Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #85

[SouthAussie]

The Covid pandemic has reached a “critical” stage in England, with prevalence doubling since last month with the fastest increases in the south where the R number has risen above 2, research has found.

It triggered warnings from scientists that current measures – including bans for millions on households mixing and the closure of pubs – were not working and urgent action is needed to avoid a sharp rise in hospitalisations and deaths.

..... infections are still highest among 18- to 24-year-olds (2.2%) but are spreading into older and more vulnerable age groups. The percentage of people infected aged 55-64 increased more than threefold from 0.37% to 1.2%.

Covid has hit 'critical' stage in England, research finds


.... a new study by Imperial College London underlined the dire situation facing Britain, the country with the largest number of coronavirus deaths in Europe, showing cases in England doubling every nine days.

Coronavirus live news: Angela Merkel heckled in parliament; UK job retention scheme to end

 

[SouthAussie]

The White House coronavirus task force is warning of a persistent and broad spread of Covid-19 in the western half of the United States and its members urged aggressive mitigation measures.

US hospitalisations are soaring, a metric not affected by the amount of testing done. Thirteen states, mainly in the Midwest and West, reported a record number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients on Wednesday, according to a Reuters analysis.

White House advisers warn of 'unrelenting' Covid-19 spread in parts of US

 

[SouthAussie]

A coronavirus variant that originated in Spanish farm workers has spread rapidly through much of Europe since the summer, and now accounts for the majority of new Covid-19 cases in several countries, including 80% in the UK, the Financial Times (paywall) reports.

An international team of scientists that has been tracking the virus through its genetic mutations described the extraordinary spread of the variant, called 20A.EU1, in a research paper to be published on Thursday.

Coronavirus live news: Angela Merkel heckled in parliament; UK job retention scheme to end

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Unfortunately, flu shot shortages are happening already. In the US and the UK.

Hopefully they are ramping up production and can get more flu shots out there ASAP.


An “unprecedented” demand for flu shots has already caused shortages at some pharmacies across the United States as the looming threat of a “twindemic” prompts Americans to get immunized early.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article246089300.html

Now, Britain is running low on flu vaccine, struggling to meet the skyrocketing demand .... Major pharmacies have halted flu shot appointments. Doctors’ offices are putting people on waiting lists — or telling them to call back in December.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...1dd47c-026b-11eb-b92e-029676f9ebec_story.html

How could they not have been prepared for this increased demand? Ugh!

 

[weepingangel]

Justin Turner 'emphatically refused to comply' after COVID-19 positive, says MLB
More at links
Turner had been instructed by MLB security not to leave the clubhouse, but he refused, went onto the field, took pictures holding the trophy, hugged teammates, and even was in the front row of the team picture, with no mask, sitting alongside manager Dave Roberts, a cancer survivor.


MLB statement: Justin Turner was 'wrong and put everyone at risk' by celebrating on field
Major League Baseball plans to investigate the events and could punish Turner and the Dodgers for their actions. The league vowed to strictly punish any players of employees who violated its protocols related to COVID-19 during the season.


Betts supports Turner's return to field after positive COVID-19 test
"He's part of the team. Forget all that. He's part of the team. We're not excluding him from anything," Betts said, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

(Eta- Wow. That’s just fantastic Mookie. Just great. )

Sooooo disappointing.
people NEED to see it’s not all about YOU and what you want.
I had a difficult time watching baseball. Little to no masking close contacts. Nope. It gave me chills.

‘Heartbreak’: NH high school soccer team forced to forfeit tournament after district learns other teams will not wear masks
More at link
NEWMARKET, N.H. (WHDH) - High schoolers on the boys and girls varsity soccer teams in Newmarket, New Hampshire were forced to forfeit their spots in an upcoming tournament this week after the school district learned the opposing teams would not be wearing face masks.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I don't understand people not following health guidelines. It must be scary living in the USA at this time when Covid is running rampant and so many don't seem to care.

It really can be. There are days that I get home and am so stressed that I don't want to leave again.

One day I encountered so many reckless people that when I realized I had also forgotten milk for my mother, I just couldn't make another stop. I thought I would snap. I called her and told her she would have to wait until I could send my husband out. I literally could not handle walking into a convenience store for milk at that point because I just couldn't handle one more risk in the day.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I just saw that at Hobby Lobby yesterday. And, I thought -- why didn't I think of that and sell them? But, of course, I didn't. My favorites are the ones that pull up like bandits' bandanas, I bought a stretchy green one of those but it didn't stay up well. Plus, the fabric sucked into my mouth when I inhaled.

What I'm really looking for is a mask that fits better along the top of my face because my glasses are always fogging up. I've tried a number of different ones, but have the fogging problem with each.

You need to find masks with a proper nose wire to prevent that.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

It really can be. There are days that I get home and am so stressed that I don't want to leave again.

One day I encountered so many reckless people that when I realized I had also forgotten milk for my mother, I just couldn't make another stop. I thought I would snap. I called her and told her she would have to wait until I could send my husband out. I literally could not handle walking into a convenience store for milk at that point because I just couldn't handle one more risk in the day.

There is another thread here re shopping during the pandemic (I'll do an ETA to this post). A few months back folks were talking about freezing milk as that to me, is something that I do need to go out for. They said to freeze it. I was like "huh?, won't it get freezer burn?"

Well whaadya know, I followed what my fellow WS'ers said to do and froze some. I took it out for a while then in the fridge to complete... and the taste was the same!

I'm over 60 and I never knew you could freeze milk.

FWIW...brb with the link to the other thread where they share jewels for pandemic shopping.

ETA:

Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #3

Lagniappe here also

Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Coronavirus live news: Catalonia closes borders; Angela Merkel heckled in parliament

The Bulgarian president Rumen Radev is self-isolating after his secretary general tested positive for coronavirus and will continue to carry out his duties remotely, the president’s office said on Thursday.

Bulgaria has closed universities, high schools and nightclubs for two weeks among other curbs aimed at containing a spike in new Covid-19 cases.

On Thursday, the Balkan country of 7 million people reported a new daily record of 2,760 infections. Some 45,461 Bulgarians have tested positive for the disease since March and 1,197 have died.

The prime minister Boyko Borissov and the Central Bank Governor Dimitar Radev are also in self-isolation after testing positive for the infection.

--------------------

18m ago 13:31

Spain's Catalonia region closes its borders to contain pandemic
The Spanish region of Catalonia on Thursday announced a ban on entering or exiting its territory for 15 days, the latest in a series of restrictions taken by Spanish regions to try and curb coronavirus infections.

Catalonia, home of the city of Barcelona, is one of the virus’ hotspots in Spain and has already some of the toughest measures in place in the country. It will also extend a 15-day shutdown of bars and restaurants.

----------------------------------

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I used to freeze milk when we lived a bit out of town. I was surprised that the taste stayed the same too.

There is another thread here re shopping during the pandemic (I'll do an ETA to this post). A few months back folks were talking about freezing milk as that to me, is something that I do need to go out for. They said to freeze it. I was like "huh?, won't it get freezer burn?"

Well whaadya know, I followed what my fellow WS'ers said to do and froze some. I took it out for a while then in the fridge to complete... and the taste was the same!

I'm over 60 and I never knew you could freeze milk.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

The Covid pandemic has reached a “critical” stage in England, with prevalence doubling since last month with the fastest increases in the south where the R number has risen above 2, research has found.

It triggered warnings from scientists that current measures – including bans for millions on households mixing and the closure of pubs – were not working and urgent action is needed to avoid a sharp rise in hospitalisations and deaths.

..... infections are still highest among 18- to 24-year-olds (2.2%) but are spreading into older and more vulnerable age groups. The percentage of people infected aged 55-64 increased more than threefold from 0.37% to 1.2%.

Covid has hit 'critical' stage in England, research finds


.... a new study by Imperial College London underlined the dire situation facing Britain, the country with the largest number of coronavirus deaths in Europe, showing cases in England doubling every nine days.

Coronavirus live news: Angela Merkel heckled in parliament; UK job retention scheme to end

The hospitals are getting full again - more Covid patients than there were in April. I’m expecting my area to go into Tier 3, the strictest level, any day now...

...I knew it’d all end in tiers.

(I’ll get my coat)

 

[GRT]

You need to find masks with a proper nose wire to prevent that.

My surgical masks have a wire but I think my nose might be too narrow, it doesn't adhere snugly even when I pinch it on. It's like the air still pushes up and over the top-- fogging my glasses. I wonder if N95 masks would fit better.

 

[CSIDreamer]

The debate continues.

COVID-19 outpatients – early risk-stratified treatment with zinc plus low dose hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin: a retrospective case series study - ScienceDirect

 

[drama_farmer]

My surgical masks have a wire but I think my nose might be too narrow, it doesn't adhere snugly even when I pinch it on. It's like the air still pushes up and over the top-- fogging my glasses. I wonder if N95 masks would fit better.

Try a piece of tape. I think that would be helpful with a surgical type mask, maybe not so much wit a cloth one.

Oh, and keep in mind that it's the droplets/aerosols of the virus that the mask is protecting you from. If you can feel "air" leaving out of the mask, that's normal, as those molecules are much smaller than the virus. Imo

 

[SoCalDavidS]

LONDON — A variant of the coronavirus that is believed to have originated in Spain has spread across Europe and now accounts for most of the new cases reported in several countries in the region, according to the findings of a new study.

The research, which is due to published on Thursday and has not been peer reviewed, details how an international team of scientists has closely monitored the coronavirus through its genetic mutations.

Each variant of the coronavirus has its own genetic signature, meaning it can be traced back to the place it first emerged.

It says a new variant of the disease, identified as 20A.EU1 by researchers from Switzerland and Spain, was first observed in Spain in June. The new variant has been recorded in Spain at frequencies of above 40% since July, the study said.

A new coronavirus variant is seen spreading across Europe, research says

 

[Trino]

In video in link


Dr Fauci:
“If we get a vaccination campaign by the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2021, and we have vaccinated a substantial proportion of the people, I think it will be easily by the end of 2021 and perhaps even into the next year before we start having some semblances of normality.”

October 28 coronavirus news

That's a year from now. How will we make it?

 

[ColyH]

We live in a country full of people with egos who think they can do whatever they want and if something goes wrong they just file a lawsuit. I really believe we are going to be paying a terrible price this winter for the attitude this country has taken with the pandemic.

 

[Trino]

COVID is causing more than just a pandemic.

“The worst atrocities come from fear, not hate. Because people think they’re good,” he said. “And they can justify incredible atrocious violence to themselves on the basis that it is defensive…you need a belief that some other group is encroaching on your territory. And then you need to have lost confidence in the ability of the state to act as an impartial and neutral protector. We’re already losing that confidence because of COVID.”

Is the U.S. Already in a New Civil War?

 

[dixiegirl1035]

LONDON — A variant of the coronavirus that is believed to have originated in Spain has spread across Europe and now accounts for most of the new cases reported in several countries in the region, according to the findings of a new study.

The research, which is due to published on Thursday and has not been peer reviewed, details how an international team of scientists has closely monitored the coronavirus through its genetic mutations.

Each variant of the coronavirus has its own genetic signature, meaning it can be traced back to the place it first emerged.

It says a new variant of the disease, identified as 20A.EU1 by researchers from Switzerland and Spain, was first observed in Spain in June. The new variant has been recorded in Spain at frequencies of above 40% since July, the study said.

A new coronavirus variant is seen spreading across Europe, research says

It's a conundrum as perhaps that strain which is tracked is merely pointing to a "patient zero" who began that mutation. vs. that mutation is more infectious.

That's where my thoughts are.

MOO

 

[10ofRods]

COVID is causing more than just a pandemic.

“The worst atrocities come from fear, not hate. Because people think they’re good,” he said. “And they can justify incredible atrocious violence to themselves on the basis that it is defensive…you need a belief that some other group is encroaching on your territory. And then you need to have lost confidence in the ability of the state to act as an impartial and neutral protector. We’re already losing that confidence because of COVID.”

Is the U.S. Already in a New Civil War?

I think it's more complex than Covid. We're seeing a mass health threat due to the divisions, but the divisions were already there, as the article points out. The man you quoted is quite experienced and it's a good, if scary, read. Covid was the perfect key to open the lock to a door that should have remained closed.