Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #82

[Deleted member 158085]

Wow. Some speedy recovery. So are we on day 5 of the treatment IIRC?

I was thinking he means November, December and January as we are nearly halfway thru Autumn now. Either way it is a massive increase in deaths.

Autumn began September 22nd. We are not halfway through autumn.

ETA - it ends December 21st. We are approximately 2 weeks into a 3-month long season here.

 

[Sundog]

Coronavirus outbreak at North Carolina hair salon tied to at least 1 death: officials

 

[CSIDreamer]

Wow. Some speedy recovery. So are we on day 5 of the treatment IIRC?

I think yesterday should have been day 5. Jmo

 

[JerseyGirl]

NFL coronavirus outbreak escalates: Patriots, Raiders, Titans have new cases of COVID-19 (UPDATE)

 

[MrX]

@MrX

I remember you were wondering what was behind the improvement in Arizona. Here's a study I just happened upon.

What is added by this report?

The number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona stabilized and then decreased after sustained implementation and enforcement of statewide and locally enhanced mitigation measures, beginning approximately 2 weeks after implementation and enforcement of mask mandates and enhanced sanitations practices began on June 17; further decreases were observed during July 13–August 7, after statewide limitations and closures of certain services and businesses.

Trends in COVID-19 Incidence After Implementation ...

Thanks - that is interesting, but it still seems incorrect. The mask mandate was left up to cities and counties (never state-wide) and I am unaware of any enforcement (fines, etc.) I may be wrong, but it seemed to me that most people were already wearing masks.

Crediting the June 29 closures of certain businesses is more troubling. AZ's Rt was below one on June 24, so the spread was already slowing. As for the closures, themselves, they struck me as "feel good" measures. Throughout the pandemic restaurants and bars have been singled out as especially dangerous, yet the June 29 closures would have only made the situation worse: restaurant bars were able to continue operating, so people who couldn't go to their own tavern, started cramming into restaurant bars. Arizona has been open about the lack of resources in the area of enforcement, so it strikes me as extremely unlikely that a restaurant operating at over 50% capacity would be on anyone's RADAR. It's also interesting that the June 29 limiting of restaurants to 50% has been credited, even though they had been so limited since the initial reopening on May 11.

Something happened in AZ that resulted in a spike that dropped as quickly as it climbed - I still wish there was a serious effort to find out how and why.

 

[10ofRods]

Dismal Daily Florida Numbers on the rise: 2582 cases over night.

Statewide, about 23 percent of hospital beds and about 22 percent of adult intensive unit care beds were available Wednesday morning, according to the agency. In Tampa Bay, around 20 percent of hospital beds and roughly 16 percent of adult ICU beds were available.

Positivity: Florida’s positivity rate was 10.84 percent Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Florida surpasses 15,000 coronavirus deaths Wednesday

Florida already has 123 deaths today (way more than yesterday) and the day isn't over. It's so sad. That may well put Florida in first place for deaths today (it was in third place yesterday - Texas, with about 8 million more people than Florida, was in first place - also troubling).

Florida has about half the number of people as California. California had 84 deaths yesterday (no data today yet) and Florida has 123 today. Without mitigation, I fear, as Fauci does, that Florida is entering into a difficult time. Factors include lack of mitigation in public places, a lower rate of testing and very little contact tracing. Risk factors are fairly obvious (lots of older people).

 

[10ofRods]

Thanks - that is interesting, but it still seems incorrect. The mask mandate was left up to cities and counties (never state-wide) and I am unaware of any enforcement (fines, etc.) I may be wrong, but it seemed to me that most people were already wearing masks.

Crediting the June 29 closures of certain businesses is more troubling. AZ's Rt was below one on June 24, so the spread was already slowing. As for the closures, themselves, they struck me as "feel good" measures. Throughout the pandemic restaurants and bars have been singled out as especially dangerous, yet the June 29 closures would have only made the situation worse: restaurant bars were able to continue operating, so people who couldn't go to their own tavern, started cramming into restaurant bars. Arizona has been open about the lack of resources in the area of enforcement, so it strikes me as extremely unlikely that a restaurant operating at over 50% capacity would be on anyone's RADAR. It's also interesting that the June 29 limiting of restaurants to 50% has been credited, even though they had been so limited since the initial reopening on May 11.

Something happened in AZ that resulted in a spike that dropped as quickly as it climbed - I still wish there was a serious effort to find out how and why.

I think you're missing the point that the data show that even without mandates, Arizonans complied. They didn't have to have tickets or sanctions - they stayed home (and are staying home), stopped going out as much, and yep, many wore masks - even in the big urban counties.

If you don't regard your own healthcare specialists (medical doctors and public health nurses with doctorates in the subject) as making a serious effort, I don't know what to tell you. In my view, they did excellent research and it's quite clear that AZ quickly encouraged (did not universally mandate) compliance.

Also, AZ shows that its peeps are smart and educated about the matter. Google analytics shows about half as much mobility...at one point, even less than that. You could write an email to any of the authors if you wished clarification on that.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Coronavirus can survive on skin for 9 hours | Live Science

The new coronavirus can linger on human skin much longer than flu viruses can, according to a new study from researchers in Japan.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, remained viable on samples of human skin for about 9 hours. In contrast, a strain of the influenza A virus (IAV) remained viable on human skin for about 2 hours.

Fortunately, both viruses on skin were rapidly inactivated with hand sanitizer.

 

[10ofRods]

I hope, after all the articles about PPE being used by WH staff, the press will take this to heart.

I hope to see these folks in PPE when reporting from the WH. So far they seem to be reporting from the lawn, but surely they encounter staff, secret service, and others when checking in and setting up.

Its up to each of us to protect ourselves from known risk. Moo...

Hopefully the president will not continue to ask the press to take their masks off when they wish to speak (they all wish to speak and traditionally, some of them just jump in - but he has interrupted them to tell them to remove their masks). At this point, perhaps he will not do that?

(You can search the video where he's captured doing it on youtube - it wasn't the only time, according to other members of the press - but it was finally caught on video).

The outdoor meetings mean that video can be used more liberally, but no one wants to be banned from the WH, if they are in the WH press corps and the president is finicky about which words and actions of his are made public.

 

[10ofRods]

Coronavirus can survive on skin for 9 hours | Live Science

The new coronavirus can linger on human skin much longer than flu viruses can, according to a new study from researchers in Japan.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, remained viable on samples of human skin for about 9 hours. In contrast, a strain of the influenza A virus (IAV) remained viable on human skin for about 2 hours.

Fortunately, both viruses on skin were rapidly inactivated with hand sanitizer.

Wow - this would help explain the thousands of Amazon workers who got CoVid (they are mostly young, few deaths, many many with post-CoVid long haul symptoms, though, according to what they post on their group on reddit).

9 hours is a long time. I wonder if my DH read that too - as he got super vigilant today about the mail and UPS deliveries (no masks on those guys).

 

[MrX]

I've gotten to a calm place with those who don't wear masks (I can use the extra steps of

No one I work with or that I have in any real world friend group is going to go to an indoor restaurant or bar or retail space. Zero. This includes administrative and other staff. No one from my university friend group will go. Meanwhile, teens have the least spending power they've had in 20 years (says MSM). 20 and 30-somethings are among the most highly underemployed/non-working group - they too have little disposable income.

I wonder how much of this varies by location. My wife and I resumed regular dining out when things reopened on May 11 (all indoors in AZ Summer) and we see a wide demographic - from families to seniors. I'd be interested in what others are seeing, in other parts of the country (and world).

 

[JerseyGirl]

How Much Would Trump’s Coronavirus Treatment Cost Most Americans?

Trump spent three days in the hospital. He arrived and left by helicopter. And he received multiple coronavirus tests, oxygen, steroids and an experimental antibody treatment.

For someone who isn’t president, that would cost more than $100,000 in the American health system.

Nearly half a million have been hospitalized. Routine tests can result in thousands of dollars in uncovered charges; hospitalized patients have received bills upward of $400,000.

Trump did not have to worry about the costs of his care, which are covered by the federal government. Most Americans, including many who carry health coverage, do worry about receiving medical care they cannot afford.

Covid tests can be expensive. Although they typically cost $100, one emergency room in Texas has charged as much as $6,408 for a drive-through test.

Remdesivir costs $3,120 when purchased by private insurers and $2,340 with public programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Trump also received an experimental antibody treatment from Regeneron. It’s currently available to clinical trial participants or to those granted a “compassionate use” exemption. In either situation, the drug would typically be provided to the patient at no charge. This will most likely change, however, when the treatment finishes trials and hits the commercial market. These types of drugs are hard to manufacture, and other monoclonal antibodies cost thousands of dollars.

Health economists are only starting to understand the full costs of coronavirus treatment and they have some early estimates:

The median charge for a coronavirus hospitalization for a patient over 60 is $61,912, according to a claims database, FAIR Health

For insured patients, that price would typically be negotiated lower by their health plan. FAIR Health estimates that the median amount paid is $31,575. That amount, like most things in American health care, varies significantly from one patient to another.

In the FAIR Health data on coronavirus patients over 60, a quarter face charges less than $26,821 for their hospital stay. Another quarter face charges higher than $193,149, in part because of longer stays.

Many, but not all, health insurers have said they will not apply co-payments or deductibles to patients’ coronavirus hospital stays, which could help shield patients from large bills.

Uninsured patients, however, could be stuck with the entire hospital charges and not receive any discounts.

 

[Trino]

I wonder how much of this varies by location. My wife and I resumed regular dining out when things reopened on May 11 (all indoors in AZ Summer) and we see a wide demographic - from families to seniors. I'd be interested in what others are seeing, in other parts of the country (and world).

MN restaurants opened with social distancing (tables). We stopped by one yesterday around 1:00p in downtown St. Paul, MN. Three occupied tables outsides (one was ours), two occupied inside tables. Restaurant next door to this one was not open. A year ago this restaurant would have been packed.

People just are not going to restaurants around here, and many have closed. Of course, in Minnesota we get snow - lots of it. Will Minnesotans be willing to sit outside at 10 degrees? I think they will continue with take-out rather than sitting inside. We are a conservative people.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

The first time New Zealand thought it had eliminated the coronavirus from its isolated shores, a mysterious outbreak in its largest city shattered any sense of victory over a tenacious foe.

Now, after a second round of strict lockdown, the country believes — if a bit more tentatively this time — that it has effectively stamped out the virus once again.

On Wednesday, New Zealand moved to lift the last of its restrictions in Auckland after 10 days with no new cases linked to a cluster that first surfaced in August. The government will now allow unrestricted gatherings, and trips on public transit without social distancing or masks, in the city of 1.6 million people.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is facing re-election next week, called the reopening a validation of the country’s “go hard, go early” response. The strategy is aimed at eradicating the virus with a swift science-based policy, one that trades weeks of lockdown and sacrifice for an emergence to full economic activity.

Covid-19 Live Updates: New Zealand Stamps Out the Virus for a Second Time

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Same here in Canada SouthAussie. I could go visit my immediate American Family but have to quarantine upon return for 14 days. If they were to come here they have to have a detailed quarantine plan for 14 days as well. Then they could visit. When they return to U.S. no quarantine. We are all staying put.

I was surprised when my daughter arrived in Jacksonville, in July, on a packed plane from NYC, everyone just breezed on out.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Well it certainly did not make sense especially when they knew exactly how China were dealing with it. I don't know what to make of it or why our advice and policy did not change for months. Will it be addressed in the investigation that is happening?

WHO experts head to China to investigate origins of COVID-19

This article is a few months old, and only two people were sent?? Surely, we must have more information on where these investigations have gone??? I'll try to see too, but does anyone have some updated information that they can share?

 

[musicaljoke]

Same here in Canada SouthAussie. I could go visit my immediate American Family but have to quarantine upon return for 14 days. If they were to come here they have to have a detailed quarantine plan for 14 days as well. Then they could visit. When they return to U.S. no quarantine. We are all staying put.

Even within Canada, there are required travel quarantines. Dr. Music Jr, flew from Victoria BC, across the country to Halifax, NS this past weekend, and is in home quarantine for 2 weeks. She is allowed to sit on her back porch, but cannot work on her lawn, or in her garden or be outside the house, other than on the back porch. She gets random phone checks and police visits. She said that there is a public health quarantine notice posted on her door to keep others away.

She had to prepare ahead of her arrival by having a local volunteer group set up her pantry with enough supplies for 2 weeks.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Wow. Some speedy recovery. So are we on day 5 of the treatment IIRC?

Day one of the treatment was Friday we have been told

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The first link isn't about covid but it does compare the 2 steroids. It sounds like Dexamethasone isn't as unusual as I thought. I've only been prescribed prednisone.

Narrative from here is copied from links.

Dexamethasone is a long-acting glucocorticoid with a half-life of 36 to 72 hours, and is 6 times more potent than prednisone. Prednisone is shorter acting, with a half-life of 18 to 36 hours.

Use of dexamethasone and prednisone in acute asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients

One of the concerns about steroids is, given too early in the course of Covid-19, they might hamper the body’s ability to eliminate the virus, leading to worse outcomes. But steroids might also benefit a subset of Covid-19 patients who don’t yet need oxygen but have lab tests indicating early signals of their immune system going into overdrive.

“It would be interesting to know if co-administration of an antiviral may help reduce viral load while the earlier steroids work on the inflammatory component in that group of people,” Bhadelia said. “We also need more data around co-infections in the setting of steroid use.”

Steroids cut deaths of hospitalized Covid-19 patients by one-third - STAT

Thanks for posting these articles. But I am a bit confused, and have probably missed some dialogue here about the dexamethasone.

The article says:

Based on the newly published data, the WHO on Wednesday issued new treatment guidelines calling for corticosteroids to become the standard of care for patients with “severe and critical” Covid-19. Such patients should receive 7-10 days of treatment, a WHO panel said. But it cautioned against use of the steroids in patients with non-severe illness, saying that “indiscriminate use of any therapy for COVID-19 would potentially rapidly deplete global resources and deprive patients who may benefit from it most as potentially life-saving therapy.”

So, is this the ONLY reason suggesting to use only for severe and critical patients? Clearly, there would never be a restriction for this reason for the president, but is there a health-related reason for only giving to severe cases.??

And this 7-10 days......... We heard that the steroids were stopped, right?? But taking more would still be within protocol???( even though any and every case is individualized).

 

[oviedo]

Florida already has 123 deaths today (way more than yesterday) and the day isn't over. It's so sad. That may well put Florida in first place for deaths today (it was in third place yesterday - Texas, with about 8 million more people than Florida, was in first place - also troubling).

Florida has about half the number of people as California. California had 84 deaths yesterday (no data today yet) and Florida has 123 today. Without mitigation, I fear, as Fauci does, that Florida is entering into a difficult time. Factors include lack of mitigation in public places, a lower rate of testing and very little contact tracing. Risk factors are fairly obvious (lots of older people).

and add to that our Governor who makes his own rules apparently (IMO) - I'm thankful the Counties surrounding me haven't wavered on the mask requirement yet. We are full on open - bars too. President of FSU and wife tested positive today. sigh...
JMO