That’s what I have heard, that you won’t test positive until you are having symptoms. But then how are they getting people as ‘asymptomatic positives’?
I’m surprised to see that with a virus supposedly so contagious and with a relatively high death rate (maybe 1%, maybe 2% - in any case at least an order of magnitude greater than common flu strains), there have been fewer than 7000 deaths worldwide to date. This is in an interconnected world of over 7 billion people. And it has been spreading for some time in China, Europe and the US.
People are placing a great deal of faith in projections. I suspect that the “cure” will be far worse than the disease.
I remember reading this article back in January that hypothesized that the virus had been spreading prior to December and it shows what airports (and cities) were likely to import the virus and spread it. Interesting to look at in hindsight.
https://systems.jhu.edu/research/public-health/ncov-model-2/
I’m still wondering about the virus me and my husband had in Jan, which we still have a dry lingering cough from. We live a couple of miles away from the LifeCare Center in Kirkland, and have had multiple contacts with people flying in and out of Guangzhou China, Peking and the Far East for months.
I really wish they could do a test on you to see if you already had it, and hopefully that would mean you’re no longer at risk to get it (if that’s correct), and those people could help the others who haven’t gotten it.
WA DOH reports an update: over 12,000 tests processed. 904 positive, 11,582 negative. The rate of 7-8% coming back positive holds.
( 135 new positives)
For all the comments mentioning illnesses and coughs, do remember that there are many respiratory viruses that circulate besides flu and Covid-19.
Huh. Look at that. New Orleans is one of the cities delineated on the map of highest risk cities.
Minnesota orders temporary closures of restaurants, bars and other public places
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order on Monday requiring the temporary closure of all restaurants and bars to dine-in customers to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
Walz also ordered the temporary closure of other public places, including theaters, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs.
The order goes into effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. local time until March 27.
Arizona’s primary election will go on as planned Tuesday
From CNN’s Andy Rose
Despite concerns about large groups of people being together in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, officials in Arizona say they will not be postponing the state’s presidential primary scheduled for Tuesday.
“Our election leaders have been working overtime to ensure that voting is safe,” Gov. Doug Ducey said at a news conference Monday.
Only Democrats will be going to the polls in Arizona on Tuesday. The Arizona Republican Party decided last year not to hold a primary, instead planning to give all of the state’s 2020 delegates to President Donald Trump without opposition.
Although Secretary of State Katie Hobbs has the authority to postpone the election in an emergency, she said, “We have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the near future.”
Hobbs said the decision is also in the best interests of the workers who are needed to tabulate the results.
"There are thousands of workers in communities across the state that must continue the job of counting the ballots in the days following the election,” Hobbs said. “The longer we wait, the more difficult and dangerous this will become.”
Regal Cinemas will close its theaters until further notice
From CNN’s Dave Alsup
An employee waits at an empty Regal Cinemas movie theatre in Washington, DC, on March 15.
An employee waits at an empty Regal Cinemas movie theatre in Washington, DC, on March 15. Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images
Regal Cinemas announced on Monday the closure of all of its theaters as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
The company posted a statement on Facebook about the closures, which start Tuesday.
“Regal announces closure of all theatre locations starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, as a precaution amid the current circumstances. All theatres will remain closed until further notice. Please check back soon. We look forward to serving you again as soon as possible,” the company said in the statement.
Regal has 7,211 screens and 549 theaters in 42 states, according to the company’s website.
Georgia will close all public schools starting Wednesday
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ordered all public schools to close starting Wednesday until March 31.
Read his full statement:
“To keep our students, teachers, and administrators safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering the closure of all public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in Georgia from March 18, 2020 to March 31, 2020. This measure is critical to reducing local transmission in communities across our state, and I ask Georgians to continue to follow best practices - washing their hands regularly, isolating the elderly and chronically ill, and avoiding large events if possible - in the days and weeks ahead.”
Ohio judge denies governor’s request to move presidential primary
From CNN’s Ross Levitt
Ohio will join three other states in holding its Democratic presidential primary as scheduled on Tuesday after a court denied a request from the governor to move the state’s contest.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine had asked the court to move the primary election to June due to coronavirus concerns. The court’s denial comes as the spread of the virus has caused a major disruption to American life as government officials work to stem the pandemic.
Illinois, Florida and Arizona will also hold their elections Tuesday as planned.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this headline and story incorrectly said the Ohio primary would be delayed. A judge denied the request, and the primary will go on tomorrow as scheduled.
Wisconsin, March 16:
Number of active cases: 46.
Increase from March 15: 14.
Number recovered: 1.
Number tested and results negative: 504.
Figuring out whether people can get the virus more than once will be important, not only for basic public health policy but because recovered patients might become an important resource pool for health care work and other essential services. Organizations could decide who to put on the front line and who to put in less exposed positions based on status. I wouldn’t mind volunteering in a hospital or retirement community if I knew I was safe and was saving someone vulnerable from exposure.
Has anyone seen the doctor post about covid being susceptible to heat and using a sauna or even a hairdryer to elevate the nasal passages as a way to help prevent this. It sounds like lunacy and why wouldn’t dr Fauci say that. But the video is pretty professional and they aren’t selling anything.
I know it’s stupid. But wondering if anyone else saw it. My wife started doing it and I was asking her what the heck was she doing and she showed it to me. FYI she’s in a very high risk group and young (49) so she’s pretty nervous. So don’t laugh although in nearly did if it weren’t so serious for her
Los Angeles County Sheriff releases inmates early due to coronavirus concerns
From CNN’s Sarah Moon
In response to concerns over the coronavirus, Los Angeles County is releasing inmates early and is reducing the number of arrests in the county, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a news conference Monday.
They have reduced the population of jails by releasing inmates with less than 30 days left of their sentence. On February 28, when the county first started taking actions, they had 17,076 people in custody. As of Monday, they have 16,459 people, Villanueva said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is directing local agencies to cite and release everyone they can. Authorities are being directed to seek medical attention first for anyone showing symptoms before booking them, the sheriff said.
The number of arrests have been reduced from an average of 300 per day throughout Los Angeles County to about 60 arrests a day, Villanueva said.
There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the county jails, he said.
New limits on UK, Ireland travel poses another test for Trump administration after weekend airport meltdown
From CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez and Geneva Sands
At midnight Monday, the United States will implement a new slate of travel restrictions to combat coronavirus spread, limiting transit from the United Kingdom and Ireland, following a weekend of confusion and frustration at select airports nationwide. This time, though, officials say they’ll be better prepared.
A flurry of images on Saturday showed passengers squeezed together and waiting to get through US customs, after returning from overseas. Passengers shared stories of hours-long backups, inconsistent screenings, and waiting shoulder-to-shoulder to be processed through.
Wait times have since decreased. But as the Trump administration remedies the issues raised over the weekend, it’s on the cusp of putting in place more restrictions that could also sow confusion.
What we know: To avoid the backups that occurred over the weekend, US Customs and Border Protection is upping its staff at airports and adding more people on shifts. CBP has also streamlined the process, in coordination with others involved in screening, in order to expedite the processing and screening capacity to avoid long wait times.
The enhanced screenings are part of an administration effort to handle the coronavirus pandemic. Countries around the world have shut down their borders and placed increased restrictions on movement and social gatherings.
The Trump administration began by restricting travel from China, then Iran. Last week, Trump extended those restrictions to include certain European countries, effective Friday night. The United Kingdom and Ireland were initially excluded, but limits for those countries take effect Monday at midnight. US citizens, green card holders and their family members are exempt from the restrictions.
What’s happening Monday night: Starting at 11:59 p.m. ET Monday, people returning home from Ireland and the United Kingdom will also undergo enhanced entry at the same 13 airports, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Passengers coming in from Europe’s Schengen Area—26 countries stretching from Iceland to Greece—have been funneled to the airports where they undergo enhanced screening. They first go through customs, then are screened by Homeland Security medical contractors, and in the event, someone exhibits symptoms or other red flags, passengers will be referred to CDC personnel on site.
Officials expect changes made to the system and collaboration with the airline industry will put CBP, and the agencies working alongside them, in a position to respond to new arrivals.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.
All schools in New York ordered to close by Wednesday, governor says
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed schools to close statewide by Wednesday until April 1.
School districts statewide will be required to submit a plan to the State Education Department.
McDonald’s USA will close seating areas in restaurants due to outbreak
From CNN’s Dave Alsup
McDonald’s USA company-owned restaurants will close seating areas to the public during the coronavirus outbreak, the company said in a statement.
Restaurants will shift business to drive-in pick-up windows and walk-in takeout orders.
Here’s what McDonald’s USA said in the statement:
“To align with increasing regulations throughout the country, effective at the close of business today, McDonald’s USA company-owned restaurants will close seating areas, including the use of self-service beverage bars and kiosks, and shift our focus to serving customers through Drive-Thru, walk-in take-out and McDelivery.”
Bars to close and restaurants services to be limited in Kentucky
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced new measures on Monday to combat the spread of novel coronavirus, including closing bars and limiting restaurants to takeout and delivery orders.
As a result, the governor announced that the state would be waiving the waiting period for unemployment.
Beshear also announced an executive order to prohibit price gauging.
These are the other services affected by the coronavirus outbreak:
All Kentucky hospitals must stop elective surgeries.
All child care centers must close by the end of the business day on Friday.
Kentucky’s state capitol will be closing to non-essential personnel starting Tuesday morning.
CNN
“Game of Thrones” actor says he’s tested positive for coronavirus
From CNN’s Megan Thomas
Actor Kristofer Hivju, best known for his role as Tormund Giantsbane in “Game of Thrones,” announced in an Instagram post on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Hivju said he was experiencing “mild symptoms” of a cold, and he and his family are self-isolating at their home in Norway.
Here’s an interesting proposal from a fourth-year medical students: https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/covid-19-test-medical-students-accelerate-the-match-and-let-us-graduate-early-to-join-the-fight.html
I’m not surprised. We get a lot of tourists, both domestic and international, especially from late January to early May. Not many Chinese tourists though. The 2nd person to die here was an Uber driver who likely picked it up from one of his rides.
I’m surprised that Orlando wasn’t one of the cities highlighted on the map.
This article is helpful: https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/a-covid-19-coronavirus-update-from-concerned-physicians.html
Mardi Gras
Trying to imagine where all everyone was from in the streets and bars
What temperature does this doctor feels is necessary to kill the virus? I’d want to know that before trying anything.
In terms of the hair dryer, one concern I would have would be drying out your nasal passages. That doesn’t sound like a good thing at all to me. Might make you more susceptible. But I’m no doctor…