Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #91

[10ofRods]

have been asking myself if I am mostly isolated and cleaning hands, how did I get this?

but:
Norovirus is enclosed by a structure known as a capsid. Alcohol cannot get through it, which is why alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus. “It's resistant to many common disinfectants,” Hall said. CDC recommends using bleach to kill it, including chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.Jan 30, 2017

5 Things You Didn't Know About Norovirus, the Nasty Stomach Flu

I'd be thinking the same thing. There is something called an abdominal migraine that has the same symptoms - I think someone close to me has just been through one, even though her migraines have been less severe - COVID anxiety itself could trigger one. IMO.

PS... the USA had 260,973 cases yesterday, so on a par with the U.K. Time will tell if a similar level of death will follow. I really hope not, you guys have enough on your plate so far this year.

Oh - yes, similar death levels will follow (and UK death rates are clearly linked to the case numbers of 3-4 weeks ago).

In fact, it's very probable that US death rates are higher than we realize, as deaths at home/outside hospital are not always getting an autopsy, for obvious reasons.

Right now, in Los Angeles, we have an emergency triage policy wherein if a person codes at home and the ambulance arrives, if the person doesn't resume heartbeat and breathing on their own after EMT's have tried their best, they will not be transported - only people who don't require CPR in the ambulance can be transported.

More at-home deaths as a result, being coded as "cardiac arrest." Probably COVID. We're also seeing younger people (30's and 40's) with aneurysms, but it's not clear that their bodies are being tested for COVID at this point in time (I would bet the answer is no - coroners' offices are thoroughly overwhelmed, whatever CoD is deemed proximate by the doctor who signs the death certificate is just standing - they're not trying to find these hidden COVID cases, which I believe they are).

 

[sds71]

@GovNedLamont

Today we confirmed the first two cases in Connecticut of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant initially discovered in the UK. The patients are two individuals between 15-25 who both reside in New Haven County.
They were discovered as part of a State Laboratory enhanced surveillance testing strategy that started last week in collaboration with@Yale
and@jacksonlab
The genomic sequencing of these specific samples was conducted by Yale. The state has notified@CDCgov..Both persons were interviewed by contact tracers soon after they were diagnosed, and their close contacts were identified at that time. They are in the process of being re-interviewed by pubic health officials in light of the identification of the UK variant.
As we said last week, given the speed of this new strand of the virus and its identification in several states throughout the country, we presumed it was already in our state and this info this morning confirms that fact.

 

[Rose in SC]

Things aren't getting any better in South Carolina! Percent positive continues to soar.

South Carolina reports almost 4,000 new COVID-19 cases, percent-positive near 35%

310,246 confirmed positive cases (+3,935)
5,189 confirmed deaths (+51)

Total Tests Received - 3,895,919
Percent Positive - 34.2%

 

[mickey2942]

Looked like a huge "super spreader" event in D.C. last night. Predicting uptick in Covid for area in next week and after.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

How is it in your actual area? I think it's parts of London who have defied mask orders (just going by the couple of walkers who go out every day to crowded places and take videos - obviously, outdoors).

Are people at least considering masks inside their own households if one of them is going out to work or shop? This new variant may have a much larger percentage of asymptomatic carriers who, further, have a higher viral load in the upper respiratory tract.

You all are doing well with the vaccine roll-out, IMO. US will get better/is getting better. It's hard because the very vulnerable take time to innoculate.

I don't think UK will see the vaccine refusal that the US is seeing.

Where I am, the numbers got relatively low (something like 200 cases per 100,000 people) but I think they’re rising again. My aunt just rang me, they have over 1000/100000 cases where she is now. I’m honestly getting to the point where I can’t bear to look, and you know me - a bit of a number nerd! I like my facts until I don’t like the facts.

As for vaccine take up, I think it’ll be quite high, though one of the tabloids ran a story today saying some old people are waiting for the “English vaccine” to be available. Lol, slightly xenophobic old dears... (polite version!).

I have a relative worried about side effects on fertility. She’s 78. What can I say to that?

I’m really struggling this week, too much bad news, and so much school work being set for my kids it’s insane. I need to put my big girl pants on, but it’s just relentless isn’t it. The biggest difference (for me!) is the weather - it was lovely being able to escape to the garden or do a quick loop round the lane as Spring sprung. Not quite so nice in zero degrees and sleety rain.

I’m SO over 2021 already

(emojis are a typical illustration of my recent mood)

 

[24Roses]

Iowa numbers and news today: As of 10:00-11:00 a.m.,we had 1,930 new confirmed cases for a total of 291,394 confirmed cases of which 251,660 are recovering (+1,793). 5 more were reported to have passed for a total of 4,065. 97 were hospitalized in the last 24 hrs. for a total of 613 (+9). According to KWWL, there are 35,669 active postive cases with a 24 hr. positivity rate of 39.4%.
Jan. 7: 1,930 new cases, 5 more deaths related to COVID-19
access daily case totals updated at 11:00 a.m.
Black Hawk County distributing vaccines beyond just hospital settings
Iowa Workforce Development reports increase in new and continuing unemployment claims

 

[HongKongPhooey]

How is it in your actual area? I think it's parts of London who have defied mask orders (just going by the couple of walkers who go out every day to crowded places and take videos - obviously, outdoors).

Are people at least considering masks inside their own households if one of them is going out to work or shop? This new variant may have a much larger percentage of asymptomatic carriers who, further, have a higher viral load in the upper respiratory tract.

You all are doing well with the vaccine roll-out, IMO. US will get better/is getting better. It's hard because the very vulnerable take time to innoculate.

I don't think UK will see the vaccine refusal that the US is seeing.

London is an easy target for bad press and it irritates me. All the Londoners I know are abiding strictly by the rules. Unfortunately our press likes to stir us north vs south bad feeling for some ridiculous reason; last thing we need right now. I myself genuinely cannot remember the last time I left my house other to walk the dog. I live 40 mins from London. Mr HKP reports most people on trains and central streets are wearing masks and distancing.

 

[MimosaMornings]

have been asking myself if I am mostly isolated and cleaning hands, how did I get this?

but:
Norovirus is enclosed by a structure known as a capsid. Alcohol cannot get through it, which is why alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus. “It's resistant to many common disinfectants,” Hall said. CDC recommends using bleach to kill it, including chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.Jan 30, 2017

5 Things You Didn't Know About Norovirus, the Nasty Stomach Flu

Holy cow! Where on earth could you picked it up?
Do you think you got it from a package or groceries? Makes me worry about using Clorox wipes now on deliveries and curbside pickup.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Where I am, the numbers got relatively low (something like 200 cases per 100,000 people) but I think they’re rising again. My aunt just rang me, they have over 1000/100000 cases where she is now. I’m honestly getting to the point where I can’t bear to look, and you know me - a bit of a number nerd! I like my facts until I don’t like the facts.

As for vaccine take up, I think it’ll be quite high, though one of the tabloids ran a story today saying some old people are waiting for the “English vaccine” to be available. Lol, slightly xenophobic old dears... (polite version!).

I have a relative worried about side effects on fertility. She’s 78. What can I say to that?

I’m really struggling this week, too much bad news, and so much school work being set for my kids it’s insane. I need to put my big girl pants on, but it’s just relentless isn’t it. The biggest difference (for me!) is the weather - it was lovely being able to escape to the garden or do a quick loop round the lane as Spring sprung. Not quite so nice in zero degrees and sleety rain.

I’m SO over 2021 already

(emojis are a typical illustration of my recent mood)

667 here but that includes the whole Vale which touches outer London. We were down to 13 at one point. It is depressing and terrifying actually.

It's my aunt's funeral tomorrow. Being streamed, with very few people attending. Part of me is glad that she passed peacefully on the Covid ward with a healthcare assistant sitting beside her. Dread to think how it might be now.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

667 here but that includes the whole Vale which touches outer London. We were down to 13 at one point. It is depressing and terrifying actually.

It's my aunt's funeral tomorrow. Being streamed, with very few people attending. Part of me is glad that she passed peacefully on the Covid ward with a healthcare assistant sitting beside her. Dread to think how it might be now.

I’ll throw some more northern hugs down the M1 to you. Bounce some back up to me, as usual!

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Chicken factory linked to another coronavirus outbreak
Scotland

A chicken factory that was forced to close last year due to coronavirus has been linked to a further outbreak.

NHS Tayside said 30 new cases of Covid-19 were connected to the 2 Sisters processing plant in Coupar Angus, Perthshire.

The plant was closed last August and all workers were told to self-isolate following an outbreak that infected almost 200 staff members and community contacts.

On Wednesday, the health board said an Incident Management Team (IMT) was monitoring the situation and the plant will remain open in the meantime.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I’ll throw some more northern hugs down the M1 to you. Bounce some back up to me, as usual!

Thanks Cags and boingggggg with the hugs. Tough week for us Brits eh. We'll get through it (lass)

 

[10ofRods]

Where I am, the numbers got relatively low (something like 200 cases per 100,000 people) but I think they’re rising again. My aunt just rang me, they have over 1000/100000 cases where she is now. I’m honestly getting to the point where I can’t bear to look, and you know me - a bit of a number nerd! I like my facts until I don’t like the facts.

As for vaccine take up, I think it’ll be quite high, though one of the tabloids ran a story today saying some old people are waiting for the “English vaccine” to be available. Lol, slightly xenophobic old dears... (polite version!).

I have a relative worried about side effects on fertility. She’s 78. What can I say to that?

I’m really struggling this week, too much bad news, and so much school work being set for my kids it’s insane. I need to put my big girl pants on, but it’s just relentless isn’t it. The biggest difference (for me!) is the weather - it was lovely being able to escape to the garden or do a quick loop round the lane as Spring sprung. Not quite so nice in zero degrees and sleety rain.

I’m SO over 2021 already

(emojis are a typical illustration of my recent mood)

It's very scary. My daughters are grown. The one who is a nurse, though, is reaching a level of COVID fatigue that's very concerning - and I feel like there's nothing I can do to help. We used to care for our 6 year old granddaughter 2-3 days a week, relieving her juggle of childcare arrangements - we can't do that any longer, I just feel helpless to help her.

You probably feel as if you have to be responsible for your children's educations, and of course, you will be one of the parents who does just fine. I see my daughter worry about the same thing - but in reality, the kids will continue to learn and grow. They'll be a bit more resilient in future due to this pandemic, than the kids of 2000 who grew up to think the entire world runs like the Home of Mom and Dad.

London is an easy target for bad press and it irritates me. All the Londoners I know are abiding strictly by the rules. Unfortunately our press likes to stir us north vs south bad feeling for some ridiculous reason; last thing we need right now. I myself genuinely cannot remember the last time I left my house other to walk the dog. I live 40 mins from London. Mr HKP reports most people on trains and central streets are wearing masks and distancing.

This isn't your press - it's youtubers who go and walk around every day (there are some in nearly every major world city). There are more in Paris than in London, but London is now up to 3 camera operators. Compliance has been really good for the past week, I think. It wasn't terrible before that - but it was surprising to see so many Christmas shopping/dining at Covent Garden. Lots of people walking with coffees in their hands, sipping and not wearing masks (same all over California right before Christmas - and of course, we're a hot spot too).

While SoCal is a mess, all of my actual friends and acquaintances are minding all the rules. I have started taking walks outside the house again, but cross the street even if passersby are wearing masks. Most joggers and fast walkers are not masked, none of the delivery persons (except Amazon) wear masks, etc. They are supposed to.

Meanwhile, there are speakeasies here - just as we could see the tops of people's heads inside pubs and restaurants until they were shut down in London (places had curtains nicely placed to obscure who was inside, but you definitely could see patrons' hair).

The speakeasies here are being operated covertly by restauranteurs who text invitations to prior patrons who became pick-up patrons (so they have their phone numbers). Friends or family report getting those offers every few days...the speakeasies are running every weekend night.

At any rate, someone is spreading COVID far and wide - all around the planet, and I suspect one vector is "essential workers" who go home to their families. Schools are another - and there's now good data on that, but it's so sad that no one wants to talk about it. COVID positive rates are 3X higher in teachers in the US...

 

[dmac55]

Was there a data backlog?? Because this is like the US having about 5500-6000 deaths in a day (we may be headed in that direction - the NYE party effects are still ahead).

It's really alarming to see how high the deaths can go once the positivity goes up from about 1% (as in March/April) to 15% or even 30% in some places.

If the new UK variant causes COVID to be asymptomatic in more carriers (which is one theory), that's truly alarming. Of course, mask-wearing and social distancing still works, but the rates are so high in UK (52,000 new cases in one day! US would have to have over 250,000 cases in one day to match that - it's a really high rate of new cases per tests done...).

AZ is as bad, of course, statistically (or nearly so). What does it take for people to really wear masks? Why is it okay for people who are jogging through crowds not to wear masks? (In AZ and in UK)? Should there be more enforcement of mask wearing? I know UK has locked down businesses and told people to stay home, but perhaps they should ask that everyone wear masks - even at home if anyone is going out at all Homes are where much of this asymptomatic transmission is taking place.

The US should do the same thing, of course, but I'm more hopeful that perhaps the UK can do it successfully. Plus, UK is on islands and could really discourage travel and do Australia-like quarantines if they wished.

Re: Arizona

"As Arizona experienced periodic spikes in COVID-19 cases since last spring, Gov. Doug Ducey frequently resisted calls to take strong measures. He has declined to institute a statewide mask mandate, allowed school districts to mostly make their own choices and allowed businesses to stay open."

Ducey draws scrutiny as Arizona becomes world ‘hot spot’ for COVID-19.
Ducey draws scrutiny as Arizona becomes world 'hot spot' for COVID-19

 

[HongKongPhooey]

It's very scary. My daughters are grown. The one who is a nurse, though, is reaching a level of COVID fatigue that's very concerning - and I feel like there's nothing I can do to help. We used to care for our 6 year old granddaughter 2-3 days a week, relieving her juggle of childcare arrangements - we can't do that any longer, I just feel helpless to help her.

You probably feel as if you have to be responsible for your children's educations, and of course, you will be one of the parents who does just fine. I see my daughter worry about the same thing - but in reality, the kids will continue to learn and grow. They'll be a bit more resilient in future due to this pandemic, than the kids of 2000 who grew up to think the entire world runs like the Home of Mom and Dad.



This isn't your press - it's youtubers who go and walk around every day (there are some in nearly every major world city). There are more in Paris than in London, but London is now up to 3 camera operators. Compliance has been really good for the past week, I think. It wasn't terrible before that - but it was surprising to see so many Christmas shopping/dining at Covent Garden. Lots of people walking with coffees in their hands, sipping and not wearing masks (same all over California right before Christmas - and of course, we're a hot spot too).

While SoCal is a mess, all of my actual friends and acquaintances are minding all the rules. I have started taking walks outside the house again, but cross the street even if passersby are wearing masks. Most joggers and fast walkers are not masked, none of the delivery persons (except Amazon) wear masks, etc. They are supposed to.

Meanwhile, there are speakeasies here - just as we could see the tops of people's heads inside pubs and restaurants until they were shut down in London (places had curtains nicely placed to obscure who was inside, but you definitely could see patrons' hair).

The speakeasies here are being operated covertly by restauranteurs who text invitations to prior patrons who became pick-up patrons (so they have their phone numbers). Friends or family report getting those offers every few days...the speakeasies are running every weekend night.

At any rate, someone is spreading COVID far and wide - all around the planet, and I suspect one vector is "essential workers" who go home to their families. Schools are another - and there's now good data on that, but it's so sad that no one wants to talk about it. COVID positive rates are 3X higher in teachers in the US...

My layman's thoughts re our scenario are that it was a combo of reopening schools in September, students as well, govt far too slow to change the Tier in London (free for all for visiting shoppers) plus the new variant which started in the London suburb county of Kent... And now the Christmas fallout, although - I do think most people followed guidance, on the whole.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I got suddenly sick early yesterday morning- head ache, nausea, vomiting... but it terrified me. I re-read all the COVID symptoms.... ordered a free test kit from my county; called my health care provider. I never had (and still do not have a fever). I think I just got a noro virus... however it made me realize that any illness these days, even something that I would not have thought about too much a year or so ago is now pretty terrifying.

What you say is echoed by so many of us. I, too had some weird stuff too--headaches and nausea... took my temperature every few hours... went away. But our minds are just so peaked for anything abnormal these days............

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Florida hits all time new records... no retreat in sight. Pushing 20,000 cases per day

Back-to-back records: Florida reports nearly 20K more COVID-19 cases

Palm Beach County
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/05/florida-nursing-home-covid-vaccine/

 

[acutename]

Holy cow! Where on earth could you picked it up?
Do you think you got it from a package or groceries? Makes me worry about using Clorox wipes now on deliveries and curbside pickup.

possibilities: dentist- but the timing is not right and they clean a lot; pool, but that is full of chlorine which does kill it; and I have not been to stores in the last week.... so? I know that colleges and cruise ships get outbreaks. I did not even get take out food recently.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

have been asking myself if I am mostly isolated and cleaning hands, how did I get this?

but:
Norovirus is enclosed by a structure known as a capsid. Alcohol cannot get through it, which is why alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus. “It's resistant to many common disinfectants,” Hall said. CDC recommends using bleach to kill it, including chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.Jan 30, 2017

5 Things You Didn't Know About Norovirus, the Nasty Stomach Flu

well, this is very helpful information... did not know much of this at all...

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Where I am, the numbers got relatively low (something like 200 cases per 100,000 people) but I think they’re rising again. My aunt just rang me, they have over 1000/100000 cases where she is now. I’m honestly getting to the point where I can’t bear to look, and you know me - a bit of a number nerd! I like my facts until I don’t like the facts.

As for vaccine take up, I think it’ll be quite high, though one of the tabloids ran a story today saying some old people are waiting for the “English vaccine” to be available. Lol, slightly xenophobic old dears... (polite version!).

I have a relative worried about side effects on fertility. She’s 78. What can I say to that?

I’m really struggling this week, too much bad news, and so much school work being set for my kids it’s insane. I need to put my big girl pants on, but it’s just relentless isn’t it. The biggest difference (for me!) is the weather - it was lovely being able to escape to the garden or do a quick loop round the lane as Spring sprung. Not quite so nice in zero degrees and sleety rain.

I’m SO over 2021 already

(emojis are a typical illustration of my recent mood)

I had to reread that line about your relative a few times!!! ha ha

Are you that far North to be that cold??? Wow... 0 degrees. But spring comes pretty early , right???