Covid-19 discussion and humor thread [Was: CDC says don't touch your face to avoid Covid19...Vets to the rescue!

[Hardhatharry]

Just now, Nervous Guy said:

Whose to say they didn't already have it....the post referred the seasonality discussion.

It's summer in Australia...

[Sundancer]

The case growth and death rate in Italy, while still high (900+/day deaths) is starting to show signs of leveling off. 

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/italy/

 

 

 

Given the US's geography, our situation may not resemble Italy's so I am not sure we can make projections about when we will see leveling here. I hope because some places instituted lockdowns early (PA and Ohio seemed ahead of the curve), we may see it sooner in those areas. 

 

Reminder: These stats are WITH quarantine. 

 

The US deaths are showing no signs of leveling yet. 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by Sundancer

[Gray Beard]

18 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

The case growth and death rate in Italy, while still high (1000/day deaths) is starting to show signs of leveling off. That's likely the effect of the quarantine. 

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/italy/

Grim numbers

If you go into the hospital, 45% chance of dying. 
 

[Sundancer]

6 minutes ago, Gray Beard said:

Grim numbers

If you go into the hospital, 45% chance of dying. 
 

 

That's not what the 45% stat says but it is nevertheless not a great number that of the 20K of known and resolved cases, 45% were fatalities. 

Edited March 29, 2020 by Sundancer

[Bob in Mich]

The situation now reminds me of a collision of huge ships. We still have time before the worst happens but cannot stop it any longer. 

 

The ventilator shortage will be the root cause of the preventable deaths.  The only possible miracle could be the ability to use one machine for multiple patients. I have heard of a few projects working on that. Imo, we should focus more resources on this project 

[Sundancer]

2 minutes ago, Bob in Mich said:

The situation now reminds me of a collision of huge ships. We still have time before the worst happens but cannot stop it any longer. 

 

 

Agreed. The social distancing is helping though. 

[Gray Beard]

11 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

 

Agreed. The social distancing is helping though. 

I feel as though deaths are the most reliable measure of the situation.  It is a lagging indicator, since it seems to take two or three weeks for a person to die (if a person is going to die) after initially contracting the virus. Since the testing is so inconsistent, the only way to say that the virus has come through an area and then social distancing has caused the impact to be reduced is to see that the number of deaths has declined.  But since that statistic represents a two or three week delay, it’s hard to judge the impact of social distancing in real time.  
 

I know, I know...  we need more testing.  But that costs money and requires cooperation, which is a hard putt. 

[Cripple Creek]

1 hour ago, Bob in Mich said:

The situation now reminds me of a collision of huge ships. We still have time before the worst happens but cannot stop it any longer. 

 

The ventilator shortage will be the root cause of the preventable deaths.  The only possible miracle could be the ability to use one machine for multiple patients. I have heard of a few projects working on that. Imo, we should focus more resources on this project 

There are several projects about this that I've read about.  The most interesting, to me, was one where 1 could be used to assist 4 patients.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, cloistering with your 20 concubines might not be such a bad thing.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8164535/King-Thailand-self-isolates-coronavirus-German-hotel-harem-20-concubines.html

Edited March 29, 2020 by Cripple Creek

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Sundancer said:

The case growth and death rate in Italy, while still high (900+/day deaths) is starting to show signs of leveling off. 

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/italy/

 

 

 

Given the US's geography, our situation may not resemble Italy's so I am not sure we can make projections about when we will see leveling here. I hope because some places instituted lockdowns early (PA and Ohio seemed ahead of the curve), we may see it sooner in those areas. 

 

Reminder: These stats are WITH quarantine. 

 

The US deaths are showing no signs of leveling yet. 

 

 

I'd just to loop back to this....from reading various on-the-ground reports, I think Italy's cases leveling off may be a testing artifact.

 

Apparently Italy realized one way the virus was spreading, was people coming to hospital for treatment and being tested.   Since they no longer have space in hospital, until patients are critical, they are now just writing them prescriptions for home oxygen and telling them to hydrate and stay home. 

 

They are no longer being tested.  So the apparent leveling off of cases may be an artifact.

 

I don't see signs of leveling off in the Italy death rate above.
 

43 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said:

There are several projects about this that I've read about.  The most interesting, to me, was one where 1 could be used to assist 4 patients.

 

There is a post summarizing the information about multi-using ventilators in the covid-19 facts only thread.

 

I'll be glad to add any new info anyone finds to it.

 

But even if you instantly expand the ventilator capacity 4x, it's not necessarily going to help: inadequately protected doctors and nurses and aides who are wearing N95 masks and gowns where they should be wearing PAPRs (positive air flow respirators and isolation suits), or surgical masks and face shields where they should be wearing N95 masks and face shields, are going to start falling sick in droves. 

 

Proper care of ICU/ventilated patients is very labor intensive.  If you multiply the ventilators x10, the staffing will not multiply x10; in fact, it will decline from what we currently have due to HCW illness.

 

Job 1 is to ensure proper PPE for HCW.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Gray Beard said:

Grim numbers

If you go into the hospital, 45% chance of dying.

 

Keep in mind for some time in Italy, they are only transporting to hospital the most critically ill patients.  If you can be cared for at home, even if you are miserably ill and require oxygen, the message is "stay home".  So the hospital death rate is skewed by admitting only those most at risk to die.

 

That's actually happening here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/magazine/coronavirus-family.html

 

This describes the struggle of a family with a healthy, distance-biking 56 yr old father ill from covid-19.  He is developing pneumonia by x-ray, has had lower oxygen readings, and is struggling to eat and drink, very weak, - in ordinary times he would undoubtedly have been admitted to hospital for IV hydration and nourishment.  Now it's "home care" and text consultation with the occasional clinic visit for xray

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

[Sundancer]

30 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I'd just to loop back to this....from reading various on-the-ground reports, I think Italy's cases leveling off may be a testing artifact.

 

Apparently Italy realized one way the virus was spreading, was people coming to hospital for treatment and being tested.   Since they no longer have space in hospital, until patients are critical, they are now just writing them prescriptions for home oxygen and telling them to hydrate and stay home. 

 

They are no longer being tested.  So the apparent leveling off of cases may be an artifact.

 

This could be true, although the lack of testing early may also have kept those numbers depressed. Case measurement remains a dubious measure so that's a good point made by you and another poster.

 

30 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I don't see signs of leveling off in the Italy death rate above.

 

Time will tell, but it's been between 600-900/day for almost a week (with the growth admittedly in the last few days). There needs to be a longer term trend to make a conclusion on that but we are not seeing big daily leaps like we still are in the US.  

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

[Augie]

4 hours ago, Nervous Guy said:

I used to get the Princeton haircut too!  It was all the rage in the 60's!   Here's a step by step to help you out!

https://www.miladypro.com/home/b/barbering/archive/2016/01/20/step-by-step-the-low-maintenance-princeton-haircut

 

Oh, I can’t let my wife see THAT! 

[Punching Bag]

19 hours ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

?

[Edit: I am regularly updating the case count and mortality graphs from that Financial Times article.  The link is found in the 2nd post in the Covid Facts thread.]

 

 

Quote

US states also show very different trajectories. Washington saw the first outbreak in the US, but its death toll has risen relatively slowly since then. New York’s mortality curve is much steeper: the state has the highest death toll of any subnational region in the world at this stage of its outbreak.

 

Would like to see metro areas,  New York City’s mortality curve is much steeper: the NY metro area has the highest death toll of any subnational region in the world at this stage of its outbreak.  The newspapers seem to not be stating this grouping all deaths which makes NYC looking better than it is.

 

Quote

Official data lags behind activity since it is mostly monthly, and China’s data is sometimes viewed as open to political manipulation.

 

US too as government keeps changing measurements and standards.

 

[Punching Bag]

5 hours ago, Nervous Guy said:

Could the "seasonality" be due to vitamin D levels...former CDC chief postulates it may be.  It's not the temperature, it's exposure to sunlight.  Is he crazy?  Oh and yes, the link is FOX news, it doesn't reflect my political leanings.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/former-cdc-chief-tom-frieden-coronavirus-risk-may-be-reduced-with-vitamin-d

 

In college was biology major. We did test of viruses / bacteria on various substances (small squares) and exposed them to different conditions - sunlight, humidity and temperature.    Viruses / bacteria broke down fastest when sunlight was high, humidity was low and temperature was high with rate varying on structure.   Hot dry sunny is best for destroying them on substances.  This was a long time ago (1990) but expect it is still valid.

[BillsFan4]

https://anest.ufl.edu/clinical-divisions/alternative-n95-mask-production/

Alternative N95 Mask Production

The University of Florida Health’s department of anesthesiology has developed 2 prototypes for respirator masks that can be produced in large quantities using materials already found in hospitals and medical facilities.

 

 

[/dev/null]

21 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

Countries need to do a lockdown on China pulling out manufacturing, etc, until China reforms.

 

I've heard some talking head types pontificating how COVID will alter American life after this is all over.  I think America, and the West in general, is going to be rethinking our business relationship with China.  And those jobs that are "never coming back," just might

[Punching Bag]

1 minute ago, /dev/null said:

 

I've heard some talking head types pontificating how COVID will alter American life after this is all over.  I think America, and the West in general, is going to be rethinking our business relationship with China.  And those jobs that are "never coming back," just might

 

I think it will change US as much as 9-11 and all of the changes will not be good but just opportunities for companies to get paid by government and give terrible customer service.

[Foxx]

[Hapless Bills Fan]

[BillsFan4]

 

?

[Punching Bag]

7 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

?

 

Glad I had an old style clam shell phone when I was there.

[Cripple Creek]

Liz Hurley is really letting herself go. Sad.

 

 

[Augie]

1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said:

Liz Hurley is really letting herself go. Sad.

 

 

 

THAT is quite a bust! 

 

 

NO! The one on the left, you perve! 

[BillsFan4]

This is a good reminder why we have to keep social distancing.

 

 

End on a a positive note tonight! (click tweet to see thread). Goodnight all. Hope everyone’s healthy and safe.

Edited March 30, 2020 by BillsFan4

[ExiledInIllinois]

[Sundancer]

Nothing surprising here but I’m glad to see more and more people mentioning tracking as one of the prerequisites to reopening the economy. Still haven’t seen this come up from the administration, or an actual plan to do the tracking, but only with a national effort can it work. 
 

It could be a month before the other 4 factors are ready, if our healthcare system can keep up and not get swamped in April. 
 

“When we see a state or region have numbers that go down over time, and when we have diagnostics in place, and when we have masks available for all of our doctors and nurses who are putting their lives at risk to take care of sick patients, and hospitals are well-prepared, and when we can get our public health systems in place to start tracing or identifying individuals and start tracing their contacts, again like they do in Asia --- I think those five major conditions --- then I think it’s a time to begin to think about how we might experiment with lightening social distancing, perhaps one step at a time.”

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johns-hopkins-doctor-identifies-5-key-factors-for-relaxing-social-distancing

Edited March 30, 2020 by Sundancer

[Foxx]

6 hours ago, Augie said:

 

THAT is quite a bust! 

 

 

NO! The one on the left, you perve! 

here, we just call 'em 'Barnes and Noble'.

Edited March 30, 2020 by Foxx

[Cripple Creek]

Really, really bad idea by a company that calls itself ImageNet.  I'm sure that this will be quickly walked back.

 

https://www.thelostogle.com/2020/03/29/imagenet-consulating-stimulus-payment/

 

 

 

Tough place we're in.  NHS, Great Britain's primary healthcare provider, tells physicians that ICU beds should be reserved for those "reasonably certain" to survive.

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1262062/London-Coronavirus-Intensive-care-limited-beds-spaces-NHS-elderly-latest-news-UK-updates

Edited March 30, 2020 by Cripple Creek

[ChevyVanMiller]

[Hapless Bills Fan]

One Funny Mother - "I made pudding" ??

 

 

 

[Sundancer]

Keeping this going. I agree that the "case count" is still dubious. I know someone who got CV-19 in the NYC area. Everyone is fine but only one member of the house got tested, and the other 3 did not, so the 3 don't show up in the statistics. This is happening all over and it is warping a lot of statistics (cases and contagiousness may be higher, fatality and hospitalization is definitely lower than can be known based on just tested cases). 

 

Nevertheless, Italy's deaths continue to appear to be leveling and so do its diagnosed cases. 

 

ITALY

 

 

 

In the US, here are the numbers...no sign of any leveling in deaths yet (the death numbers don't include yesterday because apparently the reporting out of NYS was incomplete--not a knock just what they noted in the data). 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding Spain to the watchlist for comparison:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2020 by Sundancer

[ExiledInIllinois]

Mother inlaw sent this one SnailMail.  Sorry for the crease.

 

SOURCE: The Buffalo News

[BillsFan4]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

One Funny Mother - "I made pudding" ??

 

 

 

Funny video! ?

 

Quick story somewhat related to this video:

 

I have a friend who tells me how safe he’s being. He thinks he’s being extremely cautious (his wife is in the high risk group). 

 

But then he’s inviting me over for a card party. He says they are keeping it to 10 people as recommended. And he says everyone will wear gloves to be extra safe.

 

Before he went to this card party, he had just picked up his sister from the airport the day before. She was flying back from their mother’s house in Florida, where she was taking their mother to many different doctors appointments after her recent hospital stay (where she was also visiting) and doing all the shopping/running.

He himself has also been out at different local stores + places in the area basically every day since this started.

 

That’s not mentioning all the things the other 8 people at that card party may have done to put themselves at risk that I don’t know about (they seem to be taking it about as “serious” as he is)

 

 

I tried to explain to him why I wouldn’t be coming and why this card party was risky but he didn’t seem to get it (or didn’t believe me). He still doesn’t understand why I won’t stop by and play.... ??‍♂️

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

13 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

Funny video! ?

 

Quick story somewhat related to this video:

 

I have a friend who tells me how safe he’s being. He thinks he’s being extremely cautious (his wife is in the high risk group). 

 

But then he’s inviting me over for a card party. He says they are keeping it to 10 people as recommended. And he says everyone will wear gloves to be extra safe.

 

Before he went to this card party, he had just picked up his sister from the airport the day before. She was flying back from their mother’s house in Florida, where she was taking their mother to many different doctors appointments after her recent hospital stay (where she was also visiting) and doing all the shopping/running.

He himself has also been out at different local stores + places in the area basically every day since this started.

 

That’s not mentioning all the things the other 8 people at that card party may have done to put themselves at risk that I don’t know about (they seem to be taking it about as “serious” as he is)

 

 

I tried to explain to him why I wouldn’t be coming and why this card party was risky but he didn’t seem to get it (or didn’t believe me). He still doesn’t understand why I won’t stop by and play.... ??‍♂️

 

 

So one of my daughter's besties mom (that's convoluted I know, but there's a parents' Facebook group for her college) and I have become friendly.  She is near Atlanta, where there is a significant outbreak.

 

She tells me her across the street neighbor, who is pres. of the Homeowners Association, is posting HEARTBREAKING Facebook posts about mom who can't visit preemie infant in hospital, doctors holding up hands to kid through glass etc etc - so Stay Home.

 

Meanwhile she texts me photos of that same neighbor's kids and neighborhood kids all playing in front yard, playing in bounce house, etc etc.
 

I guess it must be human nature to perceive unsafe behavior as something OTHER PEOPLE do

[Hapless Bills Fan]

https://laughingsquid.com/drone-delivers-roll-of-toilet-paper/?fbclid=IwAR0_InW1EfPObZhhBAG5BB6PeNsxBvLNQuFd6OxMSYdgUrSLQVdkvTIki5k

 

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

I wonder if this is true... @Hapless Bills Fan

 

Our son claims that wearing gloves, latex gloves could "spread" the virus around more.  That normal, religious hand washing is better.

 

Everything I have read points to: viable virus doesn't last long on hands.  Of course don't go mining your nose, touching your face, etc... It kinda makes sense that an impermeable glove would "push it around"... Of course gloves are important as PPE with all kinds of other pathogens... But with COVID-19??  BUT, I feel the glove can be removed properly, inside out, hand to hand and "corral" any virus, right?

 

What's your take?  Myth or fact? We are at odds on this one!

 

Oh... JUST like the raging debate:

 

Nancy-Boy glove wearing Qbs vs. Non-glove wearing "tough guy" quarterbacks! ?

 

[Figster]

32 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

I wonder if this is true... @Hapless Bills Fan

 

Our son claims that wearing gloves, latex gloves could "spread" the virus around more.  That normal, religious hand washing is better.

 

Everything I have read points to: viable virus doesn't last long on hands.  Of course don't go mining your nose, touching your face, etc... It kinda makes sense that an impermeable glove would "push it around"... Of course gloves are important as PPE with all kinds of other pathogens... But with COVID-19??  BUT, I feel the glove can be removed properly, inside out, hand to hand and "corral" any virus, right?

 

What's your take?  Myth or fact? We are at odds on this one!

 

Oh... JUST like the raging debate:

 

Nancy-Boy glove wearing Qbs vs. Non-glove wearing "tough guy" quarterbacks! ?

 

Its possible the negatives out weigh the positives IMO. The chance of cross contamination during removal  vs just washing your hands thoroughly after exposure makes your sons argument a good one. Of course small cuts. or abrasions on the other hand are also something to take into consideration.

 

The N 95 mask to me is a no brainer in my humble opinion. Every household in the US should have a supply.

 

Common sense would tell you stopping the problem at its source results in less masks and ventilators needed in the hospitals.

 

Essential workers need them. We all need them.

 

Protect the air you breath my Bills brothas and sisters. Its the only way we can stop this virus in its tracks.

Edited March 30, 2020 by Figster

[Augie]

1 hour ago, BillsFan4 said:

Funny video! ?

 

Quick story somewhat related to this video:

 

I have a friend who tells me how safe he’s being. He thinks he’s being extremely cautious (his wife is in the high risk group). 

 

But then he’s inviting me over for a card party. He says they are keeping it to 10 people as recommended. And he says everyone will wear gloves to be extra safe.

 

Before he went to this card party, he had just picked up his sister from the airport the day before. She was flying back from their mother’s house in Florida, where she was taking their mother to many different doctors appointments after her recent hospital stay (where she was also visiting) and doing all the shopping/running.

He himself has also been out at different local stores + places in the area basically every day since this started.

 

That’s not mentioning all the things the other 8 people at that card party may have done to put themselves at risk that I don’t know about (they seem to be taking it about as “serious” as he is)

 

 

I tried to explain to him why I wouldn’t be coming and why this card party was risky but he didn’t seem to get it (or didn’t believe me). He still doesn’t understand why I won’t stop by and play.... ??‍♂️

 

 

My 92 year old mother lives in a high rise retirement place with a bunch of people just like her. Playing cards once or twice a day was part of the daily routine. Now, she can’t figure out how to properly operate her phone, but they DID figure out sitting around a small table with different people and passing those cards cards around was a bad idea. That ended 2-3 weeks ago.