Coronavirus in the US

Parent Cafe
10421

Chrysler will keep North American plants closed through April 14
From CNN’s Vanessa Yurkevich

Chrysler will keep its North American operations closed until April 14, the company said Thursday.

“FCA plants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as headquarters operations and construction projects, are intended to remain closed until April 14, dependent upon the various states’ stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to return to production,” the company said in a statement.
The news comes following Ford’s announcement it would reopen plants on April 6.

Chrysler’s Mopar Distribution Centers, vehicle part distribution centers which have been deemed essential, will continue to operate with paid volunteers. The fate of FCA’s Mexico operations will made clear in a separate announcement, according to the statement.

The United Auto Workers Union Wednesday announced the death of one of their members at FCA’s Warren Truck in Michigan who passed away due to the Coronavirus.

Trump says he’s preparing new social distancing guidelines in letter to governors
From CNN’s Kevin Liptak

President Trump told US governors on Thursday his administration was preparing to issue new social distancing guidelines based on geographic risk factors.

In a letter, Trump said new coronavirus testing capabilities would allow his administration to identify “high-risk, medium risk and low-risk” counties.

New guidelines will help governors and other state policymakers decide on “maintaining, increasing or relaxing social distancing and other mitigation measures they have put in place,” Trump wrote.

Los Angeles hospital official says supplies are day to day
From CNN’s Stephanie Elam

As the coronavirus pandemic grows, hospital supplies at Southern California’s Cedars-Sinai Health Systems are day to day, according to the hospital’s chief operating officer.

“It is hard to estimate because we are consuming more than we would baseline,” Dr. Jeff Smith told CNN.

Cedars-Sinai typically treats more than a million patients each year in more than 40 locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Smith said that Cedars-Sinai continues to receive supplies but the supply chain is irregular. They are obtaining personal protective equipment from multiple sources – manufacturers, local and federal caches.

“The challenge is that there are so many unknown variables,” Smith said speaking about the ratio of patients to supply. He said this is not the way he would want things because it is “day by day.”

Some context: Currently, Cedars-Sinai is seeing an increase in the volume of patients presumed and confirmed positive. “Several dozen” patients have now turned positive, Smith said.

Cedars-Sinai currently has enough ventilators for their patients in intensive care.

As for capacity, Cedars-Sinai has more than 200 open beds including in the ICUs. The hospital system is making plans to care for patients in less conventional spaces, including recovery units and other areas of the hospital.

10422

Please. You can’t make broad-based assumptions on a single case. Just like the news of a 90 yr old woman resident of Life Care of WA completely recovering from covid after being gravely Ill says nothing about that population’s risks.

10423

Federal courts in Newark close after several employees test positive for coronavirus
From CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen

Federal courthouses in Newark, New Jersey, will be closed through April 6 because “several” federal employees who work there have tested positive for Covid-19, according to a judge’s order.

“No one will be permitted to enter the building during this closure with the exception of authorized cleaning personnel,” the order reads in part.
The order, which went into effect Thursday, does not apply to other federal courthouses in New Jersey, and electronic filing is still available.

“The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey otherwise remains open for official business,” the order reads in part.

Indy 500 rescheduled to August
From CNN’s David Close

The Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race has been moved from May 24 to August 23 due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials announced today.

“Memorial Day weekend has always provided Indianapolis 500 fans an opportunity to honor the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our nation’s freedom…This August, we’ll also have a unique and powerful opportunity to honor the contributions and heroism of the doctors, nurses, first responders and National Guard members serving on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said in a statement.

US attorney general directs federal prison system to increase home confinement for some inmates
From CNN’s David Shortell

Attorney General William Barr directed leaders of the federal prison system to increase the use of home confinement for certain inmates as the number of cases of coronavirus in the nation’s corrections system continues to multiply.

At a news conference Thursday in Washington, D.C., Barr told reporters that he had sent a memo to the Bureau of Prisons, telling officials there to increase the use of the program, which will likely see some older and especially vulnerable inmates released from prison early.

Barr said the measure was being done to try to “control the spread of this infection.”

Six inmates and four Bureau of Prisons employees had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Wednesday, as the Bureau of Prisons continued to implement strict measures to stave off the spread of the virus, including a ban on most visitors and a two-week quarantine for all new inmates entering a facility.

It was not immediately clear what inmates among the more than 175,000 in federal custody will be eligible for the expanded early release and home confinement program.

Barr said that he had asked the Bureau of Prisons last week to assess if it was possible to expand the use of home confinement “particularly for older prisoners who had served substantial parts of their sentence and no longer posed a threat and may have underlying conditions that make them particularly vulnerable.”

[ Good idea. They can be in home confinement along with many of us. :slight_smile: ]

10424

Stop it. This kind of unhelpful hyperbole ignores reality.

The truth is that times of national crises tend to lead to FEWER suicides.

10425

Thank you, @romanigypsyeyes . Very very much.

10426

Louisiana sees a spike of more than 500 cases in one day
From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

Louisiana has reported an additional 510 positive cases of Covid-19 and an additional 18 deaths since Wednesday.

Currently, there are at least 2,305 cases of coronavirus and 83 deaths in the state.

According to the state Department of Health, 676 patients are in hospitals and 239 are on ventilators.

Gov. John Bel Edwards on Wednesday said the state could run out of ventilators by early April in Orleans Parish, one of the hardest hit areas.

US Army says field hospital in New York City will be ready Monday
From CNN’s Michael Conte

Army field hospitals deploying to New York will be ready to treat non-coronavirus patients at the Javits Center beginning Monday, according to Army Chief of Staff General James McConville.

The Army will bring 284 beds to New York. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also bringing additional beds.

Here’s how the final vote on the stimulus bill will play out
From Manu Raju and Haley Byrd, CNN

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy both made clear today they want the $2 trillion stimulus bill to be approved by their chamber Friday by voice vote. That would ensure that most House members would not have to return to Washington.

But if any member requests a recorded vote, then House members would have to return at a later date to cast a roll call vote. So far, at least two members, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Thomas Massie, have not ruled out requesting a recorded vote.

What happens next: House GOP leaders plan to walk through the stimulus bill with their members on a 1:30 p.m. conference call today, according to a Republican source.

House Democratic leaders will have their own caucus call at 3 p.m., according to a Democratic source.

These calls will be important to ensure leaders have cooperation from their rank-and-file to allow the bill to pass by voice vote Friday morning — rather than requiring all members to come back to vote in person.

How the vote will happen: On Friday, the House will convene at 9 a.m. Then there will be time for a debate, equally divided between the two sides. And then they will proceed to a voice vote. Once the presiding officer says the “ayes” have it, the bill will be passed — unless a member requests a recorded vote.

It’s unclear how many members will show for Friday’s debate and voice vote — it can be very few, or it can be a lot, there is no requirement.

Also, at his news conference today, McCarthy made clear the House will look different than it usually does in order to promote social distancing. He said the members won’t sit next each other, they’ll alter where the members stand, and staff will be cleaning as members come and go. He also said that members will have to enter one designated door and leave out the other.

10427

Bolivia proposes delaying elections during coronavirus outbreak
From CNN’s Sharif Paget in Atlanta

Bolivia’s electoral tribunal said on Thursday it had proposed new dates for the country’s presidential elections to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

The electoral tribunal recommended to Bolivia’s legislative assembly that elections be postponed from May 3 and held sometime between June 7 and Sept. 6.

Bolivia’s electoral tribunal warned last week that the May 3 elections would be difficult to hold since the country’s quarantine order impedes the body from carrying out preparatory activities.

An interim government has ruled Bolivia since former President Evo Morales fled the country following allegations of fraud in an October vote that would have given him a fourth term in office. Morales has said he was the victim of a coup.

Why the $2 trillion federal aid package for small businesses may not be enough to save them
From CNN’s Jeanne Sahadi

The $2 trillion economic aid package unveiled Wednesday contains several provisions to help small businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Overall, small business groups are pleased some assistance is coming. But they also stress the package — which includes close to $400 billion in aid for small business owners — is still not enough to save Main Street.

“This doesn’t cure the crisis. It’s a good start. But more support will be needed,” said Derek Peebles, executive director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).

The provisions are also unlikely to save those small businesses that will have to come up with cash to stay afloat until they can actually get the government’s aid money in hand.

“There’s no way many can keep going,” said John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy group.

Speed will be key to helping any small business survive, especially when it comes to dispensing the forgivable loans that will be available to owners who keep paying their employees during the crisis.

10428

I agree with you, but allowing my mind to think about it a little bit I suppose if we MUST choose between the lesser of two evils… suicides and starting drugs is a choice one makes. Many humans worldwide have shown they can grit through bad times. Some choose not to. Drawing the short end of the genetic straw with regards to this virus is not a choice.

My mind is considering it to be similar to choosing who gets the limited number of beds if there’s a limit. Help those who didn’t choose their circumstances.

There never will be one solution that works for everyone in this situation.

10429

Weill-Cornell SOM will be graduating its 4th year students in April instead of May.

Mt Sinai just sent this notice to its 4th year med students;

Only Option 1 and 2 toward graduation credit.

Boston U SOM will graduating its 4th year med students on April 17.

NYIT COM has offers its 4th year student the voluntary option of graduating early

10430

High risk, medium risk and low risk places can change daily.

Our little area of our state had no cases in the smaller semi rural towns until yesterday…when a small town one over from ours logged in four cases.

Things can change rapidly.

10431

The reasons for the high mortality rate during the black plague wasn’t just because of the disease. It was actually because the economy shut down and people starved. That’s why so many of the upper-class survived. If we don’t get the economy moving again, we won’t have money left for anything.

10432

Those are some nice numbers!!! Well done, there!

10433

Fortunately, many things have changed for the better since the 1300s. Are you seriously comparing 2020 to that time period?!?

10434

Cuomo believes that it’s part of his job to be honest.

Andrew Cuomo
@NYGovCuomo
·
3h
Facts are empowering.

Even when the facts are discouraging, not knowing the facts is worse.

I promise that I will continue to give New Yorkers all the facts, not selective facts.

I prefer the honest one.

10435

More than 20 coronavirus cases reported at nursing home in West Virginia
From CNN’s Gregory Lemos

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced that 20 residents at a nursing home in Morgantown and eight staffers have tested positive for novel coronavirus.

“This is the horror story we absolutely did not want to have happen,” Justice said during a news conference Thursday.
Justice said he has appointed Dr. Clay Marsh to coordinate the state’s response and preparedness as the virus continues to spread.

“It gives us one more layer of expertise and one more layer of affiliation with hospital,” Justice said.

By the numbers: CNN has counted at least 52 Covid-19 cases in West Virginia as of Thursday afternoon.

Indiana reports 170 new coronavirus cases
From CNN’s Chuck Johnston

There have been 170 new cases of coronavirus and three new deaths reported in the state of Indiana, according to State Health Commissioner Kris Box.

Box said that Indiana has now reported a total of 645 cases and 17 deaths statewide.

The new fatalities were reported in Jasper, Putnam and Franklin counties.

Massachusetts governor asks Trump for federal disaster declaration assistance
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker today announced that his administration has submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the President for federal disaster declaration assistance in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Baker also announced that a former Boston Medical Center facility, the Newton Pavilion, will be temporarily reopened to help treat the city’s homeless population during the pandemic.

“The facility will provide a safe isolated place for people to stay and recover if they don’t require hospitalization,” Baker said.
According to the governor, the facility has the capacity for about 250 beds.

Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders spoke about personal protective equipment supplies for the state today, saying “in order for us to have sufficient supplies in the Commonwealth, and since the command center was stood up, we’ve placed more than $15 million in orders for PPE and are working with suppliers to expedite shipping to the Commonwealth.”

“As you know, as we’ve announced before, we’ve requested additional supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile. To date, approximately 17% of those requests have been filled. We received a third confirmation of a delivery, but it’s not yet been received,” Sudders added.

Chicago mayor: “Dear God, stay home, save lives”
From CNN’s Melissa Alonso

Chicago’s bike trails, paths and green spaces will be closed until the “threat to our lives is over,” Chicago Mayor

Lori Lightfoot said at a news briefing today.

Lightfoot addressed Chicagoans who continued to congregate in public areas in large numbers, while the state is under a stay-at-home order.

“Your continued failure to abide by these orders” could lead to more deaths, Lightfoot said.

“Dear God, stay home, save lives,” she added.

Chicago’s is closing its lakefront from north to south, effective immediately. Chicago Police will ramp up patrol and are prepared to give warnings and citations and, if necessary, arrests will be made, Lightfoot said.

“You must stay at home, period,” Lightfoot said.

10436

I posted about this before, but I thought it might be helpful to include it again, due to the talk of people going back to work. Governor Cuomo has, IMO, been balanced about his desire to protect both people’s lives and the economy. He puts life and health first, and that’s where his focus is right now, as we are still on the upward slope of the first wave of cases. However, he has many public health doctors, scientists, and private-sector labs working on when and how certain restrictions can be lifted.

The people who could safely go back to work are those who have recovered from the virus and have antibodies to it. I think the blood tests for antibodies will be available within a couple weeks in hospitals and doctors’ offices in our area (metro NYC). People whose immune systems have successfully reacted to the virus don’t carry or shed it, and therefore can’t spread it.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8147809/amp/Cuomo-wants-begin-antibody-blood-tests-coronavirus-New-York.html

10437

’

You get the cash money/loan today (well, next week in the perfect world) and it is forgiven after xx months of no layoffs. I’m guessing that it will take longer than a week to roll it out.

btw: no need to yell, just bcos… The loan plan has been discussed on at least one national news broadcast. The Treasury Secy has explained it numerous times in response to reporter’s questions.

10438

Fauci says US ‘can start thinking about’ getting back to normal when outbreak slows

White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said the United States “can start thinking about getting back to some degree of normality when the country as a whole turns that corner” of reducing the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

’“You need to see the trajectory of the curve start to come down,” Fauci told NBA star Stephen “Steph” Curry on an Instagram story interview that the Golden State Warriors player held for tens of thousands of followers, among them former President Barack Obama.

President Donald Trump in recent days has said he wants to see the U.S. get back to social and economic normalcy sooner rather than later.

Health experts have opposed that idea, arguing that even tighter restrictions on social interactions and businesses are necessary in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus to avoid infecting people overwhelming hospital systems.

CEO of largest NY health provider — only science can dictate coronavirus drug treatments

Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling is calling for caution regarding potential drug treatments for COVID-19.

“You can’t let politics dictate, what people would like to see dictate,” Dowling said on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” “You’ve got to let the science dictate, because if you don’t, you’ll do damage to people.”

Dowling, whose 23-hospital system is the largest health-care provider in New York state, said it is OK to be optimistic about the experimental treatments underway, “but you’ve got to wait until you can prove” that it is effective in treating COVID-19.

In fact, Dowling said he was personally optimistic about some of the trials underway at Northwell Health’s hospitals. The health system is working with Regeneron and Gilead Sciences to test the efficacy of existing drugs.

Northwell Health does not have “definitive results yet,” Dowling cautioned.

“But I am pretty certain that within the next week or two we’re going to find out that one or more of these drugs do make a difference and that would obviously change the landscape when that happens,” said Dowling.

The drugs in trial at Northwell Health are Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir and sarilumab, which was developed by Regeneron and Sanofi, according to the Long Island Press.

Nancy Pelosi predicts more direct payments during the coronavirus crisis

As the House prepares to pass a historically massive $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined more steps she wants to take to blunt damage to the economy and health-care system.

After the Senate passed the package, believed to be the biggest rescue plan in U.S. history, on Wednesday night, the House hopes to follow suit Friday in what Pelosi predicted would be a “strong, bipartisan” vote. The California Democrat set the stage for more congressional legislation as the pandemic rampages throughout the country.

Pelosi indicated she would push to send more money directly to Americans on top of the cash payments set out in the Senate-passed bill. The proposal would give up to $1,200 to qualified individuals and $2,400 to couples, which starts to phase out for people making more than $75,000.

US suspends plans to buy oil after funding is left out of $2 trillion stimulus package

The U.S. Department of Energy is suspending its plans to buy crude for the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve after the requested $3 billion in funding for the project was left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package.

“Given the current uncertainty related to adequate Congressional Appropriations for crude oil purchases associated with the March 19, 2020 solicitation, the Department is withdrawing the solicitation,” an amendment filed Wednesday said. “Should funding become secure for the planned purchases, the Department will reissue the solicitation,” it added.

The original request for proposal, filed on March 19, outlined plans to purchase the first 30 million barrels of American-made crude oil for the SPR out of a total of 77 million barrels.

But funding to execute the plan was left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package which the White House and Senate agreed to Wednesday night, and which the House is expected to vote on Friday. Initially,$3 billion had been requested for the project.

CNBC

10439

This link from Harvard says famine came first, then the plague.

‘Now, new research using a unique combination of ice-core data and written historical records indicates that the cool, wet weather blamed for the northern European famine actually affected a much wider area over a much longer period. The work, which researchers say is preliminary, paints a picture of a deep, prolonged food shortage in the years leading to the Black Death.’

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2016/01/did-famine-worsen-the-black-death/

10440

Let’s talk about the risk to younger people, then. You’re correct that most younger people who contract COVID-19 don’t die.

But a good percentage of them get very sick and need to be expensively hospitalized for a long time. Have a look at the charts in the below article:

Age group, percent of diagnosed who are hospitalized
20-44 years, 14-20%
45-54, 21-28%
55-64, 20-30%
65-74, 29-43%
75-84, 30-59%


[QUOTE=""]

85, 31-70%

[/QUOTE]

I assume we’ll find that all of these numbers are high, since the sickest people are the most likely to be tested. But let’s say the true numbers are half of this. Then people aged 20-44 have a 7% to 10% chance of being hospitalized if they catch coronavirus. That’s extremely, dangerously high. Even if the true numbers are a third of this, it’s still extremely, dangerously high.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/coronavirus-young-people-hospitalized-covid-19-chart/