[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

[LawBeefaroni]

McMennamins is a local OR chain of breweries/hotels/restaurants in mostly odd locations (old schools, prisons, theaters, etc). Very Portland. But they’re everywhere. And today they announced they are laying off nearly everyone - 3,000 employees. This thing just sucks.

I read that there are 300,000 restaurant workers in MA, and probably 80% of them are jobless now. One chain alone, the 110 Grill, laid off 1,000 workers on Monday. Most of them, of course, don't have savings or qualify for benefits under ordinary guidelines (which are being loosened), even if they could get through to claim them.

The cascade effect will be staggering.

[Kurth]

You know how bad the myths are around COVID-19 when WHO had to make up graphics and slides to dispel rumors and myths and urge them to be shared on social media

That's a really good idea! Good for the WHO.

[Kurth]

McMennamins is a local OR chain of breweries/hotels/restaurants in mostly odd locations (old schools, prisons, theaters, etc). Very Portland. But they’re everywhere. And today they announced they are laying off nearly everyone - 3,000 employees. This thing just sucks.

I read that there are 300,000 restaurant workers in MA, and probably 80% of them are jobless now. One chain alone, the 110 Grill, laid off 1,000 workers on Monday. Most of them, of course, don't have savings or qualify for benefits under ordinary guidelines (which are being loosened), even if they could get through to claim them.

The cascade effect will be staggering.

I'm taking part in a webinar right now being given by one of the major international law firms we use, "Impact of coronavirus COVID-19 on the sports sector." The ripple effects are almost too significant to get your head around. The legal fallout from this is going to be immense. One of the take-aways so far is, as events and leagues are suspended/cancelled, everyone is pretty much taking on an attitude of "we're all in this together" and cooperating. When that wears off . . . it's going to be rough. Litigators are not going to be lacking for work.

[Zaxxon]

Turns out one way to help prevent respiratory disease is to have a global pandemic of a respiratory disease.

https://twitter.com/Pflax1/status/12400 ... 62945?s=20

[stessier]

My workplace is really starting to take this seriously. They are in almost constant meeting trying to figure out how to handle it.

I've been really wound up and find that their sudden concern is finally allowing me to relax. The lack of sports is surprisingly painful. There is nothing left to talk about in our little groups to get our mind off of everything. I really need to find a way to get some exercise since I've stopped going to the gym. Mother Nature picked a crummy time for 8 days of rain.

[hitbyambulance]

two weeks? four weeks? eight weeks? try seventy-eight....

A federal government plan to combat the coronavirus warned policymakers last week that a pandemic “will last 18 months or longer” and could include “multiple waves,” resulting in widespread shortages that would strain consumers and the nation’s health care system.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-wor ... shortages/

read this last night and the despair set in for real. kept waking up in panic, kept having dreams from anything from dealing with wartime-style rations to reading coronavirus opinion pieces in the newspaper (that my brain makes up as i 'read' them).

[dbt1949]

We got our first case in my county now.
If they would just put them to sleep we wouldn't have any.

[Paingod]

two weeks? four weeks? eight weeks? try seventy-eight...

Given the staggered deployment of the virus and shoddy response, it's no surprise we're looking at multiple waves of infection.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that the suck really only goes on until someone develops a vaccine and we deploy it, forcefully to the anti-vaxxers if needed. Once that's done, we can all see the sun again.

If they would just put them to sleep we wouldn't have any.

Except for the 16 other people they've already infected, and the 48 they'll infect, and the 130 they'll infect - all within a few days.

[Kurth]

two weeks? four weeks? eight weeks? try seventy-eight....

A federal government plan to combat the coronavirus warned policymakers last week that a pandemic “will last 18 months or longer” and could include “multiple waves,” resulting in widespread shortages that would strain consumers and the nation’s health care system.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-wor ... shortages/

read this last night and the despair set in for real. kept waking up in panic, kept having dreams from anything from dealing with wartime-style rations to reading coronavirus opinion pieces in the newspaper (that my brain makes up as i 'read' them).

Same here. I keep waking up to new “news” about COVID-19 that I’m dreaming. Crazy times.

In the real world, lawyer in NYC I work with a lot has git texted and is positive for the virus. He was feeling terrible with a high fever and pneumonia-like symptoms over the weekend, but latest report is that he’s doing much better now.

[MHS]

McMennamins is a local OR chain of breweries/hotels/restaurants in mostly odd locations (old schools, prisons, theaters, etc). Very Portland. But they’re everywhere. And today they announced they are laying off nearly everyone - 3,000 employees. This thing just sucks.

I read that there are 300,000 restaurant workers in MA, and probably 80% of them are jobless now. One chain alone, the 110 Grill, laid off 1,000 workers on Monday. Most of them, of course, don't have savings or qualify for benefits under ordinary guidelines (which are being loosened), even if they could get through to claim them.

The cascade effect will be staggering.

I don't think we can even imagine how bad it will be. Is it possible that, long-term, the economic impact kills more people than the virus? That's my biggest fear.

When I checked out of my hotel last Saturday, the front desk clerk (Fairfield by Marriott) said they'd already started layoffs because they had had so many cancellations and they weren't busy enough to warrant their full staff. That was several days before all the closure and self-isolation recommendations started coming in.

[Defiant]

Thoughts on ordering contactless delivery for meals? We've been eating in 100% of the time, and plan to keep it up. But I received a plea from a local restaurant essentially saying if everyone does that, the entire local industry will be toast by the time this blows over, and that they as a restaurant deal with cross-contamination daily, etc.

I'm pretty sure the safe answer is don't do it, but this seems like a humanitarian/societal question, as well. Is there a 'safe enough' way to do this?

One thing you can do that someone else suggested is (if you can afford it) buying a gift card to use after things return to normal.

Another idea - order something (eg, pizza pies) and have it delivered to your local hospital?

[stessier]

two weeks? four weeks? eight weeks? try seventy-eight...

Given the staggered deployment of the virus and shoddy response, it's no surprise we're looking at multiple waves of infection.

Even places that did it "right" will have waves as people come out of quarantine. Nature of the beast until we have herd immunity or a vaccine.

[Exodor]

Good news! The city I work for is closing all city facilities and sending non-essential employees home until further notice with full pay intact.

Bad news! My department provides tech support for the police dept so we're essential and will continue to have to report for work.

[malchior]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

[Kraken]

two weeks? four weeks? eight weeks? try seventy-eight....

A federal government plan to combat the coronavirus warned policymakers last week that a pandemic “will last 18 months or longer” and could include “multiple waves,” resulting in widespread shortages that would strain consumers and the nation’s health care system.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-wor ... shortages/

read this last night and the despair set in for real. kept waking up in panic, kept having dreams from anything from dealing with wartime-style rations to reading coronavirus opinion pieces in the newspaper (that my brain makes up as i 'read' them).

Wife asked me this morning "How long do you think this will last?" Depends on what you mean by "this" (she meant the social and economic disruption). The disease will keep spreading until we develop herd immunity and/or a vaccine. If it's seasonal, we could get a reprieve as early as May or June, only to see it roar back in the fall (as happened with the 1918 flu). Herd immunity depends on how long it takes 60-70% of us to catch it and recover. How long will people tolerate the measures being imposed now? probably depends on the death toll and rate of increase; the more successful we are at stretching that out, the longer immunity takes to achieve. In the end, all I could say for sure is "Definitely don't plan anything for April!"

[gilraen]

Herd immunity depends on how long it takes 60-70% of us to catch it and recover.

I'm starting to wonder if it will be much faster than we think - because China has barely any new cases now, and there's no way that even with all their strict quarantine measure, the virus has just stopped there. They still think they only documented about 65% of real cases because people with mild symptoms went unnoticed. My theory is that they have a lot more "recovered" people than they realize.

[Defiant]

These Good Samaritans with a 3D printer are saving lives by making new respirator valves for free

[Daehawk]

The light at the end of the tunnel is that the suck really only goes on until someone develops a vaccine and we deploy it, forcefully to the anti-vaxxers if needed. Once that's done, we can all see the sun again.

You just know they think this is all about them and ways to make them take vaccines.

[LordMortis]

Detroit 3 are beginning to announce suspension of operations. No links.

These Good Samaritans with a 3D printer are saving lives by making new respirator valves for free

I was just reading about a MedCo threatening law suits about good Samaritans making $11,000 respirators for $1 in Italy. Coincidence?

[raydude]

You know how bad the myths are around COVID-19 when WHO had to make up graphics and slides to dispel rumors and myths and urge them to be shared on social media

That's a really good idea! Good for the WHO.

Thank God! For awhile my family was circulating and sharing posts with fake info. Stuff like "If the virus is exposed to temperatures of 26-27 degC (~80deg Fahrenheit) it will be killed." or "being exposed to the sun will kill it."

[Zenn7]

The light at the end of the tunnel is that the suck really only goes on until someone develops a vaccine and we deploy it, forcefully to the anti-vaxxers if needed. Once that's done, we can all see the sun again.

You just know they think this is all about them and ways to make them take vaccines.

We round up the anti-vaxxers and stick them in a confined space with 1 infected person. Leave them for a couple months. Any survivors should have pretty good natural immunity. (Of course we offer them the choice to get the vaccine first...).

You want to take your chances with it, fine, we'll help. Otherwise, STOP KILLING THE REST OF US!!!

[Kraken]

Herd immunity depends on how long it takes 60-70% of us to catch it and recover.

I'm starting to wonder if it will be much faster than we think - because China has barely any new cases now, and there's no way that even with all their strict quarantine measure, the virus has just stopped there. They still think they only documented about 65% of real cases because people with mild symptoms went unnoticed. My theory is that they have a lot more "recovered" people than they realize.

Although MA is still around 220 confirmed cases, a couple of scientists speculate that the actual number of cases might be as high as 6,500 (extrapolating from data out of Wuhan).

The official tally reported by the state rose to 218 on Tuesday, but that number does not account for large numbers of infected people who have not been tested, particularly those who are not yet symptomatic or have only mild symptoms. Those unconfirmed cases are considered the most dangerous in spreading the virus because people who don’t feel severely ill often continue to go about life, interacting with others and infecting them.

[Smoove_B]

Make no mistake, when the vaccine for this is developed, the policy for those that refuse is not going to be as lenient as what they've collectively come to enjoy.

[LawBeefaroni]

Make no mistake, when the vaccine for this is developed, the policy for those that refuse is not going to be as lenient as what they've collectively come to enjoy.

Can vaccines be administered via repurposed tranquilizer darts?

[Kraken]

Well, today's KPI is 1. That is, it's been one day since Kraken wore his big-boy pants.

[stimpy]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

[Jag]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Health care workers and first responders are at such a high risk. Meanwhile there is a first responder Facebook group still today making jokes about how this is a liberal hoax and there is nothing to worry about

[stessier]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

No. This isn't the flu. The flu is a separate disease.

[malchior]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

No flu is it's own thing.

[stimpy]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

No. This isn't the flu. The flu is a separate disease.

Ugh........typing mistake. Meant to write fever but just saw that he does have a fever, so.....nevermind.....

[stessier]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

No. This isn't the flu. The flu is a separate disease.

Ugh........typing mistake. Meant to write fever but just saw that he does have a fever, so.....nevermind.....

Ah - still no. I think the WHO said about 35% get a fever.

[stimpy]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

No. This isn't the flu. The flu is a separate disease.

Ugh........typing mistake. Meant to write fever but just saw that he does have a fever, so.....nevermind.....

Ah - still no. I think the WHO said about 35% get a fever.

Well that's........disturbing.
It's one of the factors that work is pushing as being a necessary symptom.
I sent a girl home yesterday who was hacking up a storm. She also had a fever. I've let a few people stay at work with minor, but steady, coughs but no fever.

[LordMortis]

Well that's........disturbing.
It's one of the factors that work is pushing as being a necessary symptom.
I sent a girl home yesterday who was hacking up a storm. She also had a fever. I've let a few people stay at work with minor, but steady, coughs but no fever.

Yeah, fever was my baseline as well. I'm like dry cough, achey, breathing problem, abnormal pains? That's my every day. That's how I get out of bed. So I'm counting on fever to be warning sign. Especially as I'm not in quarantine and I see public coughy throat cleary people oot and aboot constantly and I'm like "social distance or not" get away from me. And then I'm out still getting gas and grocery shopping a there are more coughy throat cleary people out getting gas and groceries.

And then there's me and touching my face and and touching my face and and touching my face and and touching my face...

If fever isn't my warning sign, I may be well and truly fooked.

[stessier]

Just found out I have two direct friends who likely have the bug. One is a day care worker. She came down with symptoms yesterday. She is not eligible for testing. She is running the super high temperature, dry cough, etc.

The other is a cop for an inter-state agency. He was confirmed exposed at work and is running a fever of about 105 today. Ugly as hell. He is negative for flu and awaiting the Covid-19 test but everyone is pretty certain it'll be Covid-19.

Not to add to misinformation, but isn't having a flu one of the necessary symptoms?

No. This isn't the flu. The flu is a separate disease.

Ugh........typing mistake. Meant to write fever but just saw that he does have a fever, so.....nevermind.....

Ah - still no. I think the WHO said about 35% get a fever.

Well that's........disturbing.
It's one of the factors that work is pushing as being a necessary symptom.
I sent a girl home yesterday who was hacking up a storm. She also had a fever. I've let a few people stay at work with minor, but steady, coughs but no fever.

I was wrong - Fever (as of Feb 20) was in 87% of cases. Page 12

The signs, symptoms, disease progression and severity
Symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific and the disease presentation can range from no
symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe pneumonia and death. As of 20 February 2020 and
12
based on 55924 laboratory confirmed cases, typical signs and symptoms include: fever
(87.9%), dry cough (67.7%), fatigue (38.1%), sputum production (33.4%), shortness of breath
(18.6%), sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), myalgia or arthralgia (14.8%), chills (11.4%),
nausea or vomiting (5.0%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), and hemoptysis (0.9%),
and conjunctival congestion (0.8%).
People with COVID-19 generally develop signs and symptoms, including mild respiratory
symptoms and fever, on an average of 5-6 days after infection (mean incubation period 5-6
days, range 1-14 days).

[coopasonic]

A range of "no symptoms" to "death" is very reassuring.

[Daehawk]

So how long does it last? Like how long from fever or first symptom to feeling much better? And how long from when you get it and dont even know it can you transmit it after you're feeling fine?

[msteelers]

You know how bad the myths are around COVID-19 when WHO had to make up graphics and slides to dispel rumors and myths and urge them to be shared on social media

That's a really good idea! Good for the WHO.

Thank God! For awhile my family was circulating and sharing posts with fake info. Stuff like "If the virus is exposed to temperatures of 26-27 degC (~80deg Fahrenheit) it will be killed." or "being exposed to the sun will kill it."

My mother works in a healthcare facility and on Sunday she was telling me that officials were telling them the virus isn't viable in the heat. I don't know if that means the health department was telling them that, or higher ups in her corporation were saying it.

[YellowKing]

There was a Japanese study I read that came to the conclusion that spread may be slower in the heat, but it doesn't just make it non-viable. If that was the case, you wouldn't have any cases in Florida which is in the high 80s right now.

[pr0ner]

Porter Airlines is shutting down all of its flights until June 1.

[Smoove_B]

My mother works in a healthcare facility and on Sunday she was telling me that officials were telling them the virus isn't viable in the heat. I don't know if that means the health department was telling them that, or higher ups in her corporation were saying it.

Someone better tell that to the virus circulating in the Philippines, with daily temps in the 90s.