US shatters daily COVID-19 case record again; some patients smell phantom scents — 6 updates

Becker's Hospital Review ^ | November 6, 2020 | Gabrielle Masson and Makenzie Bean

[buckalfa]

The U.S. hit its second consecutive daily COVID-19 case record Nov. 5, reporting more than 115,000 cases, according to The Washington Post.

Twenty states also set new daily COVID-19 case records Nov. 5, reports the Post.

Five other updates:

1. Some COVID-19 patients report parosmia, an often temporary and unpleasant odor distortion, reports The Washington Post. "It's more debilitating in some ways than loss of smell," said Richard Doty, PhD, director of Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania's Smell and Taste Center. Thousands of accounts of parosmia and phantosmia, or smelling scents that aren't there, have flooded social media platforms in the last few months, reports the Post.

2. The first available doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will go to healthcare workers, José Romero, MD, head of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, told NPR Nov. 5. As the CDC's vaccine advisory group, the committee will recommend how a COVID-19 vaccine should be used and who should receive the first doses once one is approved. Dr. Romero said the group anticipates vaccines being available for healthcare workers in December or early January.

3. Adults who test positive for COVID-19 are two times more likely to have exclusively worked in an office or school setting in the two weeks prior to their illness, according to a Nov. 6 CDC report. The finding is based on 314 symptomatic adults who had COVID-19 tests at 11 outpatient sites nationwide July 1-29.

4. Children who contract COVID-19 produce weaker antibodies than adults, according to a small study published Nov. 5 in Nature Immunology. Researchers at New York City-based Columbia University Irving Medical Center found children also had fewer types of antibodies in their systems than adults. Both findings suggest that children are able to clear the virus from their bodies earlier, according to The New York Times.

5. Hospitals in the greater Washington, D.C., area are better equipped for another surge than they were at the start of the pandemic, hospital officials told The Washington Post. Officials said they have more information on how to treat COVID-19 patients, have enough protective equipment and are addressing staff burnout. Despite spiking COVID-19 cases, the area has not hit record hospitalizations. Washington, D.C, Maryland and Virginia hospitals are working with local officials to monitor case rates and map out surge scenarios.

Snapshot of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Cases: 9,619,421 Deaths: 235,030 Recovered: 3,781,751

Counts reflect data available as of 8:45 a.m. CST Nov. 6.

[buckalfa]

Given the current election distractions, will Democrat governors and their Never Trump Republican counterparts be emboldened to go full lock down over Covid-19?

In other words: BOHICA ?

[fireman15]

This is the biggest pile of bullcrap ever. We are coming into flu and cold season and everyone is getting tested for coronavirus with tests that have an ourageous rate of false positives. Can we give it a rest?

[rhubarbk]

I’m surprised to see COVID back in the news . . . I thought it had been cured.

[JudyinCanada]

If the scent they’re smelling is a stinking, rotten rat or weasel, it’s not phantom. They’re just standing too close to a dem.

[tinyowl]

Some COVID-19 patients report parosmia, an often temporary and unpleasant odor distortion

No, that's real, we all smell it.

[rhubarbk]

Any truth to the stories of unused swabs being sent in for testing is showing positive?

[jonose]

We are seeing this jump because:
a. Most people are continuing with life, birthday parties, going out to eat, and so forth
b. Halloween was a big party weekend
c. Masks and ‘face coverings’ as implemented are not working
d. This virus is spread mostly by ‘super spreaders’ not 1 to n.

[LurkedLongEnough]

theoretically — a connection between these and all the former reports from outside the country of strange smells in southeast Asian embassies and on lots of airplanes? were embassies and airplanes responsible for the spread of some chemical agent that sickens people of a certain blood type or race? call me crazy but failure of imagination was the intelligence fault in 9/11

[fuzzylogic]

We should all just move to Sweden. They had 2 COVID deaths yesterday. No masks, no massive lock downs, ...

[null and void]

some patients smell phantom scents

New symptom, new strain?

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

The false positive rate was 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

Quarantine the sick. Protect the vulnerable. Free everyone else.

[BTerclinger]

“some patients smell phantom scents”

“My farts smell like roses!”

[fireman15]

Who knows? The tests were designed to give false positives. It is all a sham.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

Report to disintegration chamber 3! Report to disintegration chamber 3!

I smell dead people!

AAAaaaaahhhhhh!

[Steven Tyler]

Are You A Hypochrondiac???
https://www.informationnigeria.com/2013/12/health-are-you-a-hypochrondiac.html

they heap more trouble on themselves by heading to the doctor and demanding tests, medicine, anything that will “cure” them.

The hypochondriac is quick to think that no one understands just how sick they really truly are

HYPOCHONDRIACS ARE PROS AT SELF-DIAGNOSIS

Hypochondriacs are usually focused on more common sicknesses like cancer and AIDS, or diseases-of-the-week like swine flu.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Dear Doctor Nully: I smell the vile, disgusting stench of election fraud. I think it is real and not phantom. Do I have COVID?

Sincerely, POF

[null and void]

Excuse me?

[CaptainPhilFan]

Oh for f#^ks sake.

I get that smell in my nose every time I have a sinus infection.

[null and void]

Yes, of course you do!

[null and void]

Those are voters my dear, all democrat.

[robel]

Phantom scents? That’s swamp gas, it’s been growing rapidly the past few days.