COVID-19 Virus

[bug_n_flock]

A friend Hubbs grew up with now runs a nursing home... one of her employees was sick(her mom tested positive for covid). The employee took tylenol to pass the fever checks and still came to work for 2 days before letting it slip to a coworker who immediately turned her in. Twenty four people died of covid in the nursing home after all was said and done. Covid Mary should be subject to criminal charges if you ask me. She *knew* she had it.

 

[Scott]

A friend Hubbs grew up with now runs a nursing home... one of her employees was sick(her mom tested positive for covid). The employee took tylenol to pass the fever checks and still came to work for 2 days before letting it slip to a coworker who immediately turned her in. Twenty four people died of covid in the nursing home after all was said and done. Covid Mary should be subject to criminal charges if you ask me. She *knew* she had it.

Horrific, blood on her hands!

 

[Laurasea]

On a personal note of frustration... A friend just messaged me. His dad has been in a VA nursing home for well over a year now, I forget, maybe 2 or 3. Hasn't been out of his room in over three months. Strict protocol in place, staff wear full PPE looking like they're ready to board the freaking space shuttle. My friend was just notified that there are five positive cases in his dad's unit. WTH?!

I have been pondering the transference of this virus when there is seemly little to no clear means. The only thing I have is that we are missing something in the protocols. The what is the point of pondering...

I feel it is carried on shoes. A foot bath would be a good idea. Thus us dilute beach water in a tray that has a rubber mesh you step in, stand then step to a dry matt. Its a lot of work. But it's used at every Quarantine animal facility I've worked at, and when sick patients are contagious. I spray bottom if shies with lysol and change into indoor shoes when I get home.
Also many places are reusing masks still.....
Pre pandemic you would change mask after each patient...

 

[Laurasea]

A friend Hubbs grew up with now runs a nursing home... one of her employees was sick(her mom tested positive for covid). The employee took tylenol to pass the fever checks and still came to work for 2 days before letting it slip to a coworker who immediately turned her in. Twenty four people died of covid in the nursing home after all was said and done. Covid Mary should be subject to criminal charges if you ask me. She *knew* she had it.

Horrific, blood on her hands!

Why????? Why would someone do this????

 

[noodles123]

A friend Hubbs grew up with now runs a nursing home... one of her employees was sick(her mom tested positive for covid). The employee took tylenol to pass the fever checks and still came to work for 2 days before letting it slip to a coworker who immediately turned her in. Twenty four people died of covid in the nursing home after all was said and done. Covid Mary should be subject to criminal charges if you ask me. She *knew* she had it.

Ah, must have been a parent of school-aged children--parents LOVE that trick... EVEN during the pandemic, untested students/parents will say, "he/she just has a cold"

People are messed up..I almost said "sick" but that would have been confusing, given its current accuracy.



I agree that she should be charged...It's like that MO election judge who tested positive 3 days prior to working the polls...only to die within a day or so after. Sad, but messed up.

 

[Laurasea]

Some info on Covid-19, and changing virus. Let's hope theory on worse outcomes, doesn't come true...
" Each day, B.1.1.7 is being found in more people in more places, including all around the United States. Experts have raised dire warnings that a 70 percent more transmissible form of the virus would overwhelm already severely stretched medical systems. Daily deaths have already tripled in recent months, and the virus is killing more than 3,000 Americans every day. From a purely mathematical perspective, considering exponential growth, a significantly more transmissible strain could theoretically lead to tens of thousands of daily deaths, with hospital beds lining sidewalks and filling parking lots.

[Read: The problem with stories about dangerous coronavirus mutations]

To make matters worse, the warnings from Britain were followed by headlines about yet another variant, B.1.351, in South Africa. Then another concerning variant was identified in Brazil. News reports speculated that these strains may resist vaccines. Some experts cautioned that the mutations could render current treatments less effective. Scott Gottlieb, the former director of the FDA, said last week: “The South Africa variant is very concerning right now because it does appear that it may obviate some of our medical countermeasures, particularly the antibody drugs.” On Tuesday, Anthony Fauci echoed that concern, calling the variant “disturbing.” "
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-coronavirus-is-evolving-before-our-eyes/ar-BB1cN47o

 

[SailBoat]

Michigan fell to single digits for deaths today, also way down of new cases. Not sure why, but will rejoin a bit.

The idea of its coming in on shoes has problems. In addition to Rescues and like Avian facilities that use step pans at their entrances, the poultry industry uses this method as well. The down side for home use is even with a dry surface, not all the bleach will be removed from the shoes and this will lead to flooring damage to floor covering in the home. We have always removed outdoor shoes at the doorway.

The reason that I have problems with shoes being the source is that the point of picking-up of the virus would need to be in the facility or home. This since the surface of the shoe would be transferring the virus from the point of contact and quick reducing the volume with each step. Within just four steps the volume would be very low. Even a cushion shoe would as quickly reduce the volume. Test: Step on a wet surface and then onto a hard, dry surface, note how quickly the foot print diminishes.

I'm thinking hand, mouth, nose contact that breaks standard protocols in care facility. But, then individuals are not found positive when the cases are contact traced backwards. Lots of room to continue to ponder what is happening.

The outbreaks of the new variances truly add confusion as to their rapid, but sporadic transfer occurs internationally... Their timing could not be better as in North America the coming into Spring Break and the return of the Snowbird's migration begins shortly.

 

[noodles123]

Since working in-person, shoes are the first thing I remove when I am in...Shoes off, hands washed, doorknob/keys disinfected.



We know this virus also spreads on surfaces and I think there needs to be more investigation into food-borne transmission as well. You can't tell me that food prepared by a worker with covid who breathed on it or touched their eyes and then the food etc is any different than surface spread... I know they say that there have been no documented cases from food, but there wouldn't be, because they never could isolate food/surface contact from respiratory exposure...For instance, if a bunch of people get it at a restaurant, it's blamed on people being near others, but they haven't made much of an effort to look at the other possibilities (I know it's airborne for sure, but I bet you money that people have been infected through food and that it was just chalked up to community spread)...How would they ever figure this out? The most obvious is airborne, and we know that happens often--- so yeah, maskless people EASILY will spread something like this when in a restaurant, BUT, I think there is even more transmission going on from employees at fast food restaurants etc-- you can't tell me these people always wear masks properly, because whenever I go to get carry-out, at least a few employees are touching their faces, masks below the nose etc.


They aren't looking into cases of community spread like they used to--- it's not like contact tracing involves listing the food you ordered from door-dash etc...I just don't get why they would say food isn't linked to spread, when saying at the same time, that if I touch a contaminated surface and then my mouth/nose/eyes that I can get it that why by allowing access to mucous membranes...How is that any different than eating food that was exposed to the virus. Also, "NO DOCUMENTED CASES" is the phrase that irritates me as well. It won't be documented if it is never investigated...If you aren't linked to a specific infected person, then it's "community spread" (but what about that salad from Panera etc?..Just sayin')

Like I said, STILL believe it's highly airborne and that is the PRIMARY mode of transmission...but it annoys me how there are gaping holes in the arguments about surface contamination vs food. I think you can get it through the air, but also through surfaces (including food, potentially)

 

[Scott]

Chart is a few months old and potentially somewhat inaccurate pending deep research. I've avoided all of the bottom three tiers and much of the fourth.

I've enjoyed restaurant takeout weekly, restricted to ethnic foods I don't cook. Scrupulous transference of food into my own containers and washing hands before eating seems effective.

 

[Laurasea]

I can add when I took immune suppression medicine i was told not to eat at a restaurant or take out. My mom had brain surgery and while on immune suppression meds was told the same thing different doctor different state.

Now that I have MG I've been told over the past 6 years not to eat out , or take out during flu season.... just saying, and this virus is more contagious than flu.
I don't want to crash the restaurant industry, abd I'm sure there lots if factors..

In other countries I've see news stories of data linked s to more cases when eating out and take out

 

[bug_n_flock]

There aren't many restaraunts in county. The grocery store started making made-to-order pizza pasta subs(dominos lite) a few months ago and that was big news. We try to get like 4 pizzas each time we go out, and stuff the freezer with leftovers. Of course, these days we are only going to the grocery store about 1nce a month, sometimes we go longer. Really depends on weather, and how much canned chili we can stomach LOL



I really wish my mom had come here at the start of it all. Since this started she had a blockage in one if her arteries and needed that cleared(still in PT), and one of her kidneys just kinda stopped working. Plus in 2001 she had a bone marrow transplant so her baseline immune system is a bit weaker than most. We are doing all we can to support her from here, but I'll be honest we are VERY close to just going and getting her. She lives alone in the subhurbs of DC and with covid, lonliness for a year, health stuff, and now civil unrest? Let's just say we have put some thought into how safest to go get her if/when needed. She is a tough independant woman, but nobody is *that* tough. She isn't an "old lady", but she is as close to 70 as she is 65 so certainly not young. She has 2 dogs and a budgie for companionship, but her dogs are not "scary types".... a mutt we affectionately call a house squirrel, and a poodle.



We do the local feed shop, the local grocery store sometimes(hubbs was harassed for wearing a mask "twice"... once was a little kid old enough to know better but mom and dad didn't correct her taking the mask off and playing with it while standing next to Mr. Bug, the other time was genuine harassment by a grown ass man), one or the other of the dollar stores(one is sorta like a mini grocery store, the other sorta like a mini wal mart, we also do craigslist deals in their parking lots usually), the post office, the bank... that is pretty much it. Feed shop people don't wear masks, even tho the one la who we know died at the local nursing home was the mother of a good friend of hers. Byt they are good people and respect us taking it seriously. Social distance with us, are willing to leave feed outside for us to pay by phone, etc. Really good people. I look forward to giving them each hugs when all this is over. I usually wait in the car since I find it very hard to wear a mask. They wave at me LOL.


This thread needs some cute to lower the stress. Attaching photos of the house squirrel. :07: Edit: she weighs 4 poubds when wet, LOL. She is papillon/pomeranian. She is pretty old now... about a year and a half older than the other small black dog(my boy, Seymour), and he is turning 11, making her 12-13 years old now. She has like 2 teeth left in her little mouth.

 

[Laurasea]

Precious @!! Love the pictures

 

[SailBoat]

After reading Scott's chart, I'm self-rating at 'truly boring' low, low, low risk!

FYI: Signed-up yesterday, online, at our local Med Group as part of 'Group 1c' (Michigan Classification) for Covid Vaccine. So, sometime between next week and late Fall, we should get phase 1 Vaccine.

 

[noodles123]

This is like the annoying public service message that goes with this thread- but even if you are vaccinated, there are thoughts that you may still be a vector, even if COVID doesn't make you sick.



So if anyone on here gets the vaccine: 1. you need 2 doses to protect yourself and even then, 2. you can still potentially make others sick (even if you don't show signs of infection).

 

[SailBoat]

This is like the annoying public service message that goes with this thread- but even if you are vaccinated, there are thoughts that you may still be a vector, even if COVID doesn't make you sick.

So if anyone on here gets the vaccine: 1. you need 2 doses to protect yourself and even then, 2. you can still potentially make others sick (even if you don't show signs of infection).

Wait, so you are saying that it is a waste of time and money (someone is paying the costs even if it is the government) to get the vaccine!?!? That would imply that there is no hope, that we all should just go-out-and-party, cause death is coming our way????

Near anyone that is paying even semi-attention knows that there are two parts. Phase 1 and phase 2.

So, there are 'thoughts' that an individual that has both phase 1 & 2, waits the time required for one's body to create the tools to fend off the monster virus are then spreading the virus -or- if they somehow gets the Virus (afterwords) will spread it since the vaccine lowers the effect on the individual, but they still spread it!!!!

That should have been Front Page, Top of the Hour News Reporting everywhere, right?

 

[Scott]

Completely agree with debating the merits of bringing your mom to stay with you. All a balancing act of safety vs threat of Covid. At some point the signals point towards greater potential for harm living alone.

Cute pics!!

 

[Laurasea]

A look at excess deaths
https://ourworldindata.org/excess-mortality-covid

 

[SailBoat]

Visited a close, older' friend in Hospital yesterday. He had fallen in his home and fractured his right hip. As expected, active protocols in place. Easy in and out with near empty parking lot. On the floor he is on, they have three patents, including him. All of, which supports Michigan's falling SARS-covid-2 cases.

The surgery wings, are as equally empty as only emergency surgeries are currently allowed in Michigan.

Yesterday, 103 deaths, 90 of which came from file reviews. New cases continues too slow. Yesterday, was the first report of Michigan having one case of a variant, an individual that had been visiting England.

Last week Friday, Michigan's Governor extended the shut-down to the end of January. And, to add to all the confusion, it is being reported that 'frontline works are refusing to get the vaccination at levels between 40 and 50%, which follows the refusal rate for the Flu vaccination...

 

[SailBoat]

Completely agree with debating the merits of bringing your mom to stay with you. All a balancing act of safety vs threat of Covid. At some point the signals point towards greater potential for harm living alone.

Cute pics!!

Fully agree with Scott! The dangers of a single fall within the home and not being able to get helps a real concern.

FYI: Take a long look at your home first to assure that it can support an elderly adult. From the outside door access, hallways, doorways within the home, bathroom(s). There are levels that need to be met to assure safety and comfort in moving around a home. We built about six years ago and designed and built it too 'Universal Home /ADA lite' code. Last year (2020) I placed full pressure on that design and it was a God Sent in allowing me easy access while recovering.

 

[bug_n_flock]

My mom has visited the farm before, but not in, well like a year and a half at this point. She has asthma, so we are looking into more air filters(again), and reconsidering the rooms... the back bedroom we want to turn into the new and improved bird room... we could turn the middle bedroom into a room for her, but it is smaller than the back bedroom... hmm. Much to think about. We will need to put in a deck(we have fiberglass steps to the mobile home door, but they have no railing and the distance from top step to house is too much, plus she loves sitting outside with her dogs, a book, and a cup of coffee in the mornings, so would need somewhere easy to get to that she could do this. We will also need to put in at least gravel walkways as opposed to the mud ones we have now, with stepping stones in the worst mud spots. She is still fine for showering as normal and all that. Her current home has an old style cast iron tub modified to have a shower too, so she has to step up and over a much more difficult tub than the one we have. We don't have indoor running water, but we should by then be able to take normal baths with water heated on the stove, and we are working on plumbing as a priority project. So yes, much to consider, and projects to do. Thankfully she is still able to do very very much like normal, but I agree about a fall being a bad possibility. Even when she was quite a bit younger she would sometimes fall on the steps or thibgs like that. That was always with people around... one time she broke her wrist falling down the porch steps when helping my grandmother set up for a party.. that was like 10/15 years ago.



It was always an offer for her to move here eventually. Like many in my age group, I have always lived with or near her... this is the farthest away from her I have ever lived, and definitely the longest I have gone without seeing her. I miss her so so much. We are even willing to build a house for her on our property for her alone, or for her to share with her lifelong friend who lives in New Jersey if she/they don't want to live in the same house as us.



She is not yet retired, but is working thru zoom(works at a school) and has said she will retire if they want her to go back before she thinks it is safe. I see no reason she couldn't work thru zoom out here(so we will need to finally get actual internet out here and not just cell phone internet). A lot to do, sure, but all of it is doable.