Coronavirus Special Coverage

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COVID-19: key developments for Friday, May 15, 2020

1 Comment on COVID-19: key developments for Friday, May 15, 2020

There are now over 4.6 million global cases.  The US has over 1.48 million cases. Cases have grown by over 26,000 in the US since yesterday, with over 1,500 deaths in that same period. There’s been significant noise in the US data in the last few days and weeks–although the numbers have been trending down in NY, they’re trending up in other states. There have been over 300,000 deaths around the world.

More stimulus money might be on its way. The Administration seems amenable to the idea, saying they’re prioritizing taking care of the American people.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt has another massive outbreak. Half its crew has had to be isolated.

If you borrowed less than $2 million from the PPP, you’re in luck. You’re unlikely to face an audit or additional scrutiny. If you borrowed more than that, be prepared to justify your need for it.

Chest CT findings of discharged COVID-19 survivors show some interesting results. It’s a retrospective study with an n of 29. Serial follow-up chest CTs show at the two-month point that 37% of patients had healed, but 47% had detectable subpleural parenchymal bands. These bands are small linear opacities that indicate damage to the tissues of the lungs.

The CDC offers a case definition of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C):

Unicef warns that lockdowns may cause unimaginable suffering in developing countries, including 1.2 million child deaths. Child mortality rates could rise as high as 45%. Maternal mortality and deaths by malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrhea are major concerns.

Canadians are likely to experience similar disruptions to the food supply as the US this summer.

7 steps the Administration could take to help the economy and the people of the US:  1) masks for everybody, 2) accelerate vaccines, 3) more and better testing, 4) hire contact tracers, 5) endorse household virus suppression strategies. 6) let people go outside, 7) spend money on public health and on social safety nets for the people.

JP Morgan’s research on household spending shows that during the pandemic, people are charging less, filing more unemployment insurance claims, spending a little on stocking up, but then spending vastly less in general.

This is a strong and unusually political statement from The Lancet. Regardless of your politics (or your feeling about the reporter whose Tweet we’re using), the fact that The Lancet is weighing in like this is certainly an important development:

It’s time to bring back the milkman!

Was the virus in Snohomish County in December? Maybe:

100,000 cumulative deaths in the US in the next two weeks—a grim prospect:

The prepper movement is in the spotlight:

JC Penney files for bankruptcy. Other dominoes to fall during the pandemic include J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, True Religion, and Gold’s Gym.

Stephanie Arnold | cosmicpixle

Stephanie Arnold is an advanced practice psychiatric nurse and a doctoral candidate in UA Tuscaloosa’s DNP program. Stephanie moonlights from time to time at UCLA teaching mental health nursing. She also likes making cold-process soap.

  • 1 Comment
    • t*SZzdJter#7w2Fx May 18, 2020

      I have really enjoyed this website and appreciated the informative daily news round-ups. However, I would like to respectfully ask that you refrain from sneaking politically charged punches in. The internet is full of that debate everywhere else already, and all it will accomplish here is to drive away 50% of your audience.

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