It probably means that the labs are validating tests and will be up and running soon.
US to purchase 500 million masks for health-care professionals
“The Department of Health and Human Services said it plans to purchase 500 million N95 respirator masks for health-care workers over the next 18 months. HHS said the masks will be purchased as part of the Strategic National Stockpile. Private-sector orders will be filled first, HHS said, but these “guaranteed orders” will encourage manufacturers to increase production. HHS said earlier this week the U.S. has about 1% of the required respirator masks that would be needed for medical professionals if the coronavirus outbreak were to erupt into a pandemic here.” (CNBC)
First UK death reported.
The CDC page and the referenced map (scroll down on page) is found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
Not much explanation there.
To win the public’s trust the government must provide accurate and up-to-date information, argues Tele graph’s Global Health deputy editor Anne Gulland, on what’s going on in the UK.
'Underpinning any government strategy on the coronavirus has to be securing the public’s trust.
We may be asked to make huge changes to our daily lives, such as keeping our children at home or cancelling family gatherings, and the only way the government will be able to get public buy in is if we are sure it is being completely honest with us.
So, the announcement on Wednesday that the government is to stop publishing daily information detailing where the latest coronavirus cases are seems counter productive to say the least.’
I ordered n-95/99 masks a couple of weeks ago from Whitmany.com that have yet to arrive. I checked the tracking on them today…and it’s in Chinese! So where is the US planning on getting those 500 million face masks?
Thailand begins disinfecting packages – despite WHO’s reassurance
"Thailand’s postal services began disinfecting all packages received from overseas on Thursday to counter the spread of the coronavirus, despite the World Health Organisation having said it is safe to receive post from badly affected countries, like China…
There have been no reports of the virus being contracted from packages posted from overseas…
“Thailand’s post offices will disinfect every package arriving from overseas, at headquarters, including at Suvarnabhumi airport, Lak Si post offices, express mail service and delivery trucks,” Thailand Post Chief Executive Officer, Korkij Danchaivichit, told reporters.
In advice to the public posted on its website, the WHO said: “People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting the new coronavirus. From previous analysis, we know coronaviruses do not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages.” " (Telegraph)
Contract with 3M has been mentioned. Not sure if there are other domestic sources.
Wuhan man dies after being discharged from hospital
"A 36-year-old patient has died of the coronavirus, five days after he was discharged from one of Wuhan’s makeshift hospitals built for coronavirus patients with mild symptoms, according to Chinese state media.
Li Liang is reported to have met criteria to be discharged, including tested negative for the virus twice and three days without a fever. He was sent to a quarantine facility for 14 days after he was discharged, a new requirement issued by Wuhan’s CDC two weeks ago as more discharged patient turned out to be tested positive again days after they were discharged from the hospital.
Mr Li started feeling ill two days after he entered the quarantine facility, with symptoms such as dry mouth, low appetite, and lacking strength. His wife was called to the facility in the afternoon of March 2, soon before Mr Li was taken to the hospital and died. His death certificate issued by Wuhan Health Commission listed the direct cause of death as the coronavirus.
The recurring positive test results have raised questions on discharge criteria.
Some local doctors in Wuhan suggested a third test being added to the criteria of discharge. One makeshift hospital in Wuhan issued a notice yesterday requiring all patients to take an antibody test before they were discharged to minimise the risk of relapse, according to state media.
The original state media report on Mr Li’s death was taken down hours after it was issued, but texts and screenshots of the story remain widely spread on social media. " (Telegraph but have seen the story elsewhere)
Still stuff to find out about COVID-19 and strains could present themselves differently.
@doschicos I took all your great summaries here on Italy and can see that new cases are greatly reduced today. Hopefully that continues. Italy is important because its going on 2 weeks that they started quarantine and they have much less strict policies than China does so its a good comparison to our environment in the US.
March 5 ITALY - 79 new cases for a total of 3,858 and 41 new deaths for a total of 148.
March 4 ITALY - 587 new cases totaling 3,089. 28 new deaths totaling 107.
March 3 ITALY - 466 new cases for a total of 2,502 and 27 new deaths fro a total of 79.
March 2 ITALY - 335 new cases for a total of 2,036. 11 new deaths for a total of 52.
March 1 ITALY - 566 new cases for a total of 1694 and 5 new deaths for a total of 34.
Feb 28 ITALY - 233 newly confirmed for a total of 888 and 4 new deaths for a total of 21.
** Edited to add- there was a typo above - the actual figure is: **
March 5 ITALY - 769 new cases for a total of 3,858 and 41 new deaths for a total of 148.
Still increasing. 
This link states that Italy has 769 new cases today. I have not been following the site, so perhaps I am interpreting the chart incorrectly.
BELGIUM - 27 new cases for a total of 50, so more than doubling in 1 day.
On the good news front:
"The last Ebola patient has been discharged from a treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The current outbreak, which was declared on 1 August 2018, is the DRC’s tenth and the second-worst globally after the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa. As of 1 March, there were 3,444 confirmed and probable cases and 2,264 deaths. " (Guardian) <3
Boris Johnson: I think we should be shaking hands
"The Prime Minister defiantly defended Britons’ right to shake hands when he appeared on the This Morning sofa.
Boris Johnson was interviewed by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on the daytime TV show and made a point of shaking both presenters’ hands before being questioned on the coronavirus outbreak.
Schofield admitted he was keeping his hands behind his back and let the Prime Minister lead on any contact.
Mr Johnson said: "I did [shake hands], and I’ve been going around hospitals [doing the same] and I think you always shake hands.
“People make their own decisions, but washing hands is the important thing and not banning all forms of human contact.” " (Telegraph)
That is correct. Typo on my end. Things are still peaking, not getting better. Sorry for the error.
Wish it was true but, no. Things are still advancing there.
Nevada confirms first case of coronavirus
"A Clark County resident is the first “presumed positive” coronavirus case in Nevada, the Southern Nevada Health District announced in a statement.
The patient, a man in his 50s, told health officials he recently traveled to Washington state and Texas, the statement said." (CNN)
The coronavirus outbreak has worst affected Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. In those regions, the occupancy rate of intensive care beds is now 95 per cent whereas normally it would be 60 per cent, according to today’s La Stampa newspaper.
Two updates out of umich. Heard from a friend that at least front desk people will be required to wear masks starting tomorrow. She works in the depression center so not sure if it’s because she works away from main hospital or if this is across the board. About to head to the hospital so I’ll update if i notice any differences.
And then an email from our uni president:
To All Members of the U-M Community:
We are writing to share the latest guidelines and information for students, faculty, and staff related to the COVID-19 virus. University of Michigan health professionals have been closely monitoring the rapidly changing developments, and we are making a number of recommendations to promote a safe and healthy environment for our community.
At this time, the university is proceeding with most scheduled events, classes and operations, including athletic events. However, some individual units are canceling or postponing events as a precaution. Please note that the situation can change quickly, and we will post any updates to our COVID-19 information page.
Important COVID-19 updates:
At this time, there have been no cases diagnosed in Michigan. New cases continue to be identified in the United States and abroad.
If you are sick, stay home from class or work. We ask faculty and managers to accommodate students and employees who stay home while sick. This includes relaxing documentation requirements and grade penalties for students missing class.
If you’ve traveled to China, South Korea, Italy or Iran, stay home and self-isolate (tips listed below) and monitor your health for 14 days from your last day in that country. The self-isolation recommendation currently does not apply in general to travelers who only transit through an airport in one of these countries, per guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Register international travel using U-M Travel Registry.
Travelers returning to campus
If you have been in a country with a CDC Level 3 Travel Notice (as of March 4, these are China, South Korea, Italy and Iran), you should self-isolate for 14 days. Get medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Level 3 Notices are the CDC’s highest warning level, and they indicate a high risk to travelers due to widespread community transmission of respiratory illness caused by COVID-19 in these countries. Self-isolation is currently not recommended for those who only traveled through an airport in a country under the Level 3 Travel Notice.
Students needing to self-isolate based on prior travel are encouraged to consider doing so at home or in a setting that minimizes contact with others. Student Life is working to make alternative housing arrangements on campus for students who need a place to self-isolate. Students needing to self-isolate can contact the Dean of Students office for assistance with arranging housing, meals, academics and classes, work, participation in campus organizations or requirements, and to discuss other considerations. Students with roommates who are self-isolating should take precautionary measures including limiting contact with anyone who is self-isolating, cleaning surfaces, washing hands frequently, and avoiding sharing utensils.
Employees with questions about working arrangements during self-isolation should contact their unit supervisor.
How to self-isolate:
Stay home. Do not go to work, school or public areas.
Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home. Avoid visitors to your home.
Self-monitor for fever by checking temperature at least twice a day. Contact your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or respiratory symptoms.
When seeking medical care, call ahead and tell them about your symptoms.
Do not use public transport like buses or taxis.
If you have symptoms, wear a facemask when you are around other people.
More information on self-isolation is available here.
Illness prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends several everyday preventive actions that individuals can take to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and immediately throw the tissue in the trash and clean hands with sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Clean and disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces.
Stay at home when you are sick.
Consider alternatives to shaking hands.
Additionally, unless you are sick with cough, sneezing and fever, it is not advised to wear a mask.
Campus preparations
The university is taking extra precautions to clean high-touch surfaces on campus, including dining areas, classrooms, healthcare facilities and recreational facilities.
Michigan Medicine is actively preparing for potential COVID-19 patients and has activated comprehensive emergency response teams, which are ready and prepared for all types of emergencies. Patients and visitors are being screened to quickly identify those with travel-related risk factors or potential contact with infected people.
Our healthcare providers also are preparing for the possibility of cases within the state of Michigan by providing standard facemasks to patients with respiratory illness or fever when they enter our healthcare facilities.
U-M officials and medical experts, in close coordination with the state and local public health experts, are closely monitoring for developments related to possible disruption to campus operations.
Future travel
Travel disruptions related to the virus are possible, and the situation continues to change quickly. We recommend that you carefully consider global travel given current uncertainties. Impact on travel may include flight cancellations, additional health screenings, quarantine, restrictions on re-entering the United States, or requirements to self-isolate upon arrival.
If you plan to travel in the near future, it’s important to build in as much flexibility as possible into your plans. Please register your international travel – personal or U-M-related – using the U-M Travel Registry. The travel registry is the university’s official means for sharing urgent health, safety and security related information, and we have been sharing information with all registered travelers.
U-M Travel Restrictions related to COVID-19 are currently in place for China, Iran, Italy and South Korea. All U-M related travel to these countries, including for faculty and staff, is discouraged. Personal travel to these countries also is discouraged.
We are assisting students who were studying abroad and returning from Level 3 countries and will continue to monitor the conditions overseas. International programs not in the Level 3 countries are currently proceeding as planned, except for some that have been canceled by individual units. If you have questions about your education abroad program, please contact the program directly.
This is a rapidly changing situation. Please check the university’s Key Issues page for the latest information: https://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/.
We know that COVID-19 is affecting many of our loved ones and friends. We also have heard reports of xenophobia associated with the outbreak – which we denounce in the strongest terms. During this time, it’s important that we support one another, promote a healthy community, and stay up to date on the latest information from our health professionals.
New York now has 22 confirmed coronavirus cases, governor says
From CNN
"There are 22 confirmed cases of coronavirus across New York state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday afternoon.
Eleven cases were confirmed overnight, he said.
“Eight of the new cases are connected to the attorney from Westchester,” he said, adding, two of the cases are from New York City and one is from Long Island.
The New York City and Long Island patients are hospitalized."
Oh, that sounds like a great way to spread the virus around if it hasn’t been spread already. And since this is the PM, people would be under social pressure to not refuse an offered hand.
I have been looking for demographic details and studies to come out of Italy. So far, everything being published seems to be from China and Singapore. I understand if most resources/money need to go towards patient treatment, but I hope there will be research information soon. It would help inform public health policy and treatment here.
I did find this about Italy. Even though the vast majority of deaths have been in people over 65:
From an article in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/italy-elderly-population-coronavirus-risk-covid-19
Doesn’t inspire confidence. Hope they dropped more personal protective gear (PPG) too, for the cruise ship staff collecting the samples. Reading between the lines, there must have been a lot of guidance on how they set up the quarantine and how samples are going to be collected, when and how to dispose of the PPG, otherwise this will backfire and spread infection, like on the Diamond Princess.
Wonder how they’re going to get the swabs off the ship for RT-PCRs.
Tap water in China is at best questionable to drink without boiling it first, unlike in most of the US. Despite that, per person bottled water consumption in the US is about twice as high as in China – a symbol of wasteful consumption in the US.
Was this in Marin County?
At the same time, posted in this thread or the other, Washington state is asking voters not to lick the envelope seals on ballots when they mail them back. I agree that an abundance of caution is good, just noting the contrast in messaging.