Novel CoronaVirus (COVID-19) Updates & Discussion

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[OrbitalDawn]

Do you really expect anything from Trump to be sensible?

Guess not.

I mean, he's even hampering himself politically because he's too much of a pouty baby to meet with Pelosi about a stimulus deal.

 

[Thor]

Now compare Italy, which has a proper healthcare system, with the current status of healthcare in SA, the lack of facilities, staff-attitude and the fact that only a minor percentage of the population has any form of medical aid ...

And how many of those have the available cash to splash out to get tested?

That is my worry.

If covid19 hits a township like Rustenberg or Khayelitsha it's game over.

Our public health system (morgue etc) is not equipped to handle a influx like that.

 

[quovadis]

If you wear eye protection and gloves the mask will help.

But yes, don't touch your face, and follow careful procedures when removing masks, goggles, gloves, and clean your hands immediately.

Also, yes, give a mask to someone sneezing/coughing near you - if you can get them to wear it.

Unless you plan on disinfecting the plane and everyone on it all you'd be accomplishing is creating anxiety and additional surface area with more contact and more interaction and very little benefit.

 

[Verde]

Italy letting the old to die simply because they don't have enough beds

The Extraordinary Decisions Facing Italian Doctors

Italy is reporting about 1000 serious to critical cases as of today. I realize the majority are in Milan so not spread out through the country, but find it difficult to understand how one of the world's richest cities can't deal with less than 1000 critical patients.

 

[Thor]

This Wikipedia article shows how the number of infections in Italy has grown from the initial two confirmed cases on 31 January. After 40 days there are more than 10000 infections, 631 deaths and 877 cases in a critical condition. I really hope that we are not going to see a similar explosion in infections in SA over the next month or so. The temperatures should also start dropping as we move into winter ...

COVID-19 pandemic in Italy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

What role exactly does temperature play?

 

[ponder]

This is ridiculously reckless.

Exclusive: White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations - sources

The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, an unusual step that has restricted information and hampered the U.S. government’s response to the contagion, according to four Trump administration officials.

www.reuters.com

Sounds like China...

 

[Thor]

Was at the Jan blohm show tonight at Tygervalley Barnyard, the place was sold out. Absolutely packed.

Zero concern for corona in bellville yet.

That said the way we drink here, I doubt coronavirus Is a worry / the concern.

 

[MrGray]

This is the main issue at hand. The healthcare system collapsing because it doesn’t have enough capacity. We probably can’t contain the virus but we can slow the spread. Not every country can build a hospital in a week and pull in additional healthcare professionals.

And this is the main objective of containment. Not to stop it, but to slow the spread to smooth the load on the healthcare system.

This Bloomberg article explains why the virus only kills some patients while the majority only experience mild symptoms ...

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

www.bloomberg.com

Which is why frequent hand washing will make a difference even if you are exposed as that will lower the total load of virus particles that you're exposed to. Also, the advice that drinking water regularly helps makes sense as this basically washes it down into your stomach (where it cannot survive) instead of letting it linger in your throat.

 

[LD50]

Polony

 

[Jake45]

That is my worry.

If covid19 hits a township like Rustenberg or Khayelitsha it's game over.

Our public health system (morgue etc) is not equipped to handle a influx like that.

How can you stop it from spreading now? The virus has already reached 122+ countries and none of them have managed to stop it as yet. Some countries like Singapore and Taiwan have managed to keep it from spreading out of control but they seem to be losing the battle with the number of new cases starting to increase.

There are cases where one infected person has spread the virus to as many as 100 people in as little as 10 days. I think we could even see something worse than Wuhan or Lombardy over here unless there is some unexpected factor such as temperature or race etc. why it doesn't kill as many people.

 

[MrGray]

This is ridiculously reckless.

Exclusive: White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations - sources

The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, an unusual step that has restricted information and hampered the U.S. government’s response to the contagion, according to four Trump administration officials.

www.reuters.com

Do you really expect anything from Trump to be sensible?

Meh. I doubt any other president would have behaved much differently, or that Trump really has that much influence over the process, anyway.

 

[chefdude98]

There is no recommendation either from the NICD, CDC or WHO that advises or recommends as such but each to their own. Furthermore, disposable masks provide little protection. N95 are approved but their purpose is only recommended for clinical settings or frontline medical personnel who are processing samples or interacting with patients. The average person does not know how to handle a mask to minimise infection thus rendering its benefit negligible at best and increased risk at worst.

Face mask shortage prompts CDC to loosen coronavirus guidance

A shortage of specialized masks has prompted federal health officials to loosen their recommendations on the face protection that front line health-care workers should use to prevent infection from the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Instead of recommending that health-care workers use specialized masks known as N95 respirators, which filter out about 95 percent of airborne particles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new guidelines Tuesday that said “the supply chain of respirators cannot meet demand” and that looser fitting surgical face masks “are an acceptable alternative."
The more commonly worn surgical masks will limit — but not eliminate — the chance of inhaling large, infectious particles circulating near the face.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/10/face-mask-shortage-prompts-cdc-loosen-coronavirus-guidance/

 

[quovadis]

Also, the advice that drinking water regularly helps makes sense as this basically washes it down into your stomach (where it cannot survive) instead of letting it linger in your throat.

That is complete nonsense. You're doing little more than hydrating yourself.

 

[MrGray]

What role exactly does temperature play?

It's an interesting question as it's been proven to be transmitted in a 37 degree C environment. I know it looks like it's affecting cooler climates disproportionately but I think that may be a red herring. There are other factors, for instance, did you know that vitamin D plays an important role in suppressing respiratory infections and populations that are inherently low on vitamin D (as they would be at the end of winter) are likely slightly more susceptible? I also suspect that there are multiple strains, some of which are more virulent, and there may be cultural aspects such as the Italians habit of frequently kissing each other in greeting.

 

[Thor]

Low risk for now, I think

Italy started of with 2 tourist from China.

We dont need to panic for now. We will need to readjust the panic meter in about a month or two from now I think.

2 weeks, in 2 weeks time we'll be flooded, mark my words.

 

[quovadis]

Face mask shortage prompts CDC to loosen coronavirus guidance

A shortage of specialized masks has prompted federal health officials to loosen their recommendations on the face protection that front line health-care workers should use to prevent infection from the highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Instead of recommending that health-care workers use specialized masks known as N95 respirators, which filter out about 95 percent of airborne particles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new guidelines Tuesday that said “the supply chain of respirators cannot meet demand” and that looser fitting surgical face masks “are an acceptable alternative."
The more commonly worn surgical masks will limit — but not eliminate — the chance of inhaling large, infectious particles circulating near the face.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/10/face-mask-shortage-prompts-cdc-loosen-coronavirus-guidance/

Read the guidelines- it relates to people who are suspected to be infected or confirmed cases and health professionals usage. Not general infection avoidance by the public.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

And this is the main objective of containment. Not to stop it, but to slow the spread to smooth the load on the healthcare system.

Yep. And as I mentioned earlier in the thread - healthcare systems have to manage on a rolling basis. And the amount of people with COVID-19 that require hospitalisation (including ICU-level) is quite large. That's where the system can get overwhelmed, not necessarily from people who die.

 

[chefdude98]

Read the guidelines- it relates to people who are suspected to be infected or confirmed cases and health professionals usage. Not general infection avoidance by the public.

I don't care. I cant control if other people are wearing masks or if they block their mouths whilst coughing.

I will also throw the mask away after usage & constantly use hand sanitizer.

 

[semaphore]

If you wear eye protection and gloves the mask will help.

But yes, don't touch your face, and follow careful procedures when removing masks, goggles, gloves, and clean your hands immediately.

Also, yes, give a mask to someone sneezing/coughing near you - if you can get them to wear it.

Naomi Campbell Wears Full Hazmat Suit And Mask On Flight

Naomi Campbell dressed in a full hazmat suit and face mask at Los Angeles International Airport to protect herself against the virus.The supermodel shared se...

www.todayfm.com

I laughed that stupidity, covers everything but her feet.