Category: Health

Posted on

Poll: 57% Of Conservative News Viewers Believe COVID-19 “Less Deadly” Than Flu

Donald Trump
New polling from Gallup shows folks who get their news from Donald Trump’s favorite “state TV” network, Fox News, might be less informed than those who get their news elsewhere. Via Mediaite:

People who consume news sources like Fox News are more than twice as likely to be uninformed about the coronavirus as those who take in sources like CNN and MSNBC, according to a stunning new survey conducted by Gallup.

The Knight Foundation/Gallup poll published Thursday broke down results by “news diet,” which in the case of a “conservative news diet” meant “those who cite only conservative news sources (e.g., Fox News, Breitbart, One America News, the National Review) as top sources.”

But on a key matter of fact regarding the Covid-19 disease, the results were devastating. A full 57 percent of the conservative news consumers falsely believe that the coronavirus is “less deadly than or as deadly as flu,” versus only 28 percent of those with a “liberal news diet” believing the same statement.

Is anyone surprised? Show of hands, please. No one? I didn’t think so.

Posted on

COVID-19 Now The Leading Cause Of Death In U.S.

Donald Trump during White House press conference (public domain)
Newsweek reports that COVID-19, once dubbed a “Democratic hoax” by Donald Trump, is now the leading cause of death in the U.S.

According to a graph published Tuesday by Dr. Maria Danilychev, who practices in San Diego, COVID-19 is the cause of 1,970 deaths in the U.S. per day.

Just last week, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death, averaging around 748 deaths per day, but as the virus has continued to spread, the increase in daily deaths have followed.

In comparison to COVID-19 fatalities, 1,774 deaths are attributed to heart disease and 1,641 to cancer.

Thanks to social distancing, projections regarding anticipated deaths in the U.S. have recently been adjusted downward to 60,415  in a model produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle (IHME). Initial projections from the White House Coronavirus Task Force were between 100,000 and 240,000 U.S. deaths. But, it’s important to remember all of these projections – and the actual number of deaths – will remain fluid depending in great part on the behavior of the American people over the next few months.

Posted on

Australia: Head Lice Drug Shows Promise In Battling COVID-19

A veterinary drug in use since the 1970s might offer a glimmer of hope in treating the coronavirus. From The Weather Channel:

A head lice drug has successfully killed the novel coronavirus within 48 hours in a laboratory setting, as per researchers in Australia.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, has found the head lice drug Ivermectin could potentially be used—after further research and human trials — as a possible treatment for the COVID-19 disease.

To test how it performs against the novel coronavirus, the researchers infected some cells with the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus, and then exposed them to Ivermectin. Subsequently, they found that just a single dose of Ivermectin had successfully killed the virus in a petri dish.

There was a significant reduction in the virus in just 24 hours, and complete annihilation in less than 48 hours, which is indicative of the drug’s potent antiviral activity.

It goes without saying that, until human trials have been properly performed, it’s important not to consume, hoard, or prescribe this drug.

Posted on

Quarantine Coaching: Coping With The ‘Funhouse Mirrors’ Effect

Psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey
Psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey’s latest video explores how LGBTQ folks can see a very distorted image of ourselves because of emotional issues, how that’s put on even more of a hyperdrive during COVID, and what we can do. From the good therapist:

What we see reflected in the mirror can go from a “flower crown” to “zombie lens” filter in a heartbeat without anything actually changing.

We tend to buy what we see on the surface at face value without realizing how much it’s distorted by our deeper emotional stuff. And us gays have plenty thanks to homophobia.

Check out my latest video on the “Funhouse Mirrors” effect, how it can be more triggering than ever during COVID, and how we can reset not only what we feel but also what we see.

Posted on

Daily Dance: 1984 Morning Show Workout

Tony Britts on BBC’s Breakfast show in 1984 (screen captures)
Oh, take me back to the 80s! The BBC Archives shares this golden goodie (16 million views since Thursday) from an episode of the Breakfast show in 1984 in the UK. “It’s day 4 of the BBC Archive quarantine fitness regime! Time to don some tight clothing that doesn’t quite fit and limber up with the one and only Tony Britts!” Tony’s got a quick little routine consisting of “side to sides,” “ball changes,” and “hands and hips,” although when he puts it all together that “hands and hips” move gets some complicated rhythm going. I’ve got to say, back in the day – and I was there – being ‘fit’ for most folks meant being lean and toned. While today’s InstaHunks might have more size than the venerable Mr. Britts, he’s looking pretty jacked for the early 80s. Over on YouTube, my favorite comment about the clip reads, “He’s so cute, and what a body! How could he get that ripped just by moving sideways?!” #srsly

Fitness InstaHunk Nathan McCallum is feeling the energetic 80s – check out his latest post. And remember, as Mr. Britts says, “Work hard, play hard, rest hard ok. Lots of fun. Have a good week ahead.”

Posted on

40,000+ Have Arrived In US From China In Past Two Months

Donald Trump at White House press conference (image via White House)
From the New York Times:

Since Chinese officials disclosed the outbreak of a mysterious pneumonialike illness to international health officials on New Year’s Eve, at least 430,000 people have arrived in the United States on direct flights from China, including nearly 40,000 in the two months after President Trump imposed restrictions on such travel, according to an analysis of data collected in both countries.

The bulk of the passengers, who were of multiple nationalities, arrived in January, at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Newark and Detroit. Thousands of them flew directly from Wuhan, the center of the coronavirus outbreak, as American public health officials were only beginning to assess the risks to the United States.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly suggested that his travel measures impeded the virus’s spread in the United States.

“I do think we were very early, but I also think that we were very smart, because we stopped China,” he said at a briefing on Tuesday, adding, “That was probably the biggest decision we made so far.” Last month, he said, “We’re the ones that kept China out of here.”

Since the ‘travel ban’ (which exempts Americans) took effect on February 2, 279 flights from China have landed in the U.S. I’m just guessing but I doubt the coronavirus cares if you are a Chinese native or an American when hitching a ride across the Pacific Ocean. Forty thousand people coming here from China certainly didn’t “stop” the virus. The Times also notes that screening procedures during these past two months have been “uneven.”

Posted on

Woman Who Mocked COVID-19 Dies From Virus Two Weeks Later

The first confirmed case of the omicron variant in the U.S. has been discovered in California.

A Texas woman who mocked the ongoing COVID-19 health threat as a “hoax” on social media has died of the virus. As Twitter user @sunnmcheaux posted, on March 14th Karen Kolb Sehlke shared a lengthy coronavirus “hoax” rant on her Facebook. On April 2, her family launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for her medical and funeral costs. The third tweet below carries a Facebook post that has been attributed to a friend of the deceased, but I haven’t been able to confirm that.

The same Twitter user noted that initially, the GoFundMe listed the cause of death as COVID-19. The campaign has since been edited to now say cause of death unknown. The campaign raised more than $35,000 before the family stopped further donations. The Facebook rant has reportedly been removed as well. I agree with Sunn m’Cheaux that the point of highlighting this story isn’t to mock the woman’s death but to understand the ongoing risks and widespread effects of the disease. (h/t JoeMyGod)

Posted on

Navy Captain Removed From Carrier Command Tests Positive For COVID-19

Captain Brett E. Crozier (image via U.S. Navy)
Two classmates close to Capt. Brett E. Crozier, who was removed from his command of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt this week, say he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Crozier was relieved of his command for sending an email underscoring the dangerous health risks his crew faced regarding COVID-19 as dozens were testing positive for the virus. “We are not at war,” wrote the captain in his March 30 letter. “Sailors do not need to die.” From the New York Times:

The commander began exhibiting symptoms before he was removed from the warship on Thursday, two of his classmates said.

Crozier was fired following a leak to The San Francisco Chronicle of a letter he had emailed to Navy leaders that detailed the failures on the service’s part to provide the necessary resources to swiftly move sailors off the carrier and disinfect areas on board as the virus spread through the ship.

Thomas B. Modly, the acting secretary of the Navy, said he had lost confidence in Crozier’s ability to command the ship effectively as it dealt with the evolving crisis after Crozier sent the letter on an unclassified email system to 20 to 30 people. Sending such a letter, Modly said, caused unnecessary alarm about the operational readiness of the ship and undermined the chain of command. “In sending it out pretty broadly, he did not take care to ensure that it couldn’t be leaked,” Modly said. “And that’s part of his responsibility.”

In a briefing Saturday, President Trump offered support for Modly’s decision. “He shouldn’t be talking that way in a letter,” the president said of Crozier. “I thought it was terrible what he did.”

During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper said there were 155 confirmed cases of coronavirus among sailors aboard the aircraft carrier, and that more than half of the ship had been tested.

Posted on

Target & Walmart Will Begin ‘Metering’ Number Of Customers In Stores

Walmart stores doing more to protect customers and employees during coronavirus epidemic

Walmart stores doing more to protect customers and employees during coronavirus epidemic Walmart and Target have both announced new measures to encourage social distancing among its customers. According to Reuters, Walmart will:

• Limit the number of customers in a store to no more than 5 customers per 1,000 square feet. Employees will be at the doors admitting patrons one-by-one.

• The store is also providing masks and gloves for store associates, doing staff temperature checks and expanding paid leave policies.

• Next week, some stores will be implementing one-way movement through aisles.

On Thursday, Target announced it would begin “metering” the number of customers inside all of its nearly 1,900 stores starting Saturday. “To promote social distancing with its team and guests, Target will monitor store traffic, and meter, or limit, the number of guests inside stores, when needed,” reads a press release from the company. “Occupancy limits will vary by location and be determined by the store’s specific square footage to enhance the average space per person and reduce the possibility of congestion,” continued the statement. “If metering is required, a Target team member will provide a designated waiting area outside with social distancing markers.”

Posted on

Dr. Fauci: “I Don’t Understand” Why The Entire Country Isn’t Under ‘Stay At Home’ Orders

(image via CNN)
During an interview with CNN Thursday night, Dr. Anthony Fauci said all Americans should be under a ‘stay at home’ order and the entire country should be operating via the same guidelines in terms of self-isolating in order to best bring the coronavirus to heel. “I don’t understand why that’s not happening,” said Fauci, a member of the White House COVID-19 Task Force. “As you said, the tension between federally mandated versus states’ rights to do what they want is something I don’t want to get into. But if you look at what is going on in this country, I do not understand why we are not doing that. We really should be.” As of today, there has not been a federally mandated order for the entire country regarding the ongoing coronavirus threat. Currently, 39 states and Washington, D.C., are under stay-at-home orders. Eleven states – all red states –  have not issued statewide orders. Six states have regions with local lockdowns – Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming. But it’s a total free for all in Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.