Coronavirus in the US

Parent Cafe
3601

@suteiki77 Thanks. Just to clarify, you mean the Chinese government is telling people to have two weeks of water and food, correct? I have seen nothing like that from the US government. In fact, hoarding water doesn’t make any sense. Tap water should remain just fine.

I have lost track of where I read what and so I could very well be wrong about the US government recommending 2 weeks of food and water, but our state govt is recommending that and I just listened to a pod cast by a Harvard pandemic expert doctor who also recommended it. Many people don’t have city water and if the power goes out the water goes out, too. I have wondered about why water is included in the recommendation but I always have some on hand because we have had water go off for a long time once and never want to have that type of experience gain.

3602

That video is disturbing.

3603

From the Nashville Tennessean:

Coronavirus has come to Tennessee.

Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday morning that the first confirmed case of coronavirus has been detected in Tennessee. This is the first time the deadly infectious virus has been found in the state.

Lee said the spread of coronavirus was “very serious,” but urged residents to keep the virus “in perspective,” since most cases are mild.

“As we’ve seen this week in Tennessee, preparedness is critical, and I have full confidence in the preparedness plan we have put in place,” Lee said.

The patient is a 44-year-old adult man and resident of Williamson County who recently traveled out of state. He is isolated at home with mild symptoms.

Health officials said his infection was confirmed within days of him returning from out of state. The patient self-quarantined when he got sick, then contacted doctors.

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a fast-spreading virus that originated in Wuhan, China, but has since become a worldwide epidemic. As of Thursday, the virus had infected about 93,000 people and killed 3,200, according to the World Health Organization.

In the United States, the virus had spread to 13 states – not including Tennessee – killed 11 people, according to federal authorities and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths have occurred in California and Washington state.

In Tennessee, the announcement of a confirmed case comes one day after the governor formed a new coronavirus task force, which was immediately followed by a state lawmaker downplaying the severity of coronavirus, equating it with the flu.

​The presence of coronavirus in Tennessee throws an additional hurdle at state officials who are still grappling with the aftermath of a deadly tornado that ripped across Middle Tennessee on Tuesday.

The closest known infections to Tennessee were in Illinois and Florida, until Monday night, when two new cases were confirmed in Georgia.

Medical experts, including the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, have urged the public to take commonplace precautions similar to how they would prevent the spread of flu: Wash your hands, avoid touching your face as much as possible and stay home if you feel sick.

Officials have advised that members of the public do not need to wear face masks or protective gear during everyday life.

At least some of infections in the U.S. have been detected in people with no known connection to international travel, so it remains unclear how the virus was contracted.

Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University, described these cases, with no clear origin, as a turning point in the spread of the virus.

“Before, this was something interesting and threatening and novel and exotic, but it was out there, it wasn’t here,” Schaffner said. “But with the advent of community associated cases, that has changed things. All the sudden it might be right here, and we don’t’ know about it

3604

NETHERLANDS - 44 new cases more than doubling the total to 82

IRAN - 591 new cases for a total of 3,513 and 15 new cases for a total of 107.

Iran will begin putting up checkpoints to limit travel between major cities and has urged people to reduce their use of banknotes as authorities try to restrict the spread. (Guardian)

3605

I listened to a Harvard pandemic expert who said something that sounded more scientific than what Trump said and was a little similar, but he would not put it at a fraction of 1%. I dislike ‘hunch’ being used and ‘I’d say it’s way under 1%’. Those are not responsible things to put out to the public at this time. People need to take this more seriously, not less seriously. The Harvard doctor did say it is possible that the rate is a lot lower because of just what Trump said, though, that many are having mild cases and not diagnosed. The WHO says over 3%. I’m sticking with what research is showing and what organizations like the WHO say until we have actual data to support any ‘hunches.’

3606

He can join up with the people on the other “what are you doing to prepare” thread who think it’s no big deal for people to lick or spit on their hands in the grocery store (and then touch the cart, the checkout, the produce, etc).

It would be nice if we could have separate grocery stores… one for the people who think this is a hoax or no big deal. People in that store can pick their nose, lick the cart, stop washing their hands after using the bathroom, whatever. Those of us who think it’s worth taking some basic precautions to contain this to protect older people, people with diabetes, people with heart and respiratory conditions, healthcare workers can shop at the other grocery store.

3607

Thanks for the response fang, but no need to yell. I asked the question (bcos I’m blissfully ignorant?) to become educated on why I might want to start caring about a lot of testing. Still not seeing the value to me (60+) as it is not actionable to me, but I get that others feel differently. (As per the wedding I’d follow the old sports injury report: game-time decision.)

3608

GREECE - 22 new bringing the total to 31, after 21 more people who came in contact with the country’s ninth confirmed case tested positive.

The country is moving into “phase 2” of the ministry’s health risk containment strategy, meaning that official measures will focus on containing the virus from spreading from western Greece.

SOUTH AFRICA - 1st case - a man, 38, who travelled to Italy with his wife in a group of 10 people who arrived back in South Africa on 1 March.

*GERMANY A rise of 182 within 24 hours. At least 444 people are infected in Germany. On Monday there were just 38 confirmed cases.

3609

@doschicos. That is the problem when you have people in higher office not listening to their own health officials. Sorta a pattern with this administration. You can’t “wish” it to go away.

3610

SWITZERLAND - 21 new cases for total of 114. 1st death - a 74-year-old woman in western Switzerland. The woman had been hospitalized at Lausanne’s University hospital in the canton of Vaud since Tuesday and was a high-risk patient suffering from chronic disease.

UK - UK response moving to second “delay” phase rather than seeking to simply “contain” the disease. “We have moved from a situation where we are mainly in contain, with some delay built in, to we are now mainly delay,” said Britain’s chief medical officer, although elements of the contain process would remain in place.

3611

@homerdog You seem confused. The mortality rate for COVID-19 is over 3% vs Flu at 0.1%. HCW are not the ones stealing sanitizer, it’s the families of the hospital bound that are stealing it. And lastly, I’ve been able to have a family member with the flu and the other family members didn’t get it. That doesn’t seem to be the case here. For some reason, it appears much more contagious. I don’t think I am going to die from it, but I don’t want to be stuck in a hospital for a few weeks with it either.

3612

Did somebody die in NY? That was part of what Trump said.

3613

All I know is the 2% or 3.4% mortality rate isn’t going to mean much when it comes to having a loved one who is 65+ and gets this. It will mean nothing then, their mortality rate is much higher and is being played out in Washington State. That is what I am worried about. And what about in Italy. Those 300 some cases that are “closed” with 28% dead. How many of those were 65+? I feel like we are hiding behind some kind of false mortality rate. I know by the math it is right but we need to do a better job of preparing certain groups of our population now to shelter in place. Maybe I am being hysterical but I am afraid we are going to see alot of death if this thing sweeps thru the US like it did in China.

3614

FRANCE - 2 new deaths

Almost 300 million students across the world are out of school due to coronavirus

"Almost 300 million students in thirteen countries have had their education disrupted by school closures over coronavirus, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said.

UNESCO said the children impacted normally attend “pre-primary to upper-secondary classes,” calling the number “without precedent.” The 290.5 million number only includes the countries with nationwide shutdowns. An additional nine countries have implemented localized school closings.

“While temporary school closures as a result of health and other crises are not new unfortunately, the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said.

According to the agency, school closures are problematic for the students’ learning achievement and also for parents struggling to balance work with childcare." (CNN)

Lufthansa cancels 7,100 flights this month

Lufthansa has canceled 7,100 European flights for March because of the spread of coronavirus and the impact it’s having on demand for flights.

The German airline says most of these canceled flights will be internal German flights and trips to Italy, accounting for around 25% of its total capacity. Lufthansa is also canceling all flights to Israel because of new entry regulations.

Earlier this week Lufthansa said it would ground 150 aircraft because of coronavirus, out of a total fleet of 770 aircraft." (CNN)

There are 162 cases of novel coronavirus in US

Source: CNN. [I edited to add in the TN case.]

According to the CDC there are 49 cases from repatriated citizens. According to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through US public health systems, there are 112 cases in 15 states. Bringing the total of coronavirus cases to 161.

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown:

Arizona – 2

California – 36 (includes 1 fatality)

Florida - 3
Georgia - 2
Illinois - 4

Massachusetts - 2
New Hampshire – 2
New Jersey - 1
New York - 13
North Carolina - 1

Oregon - 3
Rhode Island - 2

Tennessee - 1
Texas - 1
Washington state - 39 (includes 10 fatalities)

Wisconsin – 1

3615

[quote=“milee30, post:3606, topic:2080517”]

@milee30 Please stop mischaracterizing my post in the other thread and then insinuate that I think this virus is no big deal or that I don’t think it’s worth it to take necessary precautions for at risk people. That is absolutely not true.

3616

By all reports, pretty much all or all were elderly and had underlying conditions. Italy has on of the oldest populations in the world.

3617

German pharmacies to mix disinfectant themselves to meet coronavirus demand

"German pharmacies have been given permission by the country’s health ministry to mix disinfectant solutions themselves because of shortages due to coronavirus.

On its official Twitter account, the ministry said: “In light of the shortages caused by the coronavirus pharmacies are allowed to make disinfectant themselves. This exceptional regulation was made public yesterday by the Federal Agency for Workplace Protection and Workplace Health.” " (CNN)

A third county in Washington state has a coronavirus patient

A Grant County resident has “tested presumptive positive for COVID-19,” according to the Grant County Health District’s Facebook page. The man is hospitalized at Central Washington Hospital…

This brings the total number of cases of coronavirus in Washington state to 40.

This is first case of coronavirus in Grant County, Washington state.

Health officials in Washington state have previously said King County has 31 cases, including 9 deaths, and Snohomish County has 8 cases, including 1 death." (CNN)

3618

Tourists banned from Bethlehem due to coronavirus fears

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has ordered a ban on all tourists entering PA areas, which include Bethlehem and all the major cities of the West Bank.

In addition, the PA has ordered all schools, restaurants and places of religious congregation in Bethlehem and surrounding towns and villages to close for two weeks amid fears of a possible coronavirus outbreak in the city. Among the churches affected is Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.

The announcement is connected to a visit to the town of Beit Jala, which sits next to Bethlehem, by a group of tourists from Greece. One of the tour group later tested positive for the coronavirus on their return home.

All workers at the Beit Jala hotel where the tourists stayed during their time in the city have been tested for the virus, the hotel told CNN, but results are not yet known." (CNN)

There are at least 13 coronavirus cases across New York state

"New York City confirmed two new coronavirus cases, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office told CNN this morning, bringing the total number of confirmed cases across the state up to 13.

The cases were confirmed overnight. A full news release from the mayor’s office is expected later this morning." (CNN)

3619

CNBC reported that there is a huge inflow of foreign money into US real estate ever since the virus news broke out… US RE is considered “safe” in some of those countries. lol Great. More ghost buildings nearby.

3620

Its been 2 weeks since the first Italian cases were reported and tomorrow makes 2 weeks since the quarantine. Perhaps we will see less new cases being reported soon.