COVID-19 (f/k/a "the Coronavirus")

[JWags85]

Hospitalizations and deaths Nationally seem pretty stable. Obviously not great that they haven’t decreased measurably, but at least they are not spiking.  Which is a more compelling metric to me than cases, given the increasing levels of testing.

This isn’t to say all is well and NBD, just keeping things in some sort of positive perspective

[MU82]

Hospitalizations and deaths Nationally seem pretty stable. Obviously not great that they haven’t decreased measurably, but at least they are not spiking.  Which is a more compelling metric to me than cases, given the increasing levels of testing.

This isn’t to say all is well and NBD, just keeping things in some sort of positive perspective

Agree, Wags. There are significant swaths of the country where COVID-19 either has little or no presence.

Had we had a more coordinated national effort to start with, maybe the vast majority of the country would be closer to that. Or maybe not. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

[shoothoops]

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1275944810944307200?s=19

Tulsa County.

[forgetful]

Hospitalizations and deaths Nationally seem pretty stable. Obviously not great that they haven’t decreased measurably, but at least they are not spiking.  Which is a more compelling metric to me than cases, given the increasing levels of testing.

This isn’t to say all is well and NBD, just keeping things in some sort of positive perspective

Depends where you are talking about. Some places have hospitalizations way up. And a lot of young people filling those beds.

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/texas-hospital-icus-crowded-with-covid-19-patients-as-coronavirus-continues-to-spread/285-aad0788d-256e-4454-8e3f-87f9c7956680

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8457009/Texas-verge-Covid-crisis-Houstons-largest-hospitals-ICU-97-full.html

https://www.newsweek.com/washington-county-completely-runs-out-hospital-beds-coronavirus-spike-1513081

https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/upstate-hospitals-see-increase-in-bed-capacity-due-to-covid-19/article_5dcb0498-b660-11ea-b901-1f5d23d138f9.html

[Jockey]

Hospitalizations and deaths Nationally seem pretty stable. Obviously not great that they haven’t decreased measurably, but at least they are not spiking.  Which is a more compelling metric to me than cases, given the increasing levels of testing.

Numerous states are seeing increases in hospitalizations. Some models are forecasting much bigger increases.

Metrics are not good.

[Jockey]

36358 new cases today, ... so trump cuts funding for testing.

Worse than no leadership at all.

At a luncheon with GOP senators today, Pence told them to accentuate the positive.

Houston is out of ICU beds, yet some here say Texas gov is doing a good job.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Hospitalizations and deaths Nationally seem pretty stable. Obviously not great that they haven’t decreased measurably, but at least they are not spiking.  Which is a more compelling metric to me than cases, given the increasing levels of testing.

This isn’t to say all is well and NBD, just keeping things in some sort of positive perspective

This testing thing is a bit of a joke.  They are testing like crazy in Europe too.  You know what they are finding?  Less spread.

You listen to some people and you would think we are pulling every able bodied young person over on the street and shoving a swab up their nose. 

I saw a quote from Pence & john Cornyn in that realm.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/06/24/pence-coronavirus-spike-senate/

Here is the article.  Cornyn is the speaker and pence is ‘he’

 “But he wanted to assure us that they’re continuing to work with the states like mine and others that are seeing some spikes, but that the mix of people is a little different. It’s younger people who are getting the virus, people who are getting tested but may be not actually experiencing any symptoms. So it’s hard to pick one number and say that represents a complete picture.”

[TSmith34, Inc.]

One long, ever-rolling wave...

[GooooMarquette]

Numerous states are seeing increases in hospitalizations. Some models are forecasting much bigger increases.

Metrics are not good.

Correct. The overall number of hospitalizations and deaths seem relatively stable in part because the northeast and upper midwest are seeing decreases. But when you look across the south and west part of the country, the numbers look quite alarming. Arizona, Texas and Florida in particular have areas that appear on the verge of a NYC type situation.

[pbiflyer]

Hospitals concerned about ICU bed capacity as Hillsborough County coronavirus cases increase
https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/investigations/hospitals-concerned-about-icu-bed-capacity-as-hillsborough-county-coronavirus-cases-increase/

[forgetful]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/06/24/pence-coronavirus-spike-senate/

Here is the article.  Cornyn is the speaker and pence is ‘he’

 “But he wanted to assure us that they’re continuing to work with the states like mine and others that are seeing some spikes, but that the mix of people is a little different. It’s younger people who are getting the virus, people who are getting tested but may be not actually experiencing any symptoms. So it’s hard to pick one number and say that represents a complete picture.”

It bothers me when people say "younger people getting the virus" like there is nothing for them to worry about. Lots of potentially life-long complications in that group. And in places like Houston, the ICU is filling up with people under 65.

Then there are people like this:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/obituaries/lynika-strozier-dead-coronavirus.html

Where unless you count a learning disability as a pre-existing condition, was an otherwise healthy 35 year old.

[Pakuni]

Wear a mask.

@jduchneskie: Over the last 2 weeks, cases have risen by 84% in states that don't require wearing masks in public. In states where mask wearing is mandatory, cases have fallen by 25%.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-face-masks-infection-rates-20200624.html https://twitter.com/jduchneskie/status/1275789513210703878/photo/1

[MU82]

Wear a mask.

@jduchneskie: Over the last 2 weeks, cases have risen by 84% in states that don't require wearing masks in public. In states where mask wearing is mandatory, cases have fallen by 25%.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-face-masks-infection-rates-20200624.html https://twitter.com/jduchneskie/status/1275789513210703878/photo/1

But ... but ... but ... personal freedom!

Now excuse me while I go into a restaurant with no shoes and no shirt, and then sneeze on everybody in there.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

This math should startle people. Really means the testing narrative by the federal govt is wrong.  Some states true to some degree but not the whole story by any degree.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1275957171457527808

[Hards Alumni]

People didn't like the new normal where we wear an icky mask when in public so instead we trade masks for deaths.  Good call, America.

https://twitter.com/SykesCharlie/status/1275937026097983491

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

An analysis of potential hot spots beyond Az, FL & TX.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ashishkjha/status/1275988101047955456

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Add West Virginia to the list of states that don't like math, science, or reporting accurate numbers. Hmmm, what does it have in common with the others?

West Virginia governor forces out top health official amid outbreaks
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/west-virginia-governor-forces-out-top-health-official-amid-outbreaks/ar-BB15TXT5?ocid=spartan-dhp-feeds

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice forced out the commissioner of his public health bureau on Wednesday, hours after he publicly questioned the accuracy of the state's coronavirus data and detailed growing outbreaks in about a dozen counties.

Slemp, who was a regular feature of the governor's daily virus news conferences, has decades of public health experience. She was previously the acting state health officer and was the founding director of the state's public health emergency preparedness and response programs, according to a biography on the state health department website. Slemp is also on the board of scientific counselors at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Justice, a billionaire coal businessman without previous political experience, had showered Slemp with praise as he hosted press conferences during the outbreak, often stressing that his aggressive plan to lift virus restrictions was guided by his health experts. Slemp did not appear at Wednesday's news briefing.

In a resignation letter, provided by the state health department, Slemp urged officials to listen to science.

[GooooMarquette]

An analysis of potential hot spots beyond Az, FL & TX.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ashishkjha/status/1275988101047955456

Those are pretty sobering numbers...especially since we know they aren't as bad as FL, TX and AZ.

Cases up over 100% in 4 of the 5 states, and for those who say they don't pay much attention to the number of new cases but focus on hospitalizations, the two-week increases in hospitalizations:

GA: +38%
MS: +8%
OK: +41%
NV: +22%
SC: +62%

Thanks to politicians who don't follow the science and citizens who listen to them, this is going to get a LOT worse before it gets better....

[mu_hilltopper]

This is an awesome graphical display ..

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-spread.html

[pacearrow02]

Those are pretty sobering numbers...especially since we know they aren't as bad as FL, TX and AZ.

Cases up over 100% in 4 of the 5 states, and for those who say they don't pay much attention to the number of new cases but focus on hospitalizations, the two-week increases in hospitalizations:

GA: +38%
MS: +8%
OK: +41%
NV: +22%
SC: +62%

Thanks to politicians who don't follow the science and citizens who listen to them, this is going to get a LOT worse before it gets better....

Good thread below digging into hospital census “issue” down in Texas.  On the surface it seems real bad but when you dig in 80-90% of folks hospitalized right now are non-Covid.

Even here in Wisconsin where we are doing a great job it seems in protecting the most vulnerable hospitals are back to be jam packed with non-Covid patients.  Hospitals are always operating at near 100% census so seems a bit intellectually dishonest not to give proper context to the type of patients being seen in these hot spots.

https://mobile.twitter.com/aginnt/status/1275868742287634435

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Good thread below digging into hospital census “issue” down in Texas.  On the surface it seems real bad but when you dig in 80-90% of folks hospitalized right now are non-Covid.

Even here in Wisconsin where we are doing a great job it seems in protecting the most vulnerable hospitals are back to be jam packed with non-Covid patients.  Hospitals are always operating at near 100% census so seems a bit intellectually dishonest not to give proper context to the type of patients being seen in these hot spots.

https://mobile.twitter.com/aginnt/status/1275868742287634435

Pace - I think this buries some critical points.  Everyone knows the hospital isnt sitting around empty. 

However, the non-COVID people aren't there on vacation, they are there for treatment.

COVID cases have shown the ability to grow very quickly - further exacerbating capacity issues.

Now some of the more 'elective' items can free capacity, but not focusing on this now creates calamity in a few weeks.

[Pakuni]

People didn't like the new normal where we wear an icky mask when in public so instead we trade masks for deaths.  Good call, America.

https://twitter.com/SykesCharlie/status/1275937026097983491

American Exceptionalism.

[Hards Alumni]

Good thread below digging into hospital census “issue” down in Texas.  On the surface it seems real bad but when you dig in 80-90% of folks hospitalized right now are non-Covid.

Even here in Wisconsin where we are doing a great job it seems in protecting the most vulnerable hospitals are back to be jam packed with non-Covid patients.  Hospitals are always operating at near 100% census so seems a bit intellectually dishonest not to give proper context to the type of patients being seen in these hot spots.

https://mobile.twitter.com/aginnt/status/1275868742287634435

I will give you that the number of unfilled beds in Texas stat is a bit misleading since the beds are not all occupied with covid patients... but those beds are still occupied.  You can't just throw people out of them today so that people with covid can have them tomorrow.   Surely, you see the problem with that, aina?

And with cases rising, its inevitable that hospital beds will need to be filled with covid patients shortly.  Guess the folks who have elective procedures are on the back burner again because people can't be responsible.

[GooooMarquette]

"Anybody who wants a test can get a test."

 - POTUS

Arizona ‘Overwhelmed’ With Demand for Tests as U.S. System Shows Strain

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/upshot/virus-testing-shortfall-arizona.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage