Coronavirus tidbits #14 3/20/20

Updated today’s post on loss of smell:

UK ENTs now say if you develop that symptom, you should self-isolate.

First US immigration agency employees test positive for coronavirus

A staff member at the Elizabeth, New Jersey, facility and one other at an undisclosed location has been confirmed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/coronavirus-us-immigration-detention-center

Op-Ed: Asian countries that have been successful in containing the virus without locking down society, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, routinely use masks. As of March 17, the three countries together had fewer than 1,000 cases of the coronavirus — despite having close connections to China’s Hubei province,

So what needs to be done here in the United States? Cover your face. Nonmedical masks should be worn by everyone going outside. Inexpensive cloth masks are available for purchase online. Alternatively, scarves, bandana-style neck gaiters, and other similar face coverings can work effectively. Masks should be placed over the mouth and nose and removed carefully, without touching the outside surface, and cloth masks should be washed frequently.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/19/opinion/guidance-against-wearing-masks-coronavirus-is-wrong-you-should-cover-your-face/?p1=Article_Feed_ContentQuery

Diagnostics:

New rapid test, but not yet validated by FDA

http://outbreaknewstoday.com/coronavirus-testing-georgia-researchers-develop-2-hour-test-11076/

Drugs:

Small study, not randomized, but combination of #hydroxychloroquine + #azithromycin was more effective at clearing #SARSCoV2 than hydroxychloroquine alone

https://www.mediterranee-infection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hydroxychloroquine_final_DOI_IJAA.pdf

Epidemiology/Infection control:

What have other countries done successfully?

Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and S. Korea

“Singapore has done everything right,” said David Heymann, who led the WHO’s response to SARS outbreak. “They’ve been openly communicating every day on what’s going on. And they’ve made it clear to the population and the population understands that they are not only to protect themselves but protect others.”

https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/20/understanding-what-works-how-some-countries-are-beating-back-the-coronavirus/

 

WHO stresses #Physicaldistancing can buy you time, but you need to go after the virus: test people, find patients, trace contacts, isolate, quarantine. “Go after the virus!”

Much of what is driving infection is symptomatic patient who either coughs or sneezes close by or contaminates a surface close by, says WHO’s @DrMikeRyan

 

ICU needs:

In China, about 5% of #COVID19 patients were admitted to the ICU. In U.S., so far as many as 12% of patients who are admitted to the hospital for COVID19 are being admitted to ICUs, and that figure may be higher according to the CDC.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912e2.htm?s_cid=mm6912e2_w

CDC data showing nearly 40% of U.S. hospitalized #COVID19 patients are between ages 20 to 54

Far more young people than they expected are falling very ill. According to data by..New York City…56% of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city…involved patients under the age of 50.”

 several coronavirus patients under 40, including a few in their 20s, were on ventilators in the intensive-care unit as of Thursday. All were healthy before getting the virus  – WSJ

https://t.co/5zMBp8LXZF

 

Why soap works:

https://virologydownunder.com/why-does-soap-work-so-well-on-sars-cov-2/

 

Pets and peeing/pooping

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-cat-coronavirus-what-to-do_l_5e7156cbc5b63c0231e42a4c

 

Living w someone w Coronavirus—tips to care for both of you.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-to-do-living-with-someone-coronavirus_l_5e729252c5b6f5b7c53d9a6d

Also, remember that household studies have only shown ~10% transmission (unclear why) and most people recover.

 

Tips for keeping your sanity:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/therapists-advice-patients-coronavirus-anxiety_l_5e6fb44ac5b6125e095b4134

  1. Develop a daily routine/schedule
  2. Limit time on TV/Internet dedicated to COVID-19 – Check news 1-2x/day – Follow a few sources
  3. Exercise – Go for a walk/run, try an online yoga class or video dance to music, or walk up and down the stairs.”
  4. Setup Facetime/Skype calls with friends/loved ones
  5. Pick up a new hobby -Cooking, painting, take an online course in something you always wanted to learn (@openculture, @coursera @udemy
  6. If nervous/anxious try to meditate. – You can use apps like Insight Timer, Simple Habit (both have free meditations, Headspace
  7. Have “virtual dates” – coffee, drinks, movie nights – coffee, drinks, dinner, movie nights
  1. Organize that room/closet you have always wanted to 9. Play online games with friends (i.e.@wordsproblems @Headspace or @calm
  2. Journal or blog about your experience 11. Make a #COVIDComfortKit which includes things like your favorite movies, podcasts, books, playlists, games, comfort foods, and other things to pass time

Perspective:

Such remarkable leadership in this time of crisis, Angela Merkel

https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-coronavirus-is-germanys-greatest-challenge-since-world-war-two/a-52830797?maca=en-Twitter-sharing

OTOH, we have the press conference again today where there is NO social distancing => more lack of credibility. Trump undercuts Dr. Fauci, and then watch this:

https://twitter.com/mrvndn/status/1241046275249881089?s=20

Fauci’s health is at risk being up there with these pols.

Politics:

COVID-19 Assistance and Public Charge FAQ for Immigrants from Seattle

https://welcoming.seattle.gov/covid19publiccharge/

Damning report on “Crimson Contagion” pandemic preparedness exercise with unheeded warnings:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-outbreak.html 

Trump saying he hasn’t heard of Americans with symptoms of the coronavirus not being able to get tested. Note: Dr. Fauci today clearly said the demand for tests is not being met at this time. video

https://twitter.com/Yamiche/status/1241096683448123397?s=20

 

Windsor Mann  @WindsorMann

Trump is holding these press conferences because he can’t hold rallies. Public health is not the point. He needs praise like he needs oxygen. His sycophants talk more than experts. Nothing about tests. It’s all about what Trump wants to hear, not what we need to know.

Trump pushes Chloroquine as a cure, in opposition to the FDA.

In Lagos Hospitals Now Receiving Patients Suffering From Chloroquine Poisoning,

And runs on Chloroquine in Nigeria https://twitter.com/JeremyKonyndyk/status/1240975524249448448?s=20

 

Feel good du jour:

Police officers rescued a girl’s birthday. Their kind act was found two months later on body cameras.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/03/19/police-officers-rescued-girls-birthday-their-kind-act-was-found-two-months-later-body-cameras/

Another nice story of life returning to Venice

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/20/nature-is-taking-back-venice-wildlife-returns-to-tourist-free-city

 

Comic relief:

Watch this from Iranian actor and Instagram influencer Danial Kheirikhah

https://twitter.com/PressTV/status/1233406423620562947?s=20

 

or this “hand sanitizer” satire: https://twitter.com/TheComedyHumor/status/1238873776248565765?s=20

 

Perspective/Poem

 This Shabbat, a good time to revisit this:

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20  lynnungar.com

 

Bits of beauty:

 

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