Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #92

[BayouBelle_LA]

Governor Cuomo needs to look in the mirror when he criticizes the handling of covid. IMO

Cuomo said 'he can destroy me': NY assemblyman alleges governor threatened him over nursing homes scandal - CNNPolitics

"Gov. Cuomo called me directly on Thursday to threaten my career if I did not cover up for Melissa [DeRosa] and what she said. He tried to pressure me to issue a statement, and it was a very traumatizing experience," Kim said. Cuomo proceeded to tell the assemblyman that "we're in this business together and we don't cross certain lines and he said I hadn't seen his wrath and that he can destroy me," according to Kim.

<snip>

Kim is not the only lawmaker to have received fierce pushback and even threats from Cuomo and his top aides since last week, according to three additional Democratic New York lawmakers. All spoke to CNN under the condition of anonymity because they were afraid of retribution from the governor.

They said the administration had aggressively lobbied legislators to speak up in support of his handling of the nursing homes-related deaths, and that threats were made against those who are considering a vote to strip Cuomo of his emergency powers.

De Blasio unloads on Cuomo, backs Dem who says he was threatened: 'The bullying is nothing new'

"Yeah, it's a sad thing to say," de Blasio told MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" on Thursday. "But that's classic Andrew Cuomo. A lot of people in New York State have received those phone calls."

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Governor Cuomo needs to look in the mirror when he criticizes the handling of covid. IMO

Cuomo said 'he can destroy me': NY assemblyman alleges governor threatened him over nursing homes scandal - CNNPolitics

"Gov. Cuomo called me directly on Thursday to threaten my career if I did not cover up for Melissa [DeRosa] and what she said. He tried to pressure me to issue a statement, and it was a very traumatizing experience," Kim said. Cuomo proceeded to tell the assemblyman that "we're in this business together and we don't cross certain lines and he said I hadn't seen his wrath and that he can destroy me," according to Kim.

<snip>

Kim is not the only lawmaker to have received fierce pushback and even threats from Cuomo and his top aides since last week, according to three additional Democratic New York lawmakers. All spoke to CNN under the condition of anonymity because they were afraid of retribution from the governor.

They said the administration had aggressively lobbied legislators to speak up in support of his handling of the nursing homes-related deaths, and that threats were made against those who are considering a vote to strip Cuomo of his emergency powers.

De Blasio unloads on Cuomo, backs Dem who says he was threatened: 'The bullying is nothing new'

"Yeah, it's a sad thing to say," de Blasio told MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" on Thursday. "But that's classic Andrew Cuomo. A lot of people in New York State have received those phone calls."

I agree. He needs to look in the mirror, and step down, as his drama does nothing to help us fight this virus. I am proud of NY and the feds for going after justice. He provided needed leadership during a vacuum, but that does not excuse any of his behavior.

 

[LadyL]

Men Posed as Marshals to Avoid Masks at Florida Resort, Authorities Say

 

[GRT]

Thanks for that. I guess the best defense is a good offense!

 

[GRT]

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo under investigation for nursing home deaths

The FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are investigating Gov. Andrew Cuomo's coronavirus task force with a particular focus on his administration's handling of nursing homes early in the coronavirus pandemic, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

The investigation, first reported by the Albany Times Union, is in its initial stages. Subpoenas have been issued, the sources said.

<snip>

Last week, an aide conceded the administration withheld the nursing home death toll from state lawmakers out of fear it would be used against the state by the Trump administration.

Yeah, that's too bad. So much dishonesty and lies surrounding this virus. No wonder folks have a difficult time knowing who (or what) to believe.

 

[Yvettea]

Especially sad:

Cases at nursing homes and long-term care facilities
Coronavirus cases have been reported in more than 31,000 nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, according to data collected by The New York Timesfrom states, counties, the federal government and facilities themselves. More than 1.2 million residents and employees of those homes have been infected, and more than 163,000 have died. That means more than 30 percent of deaths from the virus in the United States have been tied to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

At a West Virginia nursing home, vaccines brought some normalcy back to isolated residents.

“This disease creates the potential for a perfect storm in a long-term care facility — large groups of vulnerable people living together and a highly transmissible virus that may not cause symptoms in those who care for them,” said Dr. Daniel Rusyniak, the chief medical officer for Indiana’s state social services agency.

Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count

 

[SouthAussie]

CDC are really getting their act together now. They have a forecasting page which forecasts the direction the virus is taking.

Deaths have been falling, thankfully.
However, it is sad to see that even with that falling rate, they still anticipate 530,000 to 559,000 total deaths by the week ending 13th March.
That is another 50,000-80,000 more deaths in just four weeks.

Cases, Data, and Surveillance

 

[SouthAussie]

It is very good to see science coming into serious play in the US.

CDC Gearing Up to Track Three Covid Variants in U.S., Chief Says

The CDC is partnering with state laboratories to get 750 samples a week to sequence, she said, and has arranged with private and academic laboratories to contribute data as well.

Additionally, the CDC is already working with makers of current vaccines to see if they can tweak their shots to work better against the variants ....

 

[LadyL]

I'm so sick of these people. Stay where you are. We don't want you back.

How some Canadians plan to circumvent Ottawa's new hotel quarantine requirement

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/ca...HaK55cG5YJy2JQJxBWC73BPe0tq0qq5OtP_9RC1ITtCh8

Why a Canadian in the U.K. signed up to be a volunteer vaccinator

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappen..._ChD1VprTi5Hbmpxv7h4VTXNVPrNBLfc0qTUSYyRon_7c

 

[SouthAussie]

I'm so sick of these people. Stay where you are. We don't want you back.

How some Canadians plan to circumvent Ottawa's new hotel quarantine requirement

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/ca...HaK55cG5YJy2JQJxBWC73BPe0tq0qq5OtP_9RC1ITtCh8

Why a Canadian in the U.K. signed up to be a volunteer vaccinator

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappen..._ChD1VprTi5Hbmpxv7h4VTXNVPrNBLfc0qTUSYyRon_7c

Why is the quarantine rule different if people enter by land or by air?

Oh, forget it. I read further. They dont feel they can control incomers through 117 land entry points - but do feel that they can control incomers through 4 major airports.

I think they should enforce hotel quarantine for anyone coming through the Buffalo/NF/Lewiston checkpoints. Those are huge crossing areas to GTA - and are close to Buffalo airport (and potential quarantine hotels on the Canadian side).
Close some of the loopholes.

 

[acutename]

Some may want to respond to the new member asking whether to go on a scheduled tour of Morocco next week. I know you’ll all be nice and not pile on.

Traveling with covid

actually I am now sure that all of us on this board (well, most of us) are just a bunch of big rule-following wusses. A neighbor was driving by the other day and stopped to ask me a Q. She, a high level medical professional, had been far overseas visiting family and trekking. She fractured a bone and needs surgery... As I backed away a bit to add to my 6' distance, I said "Weren't you worried about COVID while you were traveling?" She said "I don't have that; I am negative, but now I have this broken bone; it needs to be properly set."

 

[LadyL]

actually I am now sure that all of us on this board (well, most of us) are just a bunch of big rule-following wusses. A neighbor was driving by the other day and stopped to ask me a Q. She, a high level medical professional, had been far overseas visiting family and trekking. She fractured a bone and needs surgery... As I backed away a bit to add to my 6' distance, I said "Weren't you worried about COVID while you were traveling?" She said "I don't have that; I am negative, but now I have this broken bone; it needs to be properly set."

so you think medical professionals can't be wrong in their assessment?

 

[dmac55]

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill on Monday that will suspend the use of a letter grade system for schools statewide, due to how disrupted this school year has been by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Arizona schools won't receive letter grades this year because of pandemic - CNN

 

[SouthAussie]

actually I am now sure that all of us on this board (well, most of us) are just a bunch of big rule-following wusses. A neighbor was driving by the other day and stopped to ask me a Q. She, a high level medical professional, had been far overseas visiting family and trekking. She fractured a bone and needs surgery... As I backed away a bit to add to my 6' distance, I said "Weren't you worried about COVID while you were traveling?" She said "I don't have that; I am negative, but now I have this broken bone; it needs to be properly set."

A rule-follower is a wuss? When they are following the rules for the good of everybody?
That is an interesting opinion.

I think I would rather be a compassionate wuss who cares about the virus spread, than be a dead wuss or (even worse) one who potentially sickens and kills other people.

To me, this is also about caring for fellow human beings, not just about me, me, me.

 

[acutename]

so you think medical professionals can't be wrong in their assessment?

I was just speechless that she was not more concerned about: 1. visiting family 2. going through at least 2 airports twice (maybe more- I did not ask her full itinerary) 3. going on some public transportation in a destination country 4. now going through a surgery here
while I worry about every foray out and every contact ... this person is fairly old and a licensed degreed heath professional. Also happen to know she was not vaccinated because I did talk to her about that previously.

 

[SouthAussie]

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill on Monday that will suspend the use of a letter grade system for schools statewide, due to how disrupted this school year has been by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Arizona schools won't receive letter grades this year because of pandemic - CNN

They have been speaking of getting the children vaccinated here in Australia, because children are such big drivers of flu (for example). And we likely all can't get rid of the virus unless we do something about children driving the virus.

I think I heard them say that AstraZeneca is looking at safe doses for children. AstraZeneca will likely be our primary vaccine.

 

[acutename]

A rule-follower is a wuss? When they are following the rules for the good of everybody?
That is an interesting opinion.

I think I would rather be a compassionate wuss who cares about the virus spread, than be a dead wuss or (even worse) one who potentially sickens and kills other people.

To me, this is also about caring for fellow human beings, not just about me, me, me.

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek- but if the most highly trained health professionals do not exercise any caution, what is the hope for the rest of us? (And yes, I need to remind myself of the several nurses-go-unmasked-for-drinks-at-a-bar and person-goes-in-an-inflatable-costume-to-the-ER stories and everyone gets COVID so that I will not be so incredulous.)

 

[acutename]

They have been speaking of getting the children vaccinated here in Australia, because children are such big drivers of flu (for example). And we likely all can't get rid of the virus unless we do something about children driving the virus.

I think I heard them say that AstraZeneca is looking at safe doses for children. AstraZeneca will likely be our primary vaccine.

they are working on it, but it is considered risky

Covid Vaccines for Kids Are Coming, but Not for Many Months ...
www.nytimes.com › health › covid-vaccines-children
7 days ago — Pfizer and Moderna are testing their vaccines on children 12 and older and hope to have results by the summer.

Pediatricians Want Kids to Be Part of COVID Vaccine Trials ...
khn.org › news › article › pediatricians-want-kids-to-be...
Dec 15, 2020 — It will take months to approve use of the vaccines for middle- and high school-aged kids, and months more to test them in younger children. But ...

Experts provide update on 'essential' COVID-19 vaccine trials ...
www.aappublications.org › news › 2021/01/27 › acip-cov...
Jan 27, 2021 — Health officials expect to see progress on COVID-19 vaccine trials in ... for trials in younger children, which may involve testing vaccines at ...

 

[SouthAussie]

they are working on it, but it is considered risky

Covid Vaccines for Kids Are Coming, but Not for Many Months ...
www.nytimes.com › health › covid-vaccines-children
7 days ago — Pfizer and Moderna are testing their vaccines on children 12 and older and hope to have results by the summer.

Pediatricians Want Kids to Be Part of COVID Vaccine Trials ...
khn.org › news › article › pediatricians-want-kids-to-be...
Dec 15, 2020 — It will take months to approve use of the vaccines for middle- and high school-aged kids, and months more to test them in younger children. But ...

Experts provide update on 'essential' COVID-19 vaccine trials ...
www.aappublications.org › news › 2021/01/27 › acip-cov...
Jan 27, 2021 — Health officials expect to see progress on COVID-19 vaccine trials in ... for trials in younger children, which may involve testing vaccines at ...

Yes.

They are saying here that they may start children with the regular flu vaccine (if safe) to start helping stop the spread of illness. We have our winter approaching, in 4½ months.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek- but if the most highly trained health professionals do not exercise any caution, what is the hope for the rest of us? (And yes, I need to remind myself of the several nurses-go-unmasked-for-drinks-at-a-bar and person-goes-in-an-inflatable-costume-to-the-ER stories and everyone gets COVID so that I will not be so incredulous.)

DBM. I was joining you by ranting about someone I know, probs not helpful