Coronavirus thread

[Karl Henning]

The FDA have now "decided" it's safe for emergency use and the US public can look forward to receiving it starting from Monday.

Well, this has the air of the next phase of testing. My need is certainly no emergency.

[T. D.]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-12/swedish-covid-workers-are-quitting-leaving-icus-short-staffed

Sweden faces a shortage of health-care workers as the number of resignations ticks up after a relentless year of caring for Covid patients.

Sineva Ribeiro, the chairwoman of the Swedish Association of Health Professionals, says the situation is "terrible."

Even before the first wave of the pandemic back in March, there was "a shortage of specialist nurses, including at ICUs," she said in a phone interview.

The development shows that even countries with universal health-care systems are now struggling to keep up with the Covid crisis. This week, Stockholm's intensive care capacity hit 99%, sending the city into a panic and prompting calls for outside help.

[drogulus]

The FDA have now "decided" it's safe for emergency use and the US public can look forward to receiving it starting from Monday.

     Trump bullied the FDA into announcing one day early. Any additional safety information can only come from the increasing number of people vaccinated.

[71 dB]

Oh she found loads about cholesterol actually being an essential part of cell membranes, the vital biochemical reactions that statins break, what damage they do etc. We certainly wouldn't be taking them. Twitter seems to be the platform to look on if you're interested, there are a lot of professionals on there.

I remember reading years ago that cholesterol is not only bad.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-12/swedish-covid-workers-are-quitting-leaving-icus-short-staffed

Sweden faces a shortage of health-care workers as the number of resignations ticks up after a relentless year of caring for Covid patients.

Sineva Ribeiro, the chairwoman of the Swedish Association of Health Professionals, says the situation is "terrible."

Even before the first wave of the pandemic back in March, there was "a shortage of specialist nurses, including at ICUs," she said in a phone interview.

The development shows that even countries with universal health-care systems are now struggling to keep up with the Covid crisis. This week, Stockholm's intensive care capacity hit 99%, sending the city into a panic and prompting calls for outside help.

Wow.  Hard to believe that health-care workers in Sweden would be quitting; that said, the amount of stress that they've been through must be sky-high.  Have any of the ones who have resigned said what their top reason(s) were for quitting?   

PD

[71 dB]

Wow.  Hard to believe that health-care workers in Sweden would be quitting;

Really? Hard to believe? Considering the pandemic and how hard Sweden has been hit by it I don't find this surprising at all.

[Karl Henning]

Scientists pinpoint genes common among people with severe coronavirus infections

[T. D.]

Really? Hard to believe? Considering the pandemic and how hard Sweden has been hit by it I don't find this surprising at all.

In addition, the article stated that the Swedish health care workers are not well paid.

[T. D.]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/14/covid-vaccine-us-passed-on-more-pfizer-doses-in-november-says-board-member-gottlieb.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/14/covid-vaccine-pfizer-negotiating-with-us-to-provide-an-additional-100-million-doses-ceo-says.html

[71 dB]

In addition, the article stated that the Swedish health care workers are not well paid.

Where in the World they are?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

In addition, the article stated that the Swedish health care workers are not well paid.

I didn't think that I could read the article that you provided a link to due to a *paywall and so didn't click on it...hence my further questions.  Surprised to see how little they were paid due to (from what I understand anyway) is the high cost of living in Sweden.

*I think that they allow 'x' number of visits per month?

PD

[Karl Henning]

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts rose by 3,572 on Monday, bringing the state's total to 283,146. The death toll from confirmed cases increased by 37 to 11,135, the Department of Public Health reported.

The agency said 72,883 people were estimated to have active cases of the potentially deadly virus, and 1,788 confirmed coronavirus patients were in the hospital.

[vandermolen]

First positive case in the school where I work, so everything is going online for the last few days of term. It's amazing that there have been no cases up until now.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

First positive case in the school where I work, so everything is going online for the last few days of term. It's amazing that there have been no cases up until now.

I hope that that one case doesn't lead to more among the students and faculty.

Stay safe Jeffrey!

PD

[T. D.]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/sweden-s-hospitals-now-face-nationwide-staff-shortages-sr

Sweden's capital is considering shelving all non-essential health-care services to free up resources needed to tackle the relentless rise in Covid-19 cases.
...
Almost all of Sweden's regional hospitals are now struggling with a shortage of health-care staff, Swedish Radio reported. University hospitals across the country, with the single exception of Norrland University Hospital in Sweden's northernmost region, no longer have enough employees to look after the sickest Covid patients, the broadcaster said.

Sweden is trying to contain a much more serious resurgence of the virus than its top health authorities predicted would grip the country in a second wave. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven criticized that failure, in a separate report published in Aftonbladet on Tuesday.

Last week, Stockholm's health-care system almost caved under the pressure of the pandemic as its intensive care capacity hit 99%. Local authorities have since raised the alarm level to the second of three categories, enabling a forced redeployment of staff to address the health emergency.

https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-coronavirus-surge-alarm-stockholm-hospitals-herd-immunity-strategy-2020-12

https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-offered-urgent-coronavirus-help-by-neighbours-as-hospitals-fill-2020-12

[steve ridgway]

everything is going online for the last few days of term.

You might think that; I could not possibly comment.

[vandermolen]

I hope that that one case doesn't lead to more among the students and faculty.

Stay safe Jeffrey!

PD

Thanks PD much appreciated. I'm trusting that Vitamin D and red wine will see me through the crisis. The Headmistress gave us all a bottle of wine as a thank you which was nice.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks PD much appreciated. I'm trusting that Vitamin D and red wine will see me through the crisis. The Headmistress gave us all a bottle of wine as a thank you which was nice.

That is nice;  hang in there, Jeffrey!

[Karl Henning]

Europe wanted to keep schools open this winter. Coronavirus surges have disrupted those plans.

[Florestan]

Danes are obviously smart!   

CNN right now (December 15, 2020 23:49 Romanian Time) commenting on this:

New Poll: Most Black Americans Either "Wait and See" or Refusing to Take the Vaccine.

What are they then? Obviously smart or obviously stupid? Tertium non datur.