Covid19

[guido]

Opinion | Is It Safer to Visit a Coffee Shop or a Gym? - The New York Times

" As states begin to reopen, Americans are looking at any trip outside through the lens of contagion. Is it safe to go back to Starbucks? What about the gym? Nail salons are out of the question, right?

The country faces an ugly trade-off. Keep the economy closed and prolong the economic misery. Or open up the economy and risk a resurgence of Covid-19, undoing the gains earned through weeks of social isolation.

We believe there’s another option. "

[Too Tall]

Opinion | Is It Safer to Visit a Coffee Shop or a Gym? - The New York Times

" As states begin to reopen, Americans are looking at any trip outside through the lens of contagion. Is it safe to go back to Starbucks? What about the gym? Nail salons are out of the question, right?

The country faces an ugly trade-off. Keep the economy closed and prolong the economic misery. Or open up the economy and risk a resurgence of Covid-19, undoing the gains earned through weeks of social isolation.

We believe there’s another option. "

Absolutely. Make coffee at home and carry a g-d@mn thermos.

[Drew]

Absolutely. Make coffee at home and carry a g-d@mn thermos.

Butbutbut... I can't post a snap of my orange mocha frappuccino on Insta if I don't get it at Starbux...

barf

[Too Tall]

Butbutbut... I can't post a snap of my orange mocha frappuccino on Insta if I don't get it at Starbux...

barf

Post of the day.

[davids]

Americans are getting restless and distracted, and the result will be many more deaths and a larger economic catastrophe: Most States That Are Reopening Fail to Meet White House Guidelines - The New York Times

[j44ke]

We have a growing issue with several elder care facilities in Columbia County. One them went from zero to 112 positive cases after testing among the residents and 20 among staff. Evidently part of the problem is that part-time staff may have been working at several of the residences simultaneously and carrying the virus with them even if they were asymptomatic. Of course, this means that infected staff members are mixing with the local community at grocery stores, etc. Familiar but sad situation. Cannot get lackadaisical about masks, hand washing, avoiding crowds, etc.

COVID surges at care facilities | Public Service News | hudsonvalley36.com

[takashi]

Coronavirus survivors banned from joining the military

I am not sure what to make of this..

As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, military entrance processing stations are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing COVID-19 survivors into the services.

A past COVID-19 diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter.

“During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory test or a clinician diagnosis, is permanently disqualifying ...” the memo reads.

“During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated ‘Considered disqualifying’“ pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo
— Free (@Nathaniel_Free) May 4, 2020

The memo is authentic, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell confirmed to Military Times.

[j44ke]

Coronavirus survivors banned from joining the military

I am not sure what to make of this..

As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, military entrance processing stations are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing COVID-19 survivors into the services.

A past COVID-19 diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter.

“During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory test or a clinician diagnosis, is permanently disqualifying ...” the memo reads.

“During the screening process, a reported history of confirmed COVID-19 will be annotated ‘Considered disqualifying’“ pic.twitter.com/ZKx91AUbXo
— Free (@Nathaniel_Free) May 4, 2020

The memo is authentic, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell confirmed to Military Times.

The article contains a list of possible reasons for this policy.

However, given the limited research on COVID-19, there are likely a few factors that military medical professionals are trying to hash out when it comes to recruiting survivors: Whether respiratory damage from the virus is long-lasting or permanent, and whether that can be assessed; the likelihood of recurring flare-ups, even if someone has had two consecutive negative tests; and the possibility that one bout of COVID-19 might not provide full immunity for the future, and could potentially leave someone at a higher risk to contract it again, perhaps with worse complications.

With an economic downturn, the military should expect a surplus of candidates. They can afford to assume the worst about the medical risks associated with survivor status. Makes sense to be conservative from an immunological standpoint as well.

[takashi]

The article contains a list of possible reasons for this policy.



With an economic downturn, the military should expect a surplus of candidates. They can afford to assume the worst about the medical risks associated with survivor status. Makes sense to be conservative from an immunological standpoint as well.

There may be a surplus of candidates generally in the days/years to come. Is it possible this policy becomes more common?

[zachateseverything]

There may be a surplus of candidates generally in the days/years to come. Is it possible this policy becomes more common?

Long term there probably won't be a surplus of candidates for the US military. A shockingly small number of Americans meet the requirements of having a high school diploma, not having a criminal record, and being able to pass a physical. The Childhood Obesity epidemic in particular has been identified as a national security risk by military leaders.

[j44ke]

There may be a surplus of candidates generally in the days/years to come. Is it possible this policy becomes more common?

In what way - in the military or with hiring in general?

[takashi]

In what way - in the military or with hiring in general?

Hiring in general.

Will having had the virus be disqualifying generally? Seems strange to me. Will this be part of applying for a job? Your covid status?

[j44ke]

Hiring in general.

Will having had the virus be disqualifying generally? Seems strange to me. Will this be part of applying for a job? Your covid status?

Well originally testing positive for antibodies was supposed to make you a commodity. People were going to get immunological passports and that was going to allow them to cash in and monetize their recovery. But that's not usually how human beings operate. Even if you heal, you are marked and society determines what that mark means.

Even if tests - for covid19 or for covid19 antibodies - have gotten better, they are still not viewed by medical experts as 100% reliable. There is enough doubt for the military to say from a strategic standpoint no covid19 positive candidates, perhaps because of uncertainty about what "recovered" from covid19 means. And for regular people - what does testing positive for covid19 antibodies mean? That you are immune or that you are a carrier? What will protect people who are positive for covid19 antibodies from unfair hiring practices - the ADA? Are you disabled or extra-abled or just recovered? This government has been concerned with protecting employers from liability in the context of covid19. So maybe once again, the states will have to step forward and enact fairness rules based on medical definitions?

I must say I think this will be a very fluid situation with very little assistance from the federal government. Which way it goes will depend on how the details of covid19 get worked out scientifically, and then on the public's perception of what it means to be recovered from covid19 and then on how intrusive the federal government wants to be when it comes to fair hiring practices - and all of this within and pressurized by the greater context of whether there are any jobs to be had at all.

[happycampyer]

Not sure I understand the logic. If you are already in the military and you contract COVID-19 and recover, you can stay in the military. But if you are not in the military and you contract COVID-19 and recover, you can't join the military.

(and for the political thread, if you try to reduce the spread of the virus on your ship, you get kicked out of the military...)

[Colinmclelland]

Not sure I understand the logic. If you are already in the military and you contract COVID-19 and recover, you can stay in the military. But if you are not in the military and you contract COVID-19 and recover, you can't join the military.

(and for the political thread, if you try to reduce the spread of the virus on your ship, you get kicked out of the military...)

Isn't there a "post logic" trucker hat?

[Too Tall]

I'd given up on participation in the Blood Plasma study when out of the blue >> You have been selected to participate in SARS-COV2 Pandemic Serosurvey and Blood Sampling study.

First thing is to complete a demographic oriented survey than wait....

[jimcav]

The military has always had separate medical standards for candidates than for retention of current members. Then there are separate more stringent standards for applicants to special duty programs (Ranger, SEAL, Submarine, Jump/Free Fall, Aviation, Diving, Nuclear power, etc) and for retention of those already qualified in those special duty status.

The standards evolve/develop over time (as with HIV and PRK/LASIK). Many "disqualifying" conditions can be waived. COVID-19 is so new that there are many unknowns in terms of long term sequelae, risk of recurrence, etc. The medical costs of those (which would be the responsibility of the DoD). I doubt that permanent disqualifying status will persist one more is learned, but it may take a few seasonal cycles before they know long term issues.

[thollandpe]

Some solid guidelines for what constitutes due diligence before we start getting together in buildings again.

Re-occupancy Assessment Tool V1.0 -- The American Institute of Architects

[ides1056]

‘Finally, a virus got me.’ Scientist who fought Ebola and HIV reflects on facing death from COVID-19 | Science | AAAS

[Too Tall]

‘Finally, a virus got me.’ Scientist who fought Ebola and HIV reflects on facing death from COVID-19 | Science | AAAS

Thanks good story. People like him go to heaven three times. They put themselves in harms way for no reward, just do the right thing with skills d0g gave you. Right on.

This really struck a nerve "scientific study yesterday that concluded you have a 30% chance of dying if you end up in a British hospital with COVID-19. That’s about the same overall mortality rate as for Ebola in 2014 in West Africa. "