4/21 COVID news

[sonrisa]

NYT has an interesting article about how silent hypoxia may be an early sign of worse to come. Pulse oximetry may be a an easy way to screen for complications before they are noticed.

www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

[rubytue]

Well, my fear is coming true. Federal government is going to “ramp back up” before we are ready...

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/20/federal-government-reopen-coronavirus/#click=https://t.co/N1Qiq79PYd

[litebright]

NPR reported on the measures that P&G is taking in a Charmin factory to keep it open while taking measures to keep employees safe.

"At the Charmin factory, shift changes have been stretched out over three hours, to keep workers separated at the plant door. Employees have their temperature taken on the way in. And instead of roaming freely throughout the mile-long plant, workers are compartmentalized, with color-coded badges.

"Every individual got assigned a zone that were allowed to operate in," de los Rios says. "It reduces the likelihood of spread of any illness across the plant."

In the beginning, he says, it was disruptive and awkward trying to talk to coworkers while staying six feet apart. But workers have adjusted."

www.npr.org/2020/04/20/838557405/this-charmin-factory-keeps-humming-even-as-much-of-america-is-hunkered-down?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr&fbclid=IwAR0W5hwXhqSofHuoCuPKG5x1larxOg7F-WGd3jSxExofaYbDCtv70dxcTZU

[mmmomof2]

www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-antibody-testing-shows-la-county-outbreak-is-up-to-55-times-bigger-than-reported-cases.html


Makes the fatality rate and rate of hospitalizations much smaller, but of course your odds of getting it if you go out is higher.

[georgeglass]

Apr 21, 2020 8:06:49 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-antibody-testing-shows-la-county-outbreak-is-up-to-55-times-bigger-than-reported-cases.html


Makes the fatality rate and rate of hospitalizations much smaller, but of course your odds of getting it if you go out is higher.

Speaking of LA County, this graphic blew my mind yesterday.

[eport]

Apr 21, 2020 7:49:15 GMT -5 litebright said:

NPR reported on the measures that P&G is taking in a Charmin factory to keep it open while taking measures to keep employees safe.

"At the Charmin factory, shift changes have been stretched out over three hours, to keep workers separated at the plant door. Employees have their temperature taken on the way in. And instead of roaming freely throughout the mile-long plant, workers are compartmentalized, with color-coded badges.

"Every individual got assigned a zone that were allowed to operate in," de los Rios says. "It reduces the likelihood of spread of any illness across the plant."

In the beginning, he says, it was disruptive and awkward trying to talk to coworkers while staying six feet apart. But workers have adjusted."

www.npr.org/2020/04/20/838557405/this-charmin-factory-keeps-humming-even-as-much-of-america-is-hunkered-down?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr&fbclid=IwAR0W5hwXhqSofHuoCuPKG5x1larxOg7F-WGd3jSxExofaYbDCtv70dxcTZU

The Wall Street Journal's podcast covered this too: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-you-still-cant-find-toilet-paper/id1469394914?i=1000471820379

[mmmomof2]

Woah! I'm shocked some of those states don't have over 10M people.

There are some areas of LA that are very densely populated with multi-generational living and even multi-family living since it's so expensive. But then LA County also includes sprawling suburbs so it's very different than the 5 boroughs.

[karinothing]

Apr 21, 2020 7:42:07 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Well, my fear is coming true. Federal government is going to “ramp back up” before we are ready...

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/20/federal-government-reopen-coronavirus/#click=https://t.co/N1Qiq79PYd

That makes it seem like the WH has no idea what the federal gov is actually going. I think the vast majority of federal employees are working (absent those working for intelligence agencies).

[aurora]

Here's more on publicly-traded companies getting the PPP loans:

apnews.com/6c5942eec36cc43b25ad5df5afebcfbd

[silva]

Officials Link 7 Coronavirus Cases in Wisconsin to In-Person Voting

time.com/5824707/coronavirus-wisconsin-voting-cases/

[rubytue]

Apr 21, 2020 8:34:57 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Apr 21, 2020 7:42:07 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Well, my fear is coming true. Federal government is going to “ramp back up” before we are ready...

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/20/federal-government-reopen-coronavirus/#click=https://t.co/N1Qiq79PYd

That makes it seem like the WH has no idea what the federal gov is actually going. I think the vast majority of federal employees are working (absent those working for intelligence agencies).

Right?! Fit the whole mentality of if I can’t see you, you aren’t working... 🙄 

my productivity level ever right now is totally stress related, not telework related. 

That said, I have an email in to my doctor to document high risk status.

[just]

Apr 21, 2020 8:18:02 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

Woah! I'm shocked some of those states don't have over 10M people.

There are some areas of LA that are very densely populated with multi-generational living and even multi-family living since it's so expensive. But then LA County also includes sprawling suburbs so it's very different than the 5 boroughs.

If we're going to get picky, I think Georgia and N. Carolina should also be included as over LA County ... but it's still pretty impressive.

[gt7301b]

Apr 21, 2020 8:34:57 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Apr 21, 2020 7:42:07 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Well, my fear is coming true. Federal government is going to “ramp back up” before we are ready...

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/20/federal-government-reopen-coronavirus/#click=https://t.co/N1Qiq79PYd

That makes it seem like the WH has no idea what the federal gov is actually going. I think the vast majority of federal employees are working (absent those working for intelligence agencies).

Granted I am just reading the article reporting on the guidelines, but those policies seem to actually say nothing of substance, but they just want people back in the offices.  Also, Post Offices are open, so what exactly are they looking for?

"The memo also says agencies “must prioritize” capacity-building for public-facing federal services, like national parks, post offices and Social Security benefits offices."

[aurora]

Apr 21, 2020 8:06:49 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-antibody-testing-shows-la-county-outbreak-is-up-to-55-times-bigger-than-reported-cases.html


Makes the fatality rate and rate of hospitalizations much smaller, but of course your odds of getting it if you go out is higher.

This is wild. If the numbers held nationwide, that would mean 67-132 million people in the US would have had it (basing off of the 28-55 multiplier range in the article and 2.4 million positive tests I saw at WaPo this morning).

I'm sure it doesn't hold consistently across the country, but what a potential difference from what we currently understand.

ETA I misread WaPo as smock pointed out below. Only 800k positive tests in the US, so more like 22-44 million possible cases based on that range.

[mbcdefg]

Jersey 4 Jersey: Star-studded fundraiser to benefit NJ Pandemic Relief Fund

abc7ny.com/entertainment/watch-the-jersey-4-jersey-benefit-here/6102164/

"Jersey 4 Jersey" will feature a star-studded line-up to raise money to fight the coronavirus epidemic during a special one-hour event on Wednesday, April 22.

Money raised benefits the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.

Providing musical performances from their homes will be Tony Bennett, Jon Bon Jovi, Halsey, Charlie Puth, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, and SZA.

ABC 7 is pleased to be broadcasting the special at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. You'll also be able to watch here and on the ABC 7 New York streaming app for Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

Among the celebrities taking part are Saquon Barkley, Danny DeVito, Whoopi Goldberg, Chelsea Handler, Kelly Ripa, and Jon Stewart.

[msmerymac]

In fairness, LA county is a massive amount of land. Obviously smaller than most states, but it might literally be bigger than Rhode Island. It's by far the largest county I've lived in. It takes hours to traverse, and not because of traffic. San Bernardino County (neighboring county) is about the size of Connecticut. I mean, it's still impressive, but it's not hard to fit almost 12 million people in that space, considering it contains the second largest city in the US. The population density of both Los Angeles as a city (which contains a lot of sprawling/outlying areas like almost all of the San Fernando Valley, AKA America's Suburb) and the outlying rural areas of the rest of the county probably make it waaaay down on the list of most densely populated places in the US too.

Anyway, here's my news link:
www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/health/coronavirus-america-future.html?smid=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR1TtS4H3cMnBfpcobta6gFsKqq3zO2_STYCEKEffSK5pJvdA5Vyuu9LIws

"Exactly how the pandemic will end depends in part on medical advances still to come. It will also depend on how individual Americans behave in the interim. If we scrupulously protect ourselves and our loved ones, more of us will live. If we underestimate the virus, it will find us."

[rubytue]

Apr 21, 2020 9:19:00 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

Apr 21, 2020 8:34:57 GMT -5 karinothing said:

That makes it seem like the WH has no idea what the federal gov is actually going. I think the vast majority of federal employees are working (absent those working for intelligence agencies).

Granted I am just reading the article reporting on the guidelines, but those policies seem to actually say nothing of substance, but they just want people back in the offices.  Also, Post Offices are open, so what exactly are they looking for?

"The memo also says agencies “must prioritize” capacity-building for public-facing federal services, like national parks, post offices and Social Security benefits offices."

The full memo isn’t much more helpful www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/M-20-23.pdf

Honestly, I’m a bit calmer now that I read it. It doesn’t seem to change much and has lots of flexibility built in. More than I expected from this administration.

[calmcosmo]

Apr 21, 2020 9:22:11 GMT -5 aurora said:

Apr 21, 2020 8:06:49 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-antibody-testing-shows-la-county-outbreak-is-up-to-55-times-bigger-than-reported-cases.html


Makes the fatality rate and rate of hospitalizations much smaller, but of course your odds of getting it if you go out is higher.

This is wild. If the numbers held nationwide, that would mean 67-132 million people in the US would have had it (basing off of the 28-55 multiplier range in the article and 2.4 million positive tests I saw at WaPo this morning).

I'm sure it doesn't hold consistently across the country, but what a potential difference from what we currently understand.

There is a LOT of research around this right now. That this virus is super sneaky and contagious, but that the hospitalization and fatality rates are quite low overall. Especially in populations under 55.  Good news and bad news, for sure. But it may push for opening up and letting the younger and much less vulnerable get some "herd immunity". Put more resources into protecting vulnerable (and I know that this isn't simple).
The Theodore Roosevelt is an interesting case. 650ish positive cases. Over half were asymptomatic. Of those 650 they had one ICU admission and one death. This was among a young population (average age on a carrier is 24). The death was in an "older" (mid 30s) crew member. 
My husband goes to work on an aircraft carrier every day and so I've been paying attention to that because social distancing is simply not possible on Navy ships. He's leadership so he is "essential" .He wears a mask and stays in his office most of the day and has stopped eating there when he doesn't have to spend the night. But he still has to climb ladders and the p-ways are narrow. 

[hocus2]

Apr 21, 2020 8:06:49 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-antibody-testing-shows-la-county-outbreak-is-up-to-55-times-bigger-than-reported-cases.html


Makes the fatality rate and rate of hospitalizations much smaller, but of course your odds of getting it if you go out is higher.

  I am curious what they are using for a death rate. Because NYT is estimating that deaths are under counted based on comparing death rates this year vs. prior years.   

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/21/world/coronavirus-missing-deaths.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

   While I am sure the true mortality rate is much lower than what we can see with confirmed cases it probably isn't as low as we're seeing from this data and the illness spreads so quickly it is very concerning. 

[smock]

Apr 21, 2020 9:22:11 GMT -5 aurora said:

Apr 21, 2020 8:06:49 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

www.cnbc.com/2020/04/20/coronavirus-antibody-testing-shows-la-county-outbreak-is-up-to-55-times-bigger-than-reported-cases.html


Makes the fatality rate and rate of hospitalizations much smaller, but of course your odds of getting it if you go out is higher.

This is wild. If the numbers held nationwide, that would mean 67-132 million people in the US would have had it (basing off of the 28-55 multiplier range in the article and 2.4 million positive tests I saw at WaPo this morning).

I'm sure it doesn't hold consistently across the country, but what a potential difference from what we currently understand.

It's 2.4 million positive tests worldwide, though, not in the US. We're right around 800,000 cases, so it would be more like 22-44 million cases. And that's probably an overestimate, since LA County isn't necessarily representative of the rest of the country. West Coast states had earlier outbreaks, so there's probably a higher percentage of people with antibodies. 

Also, I think we'd need around 200 million cases (60% of the population) for herd immunity. It's still going to be a long road, but it's reassuring at least that the fatality rate might be lower than the current numbers indicate.

[aurora]

Apr 21, 2020 10:00:50 GMT -5 smock said:

Apr 21, 2020 9:22:11 GMT -5 aurora said:

This is wild. If the numbers held nationwide, that would mean 67-132 million people in the US would have had it (basing off of the 28-55 multiplier range in the article and 2.4 million positive tests I saw at WaPo this morning).

I'm sure it doesn't hold consistently across the country, but what a potential difference from what we currently understand.

It's 2.4 million positive tests worldwide, though, not in the US. We're right around 800,000 cases, so it would be more like 22-44 million cases. And that's probably an overestimate, since LA County isn't necessarily representative of the rest of the country. West Coast states had earlier outbreaks, so there's probably a higher percentage of people with antibodies. 

Also, I think we'd need around 200 million cases (60% of the population) for herd immunity. It's still going to be a long road, but it's reassuring at least that the fatality rate might be lower than the current numbers indicate.

Oops, that's what I get for reading too quickly! That makes a lot more sense.

[basilosaurus]

Oooh boy. Remember scamvangelist Jim Bakker and his silver solution "cure" for covid-19? He's pissed. Credit card companies aren't paying him for his scammy not-cure. LOLOL.

He claims he never promoted it (he did). He wants to write checks (please don't). And that due to that whole shutting down of the world, he can't create his quality (HA!) content anymore. He's broke, yo.

I'm filing this under good news of the day, even if it's a few days old.

www.rightwingwatch.org/post/desperate-times-for-jim-bakker/

[noodleoo]

@@@

FUUUUUCCCCKKKK... MA just closed school for the rest of the year and non-essential daycares until JUNE 29!!!! Kill me now...  I'm seriously about to cry.

www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/21/nation/coronavirus-boston-massachusetts-april-21/

[Pilsy]

Apr 21, 2020 12:16:11 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

@@@

FUUUUUCCCCKKKK... MA just closed school for the rest of the year and non-essential daycares until JUNE 29!!!! Kill me now...  I'm seriously about to cry.

www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/21/nation/coronavirus-boston-massachusetts-april-21/

I finally cried. 

I'm surprised it hadn't happened before now, but this was definitely the straw that broke the camel's back for me. 

[scm1011]

Apr 21, 2020 13:25:45 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Apr 21, 2020 12:16:11 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

@@@

FUUUUUCCCCKKKK... MA just closed school for the rest of the year and non-essential daycares until JUNE 29!!!! Kill me now...  I'm seriously about to cry.

www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/21/nation/coronavirus-boston-massachusetts-april-21/

I finally cried. 

I'm surprised it hadn't happened before now, but this was definitely the straw that broke the camel's back for me. 

Same. I cried and then cracked a beer. I’m honestly a bit shocked. It seems like a really aggressive move at this point. I mean I don’t want Baker to take a page out of the GA book, but maybe reassess every 3-4 weeks?

[Pilsy]

Apr 21, 2020 13:53:01 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Apr 21, 2020 13:25:45 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

I finally cried. 

I'm surprised it hadn't happened before now, but this was definitely the straw that broke the camel's back for me. 

Same. I cried and then cracked a beer. I’m honestly a bit shocked. It seems like a really aggressive move at this point. I mean I don’t want Baker to take a page out of the GA book, but maybe reassess every 3-4 weeks?

This is exactly what I just said to a friend IRL. I don't understand making the decision now for all of June. 

[calmcosmo]

Apr 21, 2020 14:05:29 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Apr 21, 2020 13:53:01 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Same. I cried and then cracked a beer. I’m honestly a bit shocked. It seems like a really aggressive move at this point. I mean I don’t want Baker to take a page out of the GA book, but maybe reassess every 3-4 weeks?

This is exactly what I just said to a friend IRL. I don't understand making the decision now for all of June. 

I know the feeling. The Virginia governor cancelled school for the year (which ends mid June in most counties) back on around April 1. It felt incredibly flippant to me. We are under a stay at home order until June 10th and have been for weeks now. 

[hocus2]

Apr 21, 2020 14:05:29 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Apr 21, 2020 13:53:01 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

This is exactly what I just said to a friend IRL. I don't understand making the decision now for all of June. 

NYC is making hard calls through summer. Ton of programs are being cut for either financial or public health reasons.  All large events are off in June too. 

On some level I get that it is shocking to keep things closed through June since things could change but it is probably the right call and it allows places to make decisions with some certainty.  In MA in particular you're not at the peak and NYC is showing very slow climbs down from the peak. I'd be really shocked if my DH's office opens before July. 

I've had a lot of anger and grief at times at how many things have changed/canceled etc but I've largely agreed with the need to make these changes.

[mbcdefg]

Milwaukee, Wisconsin's City Council has unanimously voted to mail every one of the city's 300,000 registered voters an absentee mail ballot application with prepaid return postage. The GOP blocked efforts to do so statewide for April's elections

www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/21/milwaukee-council-votes-mail-absentee-ballot-applications/2995101001/

[Jalapeñomel]

Corona batters Navajo Nation.


www.today.com/health/coronavirus-batters-navajo-nation-it-s-about-get-worse-t179219?cid=sm_npd_td_fb_ma