Coronavirus

campgottagopee wrote

Someone has stolen all the sanitizer from our local hospital, as well as, they are running low on certain protective supplies.

This is going to get real crazy.

Harvey wrote

Seen that. Basically everyone is going to get it. Or the number is fixed, it's just the timing.

Self preservation, run right out now and start kissing strangers.

Harvey wrote

Containment won't reduce the number?

billyymc wrote

Harv - I don’t think that graphic says we are all going to get this. If that were true, even 1% mortality of the entire US population would be 3 million people. And the current mortality rate is projected over 3%!

What I believe that graphic represents is an estimate of the rate of transmission assuming that efforts are taken to contain the spread. I believe the article it came from (or a similar one I read with a similar graphic) projected infections of perhaps 1% of the US population by mid to late May. That’s 3.3 million people. Assuming a mortality rate of 2% would be 66,000 deaths.

But we’ve been doing very little to stem the spread. Our leadership has screwed the pooch.

Harvey wrote

Containment won't reduce the number?

wonderpony wrote

You know, I probably will, too... ;)

SBR's friend wrote

A cautionary tale about testing for COVID-19

Towards the end of February, I spent two long days at a Fly Fishing trade event, standing in a ballroom at the BWI Airport Marriott meeting and greeting hundreds of people – at least two of whom I know were international travelers. Five days later I developed a fever, runny nose, sore throat and a hacking, painful cough.

After three days of steadily worsening symptoms, I went to my primary care physician on the 2nd of March. I tested negative for influenza A&B, but they were concerned. They felt I met almost all of the multiple criteria for COVID testing – and if they’d had a test they would have administered it. But they didn’t have any tests and couldn’t refer me to the CDC and MD Dept. of Health for COVID testing because at the time my 100.2deg fever was below the 101deg threshold criteria. (My resting temp is normally 97.6, so in relative terms, I was already there – but their criteria are absolute)

Since my Primary Care folks couldn’t test me, they sent me home with a slew of scrips for decongestants, inhalers, and antibiotics in case something bacterial developed, and told me to self-isolate for at least three days and if I got worse, to go straight to the ER. Well, it’s March 11th and I’m better, but the congestion and hacking cough are still there.

Ordinarily, I’d say it’s another bout of winter crud and keep on keepin’ on.

Well, there’s a complicating factor. My brother-in-law is a Leukemia survivor, and after his bone marrow transplant last fall he has virtually no immune system. He’s rightly petrified of the COVID-19, as are we - my wife and I are next in line as caregivers if his family comes down with influenza, or heaven forbid, COVID-19.

Since I’d heard millions of tests are now in circulation, I thought I’d rule out COVID-19 so I’m not the bringer of death to my brother-in-law if it’s my turn to ‘help’.
Ha.
Ha ha.
Ha ha ha.

Called my primary care physician’s office:
“We don’t have those tests, and if the tests ever become available in Maryland we will not be doing the testing – we will only do consults by video chat from your computer and if you have all the symptoms we will refer you to a County Health center or the ER for a test. What symptoms do you have…?”
So I explain the fact I was in the office a week+ ago, the situation with my ongoing infection, and my interest in receiving a test to guard against bringing death to my immune-empty bro. After a lengthy discussion, they referred me to the County Health Dept.

Called the County Health department general info line:
[Explains health issues and concern about transmission to Leukemia patient]
“We don’t have any tests. You should call your primary health care provider.”
I explain the Primary Care office referred me to them. So they told me to call 211 for more info.

Called the 211 info line:
[Explains health issues and concern about transmission to Leukemia patient]
“We don’t have any tests. You should call your primary health care provider.”
I explain the Primary Care office referred me to the County, who then referred me to them. The 211 operator then refers me to the ‘Health Maryland’ phone number – a statewide support line.

Called the Health Maryland phone support line:
[Explains health issues and concern about transmission to Leukemia patient]
“We don’t have the tests. You should call your County Health department.”
I explain the County Health office referred me to 211, and 211 then referred me to them. Health Maryland then gives me a different number at the County Health department.

Maybe we’re getting somewhere?

Called the County Health phone support line:
[listens to 9-stage phone menu, tries three separate links to Public Health Support, Community Health Interaction, and Influenza Information lines. End up with another number on the automated list for the local Influenza Vaccine and Public Health Center.]

Called the County Influenza Vaccine and Public Health Center:
[Explains health issues and concern about transmission to Leukemia patient]
“How did you get this number? We don’t have the tests. You should call your Primary Care provider.”
I explain the Primary Care physician referred me to County Health department which referred me to 211, who referred me to Health Maryland who then gave me a different number at the County and now I ended up with their number.
“Well, with your brother an all you’re certainly doing the right thing asking for a test. But we don’t have the tests, and we won’t get the tests at this location even if or when they’re available. We don’t have any info about the tests, at all. But the plan is once tests are available to distribute tests to primary care offices and local hospitals that are certified by state health officials to administer the tests. If you want you can go to the ER and try to get tested. You’ll need to document the names of all the people you’ve been in contact with over the few last weeks, particularly people from the public event at the airport, and where they were before you had contact with them. But since you don’t have at least a 101deg temperature you’re not presenting with all the symptoms and don’t meet the criteria. So you probably won’t get tested anyway.”
[Well, regardless…if I didn’t have COVID before I spent hours waiting for a test in the ER, it’s likely I would after that experience.]
“My advice is wait another week and if your symptoms haven’t gotten better you should go to back to your primary care physician. Maybe they can refer you for a test at the hospital. Or in another week you’ll be past the 14-day isolation period and should probably be fine. But if it were me, I’d wait a couple weeks and see if tests are available before you have any contact with your brother. Or go to the hospital where he’s being treated and work through those physicians.
[That hospital’s in Rochester.]
Oh. Well, good luck.”

Anyone telling you COVID testing is going well hasn’t tried getting a test in Maryland.

campgottagopee wrote

I'm skiing.

The hype is crazy.

Fuck it, I could get hit by a bus in 3 weeks too.

wonderpony wrote

This is why I want to crawl in a hole and cry.  I posted this thread on Saturday.  It went dormant.  Four days later, this is where we are.  And, it's only going to get worse.  Please keep the information coming. Its very helpful.

WP