‘A profound danger’: Experts warn against broad U.S. reopening amid COVID-19 pandemic

‘A profound danger’: Experts warn against broad U.S. reopening amid COVID-19 pandemic
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-05-06/coronavirus-states-reopen-deaths-warning

More than 40 states will have reopened their economies in some capacity by the weekend, backed by President Trump’s urging of Americans to become “warriors” and fight COVID-19 not by sheltering in place but by leaving their homes again.

But as images circulate of sunbathers returning to beaches, revelers enjoying Cinco de Mayo fun and armed protesters demanding their governors open up businesses, public health experts Wednesday presented lawmakers with their own picture of what the country’s immediate future should look like.

“It’s clear to me we are at a critical moment of this fight,” Johns Hopkins University epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers told the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday.

“We risk complacency in accepting the preventable deaths of 2,000 Americans each day, we risk complacency in accepting that our healthcare workers do not have what they need to do their jobs safely, and we risk complacency in recognizing that without continued vigilance we will again create the conditions that led to us being the worst-affected country in the world.”

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Two things I want to point out regarding reopening states too hastily. First, the criteria set by the CDC isn't being adhered to because the White House shelved the 17 page guidelines before they were published. Trump is too anxious to get people back to work and the hell with them if they get sick, pass it on to others and even die. The economy is his re-election ticket so he'll open up the country as soon as possible and damn everything else.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coro...0200507-6esn7tktrva6lamj7gyzvxzaqi-story.html

The second thing to consider with 20 states partially reopening today is the increase in Covid-19 cases. States like Georgia are already preparing for an onslaught of new cases and opening up new ICU beds. The question is, will it be enough? Dr. Clifton Hastings, the chief of medical staff at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia has stated that Georgia is preparing for a surge mid-June.

If a surge is realized in Georgia or in any of the other states that are partially reopening this week, there's going to be a profound drain on their medical systems. Doctors and nurses in NY have been dying and wonderful nurses and doctors from around the country have been volunteering to travel to New York for one month and offer their services. However, once other states in the country begin to feel the effects of an overburdened health care system, that's when things really start collapsing. The questions are; will there be enough essential personnel like EMT's, nurses, doctors, x-ray techs, respiratory therapists, infusion specialists, phlebotomists, hospital maintenance, cafeteria staff and food preparers, etc? Will there be enough ventilators, infusion equipment, trach supplies, PPE, hand sanitizer and other disposables?

As a nurse, I fear that this is going to be profoundly devastating not only in human cost but for the economy in the long run.

 

I get the sense a ton of people believe COVID to be defeated or in retreat, no doubt reopen-mania helps fuel that misconception. But the virus hasn't gone anywhere, its still spreading faster than it did the previous day and its getting ready to show us its 2nd act come winter. Will we shut down again? We probably will need to but who's to say if election season will allow it.

One things for sure: our piss poor performance as a country over the last few months shows our next shutdown will have to be just as crippling. If only we had learned lessons. If only we had, as a community, taken social distancing and other mitigation strategies seriously. But we didn't and so there's simply no good reason why we should treat the next phase with any less vigor and that sucks because its going to hurt our economy even more.

 

There's even worse news coming out regarding Covid-19, not that we need any more bad news.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/09/children-coronavirus-death-kawasaki

New York warns of children's illness linked to Covid-19 after three deaths
State reports 73 cases of children falling severely ill with toxic shock-like reaction that has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease

 

What appears to be happening(as I interpret it) is that as the immune system fights COVID-19 in children, their systems aren't quite fully developed to be able to deal with the storm of activity, thus creating the Kawasaki-like conditions. So if you're too old, your systems are too weak and if you're too young, it's not strong enough.

What a deadly virus.

 

HINT: Apparently Fear Mongering works well on many.

For all their fear, the ACTUAL COVID-19 death toll is likely under 30,000
For all the fear, FEW know of anyone personally who has died SPECIFICALLY from covid19 who wasn't already very at risk

 

So those at risk can stay at home. All others should return to work and take the same precautions as grocery workers.

 

What are the Major benefits to the Left if they can keep Americans frozen in their tracks until November?

1). They can all point to the horrendous "Trump" economy, even though they attribute all the deaths to covid19 and insist that millions of jobs are disposable.
2). Joe Biden benefits from any social unrest and can use the covid19 to blame and hurt Trump

 

Not piss poor as a country. Don’t project other state failures on all states. Your governor may be a moron. Doesn’t mean ours is. You may not have had a robust supply of critical care facilities. Doesn’t mean nobody has them.

 

Haters gonna hate (America)

 

So easy, you solved the country's problems with this pandemic in 22 words. Good job.

 

It beats waiting for Trump to tell me what I need to do to avoid a virus.

 

So simple, right?

 

The left doesn't want that - Democrats and liberals do.

 

Are you kidding? Globally, this virus has already killed more than 200,000 people. New York alone has 21,640 deaths from Covid-19. Personally, I know 4 people (it was only 3 yesterday) that have had Covid-19. Two survived, and two died, including one that had been a lifelong friend.

Let me add something here. I'm a nurse so I know a bit about epidemiology and virus transmissions and this virus is not one to dismiss. No, it's not 'panic' or 'hysteria', this is a genuine lethal virus that's not going away for a very long time. Don't hold your breath waiting for a vaccine either.

 

No. I am seeing people crowding Home Depot garden section to buy plants, waiting in crowded lines to buy toilet paper, and ordering packages online so they can bring a box several people touched into their homes. I am grateful that you didn't let fear keep you from working. Thank you.

 

Oh yes, people are out. They're all at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, supermarkets, etc. These are considered 'essential services'. Everyone is required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. I never carry anything inside my home without wiping it down with a Clorox wipe first and sanitizing my hands. Fear is what keeps me safe, nothing more.

 

I get the impression that I should sell my house cash in my 401k & stocks, quit my job and travel the world while there still a "world" left.

 

These posts are starting to look like something coming out of a computer generated fear-mongering machine. There's sort of an Orwellian nature to them.

 

Doubleplus good point.

 

That sounds GREAT.

People BLAME Trump for the Virus, then Trump Loses.

Perfect Ending.

 

Isn't this how we got here? UAL flight today.

 

I've been hearing that too, that because of the pathology of this virus, it'll be harder than normal to create a vaccine. What do you think we the human race need to do to survive this in the long-term? Should we put focus on creating treatment options in lieu of a vaccine?

 

You could use the exact same precautions without the fear. Your knowledge of how to avoid a virus is what keeps you safe. I see no reason to close businesses that can operate using the same precautions as the garden section. I do understand your position considering your experience.

 

Oh look more experts saying we are all in grave danger and should hunker down at home for the next 3, 6, 9 or 12 months or how ever long...

Meanwhile the smart states are reopening because the nation has to function or it will collaspe.

 

Well said.

Some on the left tends to forget we have states and what they are.