Coronavirus

[dianaabuela1]

Thanks for the info. I have been following the news, and I saw that Florida is in trouble. I hope people begin to realize that social distancing and masks are really your only defense if you are out and about. I live in TN, and people here are not properly social distancing and wearing masks, and our case numbers and hospitalizations are going up as well, although not as badly as where you are. Stay safe as you can. I am a retired nurse, and I cannot imagine how stressful and sad it must be to work in a hospital these days. I think about you guys every day and am so grateful that we have such a dedicated healthcare workforce.

I live in Florida, I put my mask all the time that I am out. But many people don't care and the social distance not rule it is a mess, they act like everything is ok.

 

[Adeliepenguin]

We had 18 days straight in New Zealand with NO cases of C-19, until two dimwits arrived from the UK to go to a funeral. All incoming people are quarantined for 14 days in a hotel near the airport, where they are tested once at the 3 day mark, and again at the 12 day mark. Some idiot-in-charge at the facility saw fit to allow these two compassionate consideration without being tested to attend the funeral, and they drive over 8 hours down the country to get to it ( think stopping for toilet trips, cafes' etc) where it was afterwards discovered that they are C-19 positive!!! Talk about a public outcry after all our hard work as a country locking down at home for a month, and even then most for us for a further two weeks after that.

To be fair they shouldn’t have been allowed to travel out of the U.K. and into New Zealand, or other countries..nobody should until it’s gone, but then will it ever go!? Do we wait until there’s not one case and then open up the boarders but that could be years. They were just following “flawed” guidelines set out by our governments and if they didn’t know they had it they weren’t doing anything wrong and shouldn’t be labelled “dim wits”. It must be so frustrating and I’m sure we will all get cases like these once it settles down in our countries and I fear this will go on for a while like this!

 

[beckster51]

Thank you for posting this. Our state has been very conservative about reopening and we are under an order to wear masks in public places.

But it looks like gyms will reopen in early July and I really want to go back because I kinda miss their professional grade machines versus the $123 one I bought on Amazon (which does a great job for for what it is).

I was thinking that maybe I should just risk it and go, but I think your post will have me thinking twice and three times.

I, too, would like to go back to the gym, but I think the exposure there is very dangerous. Lots of heavy breathing, sweating, and shared equipment. I would find it particularly difficult not to touch my face in that environment. I am not going back to the gym for a long time.

My girlfriend in Tennessee is planning a 70th birthday trip for her husband to MO. I don't even fathom traveling now. Here in NY we are still socially distancing and wearing masks in public spaces at all times. I wish masks hadn't become such a political pressure button and people would just do what they have to to ensure there own, and families safety.

Agree! Masks are not a political issue, they are a public health issue.

 

[melinda48]

I say let her be for now. Those masks are stifiling and I worry more about what is staying in my nose than what some passerby has. I'm quite sick of the paranoia the media did a fine job of drumming up. If it wasn't for the fact that on public grounds I have to have one, I would not be wearing a mask either. Even when I wear a mask, if the block is empty, that mask is on my chin. If I see people, I'll pull it up until they pass. But I'm tired of making myself sick trying to keep from getting sick.

We also have to remember that in order to develop any sort of herd immunity, we have to be exposed. Those who are in high-risk groups should be vigilant and cautious; those who are not in a high-risk category can be a bit more lax. I always have a mask with me. When I am going to be near others, I wear it but I will not wear it out in the fresh air - I will not wear it when I am not near others.

 

[ShySoaper]

I am not en Epidemiologist, or a Scientist, or even a Dr or RN. I am a CT Tech. I work in the ER/Trauma. I have been doing my job for 25 years. I can only tell you what I personally see trending with COVID.

The ”Curve” was flattening. Things seemed to be getting better. They removed the tents where potential covids were screened or kept at the hospital until they either got a room or discharged. People were starting to relax. Everything started opening back up.

I can tell you that, by personal observation, IT IS SO MUCH WORSE NOW. We dont have enough beds for them all. I scanned an adult located in the pediatric icu, because our icus are full because one of the icus is now dedicated to covid pts.

This cannot be stressed enough. In the past few weeks, we have gotten...just on my 8 hour shifts, 4-8 covids per shift. Sometimes more if the whole stinkin family shows up at once. Last week I was walking to the employee entrance and 3 men were like hot on my tail, practically breathing down my neck with no masks on. I got in the door and turned around “hi, we tested positive”. I backed up and let the doors close lol. I didnt know what else to do lol. I gestured to them where the ER was and called the charge nurse to give her a heads up that 3 covids were checking in.

My sisters boyfriend owns a shop. Every single one of the guys just tested positive, except for him because he is usually in the office.

The rapid covid test is crap. It has a 30% accuracy rate. Patients come in, test negative...so you feel safe to get them for their test, right? Wrong. Days down the road you are getting a phone call from infection control that you were exposed to that same guy who tested negative with the rapid. And you don't even have time to wait for rapid results with traumas or stroke alerts, so you “assume” everybody is positive.I have made it my practice to write down on my paperwork whether or not i had on an n95 for every pt so i know what to tell infection control when they call.

There was a girl Thursday....generally healthy in her 20s. Cant breathe. Oxygen sats in the 80s. Rapid test is negative. Im like oh hell no. Suited up to scan her. “Bilateral ground glass opacities”, which is the typical covid sign on ct.

Everytime i get a neck or abdominal ct, i get a peek at their lungs. I show the doc, which prompts a covid test. Some of these people dont even have symptoms, but their lungs look like crap.

I feel like everybody has it now. I call the hospital a covid cesspool. And now we are running out of ppe again. I have gone back and forth on my opinions in the past on social distancing and opening things back up. Since we have opened up...its exponentially worse just in a few weeks.

Stay home.

I really appreciate you putting this kind of information out there. People need to know what is going on around them.

 

[shunt2011]

I too work for the ED as a Manger for the residency program. I live in Michigan who had some of the highest numbers of COVID patients. Our hospital (one of 8 in our system) was at or above capacity with ventilators at it's worst. We converted the majority of our 5 floors into ventilator / covid floors because our ICU couldn't handle it all. Our hospital system had to convert a laundry facility into a temporary morgue. All employees were given the opportunity to be tested for antibodies as our system was approved by the FDA to do a study. What was crazy is I only had 2 residents get sick and not attending's. Only one of my resident's tested positive for COVID 19. They weren't testing the majority of residents (21 program) or attending's if they were sick (not enough testing supplies). When they started the antibody testing only 1 of my resident's tested positive for antibodies. None of my attending's tested positive. I tested negative. They are seriously questioning the accuracy of the antibody tests at this point. Even employees who tested positive via swab tested negative for antibodies. So, with that, I don't think we will ever know the true numbers on who was or wasn't sick with/without symptoms.

I worked in the command center as well and it was always planning in motion to accommodate all the sick. We had drive-thru covid checks before anyone could enter the hospital and only the most ill were admitted.

Our numbers have dropped significantly here. We only have 160 Covid patients in the entire hospital system. We had over 900 deaths.

We are required to wear masks at all times inside the hospital. I wear masks out in public places.

Our state is pretty much open with limitations on numbers after more than 3 months of lockdown (gyms open Thursday as a court ruled against our governor).

So far we haven't see any spikes even with all the protests going on. Hoping it remains so.

With all that, I'd rather wear a mask and be safe than risk family, friends or others getting ill. Especially since I work in the hot spot.

 

[paradisi]

We also have to remember that in order to develop any sort of herd immunity, we have to be exposed. Those who are in high-risk groups should be vigilant and cautious; those who are not in a high-risk category can be a bit more lax. I always have a mask with me. When I am going to be near others, I wear it but I will not wear it out in the fresh air - I will not wear it when I am not near others.

That's incorrect. We can, and will, establish herd immunity with vaccination, the same way we did with polio, whooping cough, measles....

Wearing a mask in public for the good of all is a tiny thing to ask, and do. And I say that as a claustrophobe for whom wearing a mask is horrid. But I'd feel exponentially worse risking someone else getting sick because of me.

 

[lucycat]

A question for you more knowledgeable people. I look at the numbers and it appears that the southern states aren't having the death rates that the northern states have had. Do you have an opinion about why? Is it because our numbers haven't yet caught up or are doctors/hospitals better able to treat patients now than in Feb-Mar or is it based on how fast it spreads or just the outdoor temps?

Honestly, when the number of cases are large but the death rate low more people don't see a need to take it seriously.

 

[bookreader451]

A question for you more knowledgeable people. I look at the numbers and it appears that the southern states aren't having the death rates that the northern states have had. Do you have an opinion about why? Is it because our numbers haven't yet caught up or are doctors/hospitals better able to treat patients now than in Feb-Mar or is it based on how fast it spreads or just the outdoor temps?

Honestly, when the number of cases are large but the death rate low more people don't see a need to take it seriously.

I believe the there has been a steep learning curve in the treatment process. What I don't agree with is calling over 120,000 a low death rate. That is 120,000 families in mourning and I don't think they care about the percentage that died, only that their loved one did.

 

[Megan]

A question for you more knowledgeable people. I look at the numbers and it appears that the southern states aren't having the death rates that the northern states have had. Do you have an opinion about why? Is it because our numbers haven't yet caught up or are doctors/hospitals better able to treat patients now than in Feb-Mar or is it based on how fast it spreads or just the outdoor temps?

Honestly, when the number of cases are large but the death rate low more people don't see a need to take it seriously.

One issue is that deaths lag behind cases. So generally, when you see an uptick in cases, 2-4 weeks later you will see an uptick in deaths. This is especially a problem when the systems get overwhelmed.

 

[lucycat]

I don't mean 120,000 deaths is low. In Arkansas we have about 15,000 cases and 225 in deaths. Comparing to other states, especially ones with early Covid cases the 225 is a much lower number for that many cases. I am glad it is that but still wonder why.

 

[linne1gi]

I am not en Epidemiologist, or a Scientist, or even a Dr or RN. I am a CT Tech. I work in the ER/Trauma. I have been doing my job for 25 years. I can only tell you what I personally see trending with COVID.

The ”Curve” was flattening. Things seemed to be getting better. They removed the tents where potential covids were screened or kept at the hospital until they either got a room or discharged. People were starting to relax. Everything started opening back up.

I can tell you that, by personal observation, IT IS SO MUCH WORSE NOW. We dont have enough beds for them all. I scanned an adult located in the pediatric icu, because our icus are full because one of the icus is now dedicated to covid pts.

This cannot be stressed enough. In the past few weeks, we have gotten...just on my 8 hour shifts, 4-8 covids per shift. Sometimes more if the whole stinkin family shows up at once. Last week I was walking to the employee entrance and 3 men were like hot on my tail, practically breathing down my neck with no masks on. I got in the door and turned around “hi, we tested positive”. I backed up and let the doors close lol. I didnt know what else to do lol. I gestured to them where the ER was and called the charge nurse to give her a heads up that 3 covids were checking in.

My sisters boyfriend owns a shop. Every single one of the guys just tested positive, except for him because he is usually in the office.

The rapid covid test is crap. It has a 30% accuracy rate. Patients come in, test negative...so you feel safe to get them for their test, right? Wrong. Days down the road you are getting a phone call from infection control that you were exposed to that same guy who tested negative with the rapid. And you don't even have time to wait for rapid results with traumas or stroke alerts, so you “assume” everybody is positive.I have made it my practice to write down on my paperwork whether or not i had on an n95 for every pt so i know what to tell infection control when they call.

There was a girl Thursday....generally healthy in her 20s. Cant breathe. Oxygen sats in the 80s. Rapid test is negative. Im like oh hell no. Suited up to scan her. “Bilateral ground glass opacities”, which is the typical covid sign on ct.

Everytime i get a neck or abdominal ct, i get a peek at their lungs. I show the doc, which prompts a covid test. Some of these people dont even have symptoms, but their lungs look like crap.

I feel like everybody has it now. I call the hospital a covid cesspool. And now we are running out of ppe again. I have gone back and forth on my opinions in the past on social distancing and opening things back up. Since we have opened up...its exponentially worse just in a few weeks.

Stay home.

I am also in Florida, specifically Port St Lucie. I am a registered nurse working in an out patient surgery center. We test everyone (several days) before they have their procedure. When they come into our facility, they get a mask and a temperature check (and of course the list of questions) - if they have a temp - their procedure is not done. No friends of family may come inside to wait - the exception is when a procedure is being done on someone who has not achieved the age of 18. All the nurses have N95 masks, over that we wear a level 2 surgical mask, over that a face shield. So I feel fairly protected. It is sad that so many of the people outside are not wearing masks - ever since we opened up, people seem to think the virus has gone away. It hasn't! Many of the hospitals nearby are almost full. Keep up the social distancing and wear a mask when you can't, such as inside a store. Wash your hands like your life depends on it - it does!

 

[Megan]

I don't mean 120,000 deaths is low. In Arkansas we have about 15,000 cases and 225 in deaths. Comparing to other states, especially ones with early Covid cases the 225 is a much lower number for that many cases. I am glad it is that but still wonder why.

A 1.5% death rate is still really deadly when it comes to a common cold virus, but probably closer to the actual death rate of this virus when adequate treatments are available. States that were inundated with cases weren't able to adequately take care of all of their patients and so some that may have lived if they had the resources, still died. It also has to do with population density, and the ability/willingness to social distance. Socioeconomics also comes into play...there are just a lot of factors. So like Louisiana, their death rate is pretty high, if humidity/warm weather or latitude had anything to do with it, you think they wouldn't have fared so badly as they have.

 

[lucycat]

You are right about Louisiana. It seemed to have an earlier outbreak so if lag time is the biggest difference the statistics in most southern states are going to look a lot different 4-6 weeks from now.

 

[beckster51]

Yep, southern states are just not at their peak yet. The Health Dept. here in TN is estimating that the true peak of this first wave will not happen until September, maybe late August. We are, unfortunately, just getting started.

 

[penelopejane]

If you look at this website based on John Hopkins data you’ll see they base the death rate on closed cases. The covid-19 death rate is 9% currently. This does not take into account, for most countries, people who die at home or people who die but aren’t tested. So the statistics are a lot worse than stated.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/CLOSED CASES Worldwide
Cases which had an outcome: 5,373,492
Recovered / Discharged: 4,900,404 (91%)
Deaths: 473,088 (9%)

 

[KiwiMoose]

T

We also have to remember that in order to develop any sort of herd immunity, we have to be exposed. Those who are in high-risk groups should be vigilant and cautious; those who are not in a high-risk category can be a bit more lax. I always have a mask with me. When I am going to be near others, I wear it but I will not wear it out in the fresh air - I will not wear it when I am not near others.

That didn't work so well for Sweden though.

 

[Jersey Girl]

If you look at this website based on John Hopkins data you’ll see they base the death rate on closed cases. The covid-19 death rate is 9% currently. This does not take into account, for most countries, people who die at home or people who die but aren’t tested. So the statistics are a lot worse than stated.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/CLOSED CASES Worldwide
Cases which had an outcome: 5,373,492
Recovered / Discharged: 4,900,404 (91%)
Deaths: 473,088 (9%)

It also doesn’t take into account asymptotic cases that recovered which would lower the death rate. In NYC when they started testing for antibodies, some areas recorded nearly 25% had been exposed. We will probably never know the true number. its all very disturbing because of the unknowns.

 

[Susie]

You are right about Louisiana. It seemed to have an earlier outbreak so if lag time is the biggest difference the statistics in most southern states are going to look a lot different 4-6 weeks from now.

Let me preface what I am about to say with a little background. I was born and raised in Louisiana, and my ancestors go back to landing on the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain back in 1726. So, Louisiana is HOME. I love the state, I adore the people, but I also see it for what it really is. I worked there as a home health and hospice nurse. So, I understand what role culture has on illness, especially pre-existing chronic illnesses that play such a huge role in the outcome of this virus.

The first problem in Louisiana is that you have a culture built around food and spending time with family and friends. Rarely does a weekend go by that you don't have a BBQ or other food related get-together. And no matter what someone's blood pressure or blood sugar is, they are going to eat and "pass the good time". They also don't care about "some new cold germ". Maintaining that sense of community is more important. This is about 85% of the population. Only about 15% are going to actually try to control their diet and lifestyle at any point during any given week.

That attitude of "let what happens, happen" also goes to big festivals, like Mardi Gras. The attitude down there was that they were going to catch "the rona" no matter what, so they may as well have the largest festival that brings in the most tourist money. It was like a bomb went off down there as far as transmission of Co-vid 19. You can see it on the graphs.

So, you take people that are NOT trying to keep their health in good order, and are deluding themselves as to the severity of that virus, and you add the greed of the government entities that made some really bad decisions, and you get what has happened in Louisiana. Period.

And, please note that no where did I say what color anyone's skin is. Because it is not a matter of color. Louisiana is a melting pot of color, culture and everything that goes with it. It is just Louisiana.

 

[penelopejane]

It also doesn’t take into account asymptotic cases that recovered which would lower the death rate. In NYC when they started testing for antibodies, some areas recorded nearly 25% had been exposed. We will probably never know the true number. its all very disturbing because of the unknowns.

Yes except I think the number of people who’ve died without being tested since the beginning of the outbreak is also huge.
I find the whole thing scary