Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #98

[SouthAussie]

Things are so fragile in Australia right now ... I have a work associate that went to another state (Northern Territory) for a wedding and a holiday two weeks ago. What we would usually consider a safe place to go.

Northern Territory went into a short lockdown, and now my/his state has refused his entry application to come home. (We wouldn't normally need any entry application to cross state lines ... but these are covid state border closure conditions.)

Not sure what happens now. I guess he stays there for a bit longer. Possibly will have to have a negative test prior to coming home, and then quarantine once he gets back - with covid tests on days 1, 5 & 13 while quarantining. Who knows.

Be patient at NT border stop

 

[musicaljoke]

Two Ontario MPPs face expulsion from Progressive Conservative caucus for refusing to get COVID-19 vaccinations

A rejection of injection will lead to ejection.

Premier Doug Ford has given MPPs in his Progressive Conservative government until Thursday afternoon to get a shot of COVID-19 vaccine or face ejection from caucus.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-pc-caucus-covid-vaccines-mandatory-ford-1.6144504

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I like that

A rejection of injection will lead to ejection.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

https://twitter.com/tplohetski/status/142773515111989658

gone??

 

[nhmemorymaker]

He’ll be fine. It’s just a little virus.
Austin has several hospitals. Might have to kick someone out of ICU if he needs a bed.

ICU capacity at Austin-area hospitals reaches 2 available beds | kvue.com

he had been given regeneron... though I believe it was originally only for more severe cases.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

87% of the breakthrough cases were people who are 60 and over.

we have posted a number of explanations of why this is the case...
It means that older folks will be put on the booster list asap.

 

[nightowl1975]

I'm glad of this and worried at the same time. I just very recently put my mother in a nursing home and was notified yesterday that the home has two active cases, one in a resident and the other in a staff member. That means there will be a 10-day quarantine of the home--no visitors. I tried repeatedly yesterday to call my mom, but she has a special phone that helps her hear and it must have been adjusted wrong because she couldn't hear me. I called the nurses' station and asked them to fix it, please. No one did. I was warned that they were incredibly short staffed when she was admitted.

This nursing home is rated as one of the best in the state, yet when I talked to the nurse yesterday morning at 9am, she said my mom was "sleeping in." My mother never stays in bed past 6am. Never. They are so short-staffed, the residents are already suffering.

I don't want my mom to get the virus, and she has had both her Moderna shots.

People around here can be odd--I know some of them haven't been vaccinated. I fear more staff will quit now. Meanwhile, I can't talk to my mom who is probably very upset by now, I can't get in the door to fix her phone, and they won't bring her out to see me. She won't understand what's happening. I hate this virus.

I work in long term care, and I will say with 100% certainty that a vaccine mandate in this setting will be catastrophic for staffing. The bulk of staff who refuse to be vaccinated are CNAs who make $10-16/hr. They can just as easily go work for fast food places for the same wages without a vaccine. We already have near zero applicants for these jobs. It did get better when Texas opted out of the additional federal unemployment money, but the struggle is still very real with staffing these positions. The bulk of them refusing the vaccine are absolutely not going to be swayed to do so in order to keep their job. There is A LOT of panic going on right now about how on earth we will even begin to care for our elderly with 60-70% of our CNAs falling into the unvaccinated category.

 

[SouthAussie]

I work in long term care, and I will say with 100% certainty that a vaccine mandate in this setting will be catastrophic for staffing. The bulk of staff who refuse to be vaccinated are CNAs who make $10-16/hr. They can just as easily go work for fast food places for the same wages without a vaccine. We already have near zero applicants for these jobs. It did get better when Texas opted out of the additional federal unemployment money, but the struggle is still very real with staffing these positions. The bulk of them refusing the vaccine are absolutely not going to be swayed to do so in order to keep their job. There is A LOT of panic going on right now about how on earth we will even begin to care for our elderly with 60-70% of our CNAs falling into the unvaccinated category.

Maybe they will start offering the CNA's more pay. Maybe it is time to pay people a living wage that is commensurate with the jobs that they do.

When a fast food place pays the same rate as a CNA gets, there is something seriously wrong. imo

 

[MimosaMornings]

I work in long term care, and I will say with 100% certainty that a vaccine mandate in this setting will be catastrophic for staffing. The bulk of staff who refuse to be vaccinated are CNAs who make $10-16/hr. They can just as easily go work for fast food places for the same wages without a vaccine. We already have near zero applicants for these jobs. It did get better when Texas opted out of the additional federal unemployment money, but the struggle is still very real with staffing these positions. The bulk of them refusing the vaccine are absolutely not going to be swayed to do so in order to keep their job. There is A LOT of panic going on right now about how on earth we will even begin to care for our elderly with 60-70% of our CNAs falling into the unvaccinated category.

We’ve been experiencing staffing issues with hospice/home health. I’ve heard various reasons but wonder why they are so anti-vax.

 

[ilovewings]

he had been given regeneron... though I believe it was originally only for more severe cases.

It is my understanding that Regeneron is given early on in the course of the virus of a person with symptoms: One of the docs on MSNBC questioned why, if he is asymptomatic, he is getting Regeneron: it does not make sense to this physician, so my conclusion is that in fact he has symptoms. This is not a prophylactic medication -

 

[Skigh]

New Zealand says it has solved Covid outbreak 'puzzle' | Daily Mail Online


New Zealand's growing Covid outbreak which has sparked a nationwide lockdown was caused by a traveller returning from Australia who had been in hotel quarantine, it was revealed today.

The New Zealander flew from Sydney to Auckland on August 7 and self-isolated in the Government's makeshift quarantine facility at the Crowne Plaza hotel.

An investigation — which included analysis of positive samples — found the patient picked up the virus sometime in the days before travelling and tested positive on August 9. They were then hospitalised with the virus the following week.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern claimed the breakthrough should help 'stamp out' the virus by tracking its spread back to the source.

She said the fact the traveller had spent most of their time in quarantine or hospital suggested the virus hadn't been in the community as long as initially feared.

It comes as case numbers of Delta in New Zealand nearly doubled overnight to 21, a worrying sign the strain is spreading

 

[anneg]

Anyone here getting the Booster soon as you can?

The first ones in September will go to nursing homes and frontline workers but probably soon to the general public.

I'm getting my 2nd shot in September so won't need a booster until April 2022

I definitely will get the booster.

Me too. Eligible October 3.

 

[nightowl1975]

We’ve been experiencing staffing issues with hospice/home health. I’ve heard various reasons but wonder why they are so anti-vax.

Ours are almost exclusively minorities with a high school education or GED. The reasons they give defy logic: It’s a government conspiracy, it changes your DNA, it’s the government trying to track us, the vaccine has killed more people than covid has, covid isn’t even real, etc etc etc.

 

[nightowl1975]

Maybe they will start offering the CNA's more pay. Maybe it is time to pay people a living wage that is commensurate with the jobs that they do.

When a fast food place pays the same rate as a CNA gets, there is something seriously wrong. imo

How much per hour is reasonable for a high school diploma with a 6 to 12 week training course? If we bump pay from $10-16/hour to let’s say $20-25/hour, what are we going to pay the folks making $20-25/hour now?

Keep in mind that health care cannot charge more to offset additional payroll expenses. Fast food places can charge an extra 50 cents or dollar per item to pay their staff more. We cannot. Margins in long term care are pretty small with many companies going under as it is.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Ours are almost exclusively minorities with a high school education or GED. The reasons they give defy logic: It’s a government conspiracy, it changes your DNA, it’s the government trying to track us, the vaccine has killed more people than covid has, covid isn’t even real, etc etc etc.

Yep. The top three reasons that we were told:
1) govt tracking/chip
2) alien DNA
3) Covid is a hoax
It continues to boggle my mind.
JMO

 

[GRT]

How much per hour is reasonable for a high school diploma with a 6 to 12 week training course? If we bump pay from $10-16/hour to let’s say $20-25/hour, what are we going to pay the folks making $20-25/hour now?

Keep in mind that health care cannot charge more to offset additional payroll expenses. Fast food places can charge an extra 50 cents or dollar per item to pay their staff more. We cannot. Margins in long term care are pretty small with many companies going under as it is.

It's tough. While I think workers in healthcare should get more than burger-flippers, I'm not sure we can afford it. The home is already charging us over $9,000 per month. And, I was told that's less than a lot of other places. I'm terrified my mother will be neglected, and I can't even go see her.

 

[Niner]

Yep. The top three reasons that we were told:
1) govt tracking/chip
2) alien DNA
3) Covid is a hoax
It continues to boggle my mind.
JMO

1. - you get tracked by your phone, etc. anyway - so who cares.
2. - you mean I'm going to have lizard DNA??!!
3. - I don't think so - what did all these millions of people die from then? The flu?

/sarcasm off....

 

[musicaljoke]

I work in long term care, and I will say with 100% certainty that a vaccine mandate in this setting will be catastrophic for staffing. The bulk of staff who refuse to be vaccinated are CNAs who make $10-16/hr. They can just as easily go work for fast food places for the same wages without a vaccine. We already have near zero applicants for these jobs. It did get better when Texas opted out of the additional federal unemployment money, but the struggle is still very real with staffing these positions. The bulk of them refusing the vaccine are absolutely not going to be swayed to do so in order to keep their job. There is A LOT of panic going on right now about how on earth we will even begin to care for our elderly with 60-70% of our CNAs falling into the unvaccinated category.

That is a huge number of unvaccinated people working in LTC. It's hard for me to fathom. But it wouldn't stop me from supporting a mandate to vaccinate all workers, even if doing so risks a large number of employees quitting their jobs. If mandates are too difficult, then financial, or other incentives may work. If all mandates and incentives fail, and workers move on to other types of work, then pray that the employee shuffle is quick. People unwilling to be vaccinated should not be in jobs where they work with other humans.

Workers at LTC in these parts must be vaccinated, and if they are not, they have to be tested every day... that's every day ... wear full PPE at all times and not work directly with the elderly. That can get tiresome.

moo

 

[Skigh]

Israel now requires everyone over THREE to show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test | Daily Mail Online


Covid restrictions have been extended to three-year-olds in Israel, with the country now 'at war' with the Delta variant.

From today, everyone over the age of three in the country must show evidence of being vaccinated or a negative test before entering restaurants, cafes, gyms and other indoor spaces.

The country — praised for its world-leading vaccination drive, which has seen two-thirds of adults get double-jabbed — is in the midst of a third wave that shows no signs of slowing.

Health chiefs have warned the nation faces another draconian lockdown unless the situation improves.

The situation will leave Britain, the US and other countries relying on vaccines to thwart the virus nervous.

Daily coronavirus infections reached a six-month high of 8,752 on Monday, before falling slightly on Tuesday. Deaths are also rising, with 120 people dying in the last week — similar to levels seen in September, when Israel was in lockdown.

Cases started to spiral at the end of July, when health chiefs announced all over-60s would be offered a booster dose five months after getting their second.

Israel only uses Pfizer's jab and insists immunity has already began to fade, echoing concerns raised by the drug company itself.

 

[beatrixpotter]

It's tough. While I think workers in healthcare should get more than burger-flippers, I'm not sure we can afford it. The home is already charging us over $9,000 per month. And, I was told that's less than a lot of other places. I'm terrified my mother will be neglected, and I can't even go see her.

This is why my in laws paid a nursing assistant to live in their mother's home. It was drastically cheaper to pay someone to work like that and live in their home vs the other. What does anyone get for that much money a month when the facility spends next to no time with a loved one? They sure aren't paying someone to spend all day with them. I don't understand the narrow profit margin or where the money goes.

My dh's other grandmother is 96 years old. She was sharp as a tack till 2 years ago and a small stroke. But once the pandemic started her kids have worked out a system of taking turns living with her for one to two weeks at a time so she's never alone but can stay in her home. I know that's not feasible for everyone.

I'm really sorry you are having to worry about your mom in this situation, GRT. For that kind of money I'd be raising holy hell that they won't turn her phone on. There is no excuse that no one there has 5 min to fix her phone so she can communicate.