Coronavirus in the US

Parent Cafe
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a glimmer of HOPE!
China on Thursday reported NO new local infections for the first time since the coronavirus crisis began three months ago, reaching a milestone in its battle with the deadly outbreak that has upended daily life and economic activity around the world.
As governments in Italy, the United States and elsewhere grapple with the pandemic, China has hailed its success as evidence of what can be achieved when a vast, top-down bureaucracy that brooks no dissent is mobilized in pursuit of a single target.

If Thursday’s numbers are more than a statistical blip, it would represent a remarkable turnaround for the Chinese government, which drew widespread public outrage when officials initially concealed and mismanaged the outbreak, even punishing the doctors who sought to raise the alarm.

Those missteps, critics say, allowed the virus to spread uncontrolled across the city of Wuhan in central China, forcing the government to impose draconian travel and quarantine restrictions over hundreds of millions of people that could have been avoided.

While Beijing’s sledgehammer approach — seen by many as an extreme experiment unprecedented in size and scope — worked to quickly lower the number of infections, the price in human trauma and economic loss was severe.

And China is not out of danger from a revived contagion and instability. A vast swath of the country’s populace has been embittered by how the ruling Communist Party has handled the scourge. Questions have been raised about the accuracy of China’s statistics. And even if zero local infections has been achieved, that does not mean zero new cases.

Officials said Thursday that 34 new cases had been confirmed among people who had arrived from elsewhere, pointing to how difficult it will likely be for China — or any country — to keep the virus completely out. Within China, many provinces and cities have essentially shut themselves off to travelers from elsewhere, raising the question of whether the virus will re-emerge once such barriers are lifted and people begin crisscrossing the country again.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/world/asia/china-coronavirus-zero-infections.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

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Can’t say that might not be true - a lack of Chicken McNuggets have started more than one full-on brawl - but I don’t believe it would be more than a few. More a statistical background kind of noise.

Saint Louis encephalitis. Though it still pops up, their citizens haven’t been persecuted in my lifetime.

It could be argued it’s not a good analogy and I won’t disagree.

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High death rates from covid19 in Iran may be related to the hundred thousand Iranians with enduring lung damage from chemical weapons launched by Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war.

https://www.rferl.org/a/coronavirus-threatens-iran-s-chemical-weapons-victims/30493676.html

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New coronavirus cases in US jails heighten concerns about an unprepared system
From CNN’s David Shortell and Kara Scannell

The first known cases of coronavirus in the US federal correctional system emerged today, as the number of infected inmates and staffers at local facilities across the country continued to climb.

Since Tuesday, a staffer at a medium security federal prison in Berlin, New Hampshire, and an employee at a Bureau of Prisons administrative facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, have tested positive.

Corrections officers in New York and Georgia have now caught the virus, as well as an inmate at New York City’s Rikers Island, marking the first case at the notorious jail.

Concerns about an unprepared system: The rise in infections have heightened concerns about the spread of the pandemic within the tight quarters housing the nation’s inmates.

Officials cite short staffing and a lack of proper protective equipment. Criminal justice advocates have also called for the release of certain nonviolent offenders, including those who may be at greater risk from the virus, while high-profile inmates including Michael Cohen and Michael Avenatti have asked to be released.

In Arizona, the state’s Department of Corrections said Wednesday that it would give inmates free hand soap after an advocacy group exposed a lack of cleaning supplies at local prisons and appealed to a federal judge to intervene.

[ we need to let people out of jail if they have minor offenses and less than say 6 months less on their sentence, especially anyone over 60. ]

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It’s hard to imagine our sky high prices here won’t be impacted.

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Just read that there’s a theory that people with Type A blood might be more susceptible, and more serious cases. That would be H and I . And probably our kids. Dang it.

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Great. On top of several other things, now I’ve got this strike against me as well. :frowning:

You can change my user name to doshermits because that’s my spouse and me now.

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The CDC suggests live-streaming funerals to reduce crowds during coronavirus pandemic
From CNN’s Shelby Lin Erdman

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging live-streaming funerals as an alternative to in-person gatherings, as the pandemic sends cities and states into lockdown.

The Trump administration has urged people to avoid groups of 10 or more to reduce the spread of the coronavirus – and the CDC offered guidance to the National Funeral Directors Association about alternatives.

“For example, if live-streaming and limiting in-person attendance to immediate family is possible, we encourage that. Additionally, promoting social distancing at the event, regardless of size, and promoting hand hygiene as well is also important,” David Berendes, an environmental epidemiologist with the CDC, said during the briefing.
“Social distancing, hand hygiene and other common sense measures would apply to those events and you may consider limiting the number of high risks individuals who are attending the event to those who are absolutely necessary,” he said.

How to deal with the threat of infected bodies: In late February, the CDC issued guidance for funeral directors, medical examiners and pathologists on how to handle the bodies of people who have died from the coronavirus.

Funeral home workers should follow routine infection and control precautions when handling the bodies, the agency said.

There are no known risks of being in the same room as a patient who has died – but it’s such a new disease that health experts are still learning how it spreads.

“If washing the body or shrouding are important religious or cultural practices, families are encouraged to work with their community cultural and religious leaders and funeral home staff on how to reduce their exposure as much as possible," said Dr. Sarah Reagan-Steiner, a medical officer with the infectious disease pathology branch at the CDC.

Chinese state media has released of list of where the country’s Covid-19 cases that have returned from overseas have come from. Iran and Italy top the list.

Global Times
:heavy_check_mark:
@globaltimesnews
Latest on imported #COVID19 cases in the Chinese mainland:
Iran: 47
Italy: 41
Spain: 28
UK: 25
US:7
France: 6
Philippines: 6
Thailand: 5
Saudi Arabia: 4
Hungary: 3
Austria: 2
Switzerland: 2
Egypt: 1
Indonesia: 1
Netherlands: 1
Portugal: 1
Brazil: 1
Luxembourg: 1
Unconfirmed: 7

Guardian

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An article about blood types A and O with respect to COVID-19:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3075567/people-blood-type-may-be-more-vulnerable-coronavirus-china-study

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@doschicos that’s a good one!

Be careful both of you and @garland.

I wonder if that fact can help point researchers to a clue quickly.

I hope so. This is exhausting and the news is coming too fast to process in real time. Trying to slow it all down and focus.

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It would be interesting to know the blood type percentages in South Korea, Italy, Iran to see if that would play any role in the countries’ different mortality rates.

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University of Washington classes will be remote through the end of spring quarter, the school announced Wednesday afternoon.

The quarter will start as scheduled on March 30, but there will be no written assignments due the first week as students and instructors continue to adjust to remote learning, President Ana Mari Cauce wrote in a letter to the UW community.

Students who left before spring break are encouraged to stay off-campus, and those living on campus will have time to get their possessions. Residence halls will remain open but all students who stay in campus housing will be required to live in buildings or apartments with private bathrooms, the university said.

There will be no change in financial aid for full-time students, the university said.

Related: The coronavirus is forcing many colleges to go online only. But will it work for everyone?

—Paige Cornwell/Seattle Times

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80% of coronavirus deaths in the US are among adults 65 and older
From CNN’s Gina Yu

Some 80% of coronavirus-related deaths in the US occurred in adults aged 65 and older, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Wednesday.

The report examined patient deaths that occurred between February 12 and March 16. Because of missing data about underlying health issues and other key characteristics, deaths were estimated as a range.

For adults aged 85 years and older, the death rate was highest, ranging from 10% to 27%.

For adults aged 65 to 84, the range was 3% to 11%.

No US deaths have occurred among people aged 19 years or younger.

The largest proportion of hospitalized patients were between 65 and 84 years old, contributing 36% of cases. They also made up the largest proportion of ICU patients, with 46% of cases.

“The risk for serious disease and death in Covid-19 cases among persons in the United States increases with age,” the report said. “Social distancing is recommended for all ages to slow the spread of the virus, protect the health care system, and help protect vulnerable older adults.”

Hong Kong and Tokyo airports are handling coronavirus very differently. Which one has it right?
From CNN’s Will Ripley

Passing through airports in Hong Kong and Tokyo this week highlighted the differences in the approaches of the two Asian hubs in dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Arriving in Hong Kong: After disembarking directly onto the tarmac, we were taken to a quarantine area on the lower level of the airport.

There we underwent multiple health and security checks. My temperature was taken, and I filled out a detailed questionnaire on my travel history. Quarantine officers gave me a checklist of instructions for after I left the airport, including that I take my temperature twice daily and immediately report any abnormal symptoms to the Department of Health.

If I was to land in Hong Kong today, it would be even stricter.

The local government announced this week that anyone arriving from a foreign country is required to self-quarantine for two weeks, and will likely be issued an electronic monitoring bracelet that will alert the authorities if they leave their home or hotel.

Arriving in Tokyo: When I arrived at Narita airport in Japan this week our plane pulled up to the gate as usual.

I walked freely through the airport, more than 500 meters to the quarantine office where about 10 quarantine officers hastily tried to process everybody who came from my flight.

Nobody took my temperature, although I did walk past a thermal camera scanning for elevated body temperatures. But it was a cold evening and many passengers were bundled up in coats that could have hindered the camera’s ability to get an accurate reading.

My quarantine officer gave me forms to sign in English requesting that I remain in my home for 14 days, check my temperature daily, and avoid public transportation.

These were simply requests, and are not being enforced. I am following the suggested protocol, but there is nothing to stop me from going anywhere I please.

But without widespread testing, it’s hard to know whether the calm in Tokyo is a true picture of the coronavirus situation in Japan – or if it is actually the calm before the storm.

US researchers in Antarctica are being screened for coronavirus before deployment

US researchers and workers stationed in the Antarctic were screened for coronavirus prior to their deployment, according to a spokesperson from the National Science Foundation.

“Currently, it’s off season in Antartica so there’s only a skeleton crew there now. Everyone currently on the ice was screened,” NSF’s Micheal England told CNN.
He said there are about 100 people in the Antarctic from both the US and other countries, who are all hunkered down or preparing for the upcoming winter. The summer season, when most workers and researchers will deploy, begins in October.

When asked if the global pandemic would change their operations, England said, “That’s still to be determined officially at this point, but more than likely yes.”

Antarctica is the only continent left with no reported cases.

CNN

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Australia and New Zealand have each announced that they will be closing their borders to non-residents and non-citizens.

New Zealand’s ban takes effect at midnight tonight (Thursday).

Australia’s goes into effect at 9pm Thursday.

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Back to Australia’s Scott Morrison now, who has once again given that estimate that measures to control the spread of the virus may be in place for six months:

For the next six months we need to work together. So we do need to moderate our behaviour and understand things need to change. It is not like before. But the phones still work, the hospitals still run, the shops are still open, the trucks are still getting to the shops. All of that is there. What we’re dealing with here is a virus and it will slow the country down. It will mean people will have to self-isolate. It will mean we will have to behave differently and that will happen for quite a period of time - six months, I believe, based on the advice I have, at least.

[ more and more I’m reading talk of 6 months - or even 18 months. Not to be a Debbie Downer but better to mentally prepare for the fact that it things won’t go back to normal in 2-3 weeks or even in 2 months. Hang in there folks! ]

Guardian

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New Zealand’s borders will be closed to anyone who is not a New Zealand citizen or resident, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.

“At no time in New Zealand’s history has a power like this been used, and I recognise how extraordinary it is,” Ardern said.

“We need to do this for the health of the country, and our people”

The ban would apply to all countries and nationalities, but the partners and children of New Zealanders would still be allowed in.

On Monday Ardern required everyone arriving in the country to self-isolate for 14 days, including New Zealand citizens.

Spot checks by police had proven that New Zealanders were following the instructions to self-isolate, but there were “a concerning number of cases” of tourists flouting the rules, and refusing to self-isolate.

The prime minister also addressed increasing reports of panic-buying in supermarkets, urging New Zealanders to be calm and shop normally, as freight deliveries from overseas were continuing as normal.

Countdown supermarket today issued directives that purchase limits would now apply to some products, including paracetamol, toilet paper, and bread.

Australia closes borders to non-residents and non-citizens
Breaking: Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has announced a travel ban for all non-residents coming to Australia.

After further consultation with the national security committee this afternoon, tonight, we will be resolving to move to a position where a travel ban will be placed on all nonresidents, non-Australian citizens coming to Australia, and that will be in place from 9pm tomorrow evening. We have already seen a significant reduction in the travel to Australia by non- citizens in residence. It is about one-third of what it would normally be at this time of the year.”

Australia has just announced a travel ban to the country for all non-residents and non-citizens, affective 9pm Friday evening.

Prime minister Scott Morrison said, expanding on the decision:

We believe it is essential to take a further step to ensure we are now no longer allowing anyone, unless they are a citizen or resident or direct family member in those cases, as is applied, to all the other travel bans put in place previously. This is a measure I have been consulting with the New Zealand Prime Minister on – bans.”

Mexico registered its first death from coronavirus on Wednesday, the health ministry said in a statement, saying the deceased was a diabetic whose symptoms began last week.

Guardian

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Pandemic hits car industry

The coronavirus pandemic is having a big impact on the car industry, according Toyota group’s Akido Toyoda.

“The truth is, it was shocking just how much the world could change in an instant,” Akio Toyoda said at a press conference in Toyo.

“At this point, we can’t foresee what’s ahead for automakers,” added Toyoda, who is also the chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

In separate announcements this week Toyota, Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co said they would temporarily halt North American factories to protect worker health and amid an expected hit to demand.

They also suspended production at several plants in Europe, with Honda closing its facility at Swindon in Britain until at least 5 April.

Despite the uncertainty, Toyoda said he did not expect the virus outbreak to hit spending on research into advanced technologies, such as autonomous driving and electric cars.

Late-night TV in America will look a bit different next week, with Conan O’Brien using an iPhone to film his show, with guests appearing by Skype. Strange times.

Conan O’Brien
:heavy_check_mark:
@ConanOBrien
I am going back on the air Monday, March 30th. All my staff will work from home, I will shoot at home using an iPhone, and my guests will Skype. This will not be pretty, but feel free to laugh at our attempt. Stay safe.

[ All the other late night shows seem to have cancelled. Good for Conan. We can use some entertainment. ]

Guardian

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A local medical device co is working non-stop to provide vital equipment:

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/bothells-ventec-is-at-center-of-global-push-for-more-ventilators-to-treat-coronavirus-patients/

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Great. Mr R and I needed more strikes against us lol. Sigh

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Well that explains why my daughter was asking me what her blood type is. (The answer was I don’t know).

But it’s not much of a difference – I looked up the source of that theory:

From https://www.sciencealert.com/paper-suggests-certain-blood-types-might-be-slightly-more-susceptible-to-covid-19

Link to study: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.11.20031096v1

Someone else can do the math - but it doesn’t really mean a whole lot. There could also be confounding factors – for example, people with type O blood are at lower risk for coronary artery disease, because they lack the ABO gene – and we already know that heart disease is one of the underlying conditions that tends to make Covid-19 worse.