Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

For those (like me) who assumed deniers that get COVID-19 will finally see the light… not so fast.

wear-a-mask, please.

The Chatty Introvert

photo credit: SeattleTimes.com (David Horsey, op ed 11-17-2020)

I saw a few clips about this nurse’s tweet. From South Dakota, Nurse Jodi Doering finally had to express herself on her night off. I don’t have Twitter, but you can find her viral tweet without much difficulty, I assume. The gist of it is even while plenty of folks are in the hospital beds, hooked up to machines, gasping for breath… they deny that it’s COVID-19.

I never thought that would be the case. My mind was blown.

CNN interviewed her this morning about the tweet for some elaboration (I happened to catch it before I caught a ride to my own surgical appointment). Jodi shows up about 1:15 in:

I asked my ride about it (she works in a hospital) and what she’s heard about the denial in her own hospital. She was amazed how bad it was in this…

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Texas surpasses 20,000 virus deaths, second highest in US – ExpressNews.com (Texas GOP wants to be number one in Covid-19 cases and deaths!)

That is the second-highest death count overall in the U.S., trailing only New York, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University. It’s the 22nd-highest per capita at 69.7 deaths per 100,000 people. Source: Texas surpasses 20,000 virus deaths, second highest in US – ExpressNews.com

California scales back reopenings amid new COVID-19 surge – Los Angeles Times

The number of those infected with COVID-19 who are ill enough to require hospitalization has also spiked in recent weeks. As of the latest tally, there were 3,683 coronavirus hospitalizations statewide — up roughly 49% from two weeks ago. There are 1,001 COVID-19 patients in intensive care. Source: California scales back reopenings amid new COVID-19 surge – Los Angeles Times

Michigan Gov. Whitmer says she has authority to issue second stay-at-home order | TheHill

Whitmer, asked if the state can assist small businesses forced to close or drastically curtail service, pleaded with Congress to pass another coronavirus relief package. She defended the new restrictions, saying the state was at risk for at least 20,000 more deaths by February without them.

“The restrictions are absolutely necessary right now. The pandemic is out of control. Nurses are at their breaking point, so any help the public can give us would be great,” Jamie Brown, a critical care nurse from Kalamazoo and president of the Michigan Nurses Association, told the AP.

Source: Michigan Gov. Whitmer says she has authority to issue second stay-at-home order | TheHill

COVID-19 survival among elderly patients could be improved by arthritis drug, study finds — ScienceDaily

The researchers revealed the drug blocks this process occurring and so increases survival from COVID-19. The research also suggested COVID-19 increases the activity of genes related to platelets, which can make the blood sticky and more likely to form clots. The drug baricitinib was shown to reduce the activity of the genes.

Professor Volker Lauschke, co-lead author from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, explained: “This study confirms what AI predicted, and what we were hearing from patient case reports. For instance one case involved an 87-year-old severely unwell patient from Foggia, Italy, who showed rapid improvement after being given the drug, whereas her husband and son, who did not receive baricitinib, died. This study has also shone a light on exactly how this drug may protect us at the cellular level. This helps us understand why other types of drugs are proving beneficial, or not beneficial, as we as help identify other treatments which may tackle COVID-19.”

Professor Stebbing added: “We have seen the top line results of a randomized study called the Adaptive Covid Treatment Trial-2 announced recently, showing benefits of baricitinib plus remdesevir, compared to remdesvir alone in over one thousand patients. Other very large trials occurring now include COV-BARRIER, and this will help create a fuller picture of the benefits and side effects of the oral medication (a small number of the patients in our study needed to stop the treatment due to problems with liver function). Further trials comparing baricitinib to other drugs in COVID-19 patients would also be helpful in improving outcomes.”

Source: COVID-19 survival among elderly patients could be improved by arthritis drug, study finds — ScienceDaily

Ohio’s Revised Mass Gathering Order Goes Into Effect Tuesday. Here’s What’s New

As COVID cases in Ohio continue to hit record-breaking numbers, the Ohio Department of Health has updated its order regarding mass gatherings to help control the spread of the virus.

“Despite the health order that limited mass gatherings to 10 people that was signed in April remaining in effect, we have seen rampant spread of the virus as a result of banquets, wedding receptions, and social gatherings following funerals,” said Gov. DeWine. “We have seen great tragedy associated with such events. It’s not the ceremonies causing the problem. It’s the party afterward.”

The updated order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 17, says:

  • Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited — this includes public and private gatherings, but does not apply to wedding ceremonies or funerals.
  • At wedding receptions, funerals and banquet facilities, there will be no dancing or other socializing in “open congregate areas;” guests must remain seated; if there is food and drink, it must be served to seated guests — no self-serve bars or buffets allowed; masks must be worn at all times unless actively consuming food and drink; no more than 10 people can be seated at a table and those at the table must be from the same household. Traditions including a first dance, toasts and cutting of the cake are permitted.
  • Arcade games, pinball machines, pool tables, dart boards, juke boxes and other coin-operated entertainments are still permitted as long as they follow the guidelines issued in June.

Source: Ohio’s Revised Mass Gathering Order Goes Into Effect Tuesday. Here’s What’s New