Hospitals brace for coronavirus onslaught

The Hil; ^ | March 12, 2020 | Peter Sullivan

[C19fan]

Hospitals are bracing for an onslaught of patients as the coronavirus spreads in the United States, with experts warning that a spike in cases could overwhelm the health care system.

Officials are increasingly calling for steps like canceling large gatherings as a way to slow down the spread of the virus. They say such measures are critical to smooth out a spike in cases over time and prevent hospital capacity from being overwhelmed.

In the meantime, hospitals across the country are making plans to try to deal with the influx in patients. Some are concerned there could be shortages of key equipment like masks and gowns to protect health care workers, and even ventilators that allow seriously ill patients to breathe, if the virus’s spread grows severe enough.

[C19fan]

This is the calm before the storm. If this disease in the US follows what has happened in Italy in about 2 weeks war time condition will occur.

[C19fan]

Can the Army set up MASH style units in the US to pick up some of the caseload?

[dfwgator]

We’re not Italy.

[Da Coyote]

It’s prudent for them to prepare, but it’ll be interesting to see if we get a serious outbreak.

However, even if we get only a small percentage of what the corrupt and inept media really want to happen, it’ll still be reported as massive, existential, and naturally Trump’s fault.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I was out buying some TP and bleach last night when I heard a young woman in my aisle talking on her cell phone. She was obviously a nurse and was telling somebody that their hospital was having a terrible time stopping visitors from stealing masks while they were there.

[JoeRender]

If the virus comes it comes. I think we should be more worried about the FISA court powers being renewed while we were paying attention to the Coronavirus hoax.

[DannyTN]

I would assume yes.

[BushCountry]

Silly nonsense. We currently identified 1336 cases in the United States. Sure the deceased rate is high among the elderly (big cluster in old folks home), but guess what? There is not one case in all of United States classified as serious currently. ZERO, let that sink in. We are not overwhelming the hospital system.

We are dumping billions in cures and vaccines.

It is crazy to not believe that their will not be new treatment methods and cures. Several dozens of treatment methods are showing great progress (not factored into the mortality rate), Favilavir, Remdesivir, Actemra, REGN3048-3051, blood transfusions from survivors, etc...

Since so much money and dozens of companies are working on cures and vaccines, the survival rate will soon equal a standard flu.

[TangledUpInBlue]

That’s right. My son showed me a graph last night that he found where the US is following the EXACT same trajectory as Italy has.

We have a larger infrastructure than Italy, but we also have more people. That is something not a lot of people are talking about. This isn’t a very deadly virus, but it’s very easily spread. And that will mean lots of cases occurring simultaneously. It could put a tremendous strain on hospitals and healthcare workers.

Hopefully folks will do a little self quarantine action. Universities here are closing. My business just mandated all work from home until further notice. NBA, NCAA cancelled. MLB next? Concerts?

We have to deal with short term inconvenience so this thing slows/halts and then hopefully burns out as Spring warms. As usual, Spring will bring life and tomorrow, the sun shall rise.

[laplata]

“Can the Army set up MASH style units in the US to pick up some of the caseload”?

I don’t think the army has the ability to do so on that scale.

[dfwgator]

Italy is much more densely populated than the US is.

And while it’s bad in Lombardy, what about Rome?

[romanesq]

Gator, in 10 days we could be Italy or thereabouts.

That’s the essence of this ChiCom virus, overwhelming capability of hospitals.
It is exactly what occurred in northern Italy where they have a big Chinese ethnic population working textiles.

They travel a lot to China and that’s what occurred in and out of Wuhan and the EU took no steps to control travel unlike President Trump in January.

Now we see the impact and Germany’s Herr Merkel admitting yesterday that up to 70% of Germany’s population may be infected. Not having exposure, being infected.

Do the math.

[1Old Pro]

Can the Army set up MASH style units in the US to pick up some of the caseload?

Hospitals are being told to set up triage tents to scan people to keep them out of the general hospital population. This is because when the media panics people, they rush to the ER, and instead they should call their doctor.

[LouieFisk]

“Can the Army set up MASH style units in the US to pick up some of the caseload?”
—
I expect all medical people will be called on deck to fight it, but the military medical system is not geared or trained for massive numbers of ICU patients that’ll need special respiratory care and equipment.

[null and void]

Silly nonsense, the fire has only burned Mrs. O’Leary’s barn!

[BushCountry]

It has been 3 months since this thing started wrecking havoc. There currently is ZERO serious cases in the United States. We need to calm down.

[TangledUpInBlue]

Rome has no cases. I talked to a friend there this week. They have 4 cases in quarantine that are both doing well. All of those people had heavy contact with people in Lombardia IN Lombardia.

There is no “communal” spread in Rome as of yesterday. If they can keep it that way, it’ll be a major win for the Italians. As the weather warms - and it’ll warm faster there - it will be to their benefit.

[cweese]

Well said. I’d like to add that it would be nice if FR had a ‘coronvirus’ page where ALL related articles were posted.

[ClearCase_guy]

My son showed me a graph last night that he found where the US is following the EXACT same trajectory as Italy has.

Our population is not as old.
Our medical infrastructure is larger and more modern.
More of our people live in houses rather than dense urban apartment buildings.
We have been extremely proactive.
We are closer to warmer weather.

We are not going to be like Italy.

[null and void]

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...

If a quarantine saves just one child's life, it's worth it.