Corona Virus Member Discussion

[Lee Stewart]

[Lee Stewart]

Hospitals warn of shortages, closures without emergency aid

U.S. hospitals are warning that they are so strapped for cash that without some financial relief, they will be unable to meet their payrolls in a matter of weeks and some could be forced to close just as coronavirus cases are surging.

The American Hospital Association and three hospital chief executives spanning the country said in a conference call Saturday that a federal directive this week to cancel elective procedures — to conserve scarce resources for patients with covid19 — is halting the type of services that produce the most revenue.

And their ability to buy critically needed supplies — from protective gear to more hospital beds — is being stymied by the fact that private vendors are requiring hospitals to pay cash upon delivery, which they say they lack the money to do.

This stark portrait of the ground-level reality for hospitals, in communities where the pandemic has penetrated and those where it has not yet seriously struck, comes as hospitals and other cornerstones of the U.S. health-care system are pleading with Congress to provide large-scale financial relief.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ho...cid=spartandhp

[Lee Stewart]

FDA authorizes first rapid, 'point of care' coronavirus test

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first coronavirus diagnostic test that can be conducted entirely at the point of care.

The test from California-based Cepheid will deliver results in about 45 minutes - much faster than current tests that require a sample to be sent to a centralized lab, where results can take days.

The test has been designed to operate on any of Cepheid's more than 23,000 automated GeneXpert Systems worldwide, of which 5,000 are in the U.S., the company said. The systems are already being used to test for conditions like HIV or tuberculosis.

The systems do not require users to have specialty training to perform testing, and are capable of running around the clock.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/hea...cid=spartandhp

[Lee Stewart]

In hard-hit areas, testing restricted to health care workers, hospital patients

Health officials in New York, California and other hard-hit parts of the country are restricting coronavirus testing to health care workers and people who are hospitalized, saying the battle to contain the virus is lost and the country is moving into a new phase of the pandemic response.

As cases spike sharply in those places, they are hunkering down for an onslaught, and directing scarce resources where they are needed most to save people’s lives. Instead of encouraging broad testing of the public, they’re focused on conserving masks, ventilators, intensive care beds — and on getting still-limited tests to health care workers and the most vulnerable. The shift is further evidence that rising levels of infection and illness have begun to overwhelm the health care system.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in...cid=spartandhp

[32KZ]

X2 stealthbird #127

I'm a firefighter, my wife's a nurse. Sort of on the front lines of this. Monitoring and just following suggested practice.

That being said, taking measures to boost the imune system,,ramping up the cardio a bit. Doing what we do around the homestead.

Some good info coming down the pike out of this thread, a car site of all things! Both sides. If some anxiety gets vented, not the worse of things.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by 70 copo

SBR,

Good info!

The following info is a bit sketchy because it is still early - but countries that have experienced Malaria outbreaks in the past are currently pretty much negative for the COVID-19

If this holds then this builds a strong case for population immunity based upon the previous use of Chloroquine phosphate and Hydroxychloroquine. Both Malaria drugs with long approvals and known side effects.

That is why POTUS is now mentioning this drug openly now and Bayer just shipped a large quantity of it to the US a couple of days ago, and so far there is now considerable evidence from several countries (China, S. Korea, France,) that anti-malarial drugs, especially chloroquine, is effective at greatly reducing COVID-19 symptoms, and possibly preventing infection in the first place.

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The other drug AbbVie’s HIV combo Kaletra (Aluvia) just failed in its 199 patient trial in China. So that one is done.

More on this development.

Israeli drug company donating 6M doses of malaria drug to US to combat coronavirus

Israel’s leading drug producer announced Thursday it will donate 6 million doses of anti-malaria drugs to the United States in hopes that it could be helpful treating coronavirus symptoms.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries says the drug could potentially treat people with the coronavirus and will ship the hydroxychloroquine tablets through wholesalers nationwide by the end of the month and will provide 10 million doses in total.

“We are committed to helping to supply as many tablets as possible as demand for this treatment accelerates at no cost,” Teva Executive Vice President Brendan O’Grady said about the move.

[70 copo]

More:

French Study shows promise.

Researchers are turning to existing medication for potential use in a new coronavirus treatment.

A study published by French biomedical lab IHU-Méditerranée Infection on Wednesday discovered a potential COVID-19 treatment contender: a combination of hydroxychloroquine, which has been used to treat malaria, and azithromycin.

The two drugs combined would prevent the virus from entering other human cells and therefore stop the virus from spreading.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyl...irus-treatment

[Lee Stewart]

The issue with hydroxychloroquine is the dosage. Give a patient 1 gram - he's fine. Give him 2 grams - he dies.

[70 copo]

Lee,

What are your reservations with the usage of this drug in an approved off label context?

Is there something new about the dosage that gives you reason to be concerned?

Lots of medical experience with it and nearly all of it in a third world medical environment or military treatment context.

Explain Please.

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by 70 copo

Lee,

What are your reservations with the usage of this drug in an approved off label context?

Is there something new about the dosage that gives you reason to be concerned?

Lots of medical experience with it and nearly all of it in a third world medical environment or military treatment context.

Explain Please.

I can tell you from experience - my own - being in the ICU two times that you are dealing with people - not machines. They come in, wake you up if you are sleeping, tell you that have to take your medication and watch you take it. The last time I was in the ICU for the flu due to a shift change I wound up taking my Theraflu medication 2X - one more than was necessary. No big deal.

But if a mistake is made with hydroxychloroquine - you get double dosed - you die. Simple as that.

And please don't tell me that hospital staff/doctors don't make mistakes. We can head that one off at the pass right now!