Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Tuesday 21-July-2020
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
July 21, 2020
Today’s topics: School openings, new case numbers hit record high, daily WH coronavirus briefings resume, pooled testing allowed.
| More Evidence of Aerosol spread of CoViD-19 In a study posted today on a pre-print study server (remember that this is a study that has not gone through the usual peer review and feedback process so it should not be taken as hard evidence) there is a study out of the University of Nebraska in which they collected aerosol samples around 6 CoViD-19 patient in 5 different rooms on three separate wards of a hospital. They ran these air sampler units and then analysed the samples. They first found virus genetic material (RNA) by the standard CoViD-19 rT-PCR test but this didn’t tell them if the virus was alive and infectious. They then did cell cultures to grow the virus and it grew in three of the samples. So this means that there was live virus floating around in the air around these infected patients. This study together with anecdotal reports of viral spread in indoor choir practices and in a poorly ventilated restaurant in China strongly suggest that CoViD-19 can be spread by very tiny aerosol particles that can float in the air for hours. This should serve to remind everyone that aerosol producing activities like singing or shouting or projecting one’s voice during a performance can lead to significant viral spread. As I said this morning on a CoViD-19 consulting call with a client, if you want to coach singing, you must do it outdoors with 10 feet of separation between coach and singer. Get ready for shutdowns again If you think back to the March and April days, we spent a good amount of time talking about the Ro number. As you may recall, we wanted the Ro number to be less than one. The Ro indicates how any people would be infected by a single infected CoViD-19 person. If the Ro is above 1, then the viral infection is growing while below 1 indicates that the infection is shrinking. For a while, many states had an Ro less than one and we looked like we are on a good path. Recently, many states are showing an Ro above 1 and we are seeing the result, the growth in case numbers and case positivity ratios. With Ro above 1, then we should be planning for shutdowns again. Home isolation may be the only option to slow down the infection rate. Some cities are already slowly implementing a reversal of their opening policies. At his CoViD-19 press briefing, President Trump finally advocated for the use of face coverings. Be well and take care of yourself. There are storm clouds on the horizon. This is something that should have been done months ago. –Dr. Stu |
COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY
| Coronavirus update for July 21, 2020 World Wide Updates Austria to reintroduce mandatory face masks in supermarkets as cases rise Possible coronavirus vaccine unlikely to be made widely available before 2021, UK vaccine head says Vaccine developers weigh in on whether they will sell Covid-19 vaccines at cost Covid-19 pandemic “showing no signs of slowing down” in the Americas, health organization says Italy is “out of the storm” of coronavirus pandemic, health minister says Iraq nears 4,000 Covid-19 deaths and 100,000 cases Confusion over Israel’s coronavirus restrictions as order to close restaurants is reversed Barcelona’s new virus outbreak puts its summer tourism plan at risk Delhi recorded fewer than 1,000 virus cases in a 24-hour span for the first time in weeks Five new Covid-19 cases were reported at a US airbase in Japan China is now requiring all people flying into the country to show proof that they tested negative for Covid-19 European Union leaders have reached an agreement on a $858 billion coronavirus stimulus package Argentina records 92 new coronavirus deaths, a new daily record Colombia surpasses 200,000 coronavirus cases Greta Thunberg to donate 100,000 euros to fight Covid-19 in the Amazon The Bahamas banned flights from the US and other hard-hit countries in effort to contain coronavirus spread Hyatt, Marriott will require guests to wear masks in public spaces U.S. accuses 2 Chinese hackers of stealing data from companies developing coronavirus vaccine Total Cases Worldwide: 14,971,323 Total Deaths Worldwide: 615,882 Total Recovered: 8,991,795 US Updates US stocks open higher Men’s Wearhouse owner plans to close 500 stores and lay off 20% of corporate staff White House disputes administration is blocking money for testing in next stimulus package GOP Senate leader wants to stay under $1 trillion for stimulus package, senator says Many more people have had Covid-19 than what’s showing up in official numbers, new CDC data reveals Vermont has lowest Covid-19 cases in country New York adds 10 more states to travel quarantine list Kentucky governor says overturning mask mandate would be devastating for state Arizona reports 134 Covid-19 deaths in last 24 hours Trump gets “multiple” coronavirus tests a day, White House says Less than 16% of Florida’s ICU beds are available McConnell says he wants GOP stimulus proposal to include $105 billion to help reopen schools Florida reports more than 9,400 new coronavirus cases City of Miami to close summer camps after several children test positive for Covid-19 NFL’s Giants And Jets will play home games without fans CDC supplemental guidance for reopening schools cleared review process, but no timing set for release US needs to lower Covid-19 transmission rate to reopen schools, surgeon general says LinkedIn cuts 960 jobs due to the pandemic Labs in the US are overwhelmed, and Covid-19 test results are starting to get delayed Covid-19 test results could take as long as two weeks NYC launches effort to keep struggling tenants from being evicted and out of Housing Court Coronavirus outbreak linked to St. Louis-area high school graduation Ice cream shop manager says he was fired for refusing to serve coughing customer Total US cases: 3,989,370Total US deaths: 1444,404Total Recovered: 1,862,380Total Tested in US: 46,469,524 Total cases in NY: 435,592Total deaths in NY: 32,598 Total cases in CA: 399,898Total deaths in CA: 7,776 Total cases in FL: 369,834Total deaths in FL: 5,207 Total cases in TX: 347,135Total deaths in TX: 4,181 |
