Jump to content

Formerly DT: COVID-19 - Featuring Lots of Politics, now CR because political talk not going away


InkaUtexas

Recommended Posts

It's time to shut everything down for a few weeks. I'm seeing bars and restaurants making weird "precautions" including limiting capacity to 50 and making tables further apart. It's time for state or local governments to just ask that they shut down for 2-3 weeks. Yeah it sucks for everyone especially small business, but that's what we're dealing with. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, BrickHorn said:

Holy shit.  Italy’s CFR is actually climbing.  Using a naive calculation (which undercounts as deaths lag positive diagnoses by a week or two), it’s at 7.7%. The daily naive CFR (new deaths divided by new cases) has been at 10%+ the past couple of days.  

Hopefully what’s happened is Italy just stopped counting cases not requiring hospitalization.  

Remember, it takes about 5 to 8 days for the virus to get into the lower respiratory tract in general and then it’s another 5 to 8 days for the patients to succumb to that. This timing works out based on when the proverbial crap hit the fan in Italy. I don’t think this is a true measure of fatality rate. I wouldn’t want to guess what it truly is in Italy at this point however.

As another poster mentioned, a true measure of Covid infected Italians is probably fruitless at this point

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, We’reTexas said:

All non-essential gatherings of any size are now banned, along with non-essential travel “on foot, bicycle, scooter, automobile or public transit.” People may travel for shopping for necessary supplies, accessing health care, and providing aid to family and friends who need assistance, and for non-residents, returning to their home outside the Bay Area. Airports, taxis, and public transit — including BART — will remain operational, but only for essential travel and people are expected to keep six feet apart when possible.

People in the six counties will still be able to go shopping for items such as food and household supplies, and seek medical care. They will be able to go outside for walks or exercise as long as they keep six feet away from anyone they don’t already live with.“
 

Didn't they contradict themselves in same press release?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

AISD students are out for an extra two weeks. Staff need to be on standby to roll out distance learning if we are going to need to go that route. They have been told to check their emails regularly for updates. No idea what that would look like yet. Hard to transition to that model effectively in two weeks but it will probably be a make the best of it situation. 
According to the email, it's up to individual principals on how to handle the staff. If they're going to teleteaching then they'll do training to let all teachers know how to handle it. Not sure how my wife is supposed to teach pre-k special education over a computer. Hopefully she doesn't have to go in for any training considering they often do online training. She has three ARDs scheduled for the 24th and she's trying to figure out whether they are still going to do them then. I told her they could all do in a teleconferencing call. She's not sure how that would work since everyone involved has to be audibly recorded for the records.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

1 minute ago, We’reTexas said:

Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense to shut down “non-essential” movement but then basically say it’s OK to be outside. 

Since sunlight and fresh air are known to be good for reducing viruses, I don't consider walking around outside to be non-essential at all, and it sounds like they don't either.

Zero chance of an order to remain inside at all times, actually working.  Nor would it be beneficial, in fact it would be counterproductive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m hearing we have our first case in Texarkana. Dumbass was driving from Indiana and decided to stop and go to the hospital because he was feeling ill. I also heard they’ve tested 6 others. We shall see if it ever gets announced.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, We’reTexas said:

Shelter in place order among six Bay Area counties expected to be announced at 1 PT. Would go through April 7. Looks like we can still walk outside provided we are six feet from other people. Thank god, about to lose my mind after one WFH week in our shoebox apartment in SF.

wow.  that is going to be interesting.  mayhem may ensue rather quickly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Trey3216 said:

Yeah.   I got in on the dial ins, but tried and failed on 3 different ones for the video portion of the meetings.  Absolute shitstorm trying to make it work right now.  

Been a major pain today. I usually spend half of my day on Zoom and for a couple of hours I simultaneously sit on a Webex conference too. Normally I can just use the Zoom mic option but I was already using it for a VOIP call into Webex I was on. Ended up just setting up a Slack group to share information instead of conference call.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, TxEx84 said:

Didn't they contradict themselves in same press release?

No. There's a difference between "travel" and "exercise". Travel being going from place to place, interacting with different people along the way. Walking for exercise could be just around the block or on a trail - without a destination. 

At least, that's what I assume the implied difference is. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, ztejas said:

No. There's a difference between "travel" and "exercise". Travel being going from place to place, interacting with different people along the way. Walking for exercise could be just around the block or on a trail - without a destination. 

At least, that's what I assume the implied difference is. 

I'm able to go running here. People are exercising and walking dogs. It's pretty common. I'm not bothering to bring my "permit" as I don't think there are enough police around. I see them in the city center, and there may be checkpoints on major roads, but they're not around the rest of the city.

Edited by Thetexashammer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting. According to the president, when he said "everything is under control" yesterday, he meant that our response is under control. "The virus is out of control across the world" is the clarification today. Very interesting """clarification""" there.

I wonder if the olds will finally start to turn a corner on giving a fuck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i am a proud aunt...18 yoa niece called and asked about their spring break trip to the beach, friends stil wanted to go. i was blunt with her... and she made the right decision. and her friends followed her lead (aside, omg the other parents apparently are on team 'it's just the flu!').

so they're gonna go hang out at some local parks, spread out, and get stoned there lol

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, stone oak said:

Nurse I am dating here at SA Methodist is getting tested for CV after one of her patients tested positive. Guess I'm fucked, see you guys on the other side.

well...nobody had you as the first to get it in the pool

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, F250 said:

Been a major pain today. I usually spend half of my day on Zoom and for a couple of hours I simultaneously sit on a Webex conference too. Normally I can just use the Zoom mic option but I was already using it for a VOIP call into Webex I was on. Ended up just setting up a Slack group to share information instead of conference call.

 

Our Voip solution was having issues. PSTN providers evidently reached capacity pretty damn early. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

BBC: Coronavirus: Plan to ramp up ventilator production 'unrealistic'

Quote

 

But Penlon, which makes anaesthesia machines that include a ventilator, is cautious about hopes that other companies can start making the equipment. 

"The idea that an engineering company can quickly manufacturer medical devices, and comply with the rules, is unrealistic because of the heavy burden of standards and regulations that need to be complied with," said Penlon's Mr Thompson. 

He said "the focus should be on existing medical device companies increasing supply of ventilators". 
His firm makes 750 machines a year and could double production, given time. In the short term he could provide the NHS with up to 200 more machines. 

"The manufacture of medical devices, such as ventilators, is highly regulated," Mr Thompson adds. "Typically a new medical device takes two or three years to develop and launch."

 

Full Text:

 

Spoiler

 

Coronavirus: Plan to ramp up ventilator production 'unrealistic'

By Simon Gompertz & Esyllt CarrBBC News

Image copyrightPENLON

A medical devices maker has cast doubt on using non-specialist manufacturers to produce more ventilators.

Craig Thompson, head of products at Oxfordshire company Penlon, said the idea that other firms could switch production was unrealistic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged engineering firms, including carmakers, to explore if they could make the life-saving equipment.

Ventilators are critical in the care of some people suffering coronavirus.

But there is concern the National Health Service will face a shortage of equipment as the virus infects more people.

The manufacturers association, Make UK, says that it would be possible for some specialist engineers to scale up production under licence.

Ford, Honda, car parts firm Unipart, digger maker JCB, and aero-engine maker Rolls Royce are among companies looking into the feasibility of switching some production.

Medical ventilators are used to provide oxygen to patients with breathing difficulties, but there are not nearly enough of them to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Skip Twitter post by @MattHancock
 

Calling all manufacturers who can support our National Effort for #coronavirus ventilator production - to help, contact Government Business Support team: 0300 456 3565 / ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk

 
 
 
 

End of Twitter post by @MattHancock

The Department of Health has revealed that in a worst case scenario the NHS will need an additional 20,000 of the machines. The NHS currently has about 5,000 adult ventilators and 900 for children in critical care facilities.

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has tweeted asking for help from "all manufacturers who can support our National Effort for coronavirus ventilator production".

But Penlon, which makes anaesthesia machines that include a ventilator, is cautious about hopes that other companies can start making the equipment.

"The idea that an engineering company can quickly manufacturer medical devices, and comply with the rules, is unrealistic because of the heavy burden of standards and regulations that need to be complied with," said Penlon's Mr Thompson.

He said "the focus should be on existing medical device companies increasing supply of ventilators".

His firm makes 750 machines a year and could double production, given time. In the short term he could provide the NHS with up to 200 more machines.

"The manufacture of medical devices, such as ventilators, is highly regulated," Mr Thompson adds. "Typically a new medical device takes two or three years to develop and launch."

  The UK's only specialist maker of ventilators for intensive care units, Breas, in Stratford-upon-Avon, has already increased capacity and moved to seven-day working.

Breas makes a range of ventilators called Nippy, which are widely used in the NHS, but it only has 150 staff worldwide.

Make UK believes that the solution to the ventilator problem is to use what it calls contract manufacturing.

"Rather than a particular company trying in their own factory to make thousands and thousands of ventilators - which they would struggle to do - you have around them other manufacturers with capacity," said Stephen Phipson, Make's chief executive.

Presentational grey line

What is a ventilator?

  • A ventilator is a machine that helps a person breathe by getting oxygen into the lungs and removing carbon dioxide
  • Ventilators can be used to help a person breathe if they have lung disease or another condition that makes breathing difficult. They can also be used during and post-surgery
  • A tube, connected to a ventilator machine, is placed in a person's mouth, nose or through a small cut in the throat (called a tracheostomy)

Presentational grey line

The ventilator makers would licence their designs to other contractors. "There are quite a few companies in the UK which do that sort of work every day of the week," Mr Phipson added.

Small manufacturers are already responding to the government's appeal for help.

Jules Morgan, who owns KPM Marine, in Birmingham, making equipment for the marine industry, has offered to see whether he could make ventilator components.

Image captionJules Morgan says some components would have to be sourced from China

"The key will be in how it's managed. It'll involve different manufacturers making different parts - and somewhere it can go to be assembled," he says. "It's a big ask, but I think it's doable."

He said challenges would include sourcing electrical components from China and testing the units, which is a time consuming process.

But he said expectations may have to change. "These are extraordinary times, so you have to be pragmatic and innovative. We need to speak to medical professionals to find out what the core requirements are, and work to those.

"We may need to consider using older technology that's easier to produce in high volumes," Mr Morgan said.

  •  

 

 
Edited by NoName
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, stone oak said:

Nurse I am dating here at SA Methodist is getting tested for CV after one of her patients tested positive. Guess I'm fucked, see you guys on the other side.

If you were doing things right, you were!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, Modessit said:
2 hours ago, Larry T. Spider said:
AISD students are out for an extra two weeks. Staff need to be on standby to roll out distance learning if we are going to need to go that route. They have been told to check their emails regularly for updates. No idea what that would look like yet. Hard to transition to that model effectively in two weeks but it will probably be a make the best of it situation. 

Read more  

According to the email, it's up to individual principals on how to handle the staff. If they're going to teleteaching then they'll do training to let all teachers know how to handle it. Not sure how my wife is supposed to teach pre-k special education over a computer. Hopefully she doesn't have to go in for any training considering they often do online training. She has three ARDs scheduled for the 24th and she's trying to figure out whether they are still going to do them then. I told her they could all do in a teleconferencing call. She's not sure how that would work since everyone involved has to be audibly recorded for the records.

I’m a elementary campus administrator in AISD. They have basically told us to stay tuned for more direction. While the email said that teachers will receive direct communication from their principal, campus administrators are still waiting for direction from the district. Principals are under the impression that they will be receiving specific instructions from the district, not making their own plan. They will likely be used to train staff on the district plan, communicate with parents, and figure out logistics, especially at title 1 schools. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • hayden_horn changed the title to Formerly DT: COVID-19 - Featuring Lots of Politics, now CR because political talk not going away


×
×
  • Create New...