Posted on 03/25/2020 7:05:57 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Millions of Americans in more than a dozen states are being urged — ordered, in many cases — to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As of Tuesday afternoon, Massachusetts became one of those states, following Governor Charlie Baker's order that all non-essential businesses shut down until April 7.
Baker chose his language carefully. He didn't call this a "stay-at-home-order," but instead focused on shutting down all those non-essential businesses, while making it clear that grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and medical facilities will remain open. And he went out of his way to tell Massachusetts residents that this is not a lockdown order.
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"I do not believe that I can or should order U.S. citizens to be confined to their homes for days on end," Baker said on Monday. "It doesn't make sense from a public health point of view, and it's not realistic."
But Baker did order the State Department of Public Health to issue "a stay at home advisory," urging residents not to go out except to do essential jobs, shop for groceries, buy medicine or take a walk.
"What's sort of clever about that is that it's exactly what other governors around the country are calling a stay-at-home order," said State Rep. Mike Connolly of Somerville, who was one of more than 60 elected officials who had urged Baker to order people inside.
Connolly said that Baker was able to have it both ways; he didn't directly tell residents to stay home, but he told DPH to deliver the message.
"The key point was to close non-essential businesses and tell people to stay home," Connolly said. "In terms of its practical impact, it's what we had been asking for."
Connolly said Baker's actions puts Massachusetts pretty much in line with California, which was the first state to impose a stay-at-home order. But there's a difference: California didn't just advise residents, it ordered them to stay home.
But California also has exceptions, such as doing essential jobs, going to the store, even getting exercise. So, in the end, there isn't much practical difference between the two approaches.
At least 21 states have issued similar orders, affecting some 200 million Americans. Several other states have closed essential businesses but stopped short of telling residents to stay home, so there's a patchwork of policies across the country. Howard Merkel, a doctor and a medical historian at the University of Michigan, said we need uniform standards. And that means guidance from Washington, which Merkel said is missing.
"Without federal guidelines, we'll have a patchwork of different governors doing different things," Merkel said. "It would be much better to have one set of guidelines that we all [follow], and that would help us contribute to the conquest of this terrible pandemic."
Now that essential businesses are shut down in Massachusetts, State Rep. Mike Connolly said the state must next focus on how to protect those who will continue to work in grocery stores, pharmacies and other businesses listed as essential by the state.
"These are people who never signed up to be front line workers in a disaster situation, but that's truly who they are right now," he said.
Among other things, that means new regulations and guidelines to ensure those workplaces are as safe as they possible, Connolly said. To that end, Baker said Wednesday that state officials are drafting a new public health order to require grocery stores and pharmacies ensure social distancing, and provide hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for employees.
I honestly don’t have a problem with this. It’s one thing to order people to stay home, but I think people will generally be prudent if they’re told it’s a good idea to maintain a low profile.
I appreciate this approach over the draconian ones favored by so many alarmist FReepers.
Thank you. There are too many fascist advocaters on this site for draconian business-killing orders.
Wow, surprisingly sensible.
I have only the minimal Biblically commanded love for my Governor, Tommie-the-Commie Wolf (D-PA) so when I offer him a compliment it is a really BIG deal.
Here goes:
We have been under statewide “essential (now “life sustaining”) businesses only” for about one week.
But “shelter in place” orders have ONLY been issued for the 10 counties with the highest level of infestation....bascially those bordering New Jersey, plus a couple of outliers.
That is much better than the one-size-doesn’t-fit all approach taken by too many of his counterparts.
Tall Deval is getting ready for his 2024 run.
—”You didn’t stay home them, Don’t stay home now! Vote for Charlie.”
Precisely. Do not codify and excercise prosecution, but inform and encourage the exercise of self-government.
I like that.
Exactly. Be diligent. Don’t go anywhere if you don’t have to, but this East German level of crap that’s going on is a bridge too far. They’ve done it where I live. It’s ridiculous...and I say that as someone who’s child has actually tested positive for the virus (he’s fine, by the way).
Tall Deval is generally a POS. This may be THE ONLY INTELLIGENT DECISION that he has ever made.
“”Without federal guidelines, we’ll have a patchwork of different governors doing different things,” Merkel said.”
As they should. Each state has different situations. The outbreak in NY is different than Kansas. In fact the situation in urban counties is much different than rural counties. Sort of a urban/suburban vs rural thing.
“Without federal guidelines, we’ll have a patchwork of different governors doing different things,” Merkel said. “It would be much better to have one set of guidelines that we all [follow], and that would help us contribute to the conquest of this terrible pandemic.”
What an idiot. Completely contradicts all the medical experts.
It's called federalism. Thank James Madison. One size need not fit all.
Massachusetts is pretty locked down. All one has to do is look at rush traffic on google maps. I’ve never seen it so empty.
Successful therapy against Covid-19 virus from New York State:
Dr. Vladimir (Zev) Zelenko
Board Certified Family Practitioner
501 Rt 208, Monroe, NY 10950
845-238-0000
March 23, 2020
To all medical professionals around the world:
My name is Dr. Zev Zelenko and I practice medicine in Monroe, NY. For the last 16 years, I have cared for approximately 75% of the adult population of Kiryas Joel, which is a very close knit community of approximately 35,000 people in which the infection spread rapidly and unchecked prior to the imposition of social distancing.
As of today my team has tested approximately 200 people from this community for Covid-19, and 65% of the results have been positive. If extrapolated to the entire community, that means more than 20,000 people are infected at the present time. Of this group, I estimate that there are 1500 patients who are in the high-risk category (i.e. >60, immunocompromised, comorbidities, etc).
Given the urgency of the situation, I developed the following treatment protocol in the pre-hospital setting and have seen only positive results:
1. Any patient with shortness of breath regardless of age is treated.
2. Any patient in the high-risk category even with just mild symptoms is treated.
3. Young, healthy and low risk patients even with symptoms are not treated (unless their circumstances change and they fall into category 1 or 2).
My out-patient treatment regimen is as follows:
1. Hydroxychloroquine 200mg twice a day for 5 days
2. Azithromycin 500mg once a day for 5 days
3. Zinc sulfate 220mg once a day for 5 days
The rationale for my treatment plan is as follows. I combined the data available from China and South Korea with the recent study published from France (sites available on request). We know that hydroxychloroquine helps Zinc enter the cell. We know that Zinc slows viral replication within the cell. Regarding the use of azithromycin, I postulate it prevents secondary bacterial infections. These three drugs are well known and usually well tolerated, hence the risk to the patient is low.
Since last Thursday, my team has treated approximately 350 patients in Kiryas Joel and another 150 patients in other areas of New York with the above regimen.
Of this group and the information provided to me by affiliated medical teams, we have had ZERO deaths, ZERO hospitalizations, and ZERO intubations. In addition, I have not heard of any negative side effects other than approximately 10% of patients with temporary nausea and diarrhea.
In sum, my urgent recommendation is to initiate treatment in the outpatient setting as soon as possible in accordance with the above. Based on my direct experience, it prevents acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), prevents the need for hospitalization and saves lives.
With much respect,
Dr. Zev Zelenko
cc: President Donald J. Trump; Mr. Mark Meadows, Chief of Staff
Video at Link
8 posted on 3/24/2020, 5:02:30 PM by Candor7 ((Obama Fascism)http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2009/05/barack_obam_the_quintessentia_1.html))
It’s a ghost town here.
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