Novel Coronavirus COVID-19

[Ellener]

Got news of my first personal loss an hour ago. She was only ill with Covid two days and died this morning of heart failure.

I'm having a good cry, these are difficult times.

[Ruby Slippers]

I'm sorry for your loss. These are definitely difficult and strange times.

[amaysngrace]

I’m sorry for your loss too @Ellener

((hug))

[Angelle]

2 hours ago, Ellener said:

Got news of my first personal loss an hour ago. She was only ill with Covid two days and died this morning of heart failure.

I'm having a good cry, these are difficult times.

I'm so sorry.

[Foxhall]

2 hours ago, Ellener said:

Got news of my first personal loss an hour ago. She was only ill with Covid two days and died this morning of heart failure.

I'm having a good cry, these are difficult times.

Sorry to hear, also sending you a hug.

[Weezy1973]

Law of large numbers says that even if mortality rate is low, hospitals can still easily get overwhelmed if things continue at this rate which puts everybody at risk, including those without COVID. 
 

Stay home. When you need to go out wear a mask. Wash your hands. Care about others. Don’t be a jerk.

[Ruby Slippers]

We had our team meeting video call yesterday. Being in a high position, my boss is conservative, previously was definitely focused on getting everyone back to the office ASAP, but now seems to finally be accepting this is a big deal he can't control. He gives a little comment at the end of every call about the circumstances. Yesterday he acknowledged it's easy to get "down and depressed" in the midst of all this. It was a noticeable shift in his tone from before, which kept revolving around "hopefully we'll be back to the office soon."

I was reading some stuff last night from an infectious disease expert who thinks we could be dealing with this for 2-3 more years.

[mark clemson]

A vaccine would help a lot. The fastest vaccine ever made (so I've heard) took about 4 years. However this is more or less an unprecedented situation and we have a huge, global medical industry very focused on this. I think it's possible that by this time next year a vaccine will be available, which IMO would go a long way towards resolving the economic impact. People who aren't confident to get on a plane or go to a restaurant right now, for example, would be.

(Note: I know there were people doing those things, especially in certain areas. But there's lots of other folks who won't do stuff right now, e.g. due to risk of infecting an aging parent or similar. I think those who "went out and partied" heedless of risk haven't really done everyone else a favor and now the disease has come roaring back in many of those areas.)

[Ellener]

1 hour ago, Weezy1973 said:

Law of large numbers says that even if mortality rate is low, hospitals can still easily get overwhelmed if things continue at this rate which puts everybody at risk, including those without COVID. 
 

Stay home. When you need to go out wear a mask. Wash your hands. Care about others. 

This is our situation in Houston right now. We just opened a field hospital and much of the city is in voluntary lockdown, the re-opening is reversing.

[BC1980]

1 hour ago, Weezy1973 said:

Law of large numbers says that even if mortality rate is low, hospitals can still easily get overwhelmed if things continue at this rate which puts everybody at risk, including those without COVID. 
 

Stay home. When you need to go out wear a mask. Wash your hands. Care about others. Don’t be a jerk.

Definitely true. We are getting slammed in in my state, which already has a thin healthcare infrastructure as it is. 17% of people with COVID in my state are hospitalized. We have an average of about 800 cases per day. The math on that is pretty ugly. 
 

Today, only 1 ICU bed in the metro area of our biggest city. It's been that way for weeks, and we've been diverting people out of state. I got a text yesterday that they are increasing invective pay for any extra shifts worked. I picked up an extra shift last week. 

[QuietRiot]

2 hours ago, BC1980 said:

Definitely true. We are getting slammed in in my state, which already has a thin healthcare infrastructure as it is. 17% of people with COVID in my state are hospitalized. We have an average of about 800 cases per day. The math on that is pretty ugly. 
 

Today, only 1 ICU bed in the metro area of our biggest city. It's been that way for weeks, and we've been diverting people out of state. I got a text yesterday that they are increasing invective pay for any extra shifts worked. I picked up an extra shift last week. 

Yes, there are cases here in Florida that hospital staff are going home due to them being infected with Covid 19. So it is indeed a problem. I cannot believe people here still tend to try to rebuke or debunk the numbers when it's prove-able time and time again that it's a serious situation.

[sothereiwas]

Well we just had our first COVID fatality of a county resident here, but I'm not sure it really should count. The person in question travelled to Texas, got sick, and has died. Hmmm.

Edited July 14, 2020 by sothereiwas

[amaysngrace]

Just now, sothereiwas said:

Well we just had our first COVID fatality of a county resident here, but I'm not sure it really should count. The person in question travelled to Texas, got sick, and has died. Hmmm.

Did they die in your county or in Tx? 

[sothereiwas]

1 hour ago, amaysngrace said:

Did they die in your county or in Tx? 

A hospital in TX.

[amaysngrace]

yeah I don’t think that should count 

[sothereiwas]

4 hours ago, amaysngrace said:

yeah I don’t think that should count 

I wonder if they counted it in the hospital where the death happened as well. Seems really odd to me to tally it this way.

[amaysngrace]

Around here they cite cases as residential or non-residential because a lot of people have been traveling to my area.  At one point more people requiring local hospitalization were not local residents.  I’m not sure how they record that but they definitely shouldn’t be recording these people twice in two separate places.  

 

[CaliforniaGirl]

On 7/10/2020 at 6:02 AM, Piddy said:

Yes.  I saw Neera Tanden who is the President of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C..  She had the virus, but never had a fever.  She said some days she slept for 20 hours and was very sick.

This is what happened to me in mid-February. I have never been that sick in my life and thought I was going to need to be hospitalized. I thought it was just the flu, and for all I know it was, but there was no testing yet. I have never once gone to the doctor for the flu. I did this time but not out of fear of Covid. It literally didn't enter my mind. I was just so sick that I was getting scared. The cough was awful but between coughing spells all I could do was sleep. I couldn't stay awake for more than 20 minutes or so at a time.

This went on for about a week. My family was really getting scared. I had a fever all during that week. Twice when I tried to get up off the couch I fainted. I finally called the doctor. I was told to come in. After the phone call I was crying. I was very scared.

All the doctor asked me was whether I had been out of the country lately, specifically China. I thought that was weird. And whether I was wheezing. I wasn't. Then he sent me upstairs for x-rays because he was worried I had pneumonia. But that test was negative. All he did was send me home and told me if I began to wheeze I should go to the hospital, but if I was not wheezing plus had a temperature over 101 they would not admit me. So otherwise "just stay home and ride it out."

So I went home. And I slowly started getting myself off the couch. But the coughing was just awful. Codeine cough syrup didn't help. Nothing did. Many times I could not catch my breath. I began to get so physically exhausted from the coughing that I thought: I'm going to die. This is going to kill me. And after a while the thought didn't even scare me anymore, it finally became just...like, okay. This is going to happen, I have to accept it.

I'd just be on the couch upright in the middle of the night because lying down made it worse, just thinking: in the morning I believe I will be dead. And I was so tired of fighting it that the thought was just sort of this dull feeling. I couldn't even cry about it anymore. That was too much energy.

I was sick for approximately 10 weeks, I think it was.

My husband also got sick, about two weeks after I did. How cough was really terrifying. He also lost his sense of smell and his leg was tingling night and day. But it was March by the time he called the doctor and the doctor told him the same things he told me. He'd have to have a fever over 101 AND be wheezing in order to go to the hospital. Otherwise, just stay home and "ride it out." But he did get better rather quickly. However - remembers this was March - he still does not have a normal sense of smell back yet. 

I have never actually literally thought I was going to die before all that. It was a horror. I'm crying as I remember this.

I think if I get it again, it.actually will kill me this time.

Edited July 15, 2020 by CaliforniaGirl

[Piddy]

49 minutes ago, CaliforniaGirl said:

This is what happened to me in mid-February. I have never been that sick in my life and thought I was going to need to be hospitalized. I thought it was just the flu, and for all I know it was, but there was no testing yet. I have never once gone to the doctor for the flu. I did this time but not out of fear of Covid. It literally didn't enter my mind. I was just so sick that I was getting scared. The cough was awful but between coughing spells all I could do was sleep. I couldn't stay awake for more than 20 minutes or so at a time.

This went on for about a week. My family was really getting scared. I had a fever all during that week. Twice when I tried to get up off the couch I fainted. I finally called the doctor. I was told to come in. After the phone call I was crying. I was very scared.

All the doctor asked me was whether I had been out of the country lately, specifically China. I thought that was weird. And whether I was wheezing. I wasn't. Then he sent me upstairs for x-rays because he was worried I had pneumonia. But that test was negative. All he did was send me home and told me if I began to wheeze I should go to the hospital, but if I was not wheezing plus had a temperature over 101 they would not admit me. So otherwise "just stay home and ride it out."

So I went home. And I slowly started getting myself off the couch. But the coughing was just awful. Codeine cough syrup didn't help. Nothing did. Many times I could not catch my breath. I began to get so physically exhausted from the coughing that I thought: I'm going to die. This is going to kill me. And after a while the thought didn't even scare me anymore, it finally became just...like, okay. This is going to happen, I have to accept it.

I'd just be on the couch upright in the middle of the night because lying down made it worse, just thinking: in the morning I believe I will be dead. And I was so tired of fighting it that the thought was just sort of this dull feeling. I couldn't even cry about it anymore. That was too much energy.

I was sick for approximately 10 weeks, I think it was.

My husband also got sick, about two weeks after I did. How cough was really terrifying. He also lost his sense of smell and his leg was tingling night and day. But it was March by the time he called the doctor and the doctor told him the same things he told me. He'd have to have a fever over 101 AND be wheezing in order to go to the hospital. Otherwise, just stay home and "ride it out." But he did get better rather quickly. However - remembers this was March - he still does not have a normal sense of smell back yet. 

I have never actually literally thought I was going to die before all that. It was a horror. I'm crying as I remember this.

I think if I get it again, it.actually will kill me this time.

Sounds like you and your husband had the virus.  I saw a story recently that they think the antibodies dissipate and will not protect you from being reinfected.  That's not good.  Also, saw when a vaccine does get the go ahead that they'll only be able to make 500 million to a billion vaccines. 

There's roughly 8 billion people in the world and everyone will need two doses.  That's 16 billion doses.  Who gets it first and who decides will be the questions.  Probably healthcare workers will be at the top of the list.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Piddy

[BC1980]

8 hours ago, sothereiwas said:

I wonder if they counted it in the hospital where the death happened as well. Seems really odd to me to tally it this way.

Florida does it that way too. If you travelled from another state and die in a Florida hospital, it doesn't get counted as a Florida death.

[sothereiwas]

3 minutes ago, BC1980 said:

Florida does it that way too. If you travelled from another state and die in a Florida hospital, it doesn't get counted as a Florida death.

That's odd, but I guess as long as we're consistent, we understand what the stats are telling us, and we don't count people multiple times it's OKish. 

[BC1980]

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/05/26/trust-index-heres-why-florida-medical-examiners-are-reporting-different-number-of-covid-19-deaths/?outputType=amp
 

This is where I read about it.

[NuevoYorko]

4 hours ago, CaliforniaGirl said:

This is what happened to me in mid-February. I have never been that sick in my life and thought I was going to need to be hospitalized. I thought it was just the flu, and for all I know it was, but there was no testing yet. I have never once gone to the doctor for the flu. I did this time but not out of fear of Covid. It literally didn't enter my mind. I was just so sick that I was getting scared. The cough was awful but between coughing spells all I could do was sleep. I couldn't stay awake for more than 20 minutes or so at a time.

This went on for about a week. My family was really getting scared. I had a fever all during that week. Twice when I tried to get up off the couch I fainted. I finally called the doctor. I was told to come in. After the phone call I was crying. I was very scared.

 

This is similar to what happened to the son of a close friend of mine, in San Francisco back in early March.

The doctor diagnosed him with COVID-19 on the base of his symptoms.  He was not given a test.  They were reserved at that time for people who were hospitalized.  He was sent home, told to self quarantine, and after a miserable period he got better.   His girlfriend (they live together) also quarantined but never had any symptoms; people who worked where he did, on the other hand, did.  

[CaliforniaGirl]

3 hours ago, NuevoYorko said:

This is similar to what happened to the son of a close friend of mine, in San Francisco back in early March.

The doctor diagnosed him with COVID-19 on the base of his symptoms.  He was not given a test.  They were reserved at that time for people who were hospitalized.  He was sent home, told to self quarantine, and after a miserable period he got better.   His girlfriend (they live together) also quarantined but never had any symptoms; people who worked where he did, on the other hand, did.  

This was a step beyond misery, TBH. Like I said, I have literally never been this sick. I have never been to even a doctor for the flu or anything flu-like, much less considered the hospital. Actually, I have never been in the hospital for any illness at all. I've been there for accidents (check for broken bones or a concussion) and to have my babies but never for an illness.

I was very, very scared.

It was no joke, let's just put it that way. If I were 10 years older I wonder whether I'd be dead.

I was told NOT to go to the hospital unless a certain specific set of symptoms was actively there. My doctor said they would turn me away otherwise. I suffered and was incapable (or no fully capable) for two months. I already had no life. Just exhausted and coughing and a lake ghost 24/7. Meanwhile restrictions came in. I shouldn't complain because I'm still here but it was a hell, of sorts.

I never could have dreamed anything this bad was coming. 

Edited July 15, 2020 by CaliforniaGirl

[Angelle]

8 hours ago, CaliforniaGirl said:

This is what happened to me in mid-February. I have never been that sick in my life and thought I was going to need to be hospitalized. I thought it was just the flu, and for all I know it was, but there was no testing yet. I have never once gone to the doctor for the flu. I did this time but not out of fear of Covid. It literally didn't enter my mind. I was just so sick that I was getting scared. The cough was awful but between coughing spells all I could do was sleep. I couldn't stay awake for more than 20 minutes or so at a time.

This went on for about a week. My family was really getting scared. I had a fever all during that week. Twice when I tried to get up off the couch I fainted. I finally called the doctor. I was told to come in. After the phone call I was crying. I was very scared.

All the doctor asked me was whether I had been out of the country lately, specifically China. I thought that was weird. And whether I was wheezing. I wasn't. Then he sent me upstairs for x-rays because he was worried I had pneumonia. But that test was negative. All he did was send me home and told me if I began to wheeze I should go to the hospital, but if I was not wheezing plus had a temperature over 101 they would not admit me. So otherwise "just stay home and ride it out."

So I went home. And I slowly started getting myself off the couch. But the coughing was just awful. Codeine cough syrup didn't help. Nothing did. Many times I could not catch my breath. I began to get so physically exhausted from the coughing that I thought: I'm going to die. This is going to kill me. And after a while the thought didn't even scare me anymore, it finally became just...like, okay. This is going to happen, I have to accept it.

I'd just be on the couch upright in the middle of the night because lying down made it worse, just thinking: in the morning I believe I will be dead. And I was so tired of fighting it that the thought was just sort of this dull feeling. I couldn't even cry about it anymore. That was too much energy.

I was sick for approximately 10 weeks, I think it was.

My husband also got sick, about two weeks after I did. How cough was really terrifying. He also lost his sense of smell and his leg was tingling night and day. But it was March by the time he called the doctor and the doctor told him the same things he told me. He'd have to have a fever over 101 AND be wheezing in order to go to the hospital. Otherwise, just stay home and "ride it out." But he did get better rather quickly. However - remembers this was March - he still does not have a normal sense of smell back yet. 

I have never actually literally thought I was going to die before all that. It was a horror. I'm crying as I remember this.

I think if I get it again, it.actually will kill me this time.

 This has happened to friends of mine - one mentioned today, that she's still using an inhaler. She finally had a virtual doctor's appointment, a couple of months ago, after she almost fainted when she went to check the mail. One friend in California, said she's had it twice now (or it never fully went away). 

I got really sick a couple of years ago, that had a similar effect with fatigue, occasional trouble breathing, constant fevers - I'm sure it was a parasite that was in the news, there were outbreaks in my State. That was bad enough. I don't want to get Covid.