Key developments for Tuesday, November 10, 2020

2 Comments on Key developments for Tuesday, November 10, 2020

There are over 51.7 million global cases.  The world has gained 3.9 million cases since last week, and case growth continues to increase. There have been nearly 1.3 million deaths. There are over 10.5 million cases in the US, and the US gained nearly 1 million cases in a single week. There have been over 245,000 deaths in the US. Over 1,300 have died in the US since yesterday. The US gained over 135,000 new cases in the last 24 hours. India is second in the world in number of cases to the US, with over 8.6 million cases. Brazil is still second in the world in number of deaths, with over 162,000.

Denmark and Europe continue to take the mink variant of SARS-CoV-2 seriously. Denmark is imposing more stringent lockdown measures, and preparing itself for a large economic hit secondary to the pelt loss that will result when the mink cull is completed.  The UK has banned travelers from Denmark. Another issue on the horizon—Denmark ain’t the only place with mink farms:

Human recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (hrsACE2) may be an effective treatment for severe cases of COVID. It looks like it helps to clear serum and tissues of the virus and reduces cytokine levels. This soluble form of ACE2 competes for membrane-bound ACE2, decreasing the chances for the virus to enter the host cells. This has been observed in only a few cases—we’ll need more research on its impact.

Stores are limiting toilet paper purchases again.

The 7-day moving average of COVID deaths is at a new global peak:

Utah is under a mask mandate:

https://twitter.com/RobMcNealy/status/1325657199725568000?s=20

The worst of the pandemic is on its way, and we’ve got no national strategy to deal with what’s in store. The US government does hope to have a vaccine program up an running at speed by spring. What vaccine, you say? Prepare for some good news…

Some good news, finally! Pfizer/BioNTech have had success in their phase 3 trials (per press release) and are seeking Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a COVID vaccine.  See our piece on this here.

Some more good news? Eli Lilly had an EUA approved by the FDA for an antibody therapy:

Rates of pandemic-related mental illness and neuropsychiatric disorders are skyrocketing. As many as 20% of COVID survivors go on to develop a psychiatric disorder within a few months of their illness. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were most commonly reported. People with existing mental illness were also found to be more than twice as likely to get COVID compared to those without a mental illness.

Hospitals are hitting capacity all over the country:

And this is why:

We haven’t hit the get O2 administered in your car point yet, but it actually doesn’t sound like an horrible idea…

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.

  • 2 Comments
    • woodrow November 11, 2020

      In rural Georgia, many clinicians are still rationing tests.  We still haven’t got to the point where anyone within ten feet of a medical facility has a test ordered. Thus there are many missed opportunities to test and the true scope of infection in Georgia is still unknown. In the grocery, there have been election-week shortages and chicken breast, for instance, has become hard to get. Keep up the good work!

      5 |
    • Greg P November 12, 2020

      I’m in Indiana & work in healthcare.  While I am excited to see the vaccine coming soon…regretfully it will not come in time for millions of more infections and another 100K+ deaths.  My facility is the only one in the county (major metro area) that is not already at capacity & that will happen before Thanksgiving.  The widespread nature of the pandemic virtually ensures that there will be no cavalry coming over the rise to save us – everyone will be fully engaged in their own local area.  Check your preps my friends, make sure you are stocked up on food & medicine, and hang on for a winter unlike any we have experienced before in terms of sickness and death.  I wish I could be more hopeful, but I’m not here to blow sunshine up your ass.

      8 |