(12-15-2020, 04:49 PM)Snorlax94 Wrote: ![[Image: JCWU5R1.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/JCWU5R1.jpeg)
https://i.imgur.com/JCWU5R1.jpeg
Holy cow 24 deaths today in SCC! Yes I know the deaths can be reported in spurts but 24 in one day — and the day is not yet over.
I wonder if the dead people’s families will feel like their Trick or Treating, youth sports tournaments and Thanksgiving get-togethers were worth it.
When I saw today’s stat, that has finally pushed me to the final level of SIP for my household — no entering any buildings for anything, not even groceries or to step inside briefly for takeout. Will just do curbside pickup for groceries (and shipments) for at least a few weeks. Will still take daily walks, enjoy the backyard, socialize with friends and family on Zoom.
I doubt that many of the 24 deaths are attributable to people who had families around them. I would expect more than half were alone & scared in their LTCF, where COVID was brought in by the health care workers. Maybe the HCW got it from their kid, who picked it up from a friend, who got it from their father, who ate lunch at a street vendor, who ....
I'm not trying to complain about the HCW, but pointing out that deaths may be several steps removed from the careless behavior.
In my own family, the one with COVID right now, got a test a week ago (ie, Tuesday) but didn't quarantine until the positive verdict on Friday, thus endangering two people in her house & her co-workers. She said "I just thought I had a cold". (She is turning the corner today it appears. Yeah! Work tells her she should be back at work on Friday. One in her family has tested negative at work; the other is also symptom free.)
SCC indicated that about 10% of all cases go into the hospital, and more than 1/3 of those go into the ICU. So,
for the 1118 newly infected, we should expect that around 37 will go into the ICU. [Edit: I originally had the expected outcome of those 37 incorrect.]
To be honest, I don't agree with California's policy which seems to be to vaccinate the health workers before the people in LTCF. If the ICUs weren't full and deaths weren't so many, I could see the logic. But delaying the inoculation of those that are most likely to go into the ICU is going to prolong the time that the ICUs are full and to increase the death toll. On the other hand, if the HCWs don't have COVID, it won't spread to the LTCF residents. However, I know I am biased. While I have 4 MD relatives (2 on hospital staff), I have one family member in a skilled nursing facility, where I see the hospital in the community say that the hospital staff are getting their shots today while SNF & LTCF residents will have to wait to next week.
P.S. Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? Suggestions: Pulse oximeter & IR thermometer (I've given out 2 pairs to relatives); HEPA filter units (I've given out 4 and offered another). The relative who has COVID got the air purifier more than a month ago; I can't say that it necessarily helped prevent her household from getting it so far, but I know I tried.
P.P.S. Here's a worthy program by California:
Hotel rooms for healthcare workers so they don't take COVID home (nor do they bring it to work from family members). I know that was a concern of my MD relatives. Whether an HCW takes this opportunity or not, the risk is real and the burden is heavy.
