The US Center for Disease Control warns those over 60 should stock up on food and meds and avoid forays outside.
People who are over 60 years old, as well as those with underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, are most vulnerable to getting sick or even dying from the novel coronavirus, and should take particular precautions to help protect themselves, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a media briefing Monday.
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Messonnier also recommended people at higher risk and their families stock up on "enough household items and groceries so that you will be prepared to stay home for a period of time."
She reiterated advice to avoid close contact with people who are sick, wash your hands often and well, steer clear of "high-touch" surfaces in public places, and avoid crowds, particularly those in poorly-ventilated spaces.
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"This weekend, the federal government made a very specific recommendation in this context that travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer all cruise-ship travel worldwide," she said, adding that people at higher risk should also cancel or reschedule "non-essential travel, such as long plane trips."There it is. The Center for Disease Control. No editorial musings added. I don't fashion the advice, they do. What I think doesn't matter one whit. What you think, however, does.
Messonnier pointed out that it's important for family members and neighbors to look out for folks who are in these higher-risk categories by, for example, making sure you're familiar with their medications and helping them get necessary food and supplies.
The goal of stocking up, she emphasized, is so more vulnerable people "can minimize trips to the store" and "stay close to home."
Finally, she said, caretakers should make a plan in case their loved-ones do get sick, as well as a plan for if they become ill themselves, like having backup caretakers.
16 comments:
People are already hoarding and this will encourage the trend. I was in Costco last week and saw dozens of customers with buggies full of toilet paper! The staff kept bringing out skids of asswipe and customers in surgical masks were climbing over each other to get at them. They weren't even on sale. WTF? It's a respiratory virus, not norovirus! If you're going to hoard at least get stuff you'll need like food, soap and sanitizer.
Cap
What does the Center for Disease Control know that this doctor doesn't?
https://richardhughes.ca/im-a-doctor-and-an-infectious-diseases-specialist-ive-been-at-this-for-more-than-20-years-seeing-sick-patients-on-a-daily-basis/
to me it's a "you can come now or you can come later"
by the end of this EVERYONE will have been exposed
some will shake it off
some will get sick
some of the sick will die
and like the true predator C-19 is
the target is the young, the old and the compromised.
so virtually nothing new here
but, but ... door knobs. what am i to do? they’re everywhere!
I read that doctor's take on Richard Hughes blog, Toby. As I wrote, I don't fashion the advice and my opinion doesn't matter. There seems to be a powerful consensus that appears to contradict this lone physician. Make of that whatever you choose.
On scientific questions, such as climate change in all its permutations, I heed the consensus rather than the outliers. You may see it differently.
At least his infectious disease physician has some company. Trump also called the virus "fake news" today so there's that.
Stocked up on alcohol sanitiser the other day.
Two bottles of Glenlivet and two bottles of Famous Grouse .
What more could you ask for ?
Should do me for two weeks!
TB
lungta the virus is not really targeting the young. Children who acquire the virus recover well. China has reported the death of only one child some one aged 19. the death rate increases once people are 60 and older with other health issues. by the time you reach the 70/80 group approx. 6% of those who acquire the disease die. the rest, if in good health recover.
Women do better with the disease than men.
People who have never smoked do better than those who have or do.
Door knobs, actually aren't everywhere, they are mostly levers these days. if you're very concerned wear gloves. Don't touch your face and wash your hands. If you're out, use hand sanitizer.
it was funny to watch people stocking up on toilet paper, but according to a friend that is what Americans do every time there is going to be a hurricane. Must be something about toilet paper and emergencies. What does it really say about North Americans.
Not every one will be exposed. Many live in remote areas and don't really have contact with others. Many in rural areas are quite self sufficient. Even those in urban areas, who prepare for earthquakes will be able to get by quite well. this is all about using your common sense. Going to COSTCO at its busiest time is not using your common sense.
Trailblazer - physician, heal thyself
e.a.f. - most people on the island are reasonably well stocked up - tinned goods, rice and pasta, flour and sugar, batteries and first aid supplies. We get periodic notices to keep the basics on hand "just in case" the Big One should hit and we have to cope on our own for a few weeks while emergency crews deal with the devastation expected for the west side of this rock. Plus just offshore there's an abundance of seafood options for those who know how to harvest them. Those with rifles can always bag a deer and I know a gunsmith up-island who swears that cougar meat is delicious. For heat and emergency cooking I've got a high-efficiency wood stove and for light there are some terrific battery-powered LED lanterns.
So, no, I'm not running out to Costco. That does seem more prevalent among city dwellers.
Interesting take on the situation..
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-many-americans-have-been-tested-coronavirus/607597/
Perhaps we have information suppression from the USA?
TB
Thanks for the link, TB. Coming from the Land Where One Life Matters and it being an election year, suppression is hardly surprising. Trump's public appearances have been cringeworthy. Then again he survived the Access Hollywood scandal with nary a lacquered hair mussed.
"‘It’s Just Everywhere Already’: How Delays in Testing Set Back the U.S. Coronavirus Response"
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/coronavirus-testing-delays.html
Sure, pay attention to the scientists but when the scientists have been frustrated . . .
Toby, do you think we've embarked on the Era of Morbidity?
The Disaffected Lib said. "Toby, do you think we've embarked on the Era of Morbidity?"
No, not yet. If this disease were to kill a million that would be barely a pothole on our road to eight billion. It would have to be much more virulent.
My problem with this disease has been mostly with reportage. I'm sensing a lot of panic and don't know why. It is as if authorities, such as they be, know that this disease is very dangerous but they don't want to say so, somewhat like the IPCC understating the threat of climate change and, at the same time they don't want Chambers of Commerce to fret.
Yes, we need to take Corvid-19 seriously and we need to wash our hands. Do we need to panic? I don't think that does any good and might make things worse.
One other thing. Whenever the news media is taken over by a single story I tend to smell a rat. This probably started back when Bill Bennett was Premier. The government was laboring under the strain of some long forgotten scandal that was showing no mercy. After a couple of weeks Bill Vander Zalm made a scurrilous comment about teachers and the media forgot about the scandal. It's an old trick of mass distraction, now you see and now you don't. Right now I'm wondering what it is that we are not paying attention to. My bigger worries are climate change, over population and the dominance of voodoo economics.
Re,
If this disease were to kill a million that would be barely a pothole on our road to eight billion. It would have to be much more virulent.
It will take this to make a dent in the ,cringe, necessary population, again cringe, adjustment!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death
My gut feeling is that with Coronavirus the biggest worry is profit or loss!!
According to the Guardian newspaper the rich an famous are withdrawing to their doomsday shelters
I am guessing that the less fortunate are withdrawing to the bathroom to use their 'bumf' that has been purchased in large quantities and to survive on pizza delivered through the bathroom window .
TB
TB
TB, I'm with you to an extent. You may have noticed in recent years I have posted about our society's Achilles Heel - resilience. Part of neoliberalism has been to run our economy to the red line. Maximized returns on everything coupled with "everyday low taxes." That's the perfect set up for chaos the moment something, seemingly almost anything, goes sideways. Nothing is left in reserve. There's no fallback position. You're riding a tiger you can't hope to stay on. After that, it's only a matter of time. We expunged what might have been our buffer, posterity, a good while ago.,
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