Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #89

[musicaljoke]

Tensions rise over masks as virus grips smaller US cities

Arguments over mask requirements and other restrictions have turned ugly in recent days as the deadly coronavirus surge across the U.S. engulfs small and medium-size cities that once seemed safely removed from the outbreak.

In Boise, Idaho, public health officials about to vote on a four-county mask mandate abruptly ended a meeting Tuesday evening because of fears for their safety amid anti-mask protests outside the building and at some of their homes.

One health board member tearfully announced she had to rush home to be with her child because of the protesters, who were seen on video banging on buckets, blaring air horns and sirens, and blasting a sound clip of gunfire from the violence-drenched movie “Scarface” outside her front door.

Such passion for a covid response that leads to more death and further assault on the economy! It's such a shame that all that energy couldn't be directed toward ending the spread.

 

[10ofRods]

The chances of any of us getting an anti-viral cocktail are virtually zero.

Doctors in hospitals are dying of COVID without those drugs being available. You gotta have connections (apparently connections with the companies themselves helps). Infectious disease nurses are dying - where is the regeneron for them? Surely HCW know when to test and when to seek treatment (and are seeking treatment).

The price is prohibitive - plus...how does one get it? There are trials going on still and only a few doctors have access to a supply as a result. You can't just get it at the hospital pharmacy.

I think it's clear that only "celebrity" patients can get it. Maybe we'll hear about a few more patients being helped during the trials. The second drug with the awful name is supposed to be cheaper and more widely available next year.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

A friend of mine who is a nurse is getting the vaccine Monday. I’m not sure if she’s currently working on the IA side or IL side at the moment. She’s on the border and the hospital system has facilities in both places.

 

[Yvettea]

Regeneron and Eli Lilly antibody treatments are available for some in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

• You must be referred by your doctor
• Only available for people over 55 with underlying health conditions
• Timing is everything, the dose should be administered within 10 days of showing symptoms

Hospital officials say their goal with the treatment is to reduce the number of people needing to be admitted for COVID-19.

And I thought the goal was saving lives. Hmm

 

[Reasonable & Just]

I am weeping - crusty, mean, me - from Grey's Anatomy just now. The names. The people who have died, for real, of this sickness that was dismissed, ignored, and then intentionally spread by those who have better access to care than the ones they spread it to.

This beautiful newborn will never be snuggled by his poor mama. Will never see the light in her eyes.
Detroit mother dies from COVID-19 days after giving birth

I teach in a high school, and today I saw a group of 3 students too close together in the hall. I asked them to move apart, and asked one of them to pull the mask up over their nose. All 4 of us are in a statistically vulnerable group. Somehow, I managed to not be so crusty and mean, but rather empathetic to what it means to be a kid, full of social energy and not afraid.

We have to love our kids. All of them. Nurture them as the rising leaders and followers. Nurture their intellect and their empathy by showing it back to them. Otherwise we don't have a prayer of combatting the deadly selfishness that has gotten us to this point. Sorry about the ramble. I am just heartsick and more than fed up with ugly selfishness and narcissism. Every life that was lost today, last week, back in March and before - they mattered. Our lives matter.

 

[margarita25]

Battle to build trust in vaccine / Pastor on “fake pandemic”

 

[anneg]

I am weeping - crusty, mean, me - from Grey's Anatomy just now. The names. The people who have died, for real, of this sickness that was dismissed, ignored, and then intentionally spread by those who have better access to care than the ones they spread it to.

This beautiful newborn will never be snuggled by his poor mama. Will never see the light in her eyes.
Detroit mother dies from COVID-19 days after giving birth

I teach in a high school, and today I saw a group of 3 students too close together in the hall. I asked them to move apart, and asked one of them to pull the mask up over their nose. All 4 of us are in a statistically vulnerable group. Somehow, I managed to not be so crusty and mean, but rather empathetic to what it means to be a kid, full of social energy and not afraid.

We have to love our kids. All of them. Nurture them as the rising leaders and followers. Nurture their intellect and their empathy by showing it back to them. Otherwise we don't have a prayer of combatting the deadly selfishness that has gotten us to this point. Sorry about the ramble. I am just heartsick and more than fed up with ugly selfishness and narcissism. Every life that was lost today, last week, back in March and before - they mattered. Our lives matter.

Very well said. Thank you. I too am fed up and disgusted with people's selfishness and refusal to do the right thing to protect and care for one other.

I haven't watch Grey's Anatomy from tonight yet, but I'll have a box of tissues handy when I view the recorded show.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Vaccine confidence / Pastor on “fake pandemic”

I can't even stand to watch it, but fine. Put this pastor to work visiting and holding hands of people who are "fake-dying" alone in hospitals. Let him be useful.

 

[margarita25]

I can't even stand to watch it, but fine. Put this pastor to work visiting and holding hands of people who are "fake-dying" alone in hospitals. Let him be useful.

Similar sentiments and thoughts here on that...Yeah, I could barely stand to watch it either, and almost didn’t post it because I found it so repulsive and didn’t want to give it airtime, but I went ahead since we’ve been talking about vaccine confidence, etc. - also, I think it’s a good reflection of our current outbreak situation, as we are documenting history here, certain elements/attitudes, etc. which continue to drive this pandemic, even at this late stage of ten months later.

Not sure if you saw this earlier, R&J:

CIDRAP:
Global cases stabilizing, but COVID deaths continue to climb

“Americas region driving new cases
The WHO update showed just under 4 million reported COVID-19 cases in the past 7 days, nearly half of which came from the Region of the Americas, which saw a 12% increase from the previous week. The United States remains the leader in new reported infections (reporting more than 1.2 million new cases over the past week), followed by Brazil, which reported more than 295,000 cases, a 35% increase from the previous week.”

 

[ColyH]

Battle to build trust in vaccine / Pastor on “fake pandemic”

This preacher is an idiot. He couldn't even answer the question of what a pandemic is.

 

[CrimeAway]

I just got back from an urgent trip to Walmart (only my 3rd or 4th since March). Luckily, it was quiet, but only about 2/3 were wearing masks. Almost all employees were, but I did see one employee with his mask around his chin, rubbing his nose.

 

[margarita25]

 

[Yvettea]

I missed the point of an article I posted

Regeneron and Eli Lilly antibody treatments are available for some in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

The hospitals in Pembroke Pines, Fla. were overwhelmed with calls about Regeneron and Eli Lilly antibody treatments. Hospital officials put out the word: you must meet certain conditions and be referred by your physician. The goal of the treatment, to reduce the severity of the illness and thereby prevent so many admissions to the hospital. (The treatment must be used early in the progression of the virus.)

Too late I get it.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Australia terminates University of Queensland vaccine deal with CSL after false positives for HIV

The Australian government has terminated its agreement with Australian biotech company CSL Limited to supply 51m doses of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the University of Queensland, after vaccine trial participants returned false positive test results for HIV.

Australia had hoped the protein vaccine would be available by mid-2021. Phase one clinical trials in humans began in July in Brisbane, with phase two and three clinical trials due to commence in December. It is one of four vaccines secured by the Australian government.

But on Friday the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said: “University of Queensland vaccine will not be able to proceed based on the scientific advice, and that will no longer feature as part of Australia’s vaccine plan.

Australia terminates University of Queensland vaccine deal with CSL after false positives for HIV

 

[nightowl1975]

Hospital officials say their goal with the treatment is to reduce the number of people needing to be admitted for COVID-19.

And I thought the goal was saving lives. Hmm

If the treatment reduces the need for hospitalization, wouldn’t that mean it is saving lives?

Honestly, at this point, it’s not good enough to JUST save lives. We don’t have the hospital capacity or staff to treat this many deathly ill patients. So treatments that reduce the need for hospitalization are far superior to treatments that merely reduce the risk of death.

 

[Cool Cats]

December 10th

When will the Covid-19 vaccine be available in the US?

The Pfizer jab is being rolled out across the UK (Getty)

When will the vaccine be available to the US public?

Health officials have estimated the vast majority of the public will have the opportunity to receive a coronavirus vaccine in spring or summer months of 2021, if approval and distribution continue as expected.

“When a vaccine is authorized or approved in the United States, there may not be enough doses available for all adults,” the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains on its website.

“Supplies will increase over time, and all adults should be able to get vaccinated later in 2021. However, a COVID-19 vaccine may not be available for young children until more studies are completed,” it adds.

Federal officials have estimated about 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines will be available by the end of the year, meaning 20 million people would receive vaccinations because it requires two doses. This estimate would require both Moderna and Pfizer to receive emergency authorisation from the FDA.

But the initial number of vaccines available will likely fall short of that number.

Pfizer is only expected to have 6.4 million doses of vaccine ready by mid-December, CNN reports, meaning states will be unable to vaccinate everyone in their first priority group during the first wave of distributions.

What will taking the vaccine entail?

The top three coronavirus vaccine contenders – Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca – require two separate doses spaced out from each other. The Pfizer vaccines are given 21 days apart, Moderna’s are given 28 days apart, and AstraZeneca’a are given about 30 days apart.

These vaccines are made with a different composition from each other and involve different storage requirements. So people who get the vaccine will likely get both doses from the same company in order to be vaccinated.

How much will it cost to get vaccinated?

Moderna and Pfizer agreed to sell 100 million doses to the federal government under Operation Warp Speed, which would be paid for using US taxpayer dollars. These vaccines will be distributed to the public for free.

But the federal government has said that recipients might have to pay the administration costs to receive the vaccine.

 

[Cool Cats]

Similar sentiments and thoughts here on that...Yeah, I could barely stand to watch it either, and almost didn’t post it because I found it so repulsive and didn’t want to give it airtime, but I went ahead since we’ve been talking about vaccine confidence, etc. - also, I think it’s a good reflection of our current outbreak situation, as we are documenting history here, certain elements/attitudes, etc. which continue to drive this pandemic, even at this late stage of ten months later.

Not sure if you saw this earlier, R&J:

CIDRAP:
Global cases stabilizing, but COVID deaths continue to climb

“Americas region driving new cases
The WHO update showed just under 4 million reported COVID-19 cases in the past 7 days, nearly half of which came from the Region of the Americas, which saw a 12% increase from the previous week. The United States remains the leader in new reported infections (reporting more than 1.2 million new cases over the past week), followed by Brazil, which reported more than 295,000 cases, a 35% increase from the previous week.”

BBM

The United States remains the leader in new reported infections. Yes we have more because we are the 3rd most populated country. Brazil has the second most new reported infections - it is highly populated - the 6th most populated at 212,448,789 - 2.71%.

List of countries and dependencies by population - Wikipedia

1 China 1,405,689,200 - 17.9%
2 India 1,370,682,276 - 17.5%
3

United States 330,792,822 - 4.22%

21 United Kingdom 66,796,807 - 0.853%

27 South Korea 51,834,302 - 0.662%

53 Australia 25,711,527 - 0.328%

 

[GRT]

The chances of any of us getting an anti-viral cocktail are virtually zero.

Doctors in hospitals are dying of COVID without those drugs being available. You gotta have connections (apparently connections with the companies themselves helps). Infectious disease nurses are dying - where is the regeneron for them? Surely HCW know when to test and when to seek treatment (and are seeking treatment).

The price is prohibitive - plus...how does one get it? There are trials going on still and only a few doctors have access to a supply as a result. You can't just get it at the hospital pharmacy.

I think it's clear that only "celebrity" patients can get it. Maybe we'll hear about a few more patients being helped during the trials. The second drug with the awful name is supposed to be cheaper and more widely available next year.

I don't understand why these treatments have to be so expensive. Drug research is federally funded, about 50% of the cost, so these drugs should (just my opinion) be partially owned by the American people. But Big Pharma takes the funding and then drives the cost of the drugs so high the average person can't afford them.

We raise bees and I used to be able to buy an Epipen for about $100. I thought that was pricey. We kept that pen on hand and finally used it last year when my husband was stung over 50 times. Maybe we didn't need to use it but we did to be on the safe side. I went to buy a replacement pen and now they're almost $700. I had to buy one because what if someone comes out here who is allergic and is stung? But, $700? That's ridiculous. That should really be illegal.

 

[weepingangel]

Massachusetts superspreader: Biogen conference tied to 300,000 coronavirus cases
More at link
Last winter’s Biogen conference in Boston appears to have triggered a globetrotting COVID-19 superspreader that infected an estimated 300,000 people, a scientific study states.

The Feb. 26-27 meeting of managers held at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel infected 100 attendees who spread the virus to 29 states and other countries — with Florida the hardest hit, the study posted in the journal Science reports.

 

[SA55]

I am weeping - crusty, mean, me - from Grey's Anatomy just now. The names. The people who have died, for real, of this sickness that was dismissed, ignored, and then intentionally spread by those who have better access to care than the ones they spread it to

I was right there with you - the scrolling, growing list of names hit me hard. And I'm one of the ones facing this with my eyes wide open and aware of the reality, I still wasn't prepared for my reaction to that acknowledgement of our lost.