris' before Victoria's aged care outbreak, inquiry told

Royal Commission taking place. Just parking here for reading.

 

[musicaljoke]

This appears to be quite a disturbing report by the military based on when they were used in LTC homes during the Covid crisis.

Abusive behaviour, cockroaches, force feedings documented by military in Ontario long-term care homes - iPolitics

Absolutely horrible! I'm glad all this crap is being exposed. Nursing homes have always relied upon the help of teams of volunteers. When CoVid hit and the volunteers were barred from coming in, staff were overwhelmed. It was a nightmare, imo, the outcome was the most horrible thing that happened in Canada since the days of residential schools. I am anxious to see how this will be fixed.

 

[LadyL]

trouble in Ontario, Canada:

Ontario's COVID-19 cases are rising at a rate not seen for months ...

This surge in new cases — and the government's efforts to stop it from becoming the pandemic's second wave — are likely to dominate debate as MPPs return to Queen's Park following an eight-week break.

Resurgence of COVID-19 in Ontario ups pressure on Doug Ford government

 

[Satchie]

IIRC some time ago, there was a discussion about inquests into CoVid deaths in LTC, and yes, there are ongoing investigations into Canada's dismal failure to protect seniors in LTC.

Quebec’s top coroner announces inquiry into coronavirus-related deaths in long-term care homes

Quebec’s chief coroner has ordered a vast public inquiry into the role negligence and other factors played in the thousands of deaths in Quebec residential senior care, a probe that promises to be far more exhaustive than the limited investigations already under way.

The inquiry will examine some of the 4,858 deaths in Quebec’s system of seniors’ care and housing attributed to COVID-19, along with dozens of other cases in which people died under mysterious circumstances or from violence and neglect. Deaths in long-term care facilities represent 91 per cent of Quebec’s deaths from COVID-19.

The inquiry adds to several investigations and inquests under way into seniors’ care in Canada, where more than 80 per cent of deaths have taken place. Investigations are being conducted in Ontario and Quebec, the hardest hit provinces by far, but unions, advocates and opposition critics have called for inquiries in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia.

Thanks for that link. I don't read the Globe and Mail anymore because of the pay wall.

According to the above article, if the stats are correct, of the current total of 9000 deaths in Canada Coronavirus Update (Live): 29,345,241 Cases and 930,898 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer, over 50% were in Quebec old age homes and senior's housing. Quebec has 25% of the Canadian population, so the problems there were twice as bad as elsewhere.

I recall, from here in BC, being very confused in April/May about the very high case and death rates in Quebec, and the apparent absence of any reporting about it. I would look at the Montreal Gazette, CBC news, etc, and there seemed no coverage in the English speaking media, beyond old stories about spring break in Quebec having been in early March.

Ironically, the only article I found was from Aljazeera! April 24th:
Canada: How Quebec elder care homes became coronavirus hotspots It talks about the many lawsuits happening in the province because of badly run care homes, and the finger pointing in all directions to lay blame.

It has really highlighted for me the big cultural differences/divide/lack of connection between Quebec and the Rest of Canada (ROC). I think this Coroners report could be a bundle of dynamite no one wants to set off.

 

[Sundog]

Thanks for that link. I don't read the Globe and Mail anymore because of the pay wall.

According to the above article, if the stats are correct, of the current total of 9000 deaths in Canada Coronavirus Update (Live): 29,345,241 Cases and 930,898 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer, over 50% were in Quebec old age homes and senior's housing. Quebec has 25% of the Canadian population, so the problems there were twice as bad as elsewhere.

I recall, from here in BC, being very confused in April/May about the very high case and death rates in Quebec, and the apparent absence of any reporting about it. I would look at the Montreal Gazette, CBC news, etc, and there seemed no coverage in the English speaking media, beyond old stories about spring break in Quebec having been in early March.

Ironically, the only article I found was from Aljazeera! April 24th:
Canada: How Quebec elder care homes became coronavirus hotspots It talks about the many lawsuits happening in the province because of badly run care homes, and the finger pointing in all directions to lay blame.

It has really highlighted for me the big cultural differences/divide/lack of connection between Quebec and the Rest of Canada (ROC). I think this Coroners report could be a bundle of dynamite no one wants to set off.

I agree. And also, if we are going to look at social determinants of health, as the CDC, WHO, and other agencies are now demanding with regard to COVID-19, then let's make age a priority, since the highest portion of deaths have been among these seniors in long term care homes.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

"Because all you are doing is running into a third wave and we'll all be locked up again," Mr Andrews said at a news conference.

Freudian slip, or just being honest? Still amazed that it took this long for cracks to form.

How are you feeling?

 

[24Roses]

Iowa news today: As of 10:00-11:00 a.m. today, we had 406 new confirmed cases for a total of 74,767 confirmed cases of which 53,319 had recovered (+199). 3 more had passed away for a total of 1,221. Sept. 14: 406 new cases, 199 recoveries, and 3 deaths
Iowa COVID-19 Information
UNI cancels spring break, alters spring start date
University of Iowa cancels spring break due to COVID-19
Jury trials to start again in Iowa

 

[Sundog]

Pennsylvania coronavirus restrictions deemed unconstitutional, federal judge rules

A federal judge on Monday ruled that some of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's restrictions implemented amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic were unconstitutional -- marking a win for businesses struggling to stay afloat amid the forced shutdown.

The governor's efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus "were undertaken with the good intention of addressing a public health emergency," Stickman wrote. "But even in an emergency, the authority of government is not unfettered."

 

[Sundog]

Coronavirus vaccine optimism to boost stocks into year-end: Goldman Sachs

The Wall Street consensus calls for the economy to expand at a 21% annualized rate after contracting by 31.7% in the three months through June amid stay-at-home-orders aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

 

[Sundog]

Pfizer CEO says coronavirus vaccine could be distributed to Americans before year's end

 

[MrX]

How are you feeling?

Doing OK, thank you. I think my issues were due to seasonal change, stress, lifestyle, etc. Allergies are usually a nightmare for me, from September to January.