Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #87

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They are free at the Health Dept, but it’s a long drive on the other side of town and long lines. I saw a sign at one of the grocery stores advertising free flu shots but that was two weeks after I got mine.
I received my flu shot about a month ago at Walgreens.

Here's my experience in Southern California:
A long line of people, some to fill prescriptions, some to pick up prescriptions, a lot of them to get flu shots.

For flu shot people, we first registered, and were told to wait for our names to be called to fill out paperwork, estimated wait time 30 minutes. I waited mostly outside to avoid mingled people. I came back in about 20 min later to ask if they called my name. They did. Gave me paperwork to fill out, I filled out and turned it in, then was told wait time is another 30 minutes to get the shot. I again went outside to wait because there were so many people at the counter, coming and going for various activities, some were not wearing their masks correctly (only on their mouth). I got the shot eventually and practically ran out of the store.

I wish Covid vaccines could be administered outside. In a tent with at least one side fully opened, and registering, paperworks, and shots done all at once.
 
I received my flu shot about a month ago at Walgreens.

Here's my experience in Southern California:
A long line of people, some to fill prescriptions, some to pick up prescriptions, a lot of them to get flu shots.

For flu shot people, we first registered, and were told to wait for our names to be called to fill out paperwork, estimated wait time 30 minutes. I waited mostly outside to avoid mingled people. I came back in about 20 min later to ask if they called my name. They did. Gave me paperwork to fill out, I filled out and turned it in, then was told wait time is another 30 minutes to get the shot. I again went outside to wait because there were so many people at the counter, coming and going for various activities, some were not wearing their masks correctly (only on their mouth). I got the shot eventually and practically ran out of the store.

I wish Covid vaccines could be administered outside. In a tent with at least one side fully opened, and registering, paperworks, and shots done all at once.
Years ago I got my flu shot via drive thru in my doctors parking lot. Easy and simple.
They emailed you the paperwork, I printed and filled out a simple form.
Had to bring it with you as well as a copy of your insurance card and ID.
 
Iowa numbers today and recent news: As of 10:00-11:00 a.m., we had 4,432 new confirmed cases for a total of 184,865 confirmed cases of which 107,880 are recovering (+340). 13 more were reported to have passed away for a total of 1,985. There are 76,805 active positive cases with a 24 hr. positivity rate of 43% (IMO that has gone down the last 3 days). 208 were hospitalized in the last 24 hrs. for a total of 1,279 (new daily reocord +18). Here are the approximate daily age group increases (1 total short): 0-17: 17,533 (+504); 18-40: 79,671 (+1,759); 41-60: 52,442 (+1,339); 61-80: 27,361 (+713); & 81+: 7,634 (+116).
Nov. 15: Iowa reports 4,432 new cases, 13 more deaths
Iowa COVID-19 Information Daily case totals updated at 11:00 a.m.
Iowa COVID-19 Information Current hospital data
* On a side note and IMO, it is my understanding from reading about antigen tests in other states, that those postive test results are only probable and only the PCR tests are confirmed. MSN in Iowa (at least KWWL) has always reported all results as being confired even after IDPH started including antigen results in their reports. Here is where you can find this info: Iowa COVID-19 Information Tells how many are PCR or Antigen positive
It is also my understanding and IMO that some Antigen tests are more likely to be false postive than the PCR tests (maybe false negative too?)
As coronavirus cases rise, health care workers fear about what the coming days and weeks could bring
Polk County, Iowa hospitals handling influx of COVID-19 patients
Waterloo workers allege employers threaten discipline for COVID-19 quarantine

I saw your stat above at 43% positivity rate and went to google more because that is the highest positivity rate I recall seeing to date. Sure enough, as you stated it has even receded from Nov. 12: “The number of active positive cases in the state is 65,001. The positivity rate from the last 24 hours is 50 percent.“. This is incredible figure. That means, imo, that there a whooooole bunch more of people out there are positive, that we could be missing who are asymptomatic. This indicates, imo, that there is mass community spread in this area.

ETA: Is this the highest positive rate we are seeing to date, or am I having a brainfart and forgetting a previous positivity rate which was this high? (@dixiegirl1035 or anyone who may remember. I’m googling as we speak.)



ETA2 / More on Iowa:

Ventilator usage for COVID-19 patients reaches record high

“We are not reporting the number of tests conducted or the positivity rate because of recent revelations that the state doesn’t make all testing data available to the public, which can skew the positivity rate.“

Hmm. I wonder if the above positivity rate is skewed then.

—-

ETA3:

“But thousands of tests are still happening in Iowa, unbeknownst to the public, and if the state did count each specimen, including repeats, Trombino said Iowa’s positivity rate would certainly be lower.”

Unreleased COVID data from state shows higher testing numbers, lower positivity rate
Oct. 28, 2020
 
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Texas:

Incarcerated Texans asked to work in county morgue as COVID-19 deaths overwhelm El Paso


“Images and video show the trustees moving bodies to the eight, soon to be 10, mobile morgues set up outside the medical examiner’s office.

It’s a temporary assignment, Acosta said, while the county awaits the arrival of the National Guard.”
—-

Thousands of cars form lines to collect food in Covid-hit Texas - CNN

“Photos provided by NTFB show thousands of cars lined up for NTFB's Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry at Fair Park. Kuruan said the need for food "has certainly increased" with the pandemic, with Texas last week becoming the first US state to report 1 million cases of coronavirus.
"Forty percent of the folks coming through our partners doors are doing so for the first time," she said.“


Interactive map shows COVID-19 risk in Lubbock | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com


An Austin man participated in the Pfizer vaccine trials. He spoke with KVUE about his experience. | kvue.com
 
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I saw your stat above at 43% positivity rate and went to google more because that is the highest positivity rate I recall seeing to date. Sure enough, as you stated it has even receded from Nov. 12: “The number of active positive cases in the state is 65,001. The positivity rate from the last 24 hours is 50 percent.“. This is incredible figure. That means, imo, that there a whooooole bunch more of people out there are positive, that we could be missing who are asymptomatic. This indicates, imo, that there is mass community spread in this area.

ETA: Is this the highest positive rate we are seeing to date, or am I having a brainfart and forgetting a previous positivity rate which was this high? (@dixiegirl1035 or anyone who may remember. I’m googling as we speak.)



ETA2 / More on Iowa:

Ventilator usage for COVID-19 patients reaches record high

“We are not reporting the number of tests conducted or the positivity rate because of recent revelations that the state doesn’t make all testing data available to the public, which can skew the positivity rate.“

Hmm. I wonder if the above positivity rate is skewed then.

—-

ETA3:

“But thousands of tests are still happening in Iowa, unbeknownst to the public, and if the state did count each specimen, including repeats, Trombino said Iowa’s positivity rate would certainly be lower.”

Unreleased COVID data from state shows higher testing numbers, lower positivity rate
Oct. 28, 2020
IMO-Out of the 5 main news stations in Iowa, there are only 2 that are reporting the daily positivity rates and to be honest, I have only started reporting them in the last couple of weeks. From what I read though, there are many people that do follow those rates. To be even more honest, I haven't really payed that much attention to them until I started reporting them. And I really don't know how accurate they really are or how IDPH is calculating the daily positity rates. I do know they have 2-weeks averages on their covid site as well as other rates IIRC. ETA-Here is where you can find positivity rates (looks like it even includes daily rates). Those don't match anywhere near what the news stations are reporting of over 40% IMO.Iowa COVID-19 Information
 
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Whitmer closing high schools, colleges, in-person dining, casinos, theaters

Governor Whittmer announced new Covid restrictions

but here is the absolute killer statement by Dr. Scott Atlas (from the white house)

' THE ONLY WAY THIS STOPS IF PEOPLE RISE UP- YOU GET WHAT YOU ACCEPT"

The good doctor denies he is encouraging violence in response to Governor Whitmer's new restrictions.

As I live and breathe I never thought I would ever, could ever, see anything this horrible
coming from any white house- EVER EVER EVER

It is heart-stopping-
 
<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

The Biden Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Prepare for Future Global Health Threats

highlights:

The Biden Plan calls for:

  • Restoring trust, credibility, and common purpose.
  • Mounting an effective national emergency response that saves lives, protects frontline workers, and minimizes the spread of COVID-19.
  • Eliminating cost barriers for prevention of and care for COVID-19.
  • Pursuing decisive economic measures to help hard-hit workers, families, and small businesses and to stabilize the American economy.
  • Rallying the world to confront this crisis while laying the foundation for the future.
Biden believes we must immediately put scientists and public health leaders front and center in communication with the American people in order to provide regular guidance and deliver timely public health updates, including by immediately establishing daily, expert-led press briefings.

Ensure that public health decisions are made by public health professionals and not politicians

Make Testing Widely Available and Free

Establish at least ten mobile testing sites and drive-through facilities per state to speed testing and protect health care workers.

Just a sample, plenty more at link.
 
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CDC / Nov. 13
Risk Assessment and Management of COVID-19 Among Travelers ...


“CDC: Symptom-based COVID-19 airport screening ineffective

Data published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) shows that resource-intensive, symptom-based airline passenger entry screening identified few laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases—only 1 case for every 85,000 travelers screened. The researchers also highlight the inadequacy of electronic airline data for contact tracing, finding that only 22% of records contain both the traveler's phone number and physical address.

In January, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) instituted enhanced, symptom-based screening for air passengers returning from certain countries with widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Initial screening for passengers arriving from Wuhan, China, at three major US airports was expanded over time to include travelers arriving from mainland China, Iran, Europe, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brazil at 15 US airports.

From Jan 17 to Sep 13, a total of 766,044 travelers were screened, with 298 (0.04%) who met criteria for public health assessment, 35 (0.005%) tested for SARS-CoV-2, and 9 (0.001%) having a positive test result. Manual data collection resulted in 98.1% complete records—containing both the traveler's phone number and address.

"Symptom-based screening programs are ineffective because of the nonspecific clinical presentation of COVID-19 and asymptomatic cases," the CDC experts wrote.”

more at link
COVID-19 Scan for Nov 13, 2020
 
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The Biden Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Prepare for Future Global Health Threats

I especially like these: MOO

  • Directing the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to prepare for potential deployment of military resources, both the active and reserve components, and work with governors to prepare for potential deployment of National Guard resources, to provide medical facility capacity, logistical support, and additional medical personnel if necessary. This includes activating the Medical Reserve Corps, which consists of nearly 200,000 volunteer health care professionals who stand ready to serve across America; training and deploying additional surge capacity, including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/DOD medical equipment and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Disaster Assistance Medical Teams; and directing and assisting existing hospitals to surge care for 20% more patients than current capacity through flexible staffing, use of telemedicine support, and delaying elective procedures.
  • Ensuring that training, materials, and resources reach federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and safety-net hospitals, which are typically resource-poor and care disproportionately for vulnerable populations that will bear the brunt of COVID-19. This effort will lay the foundation for a deeper and more lasting public health infrastructure for accessible national health care for all.
 
  • Give all frontline workers high-quality and appropriate personal protective equipment – and enough of it and appropriate training to use it – so they don’t become infected. If our health care workers, first responders, and essential workers like transportation and food workers cannot function, we cannot protect and care for the public. The Biden Plan calls for issuing guidance to states and localities to ensure first responders and public health officials are prioritized to receive protective personal equipment and launching an education campaign to inform the general public about equipment that should be reserved for professionals.
Providing the Resources Necessary to Achieve These Outcomes

The Biden Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Prepare for Future Global Health Threats
 
Sadly I 100% agree with you. My gut is in a knot. Rise up? Rise up against the government, come the White House? OMG

Whitmer closing high schools, colleges, in-person dining, casinos, theaters

Governor Whittmer announced new Covid restrictions

but here is the absolute killer statement by Dr. Scott Atlas (from the white house)

' THE ONLY WAY THIS STOPS IF PEOPLE RISE UP- YOU GET WHAT YOU ACCEPT"

The good doctor denies he is encouraging violence in response to Governor Whitmer's new restrictions.

As I live and breathe I never thought I would ever, could ever, see anything this horrible
coming from any white house- EVER EVER EVER

It is heart-stopping-
 
The Osterholm Update: COVID-19
COVID-19 Podcasts and Webinars
 
  • Give all frontline workers high-quality and appropriate personal protective equipment – and enough of it and appropriate training to use it – so they don’t become infected. If our health care workers, first responders, and essential workers like transportation and food workers cannot function, we cannot protect and care for the public. The Biden Plan calls for issuing guidance to states and localities to ensure first responders and public health officials are prioritized to receive protective personal equipment and launching an education campaign to inform the general public about equipment that should be reserved for professionals.
Providing the Resources Necessary to Achieve These Outcomes

The Biden Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Prepare for Future Global Health Threats

^^^^Ten thousand likes!
 
Whitmer closing high schools, colleges, in-person dining, casinos, theaters

Governor Whittmer announced new Covid restrictions

but here is the absolute killer statement by Dr. Scott Atlas (from the white house)

' THE ONLY WAY THIS STOPS IF PEOPLE RISE UP- YOU GET WHAT YOU ACCEPT"

The good doctor denies he is encouraging violence in response to Governor Whitmer's new restrictions.

As I live and breathe I never thought I would ever, could ever, see anything this horrible
coming from any white house- EVER EVER EVER

It is heart-stopping-

Heart-stopping indeed! And then Atlas walks it back and said he was just taking about voting. That isn’t what certain militants hear IMO. How is this different from the “Liberate Michigan” tweet that inspired the kidnap plot?
 
Here are a few tips to get through the next few months:

  • Be honest – There will be times you have to stand up for what’s right, so be firm.
  • Don't be cruel – Acknowledge the sacrifices people are making and be willing to forgive. Remember that every life has value.
  • We need essential contact – Get food and medications in the safest way feasible. Seek medical care if needed. Get your flu shot now.
  • Connect with others – Form a small, tight, and clearly delineated bubble for human contact. Connect with people whom you cannot safely visit through phone calls, video chats, email, letters, etc. Get creative.
  • Avoid gatherings outside of those you live with or who are in your bubble. Limit holiday gatherings. While the pain and pressure is immense, the consequences could be tragic.
  • Avoid public transportation – Flying cannot be done without potential exposure and would be the equivalent of popping the bubble.
  • Get tested if you have symptoms, and seek medical care when you need it. Isolate yourself if positive and participate in contact tracing.
  • Work remotely if possible. If you have to go out in public, wear a mask and keep your distance from others – Always remember that a mask alone will not offer you full protection—it’s just one layer of protection.
  • Find things that bring you joy. Shut off the TV and limit your exposure to the news.
  • Exercise to stay healthy.
  • Seek help if you need it – Look into therapy or a SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamp. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
  • Love yourself and be kind.
  • Believe that we’re going to get through this. Prepare yourself for the long haul, which will be worth it in the end.
  • If you have the means, donate and share your time or money to help others.
For more information, listen to the Osterholm Update: COVID-19, Episode 29: Finding the light at the end of the tunnel (25:00).”
 
We are having a bit of an outbreak at the moment in my state. It started last night with a case being identified in an 80 year old woman. It was traced back to her relative who works at a quarantine hotel. The relative's partner also tested positive, as did another relative who works at a jail. So that was 4 community spread cases last night.
Today we are up to 17 (so far) as they are busy contact tracing.

Mass testing, tracing, aged care lockdowns, and school closures/cleaning are happening already.

First community spread cases we have had since 16th April. So many people are upset that we are still bringing Aussies home while the world is in such a mess. What a quandry.



SA’s chief public health officer, Nicola Spurrier, said on Sunday she was concerned because the cases were members of a large family, raising concerns that a large cluster may emerge.
More than 100 people have been ordered to self-isolate by health authorities while contact tracing is under way.

SA’s premier, Steven Marshall, told radio 5AA on Monday morning: “It is a very dangerous situation that we’re in here in South Australia at the moment, and it’s really going to require the cooperation of every single citizen for us to get on top of this.”
He urged people to come forward for testing if they had been in an identified hotspot, or if they have any symptoms.

The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, said on Monday he had been briefed by Australia’s chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, and resources had been offered to boost the state’s contact tracing system.
“We are standing up the national incident centre contact tracing capability to assist South Australia, we have offered them the ADF [Australian defence force], and if more is required, more will be provided,” Hunt told ABC news.

“But these are the sorts of challenges that if we trade or engage with the world, if we bring Australians home, we will face, in a world where there’s over half a million cases a day. Having these strong testing, tracing and isolation systems are absolutely critical.”

South Australia coronavirus cluster: what we know so far
 
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