That’s the first I heard of that. Is this true?
That is true. The tests, as I understand the current state of the art, are not validated for detection of virus in asympromatic people.
Wait, wait, we’ve been hearing about asymptomatic people testing positive before, and now we hear they can’t test positive? Or maybe they’re testing positive when they’re symptomatic but not particularly sick?
"Walt Disney Co’s Shanghai Disneyland said on Monday it will resume a limited number of operations at its resort as part of the first step of a phased reopening, although the main theme park will remain shut amid worries about a coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reports.
A limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational activities would be available at Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel though they will operate under limited capacity and reduced hours of operation, Shanghai Disneyland said in a statement on its website. The Shanghai Disneyland had been shut from Jan. 25 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus." (Guardian)
That doesn’t make sense to me and is contradictory with plenty I’ve read. Plenty of asymptomatic cases where people still showed positive. Case in point: “A far higher portion of asymptomatic cases was found on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where 322 of 621 people tested positive but showed no symptoms.”
Source, along with other examples:
https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-confirmed-patients-can-transmit-the-coronavirus-without-showing-symptoms
IMO, based on my readings, that might be current CDC protocol, and likely driven by limited testing capabilities but I don’t think it is grounded in the reality of Covid-19 cases.
From the NY Times, an interview with Dr. Bruce Aylward of the WHO, on China’s impressive response:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/health/coronavirus-china-aylward.html
No confirmed cases yet in our region but it’s a matter of (short) time before there are.
I am concerned about the school districts preparedness for an outbreak.
Watching what districts in affected areas do, I notice that they tend to wait to close down until there is a confirmed case with connection to the school. (e.g. https://bsd405.org/corona-virus-covid-19/). By the time this happens, the infection may have already spread among students and their families.
This may not be acceptable risk for some (perhaps many) families. What happens to students who stop attending in-person classes before the district officially closes down?
There’s always homeschooling. I think school districts are in a tough position of finding the right balance in protecting their students and the broader community while still educating them. For every family who thinks the risk is too great, there are certainly more who would flip out if schools closed without confirmed cases in their population. Plus, who is going to watch the kids while parents work? It’s an economic issue - and a safety issue to as some of those parents will be health care workers.
Another politician in quarantine due to exposure from CPAC.
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are under self-quarantine
From CNN’s Kevin Bohn
Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar and Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz announced Sunday that they are both self-quarantining after coming into contact with an individual at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), who later tested positive for the virus.
Gosar: The congressman said he was with the infected individual for “an extended period of time” and the two of them shook hands several times.
“I am not currently experiencing any symptoms, nor is any member of my staff. However, in order to prevent any potential transmission, I will remain at my home in Arizona until the conclusion of the 14 day period following my interaction with this individual,” Gosar said in a statement.
Gosar said he has been in contact with the House physician, and said that he is closing his Washington office this week “out of an abundance of caution.”
** Confirmed Case in Hawaii
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/09/department-health-announces-second-case-covid-/
An elderly man who lives on Oahu who recently traveled to Washington State.
Officials said he fell ill on March 2 and returned to Hawaii on March 4 when he went to an urgent care facility. During his initial visit, a COVID-19 test was not done. Officials are working to figure out why a test wasn’t done then.
On March 7, an ambulance then took the man to a hospital from his home. That’s when staff conducted the COVID-19 test which came back as a presumptive positive on Sunday. The test was conducted due to his travel history, officials said.
“This is a very ill individual and from what we understand of the story, basically stayed at home in bed until the ambulance was called,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said. The patient is in isolation at a Kaiser Permanente facility, according to a statement by the company…
As of Sunday, officials said they weren’t exactly sure which airline the man flew on from the mainland to Hawaii. They are working to find out.
Despite the latest diagnosis, health officials are pointing to one thin silver lining: The virus hasn’t shown signs of person-to-person transmission in Hawaii so far.
Another Westchester school, Masters in Dobbs Ferry, has closed early (ahead of spring break) out of an abundance of caution. No confirmed cases anywhere in the school community at this point.
“Defender-Europe 20” NATO military exercises are continuing to take place, including 29,000 US Active Duty service members: 20,000 from the continental US and 9,000 US troops based in Europe.
“Defender-Europe 20 and six other linked exercises in April and May will see the largest deployment of U.S.-based forces to Europe for an exercise in the more than 25 years. The exercises will involve more than 37,000 participants, including 20,000 troops from the continental U.S. as well as 9,000 U.S. service members based in Europe. Around 8,000 soldiers from other countries will also participate in the exercise, including almost 3,000 from Poland.”
Dr. Fauci and the rest of the task force are amazing! In the midst of this tragic situation we have people working so very hard for others. I am certain Dr. Fauci and his team are inspiring future scientist and doctors who will continue this important work long into the future.
The 20/20 piece last Friday night (“outbreak”) showed a reporting team (don’t forget the camera crew) who were in Wuhan during the initial outbreak and got the last plane out. These people put themselves at risk to bring us the story and the facts.
Our healthcare workers are heroes in my mind. So many amazing and dedicated people.
Wuhan shuts down 11 makeshift hospitals
"Following the discharge of most patients, 11 of the 14 makeshift hospitals in Wuhan that were built for treatment of the new coronavirus have closed, state broadcaster CCTV said Sunday evening. Remaining patients are gradually being sent to designated hospitals, and there are only about 100 people left in the remaining 3 makeshift hospitals, the report said.
Wuhan city, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, began opening the makeshift or “cabin” hospitals on Feb. 5 and the repurposed venues have treated more than 12,000 people with mild cases of the virus, according to CCTV. Last week, other Chinese media reports noted that at least one such hospital warned of an increasing number of relapses among discharged patients" (CNBC)
So what will they do with those buildings.
In my area Germantown Acadamy in PA has now closed for 3 weeks due to a confirmed positive case being a family member of a student. There are over 1,100 students at that school. I feel it is only a matter of time now until we have a + at our school and I will be trying to work from home while my 3 kids try to have remote learning. Our local FB group has requests from GA parents looking for help to babysit their “virtually learning” children so they can go to work. Our school district has already sent out communications regarding working on internet access for those without it, special needs children, and providing continued free lunch access.
We haven’t experienced many cases in Chicagoland yet…but if and when we do, I am concerned with schools closing and how our many healthcare workers with children will be able to go to work.
Olympics torch lighting ceremony will be closed to the public, says Greek committee
From CNN
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch lighting ceremony at the site of ancient Olympia will be staged without spectators on Thursday in order to prevent the spread of the virus, Greece’s Olympic Committee said in a statement Monday.
The statement added that Thursday’s event will be attended by “only 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee,” while media accreditation will be “extremely limited.”
The dress rehearsal on Wednesday will also be closed to the public.
Following Thursday’s ceremony, the Olympic torch will begin a seven-day relay that will culminate with a handover ceremony in Greece on March 19.
The torch will then be flown to Japaan.
Six dead in Italy prison riots after visits suspended due to coronavirus
"Six prisoners have died in a Modena prison after riots broke out in several Italian jails following the suspension of visits to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to authorities.
During the Modena prison riot, prisoners occupied the entire prison including the infirmary where they got hold of various drugs including methadone, the director of the Italian penitentiary system, Francesco Basentini, said in an interview Monday.
Two of the dead died of an overdose, one of inhalation of toxic smoke and three died after all the inmates were moved to another prison – those deaths are still being investigated.
Basentini explained that a prison in Salerno, in southern Italy, was the first to riot last Saturday, leading to a “wave” of revolts.
In Modena, all inmates have been moved to nearby buildings as the prison is unusable, according to the ministry." (CNN)
NATO staff member tests positive
From CNN
A NATO staff member working at its Brussels headquarters has tested positive for the virus, according to its press office.
“The staff member had come back from a holiday in northern Italy, felt unwell at the end of last week, and was tested due to the onset of fever-like symptoms," according to a statement from the alliance.
It added that the staff member has self-isolated and immediate work colleagues have been working from home since the results came in.
NATO said that it has taken preventative measures, based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, “these include the temporary suspension of certain staff travel, encouraging staff to work from home, and the temporary suspension of group visits to NATO HQ in Brussels.”
Belgium tally: As of Monday morning, Belgium has 169 confirmed cases and no deaths.
Why you should reconsider your travel plans if you have vulnerable people in your family, according to a top doctor
From CNN
Families should reconsider upcoming travel plans if they have “vulnerable people” in their family unit, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day.”
Those at risk for serious illness from the novel coronavirus include older adults and anyone with underlying health conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease or diabetes.
“You may get infected and then come home and infect your grandmother or grandfather who does have an underlying condition. So each family unit, each individual has to look about not only the risk for themselves, but what risk will they be putting the people around them in,” Fauci said on Monday.
Fauci said there’s no need for a ban on all travel right now, but he urged travelers to be cognizant of what “category” they fall in.
“Right now if you have somebody who is 45 years old, doing well, a business person or whatever, I mean there’s no problem getting on a plane. If you’re a person who has an underlying condition, elderly particularly, doing that kind of travel is putting yourself at an extra risk,” he said.
As usual, very sensible advice from Dr. Fauci.
South Korea confirms 96 more cases, bringing national total to 7,478
"South Korea has confirmed 96 more coronavirus cases, bringing the national total to 7,478. [S. Korea reports 2x day]
The numbers appear to be slowing: The KCDC and other emergency agencies said the weekend’s numbers appear to show a decrease in new cases per day.
This could be because of the aggressive, widespread testing the country has implemented, as well as other measures like GPS quarantine monitors and smartphone apps for daily symptom reports.
But it could also be other factors, like the possibility people just didn’t go get tested as much this weekend because of bad weather – leading to a drop in numbers." (CNN)
A Japan Airlines flight attendant is infected with coronavirus
From CNN
Japan Airlines confirmed today that one of its flight attendants has been infected with the coronavirus. The patient is identified as a woman in her 50s who first showed symptoms on February 24. She was on board flight JL009 from Chicago to Tokyo’s Narita airport the next day, before seeking medical help in Tokyo.
The airlines said 12 other flight attendants, who were in close contact with her, have been instructed to stay home until March 11. No passengers on board JL009 or other previous flights have been identified as close contacts with the flight attendant.
The head of Iran’s crisis management agency has the coronavirus
From CNN
Esmaeel Najjar, the head of Iran’s Crisis Management Organization, has contracted coronavirus…Najjar was discharged from the hospital and is self-quarantined at home.
Cruise ships must prove there are no coronavirus cases on board before entering Puerto Rico
From CNN
Cruise ships attempting to enter Puerto Rico must first certify that there are no coronavirus cases on board… In the tweet, Garced said “any cruise ship that intends to enter Puerto Rico has to confirm that it has no passengers on board with suspicious cases and meets the federal government’s symptoms and travel history criteria regarding Covid-19."
The US territory currently has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus.