Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #58

[CharlestonGal]

US with 617 deaths so far today, with about 80% states reporting.

 

[ilovewings]

What's Your Risk? Activities Rated
From camping to dining out: Here's how experts rate the risks of 14 summer activities

very informative---thanks for sharing this info

 

[MsMarple]

What's Your Risk? Activities Rated
From camping to dining out: Here's how experts rate the risks of 14 summer activities

Thanks for the link! And speaking of camping...

Today I spoke with my friend in the health department here in Jefferson county Washington and she told me Phase 2 was just approved. So some services like hair salons, dentists, etc. will open up. Restaurants will remain curbside only and other non essential businesses will remain closed.

So no camping in the county. However, when Clallam county opens up for camping Jefferson will too. And when Kitsap county opens up then Jefferson will open restaurants. Right now it looks like masks will be required.

The reason for the domino effect for opening up further is that we are in proximity to King county and want to avoid causing an influx of people coming over to camp and go to restaurants.

Jefferson county has a total of 30 cases but the most recent one was from a traveler and that person has been taken home. No one in my town tested positive - most cases were west of us.

I had a periodontist appointment last week after my original appointment was cancelled. The office waiting room is small and after answering questions by the nurse she told me if there were two other people in the waiting room I'd stay in my car until called.

When I got there they took my temp and ask the usual questions again. They also asked me to use the hand sanitizer when I entered. They had a container for "dirty" pens for people who signed credit card payment and the receptionist cleaned my credit card with sanitizer after processing my bill. I used my own pen.

All in all I felt comfortable going to my appointment.

 

[Chelly]

We have many drive-thru restaurants here. I don’t get down from the car, and I make MrTony do the shopping. I’m 71 with an auto-immune disorder (Ménière’s.) he’s 75 and hand-washes, masks and wears gloves. We have isolated for 8 weeks. The longest he’s had to go without practicing medicine. I take 5,000 units of Vit D every day, but I’m considering doing what my British grandmother in the Caribbean did: G&T, lime, chipped ice. Maybe I can deal with the raccoons in a calmer fashion.

Love your post. Keep on keeping on. G&T, lime, chipped ice....just what the doctor ordered.

 

[katydid23]

Uh oh.

"Number of cases over the eight-week analysis period were 0-19 years n = 515, 20-39 years n = 4078, 40-59 years n =4788, 60-79 years n = 3221, 80+ years n = 1332. New cases increased steadily among 0-19 and 20-39-year olds. After the peak (March 22, 2020), there was no decline among age 0-19 and a lesser decline among age 20-39 than older groups. As incidence declined in older age groups, the combined percentage of cases age 0-19 and 20-39 increased from 20% to 40% of total cases."

COVID-19 Confirmed Case Incidence Age Shift to Young Persons Age 0-19 and 20-39 Years Over Time: Washington State March - April 2020

Has the death rate percentage among the younger patients risen along with the number of cases?

 

[katydid23]

It would be encouraging to see double figure deaths for the UK today or tomorrow. Last weeks 'low' figures on Sun/Mon were 170/160, the week before 268/210, week before that 315/288. Double figures might be a stretch but fingers crossed.

Encouraging to see double figure deaths? How so?

 

[CSIDreamer]

Encouraging to see double figure deaths? How so?

It's better than triple figures.

 

[katydid23]

Advise please! We've been invited to our son and fiancee's for a cook out tomorrow. We could see our grandson, granddaughter and 2 soon to be grandsons who we haven't seen since late January. Fiancee's parents invited too who we haven't met yet. It would be outdoors with plenty of space for social distancing. Everyone there has followed strict guidelines for social distancing and masking, washing hands etc. I want to go soooo bad! We can take our own plates, utensils and pop. What do you think?

If you social distance, and others do as well, maybe it would work. I'd wear a mask too, but maybe that's just me.

 

[katydid23]

It's better than triple figures.

OHHHH, I thought it meant 'double' as in double yesterday's total....sorry...

 

[anneg]

On Jan 24, the WHO reported 846 confirmed cases worldwide. Six days later, the WHO declared a pandemic. The World Health Organisation has been criticised for not declaring a pandemic quickly enough.

At the moment, NC has 10,943 active cases with 500 new cases today.

So, is the WHO being unfairly criticised, or is there good reason to be concerned about being out in public?

COVID-19 situation reports

I'm way behind on this thread, but better late than never, I suppose.

BBM. The WHO did not declare it a pandemic until MARCH 11. They were justifiably criticized for the delay, IMO. I'm not anti-WHO, but I don't understand why it took them so long to do it.
WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020

 

[10ofRods]

Several tickets issued at crowded Toronto park after people spotted urinating, defecating in driveways, backyards

Several tickets issued at crowded Toronto park after people spotted urinating, defecating in driveways, backyards

So...what is this secondary phenomena we're seeing? Where people are fighting, shooting at each other, blocking traffic on purpose, going places in higher numbers than usual even for Memorial day - and now this kind of stuff?

Too many people, no preparedness for unprecedented wave of people out in public?

It's amazing and fascinating and in two weeks we'll know a lot about the effects of this weekend. Heck - by Tuesday-Wednesday, we may see hospitalizations go up.

We are seeing that already, in Texas (Houston area). There were pictures of early "opening up" doings in the region.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Several tickets issued at crowded Toronto park after people spotted urinating, defecating in driveways, backyards

Several tickets issued at crowded Toronto park after people spotted urinating, defecating in driveways, backyards

That’s disgusting.

I’ve seen some parks that draw circles.
Number the circles.
Have a sign in at the park entrances.
Give a number to each group.
One person in each group has to show ID and agrees to be the responsible party.
Take a picture of the ID.
Wristbands for everyone.

TELL them there are no bathrooms open.
And a hefty fine for crap.

We can’t rely on every person to do what we think is the right and safe thing. Sad

 

[katydid23]

Pot meet kettle.

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is likely to impose travel restrictions on Brazil on Sunday, a top White House official said after the South American nation became the world No. 2 hot spot for coronavirus cases.

National security adviser Robert O’Brien told CBS’ “Face the Nation” there will likely be a decision to suspend entry for travelers arriving from Brazil.

“We hope that’ll be temporary, but because of the situation in Brazil, we’re going to take every step necessary to protect the American people,” O’Brien said."

U.S. may ban travelers from Brazil on Sunday over outbreak: White House

Pot meet kettle...does that mean we shouldn't close our border to Brazilian travellers?

 

[10ofRods]

I'm way behind on this thread, but better late than never, I suppose.

BBM. The WHO did not declare it a pandemic until MARCH 11. They were justifiably criticized for the delay, IMO. I'm not anti-WHO, but I don't understand why it took them so long to do it.
WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020

Political pressures for one thing. And it's not just during whatever current political situation we're in, it's all the time. WHO has been faltering for years. There's a certain degree of "voting" (by informed people and some scientists) within WHO, but it's not as if it's the International Congress of Infectious Disease.

Which is why some nations were watching the data like a hawk and getting their own separate council (Turkey, interestingly, is among them).

 

[Tillicum]

So...what is this secondary phenomena we're seeing? Where people are fighting, shooting at each other, blocking traffic on purpose, going places in higher numbers than usual even for Memorial day - and now this kind of stuff?

Too many people, no preparedness for unprecedented wave of people out in public?

It's amazing and fascinating and in two weeks we'll know a lot about the effects of this weekend. Heck - by Tuesday-Wednesday, we may see hospitalizations go up.

We are seeing that already, in Texas (Houston area). There were pictures of early "opening up" doings in the region.

Well we could say people are being selfish, rude, inconsiderate, disgusting, dumb and on and on but IMO it all boils down to a percentage of people are not emotionally and/or mentally equipped to deal with this pandemic. I think it could be even worse if we hadn't started opening up. Rebellion, desperation, fear and anger, we don't all know how to express our emotions in a logical manner. Every person on this earth has had their lives changed forever. Some can't cope anymore. We can't leave our home without fearing every person we pass by. Family, friends and strangers - any one of them could unintentionally infect us with this deadly virus. We could unknowingly infect someone we love. We need peace. We need hope. We need to hug and be hugged without fear of possibly killing or being killed. When the world is filled with suffering and death it's only natural to desire our normal routines, something normal to hold on to. Then there are some people who are just plain spoiled and always have to have their way even before this pandemic.

We need a miracle.

 

[10ofRods]

TY for posting this. Heartbreaking stories there. This is why we have to reopen now and get back to work to prevent a depression.

It's not going to prevent a depression, unfortunately. The very people who are out in the streets trying to do their best to buy a few beers, spend some gas money and eat a couple of meals out - are the unemployed (at least that's true in a lot of the US - but also elsewhere, where ever unemployment rates are up). IMO.

Restaurants are not all going to recover. Hotels will still be hard hit. Travel will be way, way down (due to new policies all around the world, and due to low demand for many types of travel).

Cruises will apparently do well. And amusement parks. But not theaters.

Invest in cruises, bars and amusement parks, I guess.

Divest from all private hospitals?

It'll be a depression all right - but the sectors it hits will probably give some of us cause for dismay. Maybe it'll be better for retail/cars/restaurants - but somehow, I doubt it.

 

[katydid23]

Florida's scientist was fired for refusing to 'manipulate' COVID-19 data

IMO, there is much more to that story. It seems her claims have been debunked.

Public remarks prompted Florida virus data curator's firing

 

[katydid23]

From the article above:
After USA TODAY Network first reported Jones' removal from her position in charge of the Florida COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard she created, she confirmed, as reported by CBS-12 in West Palm Beach that she was fired because she was ordered to censor some data, but refused to "manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen."

Great: now in the open, for all to see.

Not really.

Public remarks prompted Florida virus data curator's firing

In the CNN interview, Jones was asked whether she was removed because of an attitude problem.

“Somewhat, yes, if refusing to mislead the public during a health crisis is insubordination then I will wear that badge with honor,” Jones answered.

Florida releases its data daily in three ways that Jones helped manage: Reports in text and graphics, a dashboard map and a raw data hub, including breakdowns at county and ZIP code levels. Federal coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Brix has praised Florida’s presentation as especially granular and user-friendly.

Jones was told to resign or be fired last Monday and her last work day was Thursday, after a pattern of overstepping her duties as data manager. The final straw came May 15, when she vented in emails to researchers and other data recipients that she’d been reassigned, suggesting they should now doubt the data’s integrity.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show a supervisor warned Jones on April 9 after she posted a message on a newspaper Facebook page about the dashboard. She was told she needs approval before publicly discussing the work. Less than two weeks later, she was warned again when a mapping company’s online magazine published an extensive interview with Jones. Her supervisor later found a public blog in which Jones discussed the dashboard, released unauthorized charts and added “political commentary” in posts that appear to have been taken down.

The supervisor, Craig Curry, detailed each incident in an email to the department’s human resources office on May 6 and was told he could begin the process of firing her. But in that same email, Curry also praised Jones, saying she did “fantastic work.”

With an expertise in geography and tropical storms, Jones, 30, also has cited her dismay over Health Department officials taking down a category field in line data for individual COVID-19 cases — but says all data was restored later unaltered.

Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson said that Jones’s pushback was over the “EventDate” category, which is when a patient reports first remembering having possible symptoms and is separate from when the illness is confirmed.

“Event date is not the important field,” Roberson said. “A case is deemed when you have that laboratory result as positive.”

Roberson said Florida’s data is updated as it becomes available daily. “Every day our data is accurate, it’s factual, it’s true, it’s transparent,” she said.

Jones has not responded to requests from The Associated Press for comment.

 

[mickey2942]

It's not going to prevent a depression, unfortunately. The very people who are out in the streets trying to do their best to buy a few beers, spend some gas money and eat a couple of meals out - are the unemployed (at least that's true in a lot of the US - but also elsewhere, where ever unemployment rates are up). IMO.

Restaurants are not all going to recover. Hotels will still be hard hit. Travel will be way, way down (due to new policies all around the world, and due to low demand for many types of travel).

Cruises will apparently do well. And amusement parks. But not theaters.

Invest in cruises, bars and amusement parks, I guess.

Divest from all private hospitals?

It'll be a depression all right - but the sectors it hits will probably give some of us cause for dismay. Maybe it'll be better for retail/cars/restaurants - but somehow, I doubt it.

Right now, in Las Vegas, it is a complete spend fest. People are not losing money in casinos, and they are all getting $600 extra a week, plus their weekly benefit amount.

Folks are eating out, buying new phones, laptops, tvs. Most of these folks live paycheck to paycheck. And this money, for many of them, is more than they make a month.

This is sort of like a lull, before the storm. Many of these folks may never get hired back. Things are going to hit hard in the fall. Even with UI extensions, that extra $600 a week ends July 30th.

 

[firebird]

IMO, there is much more to that story. It seems her claims have been debunked.

Public remarks prompted Florida virus data curator's firing

The examples she gave at the link are below. It was also mentioned that a person with a history of sexual cyberstalking and harassment shouldn't be in charge of anything cyber-related.

"A police report from Tallahassee Police shows a man claimed to be a victim of revenge *advertiser censored* by Rebekah Jones in June 2019. The man told police he had an injunction against Jones for a year until it recently expired. He said Jones posted a website, which included naked pictures of him, and shared it with his place of employment and family members. Jones pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor stalking charges."

COVID-19 dashboard designer faces sexual cyber harassment charges, DeSantis says

Here are the examples of "manipulating" data she gave:

"She has, however, suggested Health Department managers wanted her to manipulate information to paint a rosier picture and that she pushed back. In an interview late Friday on CNN she finally cited some detail, after several days of vague statements.

She said the state made changes in April to support its initial reopening May 4, for example by altering the way it reports the positivity rate of testing in a way she disagreed with. Instead of showing the rate of all positive tests, it began showing the rate of new positive tests — filtering out people who previously tested positive.

This was not a behind-the-scenes change. DeSantis announced it at an April 24 news conference, arguing it was the better figure for assessing trends in testing and control of the outbreak.

Jones also said she opposed how health officials decided to exempt rural counties below 75,000 population from more stringent criteria for reopening — such as showing a downward trajectory of new cases or case positivity in the past 14 days. However, federal guidelines allow states to compute criteria at the state level or to tailor a regional approach that takes into account the severity of outbreak in regions. Florida’s small rural counties have had fewer cases and deaths — 21 of them have had no deaths. In such counties, a favorable 14-day trend could easily be upended by a small — but containable — spike in cases."