Can’t climb structures without touching them. You could probably wipe down a swing, but I’m afraid that most playground equipment is all about touching.
“And also, on the issue of whether the federal government should leave things to the states (hint: no), we find, on the same page:”
While States hold significant power and responsibility related to public
health response outside of a declared Public Health Emergency, the
American public will look to the U.S. Government for action when multi-
state or other significant public health events occur.
So we agree that states hold significant power and responsibility? And that he job of the federal government is to coordinate and empower the multi-state activities, not to take over the jobs being done by the state. Good.
That doesn’t mean the federal government does nothing, they have a lot to do. But they don’t do everything. We should all be holding our state and local officials accountable.
I live a few towns from @menloparkmom (in the opposite direction, @“Cardinal Fang”) and I’ve heard no direct stories of not respecting the new rules. I walk in my neighborhood and everyone is respectful to stay their distance while exchanging pleasantries. That’s why I was particularly disappointed (but not really all that surprised) when we were notified a couple days ago that all parks were closed. We have some nearby trails that would have provided a welcome change of scenery.
I know this is real, very real, but I don’t know anyone in my community who has been impacted beyond minor symptoms (and they’ve not been tested so can’t know for sure that it’s CV). Since our area has been sheltering in place for about 12 days, I am really hoping that we’re flattening the curve and will not have a horrible rise in cases resulting in the horror scenes at hospitals we’re hearing about in Italy and, possibly soon, NYC. Time will tell…
Italy has received $68 million in donations to purchase more masks and ventilators
From CNN’s Valentina DiDonato in Rome
The Italian Civil Protection Department has received donations totaling more than $68 million (61 million euros) which will be spent on more surgical masks and ventilators, according to Head of Italian Civil Protection Angelo Borelli in a press conference on Saturday.
The donations came from private donors and companies, including the fashion house Armani and the owner of the soccer team Juventus.
Italy’s only producer of ventilators will now increase their production, Borelli said during the presser.
Borelli also said 11,636 people have volunteered to help the Italian Civil Protection with the coronavirus crisis, and the government received more than 7,714 responses from former nurses who intend to return to medical practice.
“It shows constant solidarity among our citizens,” Borelli added.
Pence spoke with Michigan’s governor on Saturday
From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond
In another sign of how Vice President Mike Pence is managing relationships with certain Democratic governors differently than President Trump, Pence spoke with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday morning, per a tweet from her account.
Whitmer, whom Trump has criticized for being insufficiently “appreciative” and “way in over her head” in recent days, posted on Twitter that she had a "good call with @VP this morning " and that the state of Michigan had just received a delivery of 112,000 additional N95 respirators.
Some context: Trump on Friday said he had advised Pence not to call Whitmer or other governors who have been critical of the federal response.
“I tell him — I mean, I’m a different type of person — I say, ‘Mike, don’t call the governor of Washington. You’re wasting your time with him. Don’t call the woman in Michigan,’” Trump said during a Friday news conference.
“You know what I say? If they don’t treat you right, I don’t call,” Trump said, before noting that Pence is “a different type of person” and will “call quietly anyway.”
CNN reached out to Pence’s office for comment.
The next two weeks will be the toughest yet in the fight against coronavirus in France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has warned.
Doctors in the greater Paris region have warned their intensive care units will be full by the end of the weekend, whilst healthcare services in the east of France are already struggling to cope.
“We are fighting a battle that will take time,” Philippe said in a televised address. “The first two weeks of April will be harder than the two we have just lived through.”
The army and emergency workers were this weekend stepping up the transfer of patients to less-affected regions, using a military helicopter and a specially-adapted TGV train, in an attempt to free up intensive care beds in worst-hit areas.
By Saturday, the death toll in France was 2,314, with more than 37,575 confirmed cases, according to official figures.
However, the government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital, so the figure is likely to be much higher. Authorities say they will be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes from next week, which is likely to result in an increase in the official death toll. (Guardian)
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surpassed the 1,000 mark in Greece after a further 95 people tested positive overnight.
The country’s health ministry spokesman, professor Sotiris Tsiodras, said 1,061 cases had now been recorded, up from 966 yesterday with the vast majority are in Athens.
The death toll had also risen from 28 to 32 (25 are men). The average age of those who had succumbed to the virus was 73, he said.
Although almost 1,000 more people had been tested for the virus in the last 24 hours, testing in Greece remains low (14,363 in total), fuelling fears that the real number of those with the novel virus is higher. Addressing reporters, Tsiodras said the country, thus far, had managed to avert “the bad scenario of the type [we have seen] in Italy.”
But Greek experts also insist that the coming weeks are crucial. Earlier, the minister of development and investment, Adonis Georgiadis, acknowledged that restrictive measures on movement, for several weeks among the most stringent in Europe, were likely to be extended way beyond the original end date of April 6th. Further curbs are not excluded.
Tellingly, the government announced it would be cutting air links to the Netherlands in addition to severing flights to Italy, Spain, the UK and Turkey. Greeks abroad would only be repatriated if they had “a serious reason” to be returned to the country.
“We are not implementing a general repatriation. That would be devastating for the country,” the deputy minister for civil protection Nikos Hardalias also told reporters. Some 2,850 Greeks have requested to be repatriated from the UK but only pregnant women or those with health problems or who had nowhere to stay would be brought back to Greece, he said. (Guardian)
One estimation of how this will play out as a country and by individual states. Charts of case curves and resource availability.
South Carolina has an emergency declaration…but the mayor allows Folly Beach to be fully open?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️
Leadership to be admired:
Some context: Trump on Friday said he had advised Pence not to call Whitmer or other governors who have been critical of the federal response.
“I tell him — I mean, I’m a different type of person — I say, ‘Mike, don’t call the governor of Washington. You’re wasting your time with him. Don’t call the woman in Michigan,’” Trump said during a Friday news conference.
“You know what I say? If they don’t treat you right, I don’t call,” Trump said, before noting that Pence is “a different type of person” and will “call quietly anyway.”
I’m very happy VP Pence was assigned to do this job during a national pandemic. I’m sure these comments will be forgotten later by apologists.
Six people in the Vatican have tested positive for coronavirus, but the Pope and his aids are not among them.
Tests were done on 170 people in the Vatican and six showed positive, including one of the several dozen permanent residents of the Santa Marta guesthouse on the Vatican grounds, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. The person who tested positive works in the Secretariat of State and is in a Rome hospital.
“I can confirm that neither the Holy Father nor his closest aides are among these,” he said.
Tests showed one other person who had been in contact with the priest also came up positive but that person did not live in the papal residence.
The modern residence, which has 130 rooms and suites and a staff of about 30 people, is home to dozens of priests who work in key Vatican departments. Bruni said the entire residence, which is run like a hotel but has not been accepting temporary guests for the past few weeks, was sanitised.
Francis appears to be in generally good health but part of one of his lungs was removed following an illness when he was a young man. (Guardian)
US Congressman Mike Kelly tests positive
US Representative Mike Kelly, Republican of Pennsylvania, said on Friday he has tested positive for the coronavirus, the fifth member of Congress to do so.
In a statement, Kelly said he had started experiencing mild flu-like symptoms earlier this week, and his doctor ordered a test that he obtained at a drive-through testing site.
“My test came back positive this afternoon,” he said. “My symptoms remain mild, and I will serve the 16th district from home until I fully recover.” (Al Jazeera)
Another UK Cabinet member has COVID-19 symptoms
Another member of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet has developed symptoms of COVID-19.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he had symptoms of the disease and was self-isolating a day after the prime minister and Britain’s health secretary revealed they tested positive for the virus and were experiencing mild symptoms.
Johnson, 55, is the highest-profile political leader to have contracted the virus. Jack sat beside him in the House of Commons on Wednesday before Parliament shut down until at least April 21 to reduce the risk of infections. (Al Jazeera)
Last weekend in Cincinnati there was a ton of folk congregating in a popular park. I hope CPD shuts it down this weekend.
i’m incredibly excited about this Abbott lab 15 minute test. What’s exciting is that it runs on an existing machine that many hospitals have.
This changes the testing cabililities to a new level. And they are working with the federal goverment to determine who will get the new cartridges - not just selling them to the highest bidder.
The new test comes in the form of a small cartridge that fits in the palm of your hand, said John Frels, Abbott’s vice president of research and development.
The test runs on the company’s ID NOW platform, a 6.6-pound portable device the size of a small toaster. There are currently about 18,000 ID NOW instruments in the U.S. – the most widely available molecular point-of-care testing platform in the nation, Frels said.
Abbott did not immediately say if it planned to manufacture more ID NOW platforms, in addition to the new test cartridges. Company spokesperson Darcy Ross said the company was working with the Trump administration to determine where the tests would be sent.
Abbott will be making ID NOW COVID-19 tests available next week to healthcare providers in urgent care settings in the US, where the majority of ID NOW instruments are in use today. The company is working with the Administration to deploy tests to areas where they can have the greatest impact. The arrival of the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test comes a week after the company launched its Abbott m2000 RealTime SARS-CoV-2 EUA test, which runs on the m2000 RealTime System located in hospital and reference labs around the world. Between the two platforms, Abbott expects to produce about five million tests per month.
Excellent information. Thanks for sharing.
Isn’t it? This is the best news I’ve heard all week. Hope everyone is coping with all the ‘family time’ at home. I really feel that the increased testing will make a HUGE impact and will reduce the length of time we are stuck at home.
Meaning…groups should be limited to three in SC.
So please, please tell me why the mayor where Folly Beach is located has allowed the beaches to stay open. Is he nuts?
But testing just shows if you are sick/exposed today. If more people go out too soon, the risk goes up.
Our town parks are open for walking. The recreation facilities are not open. Folks just didn’t get the message, so our town crew had to take down all the swings, all the rope climbing things, any ladders, and all basket ball hoops were removed…to keep people away.
What didn’t they understand? There was yellow tape around these areas with signs everywhere saying to stay away. Just irresponsible.
Re: NY. I am going to give a different perspective. I agree that discretionary travel should be seriously considered before doing it. BUT if I had a relative I needed to get to, or who needed to get to me…I view that as essential travel. Private vehicle can be used…and self isolation needed. But the folks in NY…don’t blame them for wanting to be near loved ones. And that’s what some want to do.
My NYC friends and relatives are being very responsible. Very.
You’ve never taken care of a 4 year old have you? Lol
It is an instrument made by Alere (acquired by Abbott) using isothermal PCR which has its limitations. Not as accurate as RT PCR, but given the circumstances, might be good enough.
But it will identify those positives sooner and get them out of circulation. In theory, it can be used at airports - if they could produce more of them.
More importantly - they can test people as they come into the hospital and determine which wards they need to go to - to keep positives away from negatives as fast as possible.
For airport type situations, a much faster/simpler test is needed. The Alere test apparently gives negative (Ok to go!) results in 15 min or so.
So who will be tested? Everyone enering an airport or a hospital (since a big concern are the asymptomatic folks) ? are there enough tests for this?