Category Archives: pandemic

Avian Flu Diary: Italy: 6,153 New COVID-19 Cases – 662 Deaths

Italy’s healthcare delivery system has been hammered by COVID-19. There are media reports that more than 3 dozen doctors have died from the virus – and more than 6,000 HCWs have reportedly been infected.

Source: Avian Flu Diary: Italy: 6,153 New COVID-19 Cases – 662 Deaths

US private health insurance companies clog system amid Covid-19 pandemic | US news | The Guardian

In the past two weeks the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the country. States and cities have been weighing public health measures, making changes to government health plans, and pushing sweeping changes to everyday life. Physicians have largely sought to reschedule and cancel elective surgeries and other patient visits deemed non-essential to free up resources to handle the virus. But with a history of restrictive and confusing policies, private health insurance companies have lagged behind: making incremental changes to plans even as health providers seek to change course.

Source: US private health insurance companies clog system amid Covid-19 pandemic | US news | The Guardian

Where Pandemics Come From — and How to Stop Them • The Revelator

“It’s a mix of biodiversity, but one that was created by people, not nature,” Keesing says. “We create a mix of species that don’t naturally occur together, and then it’s kind of like running an uncontrolled experiment. This virus jumps to that species.” Maybe that’s when a pathogen that we didn’t know about, that hadn’t previously made anyone sick (to our knowledge), suddenly becomes virulent and infects humans. “It was only when we did that to biodiversity that that virus became dangerous.” These types of markets pose one of the clearest threats to animal and human health, but they’re not the only threat. A greater risk is posed by the complex mix of habitat loss, population declines in wild species, and population increases among livestock and domesticated animals, invasive species and other more adaptable forms of wildlife.

Source: Where Pandemics Come From — and How to Stop Them • The Revelator

Opinion | Boris Johnson Isn’t Cut Out to Handle Coronavirus – The New York Times

As the virus spread into Europe in mid-February, an alert prime minister would have taken immediate charge, turbocharging preparations, aware that a possible pandemic posed a grave danger to Britain. Instead, he vanished from public view for 12 days, most of it spent on a private holiday with his pregnant fiancée at a palatial country house.

New ‘point-of-care’ finger-prick tests for coronavirus are being rolled out. Here’s how they work – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Will USA get too?

The criteria for who can get tested for COVID-19 is growing, and new types of tests are arriving in Australia soon. Here’s how testing works and who is eligible.

Source: New ‘point-of-care’ finger-prick tests for coronavirus are being rolled out. Here’s how they work – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

“It’s Spreading Throughout The Hospital”: NYC Healthcare Workers Describe Dire Conditions As Coronavirus Patients Flood Wards – Gothamist

“There’s more fear, a palpable fear among staff members. A lot of nurses have called out.”

Source: “It’s Spreading Throughout The Hospital”: NYC Healthcare Workers Describe Dire Conditions As Coronavirus Patients Flood Wards – Gothamist

Coronavirus in Brazil: Cuban doctors wait for their chance | Americas| North and South American news impacting on Europe | DW | 25.03.2020

Cuban doctors are renowned for their expertise with epidemics. As COVID-19 spreads, Brazil is considering giving medical licenses to thousands of Cuban physicians in the country. This one is waiting for his chance.

Source: Coronavirus in Brazil: Cuban doctors wait for their chance | Americas| North and South American news impacting on Europe | DW | 25.03.2020

Coronavirus Live Updates: As India Imposes 21-Day Lockdown, Trump Calls for U.S. to Be Open ‘by Easter’ – The New York Times

The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed. New York, now the center of the outbreak in America, braces for a flood of patients.

Me: It’s BOHICA time (look it up if you do not know what it means).

President and Vice President don’t think anything through; denying all they hear and even endangering their own families. My God, what are we to do? I’ve written my Governor and Senator this morning – pleading for them to stay the course and do the right thing. I’ll be 76 in July, I want to at least see 77, next year. I’d like to go back to work in the clinic in our homeless shelter but fear for my life now if I do. Now with this announcement by the President… what am I/we to do?