Are you worried about the Coronavirus?

[MaisOuiMadame]

We’re getting instructions on reusing PPEs and cross credentialing at other local hospitals so we can flex staff if things get bad. The lack of PPE right now is probably the biggest issue for us, so far the surge hasn’t hit, but we’re all preparing for the worst in the next 2 weeks. I’m reading stories from Italy and Spain about pulling specialists like dermatologists into icu or pulmonary care, or people coming out of retirement to help as medical staff get infected and have to stay home.

Nothing I can do about any of that though. So I’ll keep washing my hands and doing my PPE and bone up on reading about ICU care just in case it comes to that.

France not being a federal republic, but very centralised, action plans are nationwide here and were activated about two weeks ago. It includes "drafting" (they use the same word) medical staff as well as the medical "reservists"aka retirees.
My friends in the business already had their meeting explaining how exactly this will take place.
It's great to hear that they have this plan, but I totally agree that a retired dermatologist might not necessarily be much better at intubating someone than a plumber...

 

[MarionC]

I worry that employers will require people back out into public, schools too.

My young friend (in the States with an infant) walked off her job yesterday after a coworker came in sick. Don’t know what will happen next.

We have been in lockdown since before there were any cases in our region.
Other places ( I’m looking at the news...people on the beach, etc.) seem to be waiting until there is a local problem to justify a lockdown, and are kinda “flirting” with the idea instead of being proactive.
So people think it’s OK to be out and about until the govt tells them to stay home.
My sister and her DH are traveling throughout the States as though there isn’t a problem.
I hope it all ends well, and good wishes to everyone.

 

[MarionC]

Hundreds of Scientists Scramble to Find a Coronavirus Treatment (Published 2020)

In an ambitious international collaboration, researchers have “mapped” proteins in the coronavirus and identified 50 drugs to test against it.

www.nytimes.com

Great article in the NYT, including the comments section, where questions are addressed.

 

[missy]

To answer the original question of this thread my answer is now: Yes.

 

[missy]

Hundreds of Scientists Scramble to Find a Coronavirus Treatment (Published 2020)

In an ambitious international collaboration, researchers have “mapped” proteins in the coronavirus and identified 50 drugs to test against it.

www.nytimes.com

Great article in the NYT, including the comments section, where questions are addressed.

Thanks @Jimmianne! Excellent article (and comments) I agree.

And I know we all know this already but it is worth sharing again.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Prevention & Treatment

The best way to prevent COVID-19 infection is to avoid exposure to this virus and use healthy habits.

www.cdc.gov

 

[alittlelight]

I am a regular reader of the New York Times and, as my family will attest, a constant sharer of the articles. Has anyone else felt that the tone of their coverage right now is not helping? I have never before felt the Times is fear-mongering, but just a glance at the online front page, and you walk away feeling the collapse of the nation is inevitable!
My son-in-law, a very thoughtful 30-year-old, has been questioning for years whether he wants children because of the environment, and now, of course, he is worrying about everyone’s economic future. I wish we could all focus on combatting the virus and THEN pull together on the economy. All the coverage right now is getting to be too much, and I fear this is true for lots and lots and lots of people.

 

[alittlelight]

Missy, your hand washing diagram is the subject of today’s animated Google doodle!

 

[missy]

Missy, your hand washing diagram is the subject of today’s animated Google doodle!

Wow is it just me or does that seem much longer than 20 seconds?

 

[alittlelight]

I should add that same son-in-law spent yesterday afternoon stocking up on local beer, gift certificates from local small businesses, and ordering some doorstep deliveries from small retailers in his urban neighborhood. Very proud of him!

 

[Arcadian]

A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients

“It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad. I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube.”

www.propublica.org

This highlights what medical workers are seeing, its grim. @whitewave appears to be a Louisiana hospital though they are not saying where.

 

[Calliecake]

I’m wondering if some of the news articles you are referring to are simply to make people understand how serious this is @alittlelight.

One of the best hospitals in Chicago had a doctor speak at press conference yesterday. I’m thankful that they have finally ordered people to stay at home in Illinois

 

[arkieb1]

@arkieb1 so interesting that where you are there's no red meat. Here there's nothing but. Trying to find chicken is impossible, and oddly enough pork is a close second.

We have lots of chicken and seafood and little to no red meat, they put it on the shelves and it's all gone like the toilet paper....

 

[facetgirl]

Gov Andrew Cuomo gave an update at 11 am this morning. I don't live in NY, although am in the area. He is one tough son of a you know what and yet, human and inspiring at the same time. I never in a million years thought I would say that about him but his leadership style is comforting (at least to me).

 

[whitewave]

A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients

“It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad. I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube.”

www.propublica.org

This highlights what medical workers are seeing, its grim. @whitewave appears to be a Louisiana hospital though they are not saying where.

Thanks, I’ll read. The hospital sent out a plea yesterday to businesses for masks, gloves and white “bunny” hazmat suits.

Louisiana looks awful now.... Louisiana expanded testing and is doing drive though for medical and front line workers with symptoms.

 

[whitewave]

A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients

“It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad. I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube.”

www.propublica.org

This highlights what medical workers are seeing, its grim. @whitewave appears to be a Louisiana hospital though they are not saying where.

My guess would be Touro Hospital New Orleans— it’s one of the smaller hospitals.

Dh told me last night if he has to, he will self-quarantine in the RV (we have a swanky nice RV so don’t feel sorry for him) at the storage unit which is gated. It has a lot of land, and our friends who are doctors own it, and many of the Rvs there belong to doctors, so I imagine this is going to be a doctor quarantine center.

Can you believe that? I mean how ****ing surreal is that? It’s gated with barbed wire at the top. Straight out of a movie...somewhat

I can’t even process the risk he has with this pandemic. I can’t even think about him in self quarantine until... what... the end of this pandemic? When is that???

 

[MakingTheGrade]

My guess would be Touro Hospital New Orleans— it’s one of the smaller hospitals.

Dh told me last night if he has to, he will self-quarantine in the RV (we have a swanky nice RV so don’t feel sorry for him) at the storage unit which is gated. It has a lot of land, and our friends who are doctors own it, and many of the Rvs there belong to doctors, so I imagine this is going to be a doctor quarantine center.

Can you believe that? I mean how f*cking surreal is that? It’s gated with barbed wire at the top. Straight out of a movie...somewhat

I can’t even process the risk he has with this pandemic. I can’t even think about him in self quarantine until... what... the end of this pandemic? When is that???

Yeah my spouse may go quarantine with his mom so that I can self quarantine with the cat.

We don’t have enough information yet but maybe if I end up getting it and recovering I wouldn’t need to self quarantine as much since in theory I wouldn’t be a risk to him (or anyone) anymore. Maybe wishful thinking.

 

[Calliecake]

@whitewave, Why hasn’t Louisiana hasn’t put a ”Stay at Home” ban in place for the state?

 

[Rubymal]

A friend and her boyfriend went out yesterday to a dog park to meet up with a friend in a different county. I asked why she would do that with the shelter in place. She said that we can still go outside for fresh air if we maintain 6ft distance. I corrected her and said yes, you can go outside for fresh air but you cannot get into your car and drive to a different county to do that.

I told her that the east bay started ticketing already and other counties will very likely do so soon. She said she wouldnt go to other countries anymore (said she didnt know) but it she got caught outside, she would say that she is homeless.

...why not just listen to the rules and stay inside?!?

 

[whitewave]

@whitewave, Why hasn’t Louisiana hasn’t put a ”Stay at Home” ban in place for the state?

New Orleans has. The governor keeps suggesting it’s about to happen if people don’t stay home and we heard Monday everything is closing for 2 weeks, except essential life sustaining businesses, so idk... that could be a rumor.

I’ve been checking to see if he is going to speak today

 

[whitewave]

Thanks, I’ll read. The hospital sent out a plea yesterday to businesses for masks, gloves and white “bunny” hazmat suits.

Louisiana looks awful now.... Louisiana expanded testing and is doing drive though for medical and front line workers with symptoms.

Nearly 200 more positives since 9:30 this morning

 

[AGBF]

If there were a reasonable test for Clovid-19 that one could take at home without depriving others who need it more, I would take it. I don't know if it's my imagination or if I have the start of an incredibly mild case of it which might be making me contagious and also, possibly, giving me immunity.

My daughter's fiance's grandmother was hospitalized a day or so before I felt this slight tight feeling in my chest, but she hadn't been tested for Clovid-19 then. When she was tested, she was positive. Her case was very mild and she just went home from the hospital yesterday or the day before.

I looked at my calendar today. I had dinner with her (my daughter and her fiancé wanted me to meet his grandparents) a month ago before I got the chest symptoms. Is that too long for me to have gotten it from her? She was back from Paris, but had been back for a few weeks. Was that too long for it to have been caught in Paris? Does anyone know how long this actually incubates?

I know nothing and a test isn't in my future unless I get very sick, but I am curious.

If testing were better, we could follow the course of this disease!!!

 

[missy]

If there were a reasonable test for Clovid-19 that one could take at home without depriving others who need it more, I would take it. I don't know if it's my imagination or if I have the start of an incredibly mild case of it which might be making me contagious and also, possibly, giving me immunity.

My daughter's fiance's grandmother was hospitalized a day or so before I felt this slight tight feeling in my chest, but she hadn't been tested for Clovid-19 then. When she was tested, she was positive. Her case was very mild and she just went home from the hospital yesterday or the day before.

I looked at my calendar today. I had dinner with her (my daughter and her fiancé wanted me to meet his grandparents) a month ago before I got the chest symptoms. Is that too long for me to have gotten it from her? She was back from Paris, but had been back for a few weeks. Was that too long for it to have been caught in Paris? Does anyone know how long this actually incubates?

I know nothing and a test isn't in my future unless I get very sick, but I am curious.

If testing were better, we could follow the course of this disease!!!

Deb, I am not an expert but it probably is too long a time period for you to have gotten it from your daughter's FI's grandmother. The incubation period for Covid-19 is 2 days to 2 weeks.

Feel better and I hope it is nothing more than a mild cold! (((HUGS))).

 

[TooPatient]

If there were a reasonable test for Clovid-19 that one could take at home without depriving others who need it more, I would take it. I don't know if it's my imagination or if I have the start of an incredibly mild case of it which might be making me contagious and also, possibly, giving me immunity.

My daughter's fiance's grandmother was hospitalized a day or so before I felt this slight tight feeling in my chest, but she hadn't been tested for Clovid-19 then. When she was tested, she was positive. Her case was very mild and she just went home from the hospital yesterday or the day before.

I looked at my calendar today. I had dinner with her (my daughter and her fiancé wanted me to meet his grandparents) a month ago before I got the chest symptoms. Is that too long for me to have gotten it from her? She was back from Paris, but had been back for a few weeks. Was that too long for it to have been caught in Paris? Does anyone know how long this actually incubates?

I know nothing and a test isn't in my future unless I get very sick, but I am curious.

If testing were better, we could follow the course of this disease!!!

What @missy said. I just wanted to add that there are at home tests that should be available soon. Another test just got approved with 45 minute results too. Lots of reason to think more testing will be available. Hang in there. Sending you lots of hugs and hoping it is nothing too bad.

 

[TooPatient]

Still waiting on test results. Test was Wednesday afternoon so that isn't too crazy. Things may be about to get VERY shut down in WA. Nothing concrete. Just a sentence from the governor in a press conference yesterday plus some tidbits from friends on FB that seem to add up to something happening very soon.

Also, I managed to get grocery delivery through InstaCart! Delivery would become unavailable just as soon as it became available so I made carts for two stores (in case one was out of stock of what I wanted) and was ready to grab the window when it appeared. I don't know how much of what I wanted will be available. I may get almost nothing or a big pile. I was careful that even if it all shows up, I can use it. That plus the veggies I got in my produce box yesterday and what I already had in hand sets us up to comfortably manage a month in strict quarantine even if I can't get any more deliveries.

 

[lovedogs]

A friend and her boyfriend went out yesterday to a dog park to meet up with a friend in a different county. I asked why she would do that with the shelter in place. She said that we can still go outside for fresh air if we maintain 6ft distance. I corrected her and said yes, you can go outside for fresh air but you cannot get into your car and drive to a different county to do that.

I told her that the east bay started ticketing already and other counties will very likely do so soon. She said she wouldnt go to other countries anymore (said she didnt know) but it she got caught outside, she would say that she is homeless.

...why not just listen to the rules and stay inside?!?

Is the bolded accurate? I am in Southern CA and drove to a lake with a trail to walk my dog with a dog trainer friend. Our dogs need it, and I need the fresh air. We definitely stayed 6+ft apart the entire time, and did not drive together. Is it against the rules in northern CA to go to different counties? Just trying to clarify!

 

[BMI]

Is it against the rules in northern CA to go to different counties?

I believe it is. When the five bay area counties locked down before the rest of the state, the residents were not allowed to travel to their jobs in other counties which were still open. Of course, that only lasted four or five days before the whole state was locked down. But it is my understanding that we are not supposed to leave our own county. I suppose there may be some exceptions for food essentials or family that needs help, but I am not certain.

 

[lissyflo]

PSers seem to be being sensible and isolating as much as possible, but I just wanted to warn people that this seems to be a disease that can have different presentations in different people. Three of the four in my household now have/have had it and we’ve had three different sets of symptoms. At least, in the absence of tests, I assume this is what we have - I can’t think of another illness that would present differently in 3 people. I’m also now wondering if my husband has had it and been completely asymptomatic.

One child had a very high temperature (40C) and a day later developed a cough but thankfully no chest tightness or pain with it. One child had a much milder temperature, sore throat and headache and complained of odd-feeling arms but had no cough. I developed a temperature, aches and chills late yesterday afternoon (felt like mild flu but with no nose/head/chest symptoms at all) and have woken this morning with waves of nausea and occasional stomach pains but nothing feels off in my chest and no cough. I’ve googled and there is a minority who experience stomach problems and no respiratory issues with Covid. I think my teary spells and panic yesterday must have been where I was starting to feel ill and didn’t have the energy to think normally.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well, and finding lots of new interests during isolation!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

Thank you for the information @lissyflo

How are you guys doing? How long has it been? Did you have to go to hospital?

Sorry for all the questions. I just find this more helpful than vague news articles.

 

[lissyflo]

Thank you for the information @lissyflo

How are you guys doing? How long has it been? Did you have to go to hospital?

Sorry for all the questions. I just find this more helpful than vague news articles.

My children are fine now - the one who developed a cough still has it (but normal coughs often hang around for a while anyway) but no pain from it. He was ill for 3 or 4 days and he’s not a kid who usually gets ill - I think he’s had a total of 5 days off school in 7 years. The very high temperature was worrying but it did come down quickly with each dose of over-the-counter medicine.

The youngest seemed less ill overall but for a bit longer - I’d say 5 days, and wider range of symptoms, but nothing that would have particularly concerned me under normal circumstances. He’s usually the one who gets ill more regularly with colds/temperatures etc, so I was surprised when he seemed less strongly affected.

I’ve only had flu twice but the aches/chills I had yesterday were less severe than I had with flu. I went to bed expecting to feel awful this morning but apart from the waves of nausea and uncomfortable cramps I don’t feel too bad. I got up for a bit to check on the kids but have come back to bed as I felt drained once I started moving around.

I’m assuming the kids are definitely over it and from what I hear children often have it mildly. I’m hoping on the basis of how I feel so far that I’ve got a really mild case, but I’m aware that symptoms can develop over days so I won’t feel relieved until I’m normal again. We’re all fit and healthy normally, with no underlying health issues, so fingers crossed we’ll all be in the 80% who have mild cases and don’t need hospital.

It’s my husband who worries me most in the grand scheme of things. On the basis of probabilities, he’s most likely to have been first exposed - until quarantine, he travelled on crowded London public transport, met many people in the course of a working day and often ate in crowded restaurants and bars. We’ve got another week of quarantine so maybe he’s just later developing signs, but he could equally have been carrying without any signs and have infected goodness knows how many people until we realised because our child became ill.

 

[missy]

From NJ here is a written test you can take to evaluate your Covid-19 risk.
@AGBF and anyone else who is interested:

Symptom Tracker

Symptom Tracker

self.covid19.nj.gov