On Topic Discussion 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2)

[KaraBulut]

I haven't seen that particular exemption. What I have seen are broad "health and safety" exemptions.


There's a couple of changes in our understanding of coronavirus that led to a change on facemasks:

• The original understanding was that facemasks wouldn't protect the person wearing the mask from inhaling virus. That is true since the virus is small enough to penetrate the filters in most masks. What changed is our understanding that it's not a matter of virus floating free in the air. Most coronavirus is being transmitted via water droplets. Cloth masks are able to filter droplets to a certain extent. If you stop the droplets from being inhaled, you'll reduce the chance that the virus will be transmitted.
• The masks stop exhaled droplets, sneezed droplets and coughed droplets from a person who has an infection. The more layers in a cloth mask and the higher filtration level in a paper mask, the less likely an exhaled droplet will be circulating in the air around the person wearing the mask. So, if an infected person is wearing a mask, the people around them are less likely to encounter droplets from the infected person. If both the infected person and uninfected person are wearing masks, then the level of protection is increased exponentially.

There's some interesting case studies coming out about masks. In one case, a salon had hairdressers who tested positive for coronavirus. Both hairdressers wore masks when servicing their clients. None of their 140 clients and 6 coworkers tested positive. The belief is that the masks and the social distancing prevented the virus from being transmitted from the infected hairdressers.

Hairstylists with COVID-19 didn't infect any of their 140 clients. Face masks may be why [Live Science]


One thing to keep in mind about masks:

• Masks are needed most when you cannot maintain social distancing (e.g. when in grocery stores or in a workplace).
• Masks are most effective when contact is short-term since the length of time of the exposure also increases the risk. If you're indoors in a large gathering (like a Trump Rally) for a long period of time, the masks may not provide enough protection to prevent infection. For this reason, avoid prolonged encounters indoors (e.g. gyms) and always avoid exposure to crowds (e.g. sporting events).
• Masks are most effective when everyone is wearing one. If there's an infected person walking around without a mask, they're putting everyone around them at increased risk.

Here's a video demonstrating how a mask stops droplets from being dispersed into the air:

 

[Alistair]

The masks stop exhaled droplets, sneezed droplets and coughed droplets from a person who has an infection. The more layers in a cloth mask and the higher filtration level in a paper mask, the less likely an exhaled droplet will be circulating in the air around the person wearing the mask. So, if an infected person is wearing a mask, the people around them are less likely to encounter droplets from the infected person. If both the infected person and uninfected person are wearing masks, then the level of protection is increased exponentially.

Now if only people that knowingly have a cough or could would just stay home we'd be even better off.

 

[KaraBulut]

Now if only people that knowingly have a cough or could would just stay home we'd be even better off.

That is true pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19.

It would also help if employers would be more reasonable about paid sick leave.

 

[Alistair]

That is true pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19.

It would also help if employers would be more reasonable about paid sick leave.

True. If I miss 3 days of work I have to have a doctor's release to return.

 

[KaraBulut]

A lot of what is going on in hospitals is hidden from the public because of patient privacy laws.

Some of the New York hospitals have put in programs to document what happened and some healthcare workers are doing video blogs to talk about what they're experiencing.

This is one that was linked from a New York Times article last weekend.

https://vimeo.com/428306880

 

[Charon]

From the nyc.gov Safer Sex and COVID-19 doc -

Looks like glory holes are back on the menu, boys!

 

[KaraBulut]

From the nyc.gov Safer Sex and COVID-19 doc -

Looks like glory holes are back on the menu, boys!

Webcamming is your new (old) friend.

 

[KaraBulut]

18-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 8,384,043 (up from 8,214,571 / 2.1%) - *‬*169,472 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 449,695 (up from 445,012) - **4,683 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,164,497 cases (up from 2,141,306 / 1.1% yesterday), ‬**23,191 new cases, 13.7% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 844 (3.2%), outside NJ/NY - 25,922 (96.8%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 117,783 deaths, 654 deaths yesterday , 14.0% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 137 (22.0%), outside NJ/NY - 485 (78.0%)
- Testing: - 24,937,877 tests (up from 24,449,307 yesterday, +488,570 tests), 7.6% of the US population has been tested, 8.7% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,164,497 (up from 2,141,306 / +23,191 / 1.1%) - 117,783 deaths (+654)
• Brazil: 955,377 (up from 923,189 / +32,188 / 3.5%) - 46,510 deaths (+1,269)
• Russia: 560,279 (up from 552,549 / +7,730 / 1.4%) - 7,638 deaths (+170)
• India: 366,946 (up from 354,065 / +12,881 / 3.6%) - 12,237 deaths (+334)
• UK : 300,717 (up from 300,715 / +2 / 0.0%) - 42,238 deaths (+0)
• Iran : 197,647 (up from 195,051 / +2,596 / 1.3%) - 9,272 deaths (+87)
• Turkey: 182,727 (up from 181,298 / +1,429 / 0.8%) - 4,861 deaths (+19)
• Mexico: 159,793 (up from 154,863 / +4,930 / 3.2%) - 19,080 deaths (+770)
• Sweden: 56,043 (up from 54,562 / +1,481 / 2.7%) - 5,053 deaths (+12)

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• 
  *]Spain : 244,683 (up from 244,683 / +0 / 0.0%) - 27,136 deaths (+0)
• Italy : 237,828 (up from 237,500 / +328 / 0.1%) - 34,448 deaths (+43)
• France : 194,805 (up from 194,347 / +458 / -0.1%) - 29,578 deaths (+28)
• Germany : 189,445 (up from 188,474 / +971 / 0.5%) - 8,869 deaths (+25)
• Canada : 101,492 (up from 101,102 / +390 / 0.4%) - 8,312 deaths (+35)
• China: 84,462 (up from 84,432 / +30 / 0.0%) - 4,638 deaths (+0)
• Belgium: 60,348 (up from 60,244 / +104 / 0.2%) - 9,673 deaths (+(2)
• Netherlands : 49,527 (up from 49,412 / +115 / 0.2%) - 6,097 deaths (+4)
• Switzerland : 31,200 (up from 31,183 / +17 / 0.1%) - 1,956 deaths (+0)
• Ireland: 25,341 (up from 25,334 / +7 / 0.0%) - 1,710 deaths (+1)
• Japan: 17,588 (up from 17,530 / +58 / 0.3%) - 935 deaths (+0)
• South Korea : 12,257 (up from 12,198 / +59 / 0.5%) - 280 deaths (+1)
• Australia : 7,391 (up from 7,370 / +21 / 0.3%) - 102 deaths (+0)
• New Zealand: 1,507 (up from 1,506 / +1 / 0.1%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[Kahaih]

I think there should be more information/advice posted, everywhere, as to how long it is safe to wear a/one mask.

How long before a mask is too damp from breathing through it, and how long before it has had too much exposure to too many people. Breathing through a contaminated mask for a long period can't be good.

A lot of people and businesses will stretch anything with a pricetag beyond its limits, and I don't really trust manufacturers with this.

 

[KaraBulut]

I think there should be more information/advice posted, everywhere, as to how long it is safe to wear a/one mask.

How long before a mask is too damp from breathing through it, and how long before it has had too much exposure to too many people. Breathing through a contaminated mask for a long period can't be good.

A lot of people and businesses will stretch anything with a pricetag beyond its limits, and I don't really trust manufacturers with this.

The answer is going to depend on the material. One of the reasons that cloth masks have been recommended is that they can be thrown in the dryer to sterilize for reuse and they can be washed when soiled.

Paper masks weren't designed to be reusable. The typical surgical mask might be reusable- for a short weekly trip to the grocery store, for example. But it would be better to keep a supply of paper masks handy and plan on replacing a paper mask with a fresh mask periodically or to use a cloth mask when you're going to be wearing the mask for a long period of time.

 

[Kahaih]

/\ If we can trust the reporting.

It's tourist dollars season all over the northern hemisphere.

Which reminds me, have all of your Canadian snowbirds been able to migrate back home from Florida, yet?

 

[KaraBulut]

Just for comparison

Also worth comparing:

New cases in the US yesterday: 23,191
New cases in New York state yesterday: 618

New cases in Canada yesterday: 390

 

[KaraBulut]

19-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 8,552,674 (up from 8,384,043 / 2.0%) - *‬*168,631 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 456,994 (up from 449,695) - **7,299 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,206,333 cases (up from 2,164,497 / 1.9% yesterday), ‬**41,836 new cases, 24.8% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 1,022 (3.8%), outside NJ/NY - 25,681 (96.2%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 118,758 deaths, 975 deaths yesterday , 13.4% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 69 (10.6%), outside NJ/NY - 583 (89.4%)
- Testing: - 25,403,498 tests (up from 24,937,877 yesterday, +465,621 tests), 7.7% of the US population has been tested, 8.7% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,206,333 (up from 2,164,497 / +41,836 / 1.9%) - 118,758 deaths (+975)
• Brazil: 978,142 (up from 955,377 / +22,765 / 2.4%) - 47,748 deaths (+1,238)
• Russia: 568,292 (up from 560,279 / +8,013 / 1.4%) - 7,831 deaths (+193)
• India: 380,532 (up from 366,946 / +13,586 / 3.7%) - 12,573 deaths (+336)
• UK : 303,281 (up from 300,717 / +2,564 / 0.9%) - 42,546 deaths (+308)
• Iran : 200,262 (up from 197,647 / +2,615 / 1.3%) - 9,392 deaths (+120)
• Turkey: 185,245 (up from 182,727 / +2,518 / 1.4%) - 4,905 deaths (+44)
• Mexico: 165,455 (up from 159,793 / +5,662 / 3.5%) - 19,747 deaths (+667)
• Sweden: 56,043 (up from 56,043 / +0 / 0.0%) - 5,053 deaths (+0)

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• Spain : 245,575 (up from 244,683 / +892 / 0.4%) - 28,315 deaths (+1,179)
• Italy : 238,011 (up from 237,828 / +183 / 0.1%) - 34,561 deaths (+113)
• France : 195,272 (up from 194,805 / +467 / 0.2%) - 29,606 deaths (+28)
• Germany : 190,299 (up from 189,445 / +854 / 0.5%) - 8,887 deaths (+18)
• Canada : 102,102 (up from 101,492 / +610 / 0.6%) - 8,407 deaths (+95)
• China: 84,494 (up from 84,462 / +32 / 0.0%) - 4,638 deaths (+0)
• Belgium: 60,476 (up from 60,348 / +128 / 0.2%) - 9,695 deaths (+22)
• Netherlands : 49,634 (up from 49,527 / +107 / 0.2%) - 6,100 deaths (+3)
• Switzerland : 31,217 (up from 31,200 / +17 / 0.1%) - 1,956 deaths (+0)
• Ireland: 25,368 (up from 25,341 / +27 / 0.1%) - 1,714 deaths (+4)
• Japan: 17,658 (up from 17,588 / +70 / 0.4%) - 951 deaths (+16)
• South Korea : 12,306 (up from 12,257 / +49 / 0.4%) - 280 deaths (+0)
• Australia : 7,409 (up from 7,391 / +18 / 0.2%) - 102 deaths (+0)
• New Zealand: 1,507 (up from 1,507 / +0 / 0.0%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[rareboy]

More than 230 members of one church in Oregon have contracted COVID.

What does this portend for the attendees at the rally in Tulsa?

A church in eastern Oregon that defied the governor’s stay-at-home order has become the state’s hot spot for new cases of COVID-19.

Two-thirds of 356 members of Lighthouse Pentecostal Church tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, according to The Associated Press.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/new...xZa-6XiyNamIkuKD4Iqh6C7Kz_Mw-WFdmINSmzLTJ5Q1o

Jesus apparently doesn't like stupid, arrogant people.

 

[Telstra]

people didn't talk much about corona in frozen food ??

https://au.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-frozen-food-potential-source-beijing-outbreak-221429358.html

 

[rareboy]

On the eve of Tulsa,

The U.S. National Institutes of Health said on Saturday it has halted a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heal...VCvgA3Ob8LLMcY6MYIeHKkHtnCtRxvvzos8g8L1ZmzMxg

If it sounds too good to be true...it usually is.

 

[KaraBulut]

20-Jun-2020:

Global COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Global Cases reported: 8,693,005 (up from 8,552,674 / %) - *‬*140,331 new cases yesterday
- Global Deaths: 461,786 (up from 456,994) - **4,792 people died yesterday

US COVID-19 Mortality/Morbidity
- Cases reported in the US - 2,222,576 cases (up from 2,206,333 / 0.7% yesterday), ‬**16,243 new cases, 11.6% of world's new cases were in the US
- Yesterday's cases in NJ/NY - 1,185 (3.8%), outside NJ/NY - 30,191 (96.2%)
- Deaths reported in the US - 119,131 deaths, 373 deaths yesterday , 7.8% of the world's deaths yesterday were in the US
- Yesterday's Deaths in NJ/NY - 74 (10.6%), outside NJ/NY - 622 (89.4%)
- Testing: - 25,982,613 tests (up from 25,403,498 yesterday, +579,115 tests), 7.9% of the US population has been tested, 8.6% positive rate

Coronavirus cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• US: 2,222,576 (up from 2,206,333 / +16,243 / 0.7%) - 119,131 deaths (+373)
• Brazil: 1,032,913 (up from 978,142 / +54,771 / 5.6%) - 48,954 deaths (+1,206)
• Russia: 576,162 (up from 568,292 / +7,870 / 1.4%) - 7,992 deaths (+161)
• India: 395,048 (up from 380,532 / +14,516 / 3.8%) - 12,948 deaths (+375)
• UK : 303,285 (up from 303,281 / +4 / 0.0%) - 42,546 deaths (+0)
• Iran : 202,584 (up from 200,262 / +2,322 / 1.2%) - 9,507 deaths (+115)
• Turkey: 185,245 (up from 185,245 / +0 / 0.0%) - 4,905 deaths (+0)
• Mexico: 170,485 (up from 165,455 / +5,030 / 3.0%) - 20,394 deaths (+647)
• Sweden: 56,043 (up from 56,043 / +0 / 0.0%) - 5,053 deaths (+0)

Coronavirus cases/deaths in recovering countries:

• Spain : 245,575 (up from 245,575 / +0 / 0.0%) - 28,315 deaths (+0)
• Italy : 238,011 (up from 238,011 / +0 / 0.0%) - 34,561 deaths (+0)
• France : 196,083 (up from 195,272 / +811 / 0.4%) - 29,620 deaths (+14)
• Germany : 190,670 (up from 190,299 / +371 / 0.2%) - 8,895 deaths (+8)
• Canada : 102,314 (up from 102,102 / +212 / 0.2%) - 8,408 deaths (+1)
• China: 84,525 (up from 84,494 / +31 / 0.0%) - 4,638 deaths (+0)
• Belgium: 60,550 (up from 60,476 / +74 / 0.1%) - 9,696 deaths (+1)
• Netherlands : 49,710 (up from 49,634 / +76 / 0.2%) - 6,108 deaths (+8)
• Switzerland : 31,243 (up from 31,217 / +26 / 0.1%) - 1,956 deaths (+0)
• Ireland: 25,368 (up from 25,368 / +0 / 0.0%) - 1,714 deaths (+0)
• Japan: 17,720 (up from 17,658 / +62 / 0.4%) - 951 deaths (+0)
• South Korea : 12,373 (up from 12,306 / +67 / 0.5%) - 280 deaths (+0)
• Australia : 7,436 (up from 7,409 / +27 / 0.4%) - 102 deaths (+0)
• New Zealand: 1,509 (up from 1,507 / +2 / 0.1%) - 22 deaths (+0)

 

[KaraBulut]

What is happening in the US (and the stuff that the politicians aren't telling us):

On 1-May when most States reversed their stay-at-home orders and capitulated to pressure from the White House to reopen, the US had 36,192 new cases that day. Yesterday, on 19-Jun the US had 31,376 new cases. Both of these numbers are bad, however it is being spun as an improvement. It is not.

2-May Cases In the US:

• Cases in NJ/NY: 6,480 (19.0%)
• Cases outside NJ/NY: 27,649 (81.0%)

19-Jun Cases In the US:

• Cases in NJ/NY: 1,185 (3.8%)
• Cases outside NJ/NY: 30,191 (96.2%)

What has happened is that New York and New Jersey have reduced their cases by 82% while cases in the rest of the US have increased. There are 20 States that have neither decreased their cases or flattened the curve; it is these 20 States that are causing the problem in the US.

Texas Case Study:
In mid-May, there was a post looking at Texas that had lifted their stay at home order on 1-May. These were the daily averages at that time for the week ending:

• 04-Apr - 614/day
• 11-Apr - 910
• 18-Apr - 812
• 25-Apr - 795
• 02-May - 899 (quarantine order expired 1-May)
• 09-May - 1,043
• 16-May - 1,233

This is what has happened since:

• 23-May - 1,096/day
• 30-May - 1,156
• 06-Jun - 1,560
• 13-Jun - 1,768
• 20-Jun - 2,937

In one month, Texas went from 8,631 new cases per week to 20,559‬ new cases per week in one month. The governor's plan indicated that the State of Texas planned for 4% of the population to contract the virus. Texas' latest positivity rate is 8.53% which is over double their planned rate of increase.

Florida Case Study:
Florida also lifted its stay-at-home order on 1-May. Florida has been accused of under-reporting cases but in spite of this, their case numbers have increased exponentially.

Here are Florida's case number:

• 4-Apr - 1,011 <-stay at home started
• 11-Apr - 1,100
• 18-Apr - 970
• 25-Apr - 825
• 02-May - 599 <- stay at home expired
• 09-May - 639
• 16-May - 706
• 23-May - 759
• 30-May - 721
• 06-Jun - 999
• 13-Jun - 1,355
• 20-Jun - 2,682

Florida put in their stay at home order when they had 7,077 new cases per week. After 4 weeks, their case numbers dropped to 4,193 per week. Now, 6 weeks later, Florida has 18,774 new cases per week.

Both Florida and Texas indicate that their stay-at-home orders were terminated too early and their opening efforts were rushed and not monitored for outbreaks. Both governors have blamed the increase on testing which is not true. The cases in Florida and in Texas have increased because the population is not taking precautions and the virus has become so prevalent in the population that every group gathering poses a risk to everyone in the group.


Other States with big increases:

• Alabama: from 896 new cases per week for the week ending 4-April / 5,292‬ new cases this week.
• Arizona: from 1,274 new cases per week 4-April / 13,874‬ new cases this week.
• California: from 8,708‬ new cases per week 4-April / 24,241‬ new cases this week.
• North Carolina: from 1,575 new cases per week 4-April / 8,232‬ new cases this week.

 

[KaraBulut]

The former Florida State employee who was fired by the governor over disagreements about COVID-19 reporting has developed her own alternative reporting dashboard ("Community Dashboard") that reports higher numbers than the official state dashboard.

Florida's official State dashboard shows 93,797 cases and 3,144 deaths.

The Community Dashboard has different numbers. According to the Community Dashboard numbers:

• 105,772 people in Florida have tested positive. This number includes antibody tests that the State is not including in their numbers.
• 3,254 have died. By these numbers, Florida would have a 3% mortality rate.
• 4,067 people in long term care (e.g. nursing homes) have tested positive and 1,625 in long term care have died.
• 925,036 antigen tests have been run and 5.4% tested positive.

Florida's Community Dashboard (not the official State dashboard)

 

[Kahaih]

With all of the opposition to face masks, social distancing, stay at home orders, etc. I suspect that there are millions of people who will never step up to be tested, even if they, themselves, suspect that they are sick.

People who fear being taken from their home, and people who refuse to be stuck in one place with home quarantine and monitoring. And, of course, those who fear social rejection from appearing on records.

Also, with the knowledge of the permanent/long-term damage this virus can cause, many people will fear any records of the virus showing up as a pre existing health condition when applying for new health insurance.