Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #52

[Alyce]

As we said yesterday...



Big offices are now a thing of the past, says Barclays boss | Daily Mail Online

 

[tresir2012]

From the link:

The nation’s biggest teachers unions said Tuesday they would consider strikes or major protests if schools reopen without the proper safety measures in place or against the advice of medical experts.

“It’s insane. It’s not safe to go back in July,” said Jon Bath, political action chair for the Fresno Teachers Association. “Can you imagine being with 40 kids in a room that’s 20 [feet] by 20 [feet]? As a teacher, you’re going to get it.”
BBM

As a retired teacher’s wife, I completely understand the teacher’s concerns. Kids are little germ factories and social distancing in a classroom is not in their skill-set. Teachers are always excited at the start of the school year and happy to return under normal circumstances. But the pandemic is an extraordinary circumstance and preserving everyone’s health and safety has to come before eagerness to return to school. There isn’t enough known yet about children carrying and spreading Covid-19. This isn’t the time to make guesses and force teachers to be guinea pigs.
JMO

Couldn't they work from behind a plexi screen, like the shop cashiers do? I would say those shop workers have been the guinea pigs in this experiment. They have to deal with adult nitwits like me going the wrong way in and out of the store. Also there are lots of articles saying kids don't spread it.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I neglected to post the two videos from Dr. Campbell yesterday, here ya go.

In this one he talks about the illness in children, his opinion on US , Japan is now doubling as to deaths every 6 days (glad they finally canceled the Olympics), the "Oxford vaccine"

he ends with lovely photos of folks watching him in their homes

 

[tresir2012]

Switzerland drops coronavirus restrictions on grandparents hugging grandchildren aged under 10

Grandparents in Switzerland are now allowed to hug their grandchildren under the age of 10, said the physician behind the country’s coronavirus response.

Daniel Koch, the head of the infectious diseases unit at the Federal Department of Public Health, dropped the restriction after concluding with specialists that children "do not transmit the virus, or if they are infected they are infected by their parents."

[...]

Oxford University is partnering with a vaccine manufacturer, trial results expected in June

[...]

“This is still a development program. We need still to demonstrate that this vaccine works in human populations,” he told BBC Radio. “But the team … have vaccinated several hundred people now and we hope to get some signal about whether it’s working by the middle of June.”

The Oxford University research team is partnering with UK-based global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to develop and manufacture this vaccine on a large scale.

[...]

Germany conducts more coronavirus tests "than ever"

[...]

"We had 860,000 tests last week. We have never had so many in Germany, that is great," Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch institute (RKI), said Thursday. "This is exactly what we want and what we need."

"The earlier we identify a person, the earlier we can treat them and stop the chains of infection," Wieler added.

[...]

Europe remains "very much" in grip of pandemic -WHO

[...]

“This virus is unforgiving. We must remain vigilant, persevere and be patient, ready to ramp up measures as and when needed,” Dr Kluger said.

Cumulative cases of Covid-19 have increased by 15% over the past seven days, while deaths have risen by 17% during the same period.

Dr Kluger said: “The situation across our region is not uniform. Every country is mapping out its route to a new normal.

[...]

WHO officials say they are studying the link between rare inflammatory disease and Covid-19 in children

[...]

While there have been rare reports of cases in London and other parts of Europe, "only half of these children tested positive for coronavirus," Adam Finn, professor of pediatrics at the University of Bristol and chairman of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts advising WHO Europe, said during the briefing.

"This may be a late complication of the infection," Finn said, "But all of this is speculation at this point. The size and exact nature of this problem is only just beginning to emerge."

[...]

Japan to extend state of emergency

[...]

Shinzo Abe told reporters at his office: “I think it will be difficult to return to normalcy from May 7. We have to prepare for some endurance. I’ll seek the opinions of experts how long it needs to be.”

Coronavirus pandemic: Updates from around the world - CNN

I would love to know what Germany are treating them with. Do we know?

That Oxford Uni vaccine update is great news.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

So I guess we could say that Elon Musk “had kittens.”

No, these are not the same... "having kittens" is anxiety and fear, not highly critical rage!

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I neglected to post the two videos from Dr. Campbell yesterday, here ya go.

In this one he talks about the illness in children, his opinion on US , Japan is now doubling as to deaths every 6 days (glad they finally canceled the Olympics), the "Oxford vaccine"

he ends with lovely photos of folks watching him in their homes

He really seemed encouraging about the oxford vaccine...I really wondered why... Seemed almost too positive to me.

 

[Henry2326]

So here's the Big Question for re-opening.

If you can get people to wear masks, implement physical distancing throughout commercial and social life, & ban gatherings over 50 people (like Sweden, which is the most relaxed) can you keep Rt < 1 without robust testing/contact tracing?

Most scientists say "no"......we are about to test it in many states, GA and FL for sure. They have admitted they don't have people for contact tracing and haven't yet mandated mask.

 

[tresir2012]

He's actually not their "head expert." He's head of the communications branch of the health services and is basically like their Dr Fauci - important enough, but not actually publishing any research. The head of the Health Ministry (his boss) actually disagrees with him. He quotes 4 other doctors (also unpublished) as agreeing with him.

No one else, anywhere on the planet, is saying the same thing - yet. He's using his sense of things, from his life experience. He is not a researcher. He's the PR guy for the Health Ministry, frankly.

If Dr Fauci broke ranks with the university scientists in the same way, he'd get lots of vocal criticism here in the US (and elsewhere). I think Dr Koch is receiving the same thing.

Dr Koch doesn't even have a hospital based practice. He apparently will continue to work, as he's done for 12 years, outside of any medical practice, as the spokesperson for the government's health branch (unless he's fired, which is a possibility).

Hospital-based physicians, especially those in infectious disease wards at tertiary care centers, are not saying what Dr. Koch is saying.

Just catching up and responding. He is the head of infectious diseases and as you say, like Dr. Fauci, but for Switzerland.

 

[cody22]

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesn’t infringe on constitutional rights

Michigan Virus News....moo

 

[tresir2012]

He really seemed encouraging about the oxford vaccine...I really wondered why... Seemed almost too positive to me.

Apparently they should have results of their live trials by June. If it is proved successful by then, we could possibly have a vaccine before autumn so IMO it is really encouraging.

 

[JaneEyre]

Most people know the difference between wheat and beef based products. Regardless of age, everyone knows the juicy fat on a slab of beef that cannot be replicated with wheat.

Signal that the substitute is okay, but to suggest that people don't know the difference - nope.

I don’t know what to tell you, Otto, because it’s true.

Edited to remove previous post.

 

[cody22]

Gov. Newsom ordered by California Supreme Court to defend $75 million giveaway to illegal immigrants

California Virus News....moo

 

[Inthedetails]

Judge rules Michigan stay-at-home order doesn’t infringe on constitutional rights

Michigan Virus News....moo

Interesting development. We've been having lots of Constitutional conversations in our household lately about this topic....I'm off to read this now. Thanks for posting.

jmo

 

[nhmemorymaker]

So I guess we could say that Elon Musk “had kittens.”

I keep thinking these are totally different emotions... "having kittens" is anxiety and fear" . All the others are more of a rage thingy.

 

[FrostOwl]

At the moment I'm at home with confirmed Covid-19, my symptoms are mild with a fever of above 38,0 Centigrades (100 F) if I don't take paracetamol, a headache that won't go away, tiredness, and very mild cold symptoms. No breathing difficulties, cough, aches or anything else. I most likely caught it at work (emergency department), as we have had more and more patients with suspected corona during last week, and one of my colleagues have also got it. Now I have to stay at home until all symptoms are gone + two more days. I got a call from one of the doctors at the Department of Infectious Diseases, as well as from a nurse at the Disease control unit at the hospital, giving me advice and what symptoms to be observant of.

The number confirmed cases here in my part of Sweden is still low, 73 cases, and 2 deaths. The laboratory capacity have been increase and now all hospital staff, and personnel taking care of elders, are tested if they have any symptoms that could be coronarelated.

 

[cody22]

At the moment I'm at home with confirmed Covid-19, my symptoms are mild with a fever of above 38,0 Centigrades (100 F) if I don't take paracetamol, a headache that won't go away, tiredness, and very mild cold symptoms. No breathing difficulties, cough, aches or anything else. I most likely caught it at work (emergency department), as we have had more and more patients with suspected corona during last week, and one of my colleagues have also got it. Now I have to stay at home until all symptoms are gone + two more days. I got a call from one of the doctors at the Department of Infectious Diseases, as well as from a nurse at the Disease control unit at the hospital, giving me advice and what symptoms to be observant of.

The number confirmed cases here in my part of Sweden is still low, 73 cases, and 2 deaths. The laboratory capacity have been increase and now all hospital staff, and personnel taking care of elders, are tested if they have any symptoms that could be coronarelated.

Hope you get well soon....We care........moo

 

[Henry2326]

This is a really good article by Nate Silver, American statistician. The attached shows the states as he grouped them:
Hasn't peaked.....19 states
Might be peaking......6 states
May be past peak.....20 states
Peaked 3 weeks ago.....6 states

"Additionally, while these social distancing efforts are almost certainly flattening the curve, the somewhat lax American version of social distancing may not be enough to bend the curve all on its own. In epidemiological terms, bending the curve means getting R — the effective reproduction number — under 1, so that each person who acquires COVID-19 spreads it to less than one new person. If R is less than 1, a disease will begin to die out , but if it’s above 1, the disease will keep spreading. And if R is near 1, the curve will flatten into a long plateau but not turn downward, which may be the case in some states."

"In short, the United States desperately needs to work on techniques in addition to social distancing to fight the spread, including better testing, case-tracking, quarantining of sick individuals, and better sanitation and hygiene. Social distancing has likely been very helpful to slow the spread and, in many states, even reverse it. But if it’s the only tool we’re employing — and it’s a costly tool to wield — it may only be enough to allow us to fight the coronavirus to a draw."

More at link

Coronavirus Cases Are Still Growing In Many U.S. States

 

[nhmemorymaker]

He's claiming it's unfair to keep people trapped in their homes but yet his main point seems to be his own business is suffering from Covid lockdown? IMO he's concerned for himself, not the general public.
JMO

Most of the big corporate types are talking out of both sides of their mouths. Not really a negative take, just a reality I guess.

 

[tresir2012]

Night, all. I’m going to give sleep a shot despite having prednisone in my system. I’m back on that and hy

I don’t know what to tell you, Otto, because it’s true.

This Guardian article is quite helpful IMO. Especially if there is going to be a meat shortage.

The trouble with fake meat

 

[Henry2326]

At the moment I'm at home with confirmed Covid-19, my symptoms are mild with a fever of above 38,0 Centigrades (100 F) if I don't take paracetamol, a headache that won't go away, tiredness, and very mild cold symptoms. No breathing difficulties, cough, aches or anything else. I most likely caught it at work (emergency department), as we have had more and more patients with suspected corona during last week, and one of my colleagues have also got it. Now I have to stay at home until all symptoms are gone + two more days. I got a call from one of the doctors at the Department of Infectious Diseases, as well as from a nurse at the Disease control unit at the hospital, giving me advice and what symptoms to be observant of.

The number confirmed cases here in my part of Sweden is still low, 73 cases, and 2 deaths. The laboratory capacity have been increase and now all hospital staff, and personnel taking care of elders, are tested if they have any symptoms that could be coronarelated.

Very sorry to hear.....let us know how it goes. Hopefully you are "out of the woods" with 2 more days to go. Would love to hear experience with antibody test if you have one.