Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #82

[CharlestonGal]

Coronavirus has killed more Americans than Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and World War I combined

he ongoing coronavirus pandemic has now claimed more American lives than the total number of U.S. soldiers killed during historic conflicts in Vietnam, Korean, Iraq, Afghanistan and World War I.

While the aforementioned conflicts killed 155,072 soldiers, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. coronavirus epidemic has claimed over 205,600 as of October 5, 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University. In fact, the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 155,000 in late July, according to Johns Hopkins.

 

[tresir2012]

Deleted

 

[SouthAussie]

Looks like we are slowing down our expectation of a covid vaccine.


COVID-19 vaccine timeframe still an 'educated gamble' as Government reveals July rollout is the 'earlier' scenario

The Government said a "population‑wide Australian COVID-19 vaccination program" is assumed to be fully in place by late 2021, with "general social distancing restrictions" assumed to continue until a vaccine is fully available.

"The most likely outcome is that the vaccine is partially effective, limited in the number of people who develop a response or it's only effective for a short duration," he (Dr Khorshid) said.

This was backed up by vaccine expert and Westmead Institute founding director Tony Cunningham who said all countries currently attempting to develop a COVID-19 vaccine were aiming for 50 per cent effectiveness.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10...ut-still-gamble-budget-papers-reveal/12736192

 

[Lilibet]

Over 80k deaths were preventable - I agree. But the rest weren't. Why aren't flu deaths preventable too? Noone gives a fig about them and more children die of flu than coronavirus. Also, how do you account for the enormous differences between the individual states death rates?

<modsnip>

.....there is no vaccine for Covid-19 yet.

All we have are the tried and true methods scientists like Dr Fauci, etc have been trying to educate us about: wash our hands, wear a mask, social distance. Many lives could have been saved if these methods had been promoted and supported at the highest level of the U.S. government as early as February. Governors have been maligned on Twitter from the highest level of government for trying to limit gatherings and get a handle on things last spring. Masks and social distancing were and are mocked. The virus was and is minimized. All from the highest level of government. Constantly.

As a result, lives have been lost, way above and beyond those in nursing homes that you mention. Many, many were preventable. Because of poor preparation and management (all linked through these threads) PPE’s were not available to all front line health care workers, and so they died while caring for patients. I could go on and on, but this should be enough to let you know that this country has been through a horrible, horrible time. And it continues. Many of us are traumatized watching this play out day after day. We can’t just turn away from those who are dying and refuse to pay attention.

<modsnip>
JMO MOO

 

[tresir2012]

We have all had the virus enter our countries. We all still have the virus entering our countries with returning citizens.

The US is not unique in this way. We had our first 'known' virus case in January this year. Same as the US.

"How could the US have prevented the entry of the virus" was the question though.

I’m curious why you think “no one gives a fig about flu deaths”? Flu is a big deal here (Australia) every year and people are strongly encouraged to get their flu shots.

Because they have never had preventatives regarding the spread of it like they have with Covid. It has been admitted that the measures like hand washing and education has also prevented the spread of flu this year too and saved thousands of lives. South Aussie or you I believe said that in one of your posts. So why has this not been emphasized before to save flu deaths, especially among children and the elderly? PPE in care homes for one example alone.

ETA this is the link previously posted about how flu deaths had been prevented

This time last year 430 people had died from influenza. This year it's just 36

 

[Lilibet]

Coronavirus has killed more Americans than Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and World War I combined

he ongoing coronavirus pandemic has now claimed more American lives than the total number of U.S. soldiers killed during historic conflicts in Vietnam, Korean, Iraq, Afghanistan and World War I.

While the aforementioned conflicts killed 155,072 soldiers, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. coronavirus epidemic has claimed over 205,600 as of October 5, 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University. In fact, the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 155,000 in late July, according to Johns Hopkins.

Yes, and what we have to add to these statistics is that the approximately 207,000 who have died in the U.S. have died in about eight months...compared to being spread out over years in these wars and conflicts. That doesn’t make the deaths of those in war less important, but it emphasizes the emotional toll these deaths from Covid-19 in such a short time have taken on the American heart.

 

[Tigerlily75]

Because they have never had preventatives regarding the spread of it like they have with Covid. It has been admitted that the measures like hand washing and education has also prevented the spread of flu this year too and saved thousands of lives. South Aussie or you I believe said that in one of your posts. So why has this not been emphasized before to save flu deaths, especially among children and the elderly? PPE in care homes for one example alone.

It’s made a big deal of here including promotion of hygiene, promotion of flu shots etc. Its a manageable disease. It’s a really big deal to shut down an entire economy and COVID was a whole new (dare I say “unprecedented”) event, as well as a novel - no one quite knew how bad it was going to get. It’s really a whole different ball game.
<modsnip>

 

[SouthAussie]

Yes, and what we have to add to these statistics is that the approximately 207,000 who have did in the U.S. have died in about eight months...compared to being spread out over years in these wars and conflicts. That doesn’t make the deaths of those in war less important, but it emphasizes the emotional toll these deaths from Covid-19 in such a short time have taken on the American heart.

Lilibet, I cannot tell you how much this pains us all to see. The US escalating death count is on our news just about every day, along with our own covid news. You are not alone in your sorrow for your country.

IMO

 

[HongKongPhooey]

It must be a matter of perspective.

It's not intended to remind people of the disease. It's intended to remind people of things like growing lettuce in their gardens to use in case they couldn't buy toilet paper and sharing tips on how to make your own sanitizer or masks.

Lettuce?!! I missed that memo

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Lilibet, I cannot tell you how much this pains us all to see. The US escalating death count is on our news just about every day, along with our own covid news. You are not alone in your sorrow for your country.

IMO

I second this.

And I cant tell you how fearful many of us here in the UK are right now, with the second wave hitting us full in the face. I feel so disconnected from people here who just dont seem to get it.

I spoke to a friend in a northern town last night who is not allowed to visit her elderly mother now, as households cannot mix at all. Our students are spending their first weeks locked down in tiny rooms, hanging signs from their windows. The high numbers in the north will IMO inevitably sink down towards the south, London cases are rising already. Wales is being hard hit and there's talk of them banning people travelling. Scotland is introducing tougher measures today.

It feels out of control again here, it's a terrible feeling.

 

[tresir2012]

I second this.

And I cant tell you how fearful many of us here in the UK are right now, with the second wave hitting us full in the face. I feel so disconnected from people here who just dont seem to get it.

I spoke to a friend in a northern town last night who is not allowed to visit her elderly mother now, as households cannot mix at all. Our students are spending their first weeks locked down in tiny rooms, hanging signs from their windows. The high numbers in the north will IMO inevitably sink down towards the south, London cases are rising already. Wales is being hard hit and there's talk of them banning people travelling. Scotland is introducing tougher measures today.

It feels out of control again here, it's a terrible feeling.

Completely agree.

 

[Lilibet]

Lilibet, I cannot tell you how much this pains us all to see. The US escalating death count is on our news just about every day, along with our own covid news. You are not alone in your sorrow for your country.

IMO

I second this.

And I cant tell you how fearful many of us here in the UK are right now, with the second wave hitting us full in the face. I feel so disconnected from people here who just dont seem to get it.

I spoke to a friend in a northern town last night who is not allowed to visit her elderly mother now, as households cannot mix at all. Our students are spending their first weeks locked down in tiny rooms, hanging signs from their windows. The high numbers in the north will IMO inevitably sink down towards the south, London cases are rising already. Wales is being hard hit and there's talk of them banning people travelling. Scotland is introducing tougher measures today.

It feels out of control again here, it's a terrible feeling.

Thank you both for your empathy. I can feel it in all your posts. And my heart goes out to all who are facing this pandemic worldwide along with the uncertainty and sadness it brings. We here in the U.S. certainly don’t have a monopoly on feeling like things are out of control. All I can do is send those warm, squishy hugs I love to give.

 

[tresir2012]

@CharlestonGal and I have already explained how many, many deaths from Covid-19 could have been prevented in the United States in our posts quoted below. Our posts relate only to the United States. I think we have been very clear. ‘Nuf said.
JMO MOO

I think we agree then. I said "No one in government otherwise these hand washing messages, sanitizer, PPE messaging would have been paramount in prior years. It hasn't been in the UK before anyway."
JMOO

 

[tresir2012]

Everyone's out to make a buck. Masks are sold everywhere now. Think 8 months ago how silly buying a mask sounded.

Especially when it was known about 100 years ago. I agree. However we were told not to wear masks initially right?
So many mixed messages.

This link is an example.

A timeline of the Government's opposition to face coverings

WHO changed their advice - see below.

Coronavirus: WHO advises to wear masks in public areas

 

[GRT]

We are not talking about students in the UK. We are talking about thousands of people in the US getting together for unnecessary political rallies in the US. It's a whole other level of unnecessary super spreader events, not uni students partying.

Yes, those who take part in rallies without masks seem to be taking unnecessary risks, as well as those who have taken part in all those protests (more super spreaders) that never seem to end. Students partying, too, contribute to the spread because the virus isn't picky about who it infects.

 

[tresir2012]

This is an article from around the same time as WHO changed their guidance on masks. UK already had 39k deaths at that point in time. Our count now is 42k. US had 106k at that point.

Chart of the week: The UK's troubling record on deaths from Covid-19 compared internationally

 

[SouthAussie]

This is an article from around the same time as WHO changed there guidance on masks. UK already had 38k deaths at that point in time. Our count now is 42k.

Chart of the week: The UK's troubling record on deaths from Covid-19 compared internationally

Surely the UK was looking to its own infectious disease specialists for guidance?

Why would anyone - other than 3rd world countries - look to WHO for that type of guidance when we all have experts of our own?

We didn't wait for WHO's guidance .... I would venture to say that the UK didn't wait for WHO's guidance either.

IMO

 

[tresir2012]

Surely the UK was looking to its own infectious disease specialists for guidance?

Why would anyone - other than 3rd world countries - look to WHO for that type of guidance when we all have experts of our own?

We didn't wait for WHO to tell us to slam our borders closed when the virus started running rampant, or wait for them to tell us if we should or shouldn't wear masks. Evidently other countries were like my own country and looked to their own experts for guidance ... NZ, South Korea, Vietnam, Pacific Islands.

I would venture to say that the UK didn't wait for their guidance either.

IMO

It's in the UK timeline I posted four posts up.
Not listening to WHO would probably have saved us many deaths. That's my point. March thru June is when we had the majority of our deaths.
You clearly did the right thing not listening to them.

 

[SouthAussie]

If the virus spreads further through the autumn and winter, Iwasaki expects to see more reinfections, with some patients infectious enough to pass the virus on.

Flurry of coronavirus reinfections leaves scientists puzzled

 

[weepingangel]

How a 13-year-old spread COVID-19 to 11 relatives in four states | Boston.com
Much more at link

Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the health departments of four states — Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island — described a 13-year-old girl who became infected with the coronavirus just before a three-week family gathering. Eleven other relatives, including her mother, her father, two brothers and two grandparents, also became infected.