COVID-19 What You Should Know

[Philc2001]

Dear Friends,

By now you likely have already heard that the WHO has officially declared CV-19 a global pandemic. The U.S. has banned all flights from the Schengen Europe area.  Tom Hanks, currently shooting a movie in Australia, has tested positive for CV-19. The NBA has suspended the 2020 season until further notice. Italy confirmed 2300+ new infections and 198 fatalities in the past 24 hours, and today further expanded its lockdown to include all shops except food stores and pharmacies. Many businesses and corporations are sending workers home, cancelling events, etc.  

Your employer, school, event organizers and public officials are likely ramping up steps to combat the virus, and some may be scrambling as this pandemic unfolds and the news outlets provide round-the-clock coverage, while the cases of infection and the fatalities rapidly rise. I have been helping with preparations at my company and establishing contingencies. We have already run work-from-home dry runs to ensure we stress our remote access systems and identify any potential gaps. Today we shut down one of our main corporate offices on the west coast as precaution due to the proximity of recent outbreak cases. It is only a matter of days, maybe weeks before our facilities in other cities are forced to shut down. 

We are in a fast changing new world. I don't want to fuel panic, but there is a lot of misinformation, and there have been lost opportunities globally to limit the spread of the disease, and protect citizens. A lot of people, including government leaders who should know better, are still dismissive and downplaying the seriousness, publicly stating it is no big deal for young healthy people. This is simply wrong. Although the virus may not be as fatal to young healthy individuals, a carrier of the CV-19 virus can infect hundreds of others they come in contact with, putting them at risk of serious illness and possible death. 

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

Avoid close contact with anyone infected or showing symptoms if you can. Practice social distancing as much as possible by keeping at a safe distance from people and avoiding crowded areas. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Clean and disinfect surfaces before you touch. Quarantine yourself and/or loved ones if you suspect you have been exposed. If you start showing symptoms and you suspect you have been infected, contact your doctor by phone and inform them of your suspicion and your need to be tested. Do not just show up at a doctor's office or the hospital without giving them notice.  

Key resources to help you prepare and minimize your risk.

• WHO Coronavirus Site
  • The World Health Organization has a launch page for COVID-19 updates and information, including Q&A, situation updates, and other technical information.
• CDC Web Site
  • The CDC home page has been transformed into a launch site for COVID-19 information, where you can find information about how to protect yourself, what to do if you get sick, and how to avoid spreading the disease.
• CDC COVID-19 Situation Summary
  • The situation summary page has recent information about the COVID-19 situation in the US.
  • The CDC used to have current information until recently, but now case counts seem to be lagging since they posted this disclaimer: 
    • † CDC is no longer reporting the number of persons under investigation (PUIs) that have been tested, as well as PUIs that have tested negative. Now that states are testing and reporting their own results, CDC’s numbers are not representative of all testing being done nationwide. 
• EPA's List of Disinfecting Products for Use Against COVID-19
  • Extensive list of EPA registered cleansing products and wipes.
  • You can also use 70% alcohol or properly diluted household bleach, which are not on the EPA list, but are recommended by the CDC.

Please do not take this lightly. Please do everything in your power to protect yourself, your loved ones, and everyone who you work with or interact with.

Be safe my friends, and enjoy your cigar collection while you can since you are likely going to spend a lot of alone-time until we overcome this pandemic. 

Johns Hopkins Tracking Map:

Web version: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Mobile version: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/85320e2ea5424dfaaa75ae62e5c06e61

My son works in GIS, he sent this link, which tracks a lot of useful details about the virus. Each panel can be expanded, and you can view different elements of the metrics.

This is interesting:

[SenorPerfecto]

Knew I shoulda stocked up

[El Presidente]

If someone can post up the difference in symptoms between a cold a flu and the corona virus it may be helpful to quite a few 

[Deeg]

16 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

If someone can post up the difference in symptoms between a cold a flu and the corona virus it may be helpful to quite a few 

[FatPete]

1 hour ago, Deeg said:

According to the WHO headaches are one of the common symptoms, but shortness of breath is the main distinguishing feature. 

 

[Mr. Japan]

Stanford hospital board internal message:
 
The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days. How can one know if he/she is infected? By the time they have fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% Fibrosis and it's too late. Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection.
 
In critical time, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air. Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why? Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash  them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. If you don't drink enough water more regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs. That's very dangerous.

[chuckles73]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Japan said:

Stanford hospital board internal message:
 
The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days. How can one know if he/she is infected? By the time they have fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% Fibrosis and it's too late. Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection.
 
In critical time, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air. Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why? Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash  them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. If you don't drink enough water more regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs. That's very dangerous.

According to https://www.thejournal.ie/coronavirus-factcheck-water-drinking-5042612-Mar2020/ and the BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51735367 the water suggestion is incorrect. My guess is the breathing check is incorrect as well, otherwise I imagine most countries would be using this to test for the virus infection.

[El Presidente]

9 minutes ago, chuckles73 said:

According to https://www.thejournal.ie/coronavirus-factcheck-water-drinking-5042612-Mar2020/ and the BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51735367 the water suggestion is incorrect. My guess is the breathing check is incorrect as well, otherwise I imagine most countries would be using this to test for the virus infection.

The breathing technique is used extensively as a GP red flag room test . 

I assume you can swap wine for water 

[rascalmonkey]

3 hours ago, Mr. Japan said:

Stanford hospital board internal message:
 
The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days. How can one know if he/she is infected? By the time they have fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% Fibrosis and it's too late. Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection.
 
In critical time, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air. Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why? Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash  them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. If you don't drink enough water more regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs. That's very dangerous.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/taiwan-experts-self-check/

... the internet ...

[Deeg]

For the record, the above claims about self-testing and water are bogus according to the WHO:

https://factcheck.afp.com/world-health-organization-refutes-viral-claims-holding-your-breath-can-test-covid-19

[Ken Gargett]

19 hours ago, FatPete said:

According to the WHO headaches are one of the common symptoms, but shortness of breath is the main distinguishing feature. 

 

no medical expertise at all but headaches is something i have heard mentioned, as a symptom, many times. 

[Lotusguy]

For the record, the above claims are bogus according to the WHO:
https://factcheck.afp.com/world-health-organization-refutes-viral-claims-holding-your-breath-can-test-covid-19

Yes, seen this dangerous and false list posted on many websites and groups already (Nextdoor, Facebook, ...)

[RDB]

Perfect example of how careful we all need to be about false information.

It does boggle my mind that someone originates dangerous nonsense like this, and even gives it a false attribution.

[PigFish]

... buying cigars always makes you feel better! Share the secret with friends!!!

-the Pig

[Mikeltee]

Would it be possible to add toilet paper as currency on Bond Roberts? 

[PigFish]

Corona virus survival kit... Half-Coronas size Limited Edicion... 

[The Squiggler]

15 minutes ago, PigFish said:

Half-Coronas size Limited Edicion... 

If infected, corona-reduction should always be done by half if possible... or if you prefer shrinking your Corona to 'petit' status, there are some less limited options available

[Nino]

KISS - Keep It Simple ...

 

[Squarehead]

17 hours ago, nino said:

KISS - Keep It Simple ...

Love it?

 

[Philc2001]

I've added a useful link to the Johns Hopkins ArcGIS tracking map. My son works in GIS, he sent this link, which tracks a lot of useful details about the virus:

Web version: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Mobile version: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/85320e2ea5424dfaaa75ae62e5c06e61

It's got a lot of subpanels you can expand and toggle for different metrics. Wish we could embed the actual page here. 

 

 

[Philc2001]

Adding a little more reading in case anyone is interested in the discoveries and anecdotal feedback from the front lines in the war on COVID-19. 

There is growing evidence that intubation and ventilators may be overused and possibly doing harm to COVID-19 patients;

This video is from an ICU doctor in NYC, noting the concern with intubation:

 

This is from the front lines in NYC and other places based on observations in NYC, China and Italy, among others. It too suggests intubation may be the wrong care.

https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/08/doctors-say-ventilators-overused-for-covid-19/

 

This next one is from Thailand, but seems linked to Chinese research:

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/must-read-research-reveals-that-covid-19-attacks-hemoglobin-in-red-blood-cells,-rendering-it-incapable-of-transporting-oxygen--current-medical-protoco

 

And this is the underlying Chinese research:

https://chemrxiv.org/articles/COVID-19_Disease_ORF8_and_Surface_Glycoprotein_Inhibit_Heme_Metabolism_by_Binding_to_Porphyrin/11938173

 

It seems there is a pattern to all this, and it seems there is some growing body of anecdotal evidence that Covid is invading the hemoglobin, disassociating it from the iron ions, making it unable to convey oxygen or carbon dioxide, which in turn starvs the organs and causes iron oxidation and carbon dioxide poisoning. 

 

There is also a growing body of anecdotes about Cytokine Storms, where the immune system is overreacting to the virus and causing death. 

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/07/828091467/why-some-covid-19-patients-crash-the-bodys-immune-system-might-be-to-blame

 

I'm not a physician, and not qualified in any way to assess the therapies or validity of these therapies or observations, I'm just sharing what appears to be interesting feedback from the field.