There is no such thing as an "economic patient." It is disgusting and offensive. Next thing people will be asking which patient the real ones or the economy.

Italy's statistics are very scary. Their health care personnel are dying. The country will have people taking care of people and trying to intubate those that need it. The country of Italy needs to take this time to talk to the people not just about staying home and away from infection but to the falling numbers of nurses and doctors.

Intubating a person is not easy and is achieved with an unconscious patient, either through anesthesia or patient condition. It is going to be difficult for average people to intubate, BUT, there are different intubation methods that is far less invasive than an endotracheal tube.

Average people can do this if they are visually trained. It takes skill and nerve to practice and master, but, this is the best option for people needing intubation without enough professional staff.

Laryngeal Mask Airway (click here)

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a supraglottic airway device developed by British Anesthesiologist Dr. Archi Brain. It has been in use since 1988. Initially designed for use in the operating room as a method of elective ventilation, it is a good alternative to bag-valve-mask ventilation, freeing the hands of the provider with the benefit of less gastric distention. ^[1] Initially used primarily in the operating room setting, the LMA has more recently come into use in the emergency setting as an important accessory device for management of the difficult airway. ^[2, 3]...

I will place a picture here to know the difference.

This is the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). It goes into the mouth and down the throat to where the lungs receive air to the lungs, the larynx. The field for insertion should be sterile when at all possible, but, the patient only has to be intubated long enough to recover from the virus. If the field is not sterile the patient will probably need antibiotics following recovery to prevent any other kind of pneumonia from taking hold and making the patient sick again and quite possibly needing the ventilator again. The supplies and instructions should come from Italy's government that knows how to talk to the people to quickly instruct them.

This is an endotracheal tube and all the materials needed to insert it safely. It is highly invasive and the method above is not. This method needs a good deal of training and experience, the method above does not.

The TRICK to endotracheal tubes is KEEPING THEM IN PLACE once inserted. The above method tends to be more unstable in the hands of the naive. But it can be secured to stay in place with regular checking and reinforced taping. The method above is usually surgical and not applied to the long term. The endotracheal tubes are used for extended periods of time.

This is a method that can work for those that can save lives and monitor the patient and maintain tube placement.

end

March 22, 2020
By Bailey Schulz

Gov. Steve Sisolak (click here) announced Sunday that former MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren will lead a public-private partnership, the COVID-19 Response Relief and Recovery task force.

I don't care if the USA office was being torn down and moved to Jerusalem, the NEED to know if another virus like SARS was coming out of a deprived food market no longer receiving US agricultural goods NEEDED TO BE CONTINUED even if it meant working out of the basement of the food market!

March 22, 2020
By Marisa Taylor

Washington - Several months before (click here) the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters has learned.

The American disease expert, a medical epidemiologist embedded in China’s disease control agency, left her post in July, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue. The first cases of the new coronavirus may have emerged as early as November, and as cases exploded, the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping U.S. experts from entering the country to help.

“It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in that role, which was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2007 and 2011. “If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster.”...

The unemployment claims are being called job losses. That is incorrect. This is a mass lay off to protect the health of Americans and jobs are still intact. Viable companies don't go out of business overnight.

Does anyone believe for a minute that children won't be going back to school? Why believe any differently about businesses and workers? 

One of the places in the USA that has highly skilled and very valuable employees is NASA. They are putting further work on their projects on hold (click here). I quite certain that is not job losses and they will be "back at it" as soon as it is safe. I am quite certain every working American is an important employee, they need unemployment benefits to see them through until their companies reopen their doors.

I noticed Trump mentioned Boeing in particular in bailing out airline companies. I was correct, wasn't I? Trump wants to bailout Boeing over the hideous jet that received NO government oversight.

March 22, 2020
By Loukia Papadopoulos

There is no doubt that Boeing (click here) has been struggling as of late. The firm was first hit with the fallout of two fatal crashes of its 737 Max, and now the coronavirus SARS CoV-2 has significantly slowed down flights.

That's why the company is now requesting $60 billion in government support, according to CNBC. Luckily for the firm, U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will provide support for the company....

The person requesting $60 billion bailout is out the door at Boeing. The people that passed over SAFETY in order to market the MAX and sell it in large numbers is out the door at Boeing.

People died and the CEO jumped on the idea of sympathy for the company and a huge loan on the coat tails of COVID-19. He ain't employed by Boeing anymore. There needs to be a shake up at that company and HUGE ethical standards put in place with PERMANENT regulatory oversight. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY BOEING RECEIVES A DIME OF GOVERNMENT MONEY!

I see the financial markets the same way. If the CEO of Goldman Sachs is worried about where he is going to lay his head tonight, I might listen to him.

March 20, 2020
By Michelle Kaufman

AT&T has created a $10 million (click here) Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund that launched Friday.

The fund is designed to give parents, students and teachers tools they need for at-home learning. and The fund also will provide resources to maintain meaningful connections and bonding opportunities for those isolated from family and friends.

The first $1 million went to Khan Academy, which offers educational practice exercises, instructional videos and a personalized learning dashboard that empowers students to study at home. Khan Academy also offers free tools for teachers and parents to help them track student progress.

AT&T also announced all consumer home internet wireline customers, as well as Fixed Wireless Internet, can use unlimited internet data....

Now, I am not a bit worried about AT&T's corporates ethics or it's desire to practice them when it's customers are most in need. Communications with this company would always be open.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE COME FIRST.

When the word hit about China Wall Street started to moan and cry in a second. Those are not stable financial markets. Their losses are their own fault. They saw their multimillion-dollar homes slipping through their fingers and that is the truth. NOTHING has happened to any manufacturing, but, people were dying and the markets only considered their own greed. Those are not good financial markets. In four to five months China has stopped the spread of COVID-19 within it's borders, yet Goldman Sachs with offices headed by Paulson the former Treasury Secretary decided to give it's current CEO a big pay raise while holding out it's hand for federal money. I don't think so.

There is no reason for what occurred in the financial markets and there is no golden parachutes from the USA government to any of them.

The American people need to be BAILED OUT through extended unemployment benefits that include tip earners. Medicaid must be extended to anyone automatically upon diagnosis. Small businesses need to have their interest payments on their business loans and mortgages. The bank or organization that holds those loans and mortgages MUST be receptive to allowing payments to be rescheduled into the loans and to begin again as soon as the owners and workers can return to open their doors again. THE BANKS AND ORGANIZATIONS carrying those directives forward is more then welcome to ask for assistance from the federal government IF THEY PROVE their need. It won't happen overnight and they need to be soluble when they apply for the monies.

The financial markets need to be ready for bad news. Sunshine is sometimes blocked by the clouds. If they aren't capable of sustaining themselves for a period of time according to their FITNESS TESTS ON RECORD, then they should have been dissolved a long time ago.

Perspective

I am trying to be helpful. I appreciate the return of Americans to their families at home.

There were a lot of numbers tossed out during the update about the country's preparation. This NEED is not normal. Below is an entry on the net by a nurse as to the number of gloves he uses during a NORMAL day in a Step-Down unit.

I actually think he should be using a few more, but, that is me.

I strongly suggest the Governors and FEMA receive reports in regard to inventory and NEED through Directors of Nursing and/or Vice Presidents of Nursing for the hospitals involved. I am confident the leadership of any nursing department in the country is now taking serious look at the potential need for PPE.

I wish everyone great skill and a bit of luck in their patient care. 

For a 12-hour daytime shift: (click here)

Start of shift nursing handoff report - 1 pair
Morning toileting - 2 pairs
Morning medications - 3 pairs
Turning patient & checking for moisture, daytime toileting - 10 pairs
Noon insulin - 1 pair
Afternoon heparin - 1 pair
Dinner insulin - 1 pair
End of shift nursing handoff report - 1 pair

Total: 20 pairs minimum in 12 hours

Add: 1–2 pairs for each lab collection.
Add 1–2 pairs for each imaging in room or transfer.
Add 1–2 pairs for dressing changes.
Add 3 pairs if the RN obtains vitals instead of a Nursing Assistant.
Add 3 pairs if the RN obtains Point of Care glucometer samples.

Total additional pairs: 9–12

GRAND TOTAL: About 30 pairs of gloves maximum, 20 pairs minimum FOR A SINGLE PATIENT x 4 patient load for a PCU (Stepdown) or MedSurg unit = 80–120 gloves per 12 hour shift.

It is time to take charge and organize.

Forget Washington, DC is the place that will resolve this national emergency. They have been doing an abysmal job.

I often think of the USA in regions. Cultural regions primarily. We are not all the same in our beliefs and practices of life.

But, while cultural regions relate more or less to speaking and learning; in this instance; I think the regions of FEDERAL JUDICIAL DISTRICTS are prudent.

The map above is from Wikipedia.

The reason I think federal judicial districts are a reasonable division to moving the country forward is that states may have to tap the courts in order to achieve the end of this virus.

I know this is a reasonable way to organize because I heard Governor Whitmer stating she is in touch with the governors in surrounding states. That is why this organization may not be the ONLY way to organize. In other words, governors of nearby states will have to talk, but, also states within judicial districts to bring about the best outcomes.

Now, this is not unusual to ask states to have relationships with each other. I am familiar with the Clean Air Act and it has a precedent whereby states receiving another state's air pollution can seek resolution through the courts. That is an adversarial relationship, but, this is probably not going to be adversarial so much as cooperative.

There are two extreme resolves, one extreme is that some states simply don't care and decide the virus will simply run it's course and be over. The other extreme is that everyone in the USA will wait for the last case to be found and then wait at least three days and then declare the country free of virus and head back to work. The reality may or may not fall between those two extremes.

At any rate, there needs to be a UNIFORM resolved to end the threat of the virus and seek a more normal life for every American.

This is interesting. The FAA is tracking this.

March 22, 2020
By Chris Kaergard

Peoria -At least one individual (click here) at Peoria’s air traffic control tower, operated by the Federal Aviation Administration, has tested positive for COVID-19.

A map posted by the FAA provides little information, other than noting that “personnel” there tested positive on Saturday. It’s not clear whether that’s one person or more.

Peoria County public health officials have been announcing daily updates on weekdays, and have thus far indicated during weekends any additional cases. No announcement has so far been made on Sunday. Outside of those weekday news conferences, they have declined to answer other questions about new cases.

State health officials have been announcing new cases on a daily basis by mid-afternoon....

Local authorities are engaged and speaking to the public.

March 22, 2020

Kansas City - Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas, (click here) along with officials in Jackson County, Johnson County, Kansas and Wyandotte County are holding a news conference Sunday afternoon to discuss the latest on the coronavirus outbreak in the metro.

The conference is expected to begin at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, officials with Jackson County, Johnson County, Kansas, Wyandotte County and the City of Kansas City have announced a “stay-at-home” order on March 21....

The so-called war rooms belong to the states' governors.

I am sure the 50 governors of the USA have already engaged with each other if not a conference call with all fifty. It is up to them. They are going to have to monitor the success and failures of their towns and cities and then communicate with each other to be sure this is coming to a highly reasonable end.

It is anyone's guess at this time if COVID-19 will be with us forever in some degree, but, China is the one that has that information today. SARS disappeared 20 years ago.

The governors are going to have to prioritize their needs to carry out health directives, but, they also need to understand what is happening on the street with people that live in their state. The health issue is highly important, but, the ability of people and families to sustain themselves at home is also important.

How long did it take China to begin reporting no additional cases? AFTER they finally recognized the existence of the virus?

"The Hill" (click here) is reporting that China is stating no new cases for yesterday and today. HOWEVER, there is still a great deal of control being exerted in China regarding this virus. This is from Reuters.

March 22, 2020

Beijing - China on Sunday (March 22) (click here) reported 46 new cases of the coronavirus, the fourth straight day with an increase, with all but one of those imported from overseas, and further stepped up measures to intercept cases from abroad as the outbreak worsens globally.

While China has drastically reduced the number of reported domestically transmitted cases – the one reported on Sunday was the first in four days – it is seeing a steady rise in imported cases, mostly from Chinese people returning from abroad. 

In a sign of how seriously China is taking the threat of imported cases, all international flights due to arrive in Beijing starting Monday will first land at another airport, where passengers will undergo virus screening, government agencies said on Sunday, in an expansion of existing measures....

The international organizational level has to fall to the UN Security Council and the WHO. The WHO monitors the virus and the UN Security Council has it's hand on the pulse of the world. It is also easier to convene the Security Council than the General Assembly which would be a ridiculous teleconference event.

This is unconstitutional and holds the American people hostage to fear. ALL elements of government has oversight, the Treasury is no different.

The White House on Sunday (click here) reportedly refused to back down from its demand that a coronavirus relief package include $500 billion, which would be provided to corporations at the discretion of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

PBS News Hour correspondent Meredith Lee reported on Sunday that the White House was standing firm on the proposal after some Democrats called it a “slush fund.”..

TARP was a LEGISLATED FUND directed to the major banks. The people knew where the money was going. TARP was initially rejected by the US House. Trump's tantrums over this stuff only inhibit the ability of the country to resolve it's problems with COVID-19 quickly.

So to get back to China. The first COVID-19 case was in November 2019. (click here) Louisiana just announced a stay at home order beginning tomorrow, Monday at 5PM.

November, December, January, February and March. In about four to five months China was able to organize against an established population of virus victims and bring to conclude it's effect on the country. There is no reason the USA cannot do that and better. That is also not a reason for a recession. Americans are still consumers through this disaster. They are home and many have internet access and there is a day to day routine of one kind or another.

Angela Merkel has been placed in quarantine because the doctor that gave her a vaccine (Germany is where the vaccine has been in research.) has tested positive. No doubt.

I really believe the economic impact is mostly of small businesses that have shut their doors, except, for delivery or pick-up. As soon as the virus is under control those doors can open again and the states will be sensitive to that "beginning." If the financial markets can't continue their HABIT of high profits, it's their own fault. I don't see that as an issue for a glut of USA money to be sent to donors. The FED is handling all that mess.

I really think the enormous contraction of the financial markets needs to be investigated.

I HAVE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THE FITNESS TESTS OF BANKS SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (click here) sparked a Twitter spat with President Donald Trump Sunday morning after the governor claimed that the lack of federal action has made it harder and costlier for Illinois to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The flare-up began after Pritzker told CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper that the White House should issue a nationwide shelter-in-place order as the number of cases soar, and complained that the lack of federal initiative has forced Illinois to pay more for crucial supplies as they compete with other states.

FEMA is completely unprepared and as the federal government tries to get on it's feet IT IS COMPETING FOR SUPPLIES ALONG WITH THE STATE. ANY increase in costs to the states should be considered PRICE GOUGING. It is highly unethical for businesses to play one state against the other for supplies. THAT IS PRICE GOUGING.

“These orders that the governors have led on, you know, I led with canceling gatherings of a certain size in our state and then we closed schools,” Pritzker said. “We moved on now to a stay-at-home order. These should’ve been done nationally, they haven’t been. But I’ve got to protect the 12.7 million people that live in my state and I’m dedicated to that. It’s their health and safety that matters most to me. It will work, it will work.”

Pritzer also said the White House has not done enough to protect first responders and health care workers.

Illinois has hit 1000 confirmed cases.

I think New York State has an incredible model for the other states. "On Air" Governor Cuomo stated if there are businesses IN THE STATE that could assist in making much needed supplies, the state would help provide the material to make it successful. I think that works, in production, containment is faster because delivery is faster to areas in need. The state controls it's own population of effected people as it rolls out its own supplies. Everything is close and quick.

Cuomo's method cuts transportation costs immensely. 

End and will return later. Thank you for your interest.

How is everyone today?

I haven't peaked at the news today because sometimes I need to step back and regain perspective.

Without looking I can easily say, we have some awesome Governors in this country.

There is a lot of other topics to discuss and some events that would not have occurred if COVID - 19 hadn't manifested and physically moved people in ways nothing else has. A pandemic is highly dynamic.

I was trying to imagine what it must be like to be in the Middle East and being a fighter that was gloriously successful against Daesh only to have a scourge cast it's shadow. 

The orthodox religious regardless of religion tends to see the world through the eyes of God. This has to be a very stressful time for everyone in the Middle East in a way that is profound.

Pope Francis doesn't see God as a reason, so much as a men/women needing a special blessing to end this scourge. Pope Francis is an international figure and many, many people on Earth honor his words as sincere love of human nature.

22/3/2020
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis on Sunday (click here) called for all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness”, adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”.

Speaking after the traditional recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father called on all Christians to join together in prayer. “In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the thread of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven,” he said....

Pope Francis doesn't assign this scourge to God. Human beings did not deserve this. But, he views God as a method of resolve.

Faith. Faith in science. Faith in leaders. 

I found this interesting. Nasrallah would call attention to the fact Hezbollah did not have any knowledge of the release of an American. He states Hezbollah does not have control of Lebanon and this is proof.

March 21, 2020
By Sunnivae Rose

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (click here) on Friday stressed that his party had no knowledge of any Lebanese-American deal to release former Israeli collaborator Amer Fakhoury from detention and that this was proof that his party did not control Lebanon.

"We have no knowledge of a deal to release Amer Fakhoury and what we know is that there was no deal,” Mr Nasrallah said in a defensive televised address that lasted over an hour.

“From the first moment after Fakhoury’s release, a broad campaign was launched against the Shiite duo,” he lamented, referring to Hezbollah and its Lebanese Shiite Muslim ally, Amal.

Mr Nasrallah added: “Ever since Fakhoury was arrested six months ago, the US started exerting strong pressures on the Lebanese state to resolve this issue and release this collaborator without any conditions.”

In a spectacular exit, Mr Fakhoury, 57, was spirited out of the country on Thursday in a US military helicopter that picked him up from the US embassy outside Beirut.

This is an article on from The New York Times on Yahoo. It is an important article that addresses the idea of travel. Hotels and motels are closed in many states of the country. This is not a time for a vacation or traveling to anywhere that could be opening oneself or the family to COVID-19.

March 22, 2020
By Emily Palmer

With states across the country (click here) issuing instructions for residents to stay at home to help curb the coronavirus outbreak, readers from Atlanta to central Oregon emailed with questions about whether it is safe to travel by car. Over the phone, email and in text messages, we asked experts in epidemiology and infectious diseases for answers — and what precautions you should take, if you must hit the road, to stay safe from infection.

“It’s not necessarily about getting in the car,” said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, a global health physician and vice chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s global health committee. “What really matters is what you’re going to do when you get somewhere.”...

In Michigan, the state park system is not providing services to RVs. I think that is probably the case in many states. The virus does live in feces. So, providing RV services could mean spreading the disease. There are some parks open for visitors during the winter in Michigan. So, for those already in parks or planning to travel to them, the services for RVs has stopped.

This is why schools were closed in many states. I cannot believe DENIAL OF COVID-19 still exists in the USA.

March 22, 2020
By Sabrina Schnur

A member of a North Las Vegas elementary school (click here) has tested presumptively positive for coronavirus, the school announced Sunday morning.

An email sent to parents just before 8 a.m. said a member of the John Tartan Elementary School had tested positive for coronavirus. It was unclear if the person was a student, teacher or faculty member.

“We are working with the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) to identify anyone with close contact to the person while following federal privacy laws. Those in close contact with the patient will be contacted by SNHD,” the school’s statement read.

Realizing this positive finding of COVID-19 in this school system ONLY PROVES THE TWO WEEK WINDOW originally established as a point of reassessment is going to be extended. I am confident whoever has the virus in this instance exposed others. The country, USA, may very well become SPOTTY for places like this that denied it could happen to them. New York, New Jersey, and Washington State may very well contain this virus and begin to have less and less people that are ill, but, other states that believe they are either exempt or in denial will still have growing populations that need help. This is lack of leadership. 

The gentleman, Dan Rather, has made a profound statement.

“It’s disgraceful what he’s doing,” Rather said of Trump’s response to COVID-19. “He’s continuing to try to divide the country at the very moment when we need to pull together. This is unacceptable and I think most Americans recognize it as such.”

I agree with him. The USA needs to address this virus as a whole. There needs to be a comprehensive set of rules that will result in an end to this virus.

So, if McConnell bails out the financial sector, does that mean everyone’s 401k will be made whole, too?

This is a national emergency that has adversely effected the American people. We don’t know where this is going yet. New York with it’s restriction on New Rochelle is showing promise. How can the US Senate even think about dumping enormous amounts of money into the markets? None of it makes sense to me. We will see where we are in another week and a half. No one has a crystal ball and the Fed is leading with recent changes. The focus has to be on the people.

What companies on the exchange have gone bankrupt? The losses are completely disproportional to reality. Every consumer focused business has an interactive internet page. Commerce is still occurring. Papa John’s is still delivering pizza. I believe it was all panic selling because there was no leadership.

The census begins on April 1st. Perhaps it needs to be postponed which will take an act of Congress.

This emergency has shown the sincere lack of investment by the USA to such emergencies. FEMA should have invested in "Pandemic Response." The agency should always have a "non-expired" inventory to dispatch into the USA. FEMA should have been able to crack open the warehouses and distribute ventilators, gloves, masks and eye protection.

This lack of preparedness is alarming, to say the least. 

There are companies profiting from this national emergency. There is nothing wrong with that so long as it is not price gouging.

Realize, even today without previous preparation that there was a long lead-in that could have brought USA companies into production and/or higher production to serve this emergency. There is no excuse for what is happening today.

March 20, 2020
By Shane Harris, Greg Miller, Josh Dawsey and Ellen Nakashima

U.S. intelligence agencies (click here) were issuing ominous, classified warnings in January and February about the global danger posed by the coronavirus while President Trump and lawmakers played down the threat and failed to take action that might have slowed the spread of the pathogen, according to U.S. officials familiar with spy agency reporting.

The intelligence reports didn’t predict when the virus might land on U.S. shores or recommend particular steps that public health officials should take, issues outside the purview of the intelligence agencies. But they did track the spread of the virus in China, and later in other countries, and warned that Chinese officials appeared to be minimizing the severity of the outbreak.

Taken together, the reports and warnings painted an early picture of a virus that showed the characteristics of a globe-encircling pandemic that could require governments to take swift actions to contain it. But despite that constant flow of reporting, Trump continued publicly and privately to play down the threat the virus posed to Americans. Lawmakers, too, did not grapple with the virus in earnest until this month, as officials scrambled to keep citizens in their homes and hospitals braced for a surge in patients suffering from covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The US Republican Senate has its point of view backward. The people are in need of a WEEKLY check WITHOUT QUALIFICATION except they are out of work.

I do not value a company that has their hands out for a bailout and/or guaranteed loan. If a company is in such bad straights they can't survive this then their fiscal integrity needs to be looked at. What happened to the "Fitness Tes" the financial sector is supposed to be doing?

A weekly check through the existing unemployment system in each state will be far higher than a one time $1200 from the federal government. The federal government needs to be a partner to every state in the way the state needs help.

Americans out of work will have less expense per week because working has an expense including childcare. So, I have no problem with the idea that unemployment per week might be somewhat less than their usual "take-home" pay. The expenses are less and the quality of life higher because there is sold family time.

I see a few things coming out of the "home time." Parents are now spending time with their children and addressing learning together. That is a good thing. People out of work will have the opportunity to sleep and rest. That is also a good thing. Homeowners have time now to conduct repairs and/or exercise decorating ideas that they never had time for before this national emergency.

Americans currently at home have time to rest, reflect and build closeness with other family members. I hope they use this time wisely.

These are not N95 masks. They are particle masks, however....

Honeywell (click here) RWS-54001 Dust & Nuisance Particulate Mask 50 Count

$28.09

They fit snuggly against the nose and can provide a good seal to prevent inhalation of DUST.

I bought a few of them today and I think if they are used with N95 filters BETWEEN two of them it will provide an excellent method of protection. The N95 filters can be purchased independently. The CONTRAMPTION will have to to be assembled so that it acts as one unit. I believe the N95 filter will provide a mask that can be used over a longer period of time than the usual disposable ones. 

It could work.

Sandwich a N95 filter between two particle masks and be sure the entire unit fits well enough to provide a secure fit.

The federal government has to IMMEDIATELY authorize the sale of these ventilators to hospitals MOST IN NEED.

This is an outrage. These companies are engaged in PRICE GOUGING. I don't think so.

FEMA SHOULD BE PURCHASING THESE VENTILATORS AND WAREHOUSE THEM AFTER THIS IS OVER ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY CLEANED.

March 18, 2020
By Christopher Rowland

Hospitals (click here) are holding back from ordering more medical ventilators because of the high cost for what may be only a short-term spike in demand from the coronavirus epidemic, supply chain experts and health researchers say, intensifying an anticipated shortage of lifesaving equipment for patients who become critically ill.

The lack of ventilators — and growing calls for a more aggressive government role to fill the gap — was a subject of tense exchanges this week between President Trump and state officials. The issue also revealed a disconnect between different parts of the health-care industry, with the main hospital association disputing the accounts about the adequacy of supply of the lifesaving equipment.

Mechanical ventilators, which help patients breathe or breathe for them, are considered critical to the nation’s effort to contain the worst effects of the pandemic and avoid a crisis like the one Italy is facing. Depending on how bad the coronavirus pandemic gets in the United States, individual cities could come up thousands of ventilators short as patients flood hospitals, researchers say....

Where is the federal help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoever put both of these ships in drydock at the same time needs to be fired!

March 18, 2020
By Nick Blenkey

The U.S. Navy (click here) is preparing to deploy its two hospital ships — USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy —in response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, in a press briefing at the Pentagon yesterday, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper indicated that they would not be used to treat coronavirus patients directly, but to alleviate the pressure on shoreside facilities.

Here’s what the Secretary said:

“With regard to the hospital ships, there are two, as you know. The — the Comfort is on the East Coast; the Mercy, on West Coast in Norfolk and — and San Diego, respectively. The Comfort is undergoing maintenance and the Mercy is — is — is at port. We’ve already given orders to the Navy a few days ago to lean forward, in terms of getting them ready to deploy. They provide capabilities, but much like what DOD does provide, our capabilities are focused on trauma. And so whether it’s our field hospitals, whether it’s our — our — our hospital ships, they are focused on trauma. They don’t have necessarily the — the space, the segregated spaces you need to deal with infectious diseases. And so one of the ways by which you could use either field hospitals, the — the hospital ships or things in between is to take the pressure off of civilian hospitals when it comes to trauma cases, is to open up civilian hospital rooms for infectious diseases....

Excuse me? Navy Doctors dont' understand how to use available space for isolation. 

THIS IS IDIOTIC. The trauma cases could be carrying the coronavirus. The hospital ships AND STAFF better bone up very quickly on isolation and the care of ventilator patients outside the idea of trauma.

NOW!

These are Americans and they are in crisis!!!!!

It appears Washington State is containing the spread with most cases in King County.

March 20, 2020

Life is different in the Puget Sound region (click here) as most people — by choice or by order — practice “social distancing” to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the new type of coronavirus that causes a disease called COVID-19. Public gatherings are restricted, and places of entertainment and recreation are closed statewide.

I thought this was really interesting.
SARS-CoV-2 (The virus)
COVID-10 (The illness)

This is the virus and illness. If one can reflect on the HIV/AIDS virus and illness this is the same thing. HIV is human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The people of Washington State like to look at statistics in the reflection of the virus (the contagion) and the illness.

Although many patients with symptoms have struggled to access testing, Washington is gaining the capacity to test more people for the virus, and more COVID-19 diagnoses are made each day. The state Department of Health announced 136 newly confirmed cases Friday, bringing the state total to 1,512 cases, including 81 deaths. The bulk of cases remain in King County, which has seen 793 people fall ill and 67 of them die, according to the county’s public health department.

Throughout today, on this page, we’ll be posting Seattle Times journalists’ updates on the outbreak and its effects on the Seattle area, the Pacific Northwest and the world. Updates from Thursday can be found here, and all our coronavirus coverage can be found here....

Recognizing Ignaz Semmelweis and Handwashing (click here for print article - thank you)

Knock it off with the one $1200 check. That is ridiculous.

The American people don't need Christmas, they need help.

The American people now filing for unemployment are running to very oppressive laws, like not being able to collect unemployment if one has not worked for the SAME EMPLOYER for a year or worked for a year. This is a GOVERNMENT ENFORCED LAY OFF.

The States need to remove barriers to unemployment benefits. IF ANYONE IS DENIED UNEMPLOYMENT APPEAL IT!

Cuomo: (click here) New York needs 110,000 hospital beds for coronavirus patients in 45 days and we only have 53,000

The current report by Mayor DeBassio shows the cases in NYC alone is using up over 10 percent of AVAILABLE beds in the State of New York.

The federal bill that has just passed and signed by the president is a great bill. It needs to be fully funded and no funds from that bill should be touched.

The States need federal help to meet the demand by its citizens. NOT COMPANIES, the states.

The American people need a weekly income, INCLUDING TIP EARNERS. The tip earners need to receive the same unemployment amount that others are receiving. That means tip earners receive unemployment without prejudice to the fact the majority of their pay comes from cash receipts.

Real-life example: There is a man that works the morning shift at "Cracker Barrel." He has four children and a wife. The only income he brings to the family is from that job at Cracker Barrel. He is the sole support of that family. He owns a house. Needless to say, his income from the tips paid to him by his customers is considerable. Just because the government has a national emergency that keeps him and the rest of his family at home with the understanding there are no more tips because the restaurant is pick up or delivery only.

That man should be receiving unemployment to the full extent of his income.

So, the needs of Americans are a weekly income they can count on from their state unemployment. The weeks of unemployment they receive those benefits have to be extended to at least three months with an understanding they might have to be extended another three months, with a total of six months.

Any person diagnosed with COVID-19 immediately receives Medicaid as does his or her family to test them and catch the virus early. Every health insurance in the country is to be required to cover any member from diagnosis through the return of good health.

Married couples are not the only people that need to be tested if one is found to be positive. There are many people, especially young people, that have roommates, etc. The living arrangement of all the people involved is more important than a certificate of marriage.

Companies are open and people are working where there is a demand. Warehouses and trucking companies are still working in many instances. There are industries such as the car industry that are experiencing a slow down. 

The focus of the help being legislated by the USA Congress must be to address the well being and needs of the American people. 

Goldman Sachs gives CEO David Solomon massive pay raise as Wall Streets demands to bail out. THERE WILL BE NO BAILOUTS! If financial markets are ailing, it is their own fault. It is called mismanagement.

The government is responsible for the people and not CEO PAY HIKES. Just because financial companies are finding their bottom line disappear doesn't mean any of the people working for that firm haven't bailed on the very company they want to have bailed out by the American people. NO! 

A clear example of "those in the know" and the way they bailed on companies to protect their wealth is Senator Richard Burr. Other US Senators were protected by their BLIND TRUST MANAGERS. THAT MEANS WALL STREET KNEW FULL WELL HOW TO PROTECT ITSELF. 

March 19, 2020

The Bellingham Herald (click here) believes in journalism that illuminates critical problems facing the public – the waste of public resources, government and corporate fraud, abuse of power, corruption, and injustice in all its forms. We have a commitment to telling stories that make a difference. We conduct journalism without fear or favor.

In this time of crisis, we want to hear from you, especially if you’re a health care worker, government employee, nursing home resident or hospital patient. You can reach us in a variety of ways, including anonymously....

First it was South Dakota and now it is Iowa. THIS IS NOT OKAY. There should be NO DISCRIMINATION as to who is tested if they are presenting with illness. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!

"Sick Iowans are denied coronavirus screening, they fear narrow testing criteria may endanger public health"

March 19, 2020
By Jason Clayworth and Barbara Rodriguez

Dennis Smith’s 66-year-old wife (click here) — released recently from nursing care, overweight and suffering from a lung infection — was told Tuesday that she didn’t need a coronavirus test.

Stacey Snyder’s son — a 23-year-old public school teacher in Mount Pleasant who was hospitalized last week for pneumonia — was also denied a test.

And Dr. Daryl Granner’s neighbor — who had coffee with an Iowa City traveler to Egypt who was shortly thereafter diagnosed with COVID-19 — has gone untested despite requesting it for more than a week.

They are among the Iowans frustrated with testing criteria they fear may be jeopardizing human life in the midst of a pandemic. Meanwhile, the state's public health department is releasing less information about test results than officials in some other states....

There are not enough tests. The ones that exist are not being used equitably. And if this continues Americans will be dying for absolute neglect of the government.
continued...