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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

New York's governor urgently appealed for medical volunteers as death toll surpasses 1,000

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New York's governor urgently appealed for medical volunteers Monday amid a “staggering” number of coronavirus deaths, as he and health officials warned that the crisis unfolding in New York City is just a preview of what other U.S. communities could soon face.

“Please come help us in New York now,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as the state's death toll climbed by more than 250 people in a day to a total of over 1,200, most of them in the city. He said an additional 1 million health care workers are needed to tackle the crisis.


“We've lost over 1,000 New Yorkers," Cuomo said. "To me, we're beyond staggering already. We've reached staggering.”

Even before the governor's appeal, close to 80,000 former nurses, doctors and other professionals were stepping up to volunteer, and a Navy hospital ship, also sent to the city after 9/11, had arrived with 1,000 beds to relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospitals.

"Whatever it is that they need, I’m willing to do,” said Jerry Kops, a musician and former nurse whose tour with the show Blue Man Group was abruptly halted by the outbreak.

He returned to his Long Island home, where he volunteered to be a nurse again. While waiting to be reinstated, Kops has been helping at an assisted-living home near his house in Shirley, N.Y.

The spike in deaths in New York was another sign of the long fight ahead against the global pandemic, which was filling Spain's intensive care beds and shutting millions of Americans inside even as the crisis in China, where the outbreak began in December, kept easing.

More than 235 million people — about two of every three Americans — live in the 33 states where governors have declared statewide orders or recommendations to stay home.

In California, officials put out a similar call for medical volunteers as coronavirus hospitalizations doubled over the last four days and the number of patients in intensive care tripled.

“Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days," President Donald Trump told reporters. “The more we dedicate ourselves today, the more quickly we will emerge on the other side of the crisis.”

In Europe, meanwhile, hard-hit Italy and Spain saw their death tolls climb by more than 800 each, but the World Health Organization's emergency chief said cases there were “potentially stabilizing.” At the same time, he warned against letting up on tough containment measures.

“We have to now push the virus down, and that will not happen by itself,” Dr. Michael Ryan said.

More than three-quarters of a million people worldwide have become infected and over 37,000 have died, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. reported more than 160,000 infections and over 3,000 deaths, with New York City the nation's worst hot spot. New Orleans, Detroit and other cities also had alarming clusters.

“Anyone who says this situation is a New York City-only situation is in a state of denial," Cuomo said. “You see this virus move across the state. You see this virus move across the nation. There is no American who is immune to this virus."

Some hospitals are now parking refrigerated trailers outside their doors to collect the dead. At two Brooklyn hospitals, videos posted by bystanders and a medical employee showed workers in masks and gowns loading bodies onto trailers from gurneys on the sidewalk.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious-disease expert, also warned that smaller cities are likely about to see cases “take off” the way they have in New York City.

“What we’ve learned from painful experience with this outbreak is that it goes along almost on a straight line, then a little acceleration, acceleration, then it goes way up," he said on ABC's “Good Morning America.”



ktla.com

Monday, March 30, 2020

On Doctor's Day Let's celebrate the heroes who made 152,314 recoveries possible so far

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Traditionally, doctors don’t have to risk their own lives to save others. But that’s what it has come to today - doctors, nurses and paramedics are all on the frontlines of a war against COVID-19. Fighting the battle against an enemy that can’t even be seen by the naked eye, so that we can stay safe at home. Many doctors and nurses are coming out of retirement to join this fight as well.



March 30 is observed as Doctor’s Day in the US. While in India, it’s on July 1st, there’s no better time than now to take a minute to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of all the doctors, in every corner of this world. It’s not just their time, skill and energy that they’ve offered. No, many have had to isolate from their families because they spend all day long in the company of patients who have an extremely contagious infection. While some of them are given PPE (government-mandated Personal Protective Equipment for medical professionals), many of them treat patients without it, at a huge risk to their own health. That’s the equivalent of going into battle without armour. Many of them are working around the clock to try and develop a vaccine for the virus or test medications that could help treat the infection. For so many of them, the fear at the back of their minds is being realized and they’re testing positive for the viral infection COVID-19. Some of them, including Dr Li Wenliang, are succumbing to the very disease they’re trying to treat.

All of their combined contributions are the reason for the 152,314 COVID-19 recoveries till date. At least for one day, instead of discussing and sharing the number of cases, we can shift the focus to the number of recoveries instead.

And on a day like this, in times like these, we wake up to news articles about how more doctors are now being evicted for this very contribution. People fear that these doctors may bring back the virus to their home and their localities. While our fear may be very real, so is their exhaustion and relief at making it back home. If you can’t appreciate them, at least just leave them alone.

At the very basic level, here’s what you can do to support doctors:


  • Stay indoors - as per the government’s guidelines - so they can go to work. 
  • Don’t hoard essential medical supplies like surgical masks, gloves, ventilators and medical-grade sanitizers.
  • Support your neighbourhood doctors with groceries or childcare, offering to take care of them when they’re working. 
  • Lend an ear - the emotional toll of this fight can be worse than the physical one. 
  • If it is within your means, donate to a fund that provides them with protective gear.
  • Don't panic. It leads to chaos. 
  • For more tips, read our article on Inventive Solutions to Treat Symptoms of COVID-19.



Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

German Chancellor Angela Merkel to stay home Quarantine After Meeting Coronavirus Positive Doctor

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel will quarantine herself at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a government spokesman said Sunday.
"The Chancellor has decided to quarantine herself immediately at home. She will be tested regularly in the coming days... (and) fulfil her official business from home," Steffen Seibert said in a statement.



The doctor had visited Merkel Friday to vaccinate her against the pneumococcus bacteria.

It could take some time to determine whether the chancellor is herself infected as "a test would not yet be fully conclusive," Seibert said.

During her 15-year term in office Merkel has largely enjoyed robust health, although she suffered repeated shaking spells in public appearances during a summer 2019 heatwave that were never fully explained.

In response to the tremors, she chose to sit on a chair when receiving guests with military honours outside the chancellor's office in Berlin.

Previously the veteran leader broke her pelvis in a cross-country skiing accident in 2014.



ndtv.com

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Pope Francis Says He Has Asked ‘God’ To Stop The Coronavirus Epidemic ‘With His Hand’

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Pope Francis has asked God to stop the coronavirus epidemic and said people should utilise their time in quarantine to reconnect with their families.
In an interview with Italian journalist, Paolo Rodari, published in Wednesday’s edition of “La Repubblica” newspaper, the Pope said “ "I asked the Lord to stop the epidemic: ‘Lord, stop it with your hand’. That is what I prayed for”.
Defying a nationwide lockdown, the Pope last Sunday (Mar 15) visited the Roman churches of Saints Mary Major and Marcello on the Via del Corso and had offered prayers.

It comes as Italy is battling with the most acute outbreak of COVID-19 outside of China, with 35,500 infections and nearly 3000 deaths as of Wednesday (Mar 19).
Offering advice on facing the daily challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pope said "We need to rediscover the concreteness of small things, the small acts of kindness shown to those who are close to us, family, friends. We need to realize that our treasure lies in small things. There are tiny gestures that sometimes get lost in the routine of everyday life, gestures of tenderness, affection, compassion, that are nevertheless decisive, important”,
The Pope also gave the examples of sharing “a hot plate of food, a caress, a hug, a phone call... These are familiar, attentive gestures regarding everyday details that make life meaningful, and create communion and communication amongst us".
Addressing those who have lost loved ones in the coronavirus crisis, the Pope said: 'I ask everyone to stay close to those who have lost loved ones, to be close to them in every possible way.'
The Pope himself is said to be suffering from a cold since last month.

swarajyamag.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

The way of Busting out The Myths Surrounding COVID-19

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Social media on any given day is often ripe with misinformation, something that it is always damaging but has the potential to become deadly in the current situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and many other national and regional groups and health bodies have put together myth-busting lists based on the questions people have been asking and addressing some of the wrong advice and information circulating online.

First off, there is still currently no vaccine, and though treatments are being tested, it may be a way off before we get one. The most important things we can do to protect ourselves and others are self-isolating, social distancing, and frequently washing our hands with soap and water (out and about, hand sanitizer is more convenient, but at home soap and water does a more thorough job).


MYTH: COVID-19 Is No Worse Than The Seasonal Flu Or A Cold 
COVID-19 is worse than seasonal flu and colds and a lot more deadly. The mortality rate for the seasonal flu is less than 0.1 percent, while current WHO data put COVID-19 mortality rates at between 3-4 percent. This myth is a persistent one and has spread significantly in the West, where it has been promoted by politicians, celebrities, and influencers. SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, doesn’t affect everyone equally, and many people may not experience any symptoms. This means you may have the virus even if you do not feel ill, and you could easily spread it to someone vulnerable – those with underlying health issues, weakened immune systems, the elderly etc – who could die of it. The seasonal flu vaccine each year helps provide herd immunity to protect those people. As mentioned, COVID-19 has no vaccine yet.

So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020 A new study, published in Science this week, has shown how people in China with low or non-existent symptoms of the virus were responsible for a large number of infections. This is why it is important to avoid unnecessary outings, even if you feel fine.

MYTH: Hot Weather/Cold Weather Kills SARS-CoV-2 
The virus can survive in both hot weather and cold weather; you can see how it has spread worldwide without much holding it back. At first, the distribution of cases appeared to be concentrated in temperate zones, which started speculation that the virus could only survive outside the human body in a certain range of temperatures, but as the pandemic has spread this has become obvious it's not the case.

MYTH: The Virus Is Transmitted By Mosquitos 
The virus is a respiratory pathogen spreading primarily through droplets produced by an infected person coughing or sneezing, as well as saliva. These droplets can also survive on surfaces for hours, potentially days, so regularly wipe down your countertops, door handles, electronic devices etc and throw away your tissues immediately. There is no evidence to suggest it spreads through mosquitos or other parasites (or your pets).



MYTH: I Must Wear A Mask At All Times 
You don’t need to wear a mask constantly. If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with a suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. If you yourself are coughing and sneezing and are in contact with people, do wear a mask. It's important to note, masks are only effective if you are also frequently washing your hands.

MYTH: You Should Spray Yourself With Chlorine/Alcohol Or Use UV Lamps To Kill The Virus 
Please do not do any of these. A lot of antibacterial products used to sterilize surfaces have irritants that can harm the skin. UV lamps can cause burns. Reports sunbathing will kill the virus are just wishful thinking. Washing your hands with soap and water is enough to kill bacteria and viruses. You can use an alcohol-based hand rub on top to be extra thorough, but due to their scarcity these days, perhaps just use them when you're out and about for convenience, rather than at home.

MYTH: Garlic Kills The Virus
Seriously, guys! SARS-CoV-2 is not a vampire. Garlic is not a protection against pathogens (but god, would that it was. As an Italian, I would be invincible!). Unfortunately, the delicious seasoning has no special powers against the virus or the disease. Use it to make delicious food, not home remedies.

MYTH: Masturbation Protects You From COVID-19
Despite limited studies claiming that self-love increases the immune system, masturbation doesn’t somehow magically protect you from COVID-19. But you know what, staying at home and masturbating actually makes you less likely to go out and catch and spread the disease, so in a way, it does help.



iflscience.com

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Google and Microsoft are giving away enterprise conferencing tools due to Corona Virus

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The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has pushed more companies and organizations to transition to remote work, and now both Google and Microsoft have said they will grant access to their more robust teleconferencing and collaboration tools that are typically only available to enterprise customers to make it easier for people to work from home. Both companies are only offering free access for a limited time.

Google announced this morning that it would be rolling out free access to “advanced” features for Hangouts Meet to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally through July 1st. That means organizations can host meetings with up to 250 participants, live stream to up to 100,000 viewers within a single domain, and record and save meetings to Google Drive. Normally, Google charges $13 extra per user per month for these features in addition to G Suite access under its “enterprise” tier, which adds up to a total of $25 per user per month.

Microsoft is offering a free six-month trial globally for a premium tier of Microsoft Teams, Business Insider first reported on Tuesday. The tier was originally designed to enable hospitals, schools, and businesses in China to get up and running quickly on Microsoft Teams, and that tier is now available globally. However, when you try to sign up for it, you’ll be prompted to work with a Microsoft partner or a member of Microsoft’s sales team to get it set up.

On March 10th, Microsoft says it will also roll out an update to the free version of Teams that will lift restrictions on how many users can be part of a team and allow users to schedule video calls and conferences.

Both Google and Microsoft have also responded to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, by canceling conferences taking place in April and May. Google has also halted most international travel for employees, and Microsoft has recommended that employees work remotely to help prevent the spread of the disease.



www.theverge.com
 
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