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Coronavirus

COVID-19 Update 2020-03-23

Coronavirus

There are currently 375,313 confirmed cases of COVID-19 confirmed globally, up from 182,409 last Monday, with 16,361 deaths and 101,584 recoveries.

Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization Says it took:

– 67 days from 1st reported case of #covid19 to reach the first 100,000 cases

– 11 days to reach the second 100,000
and just

– 4 days to reach the third 100,000.

The USA surpassed Iran, Spain, Germany, and France in total number of confirmed cases Given the current rate of new cases, the US is likely overtake Italy to possess the most confirmed cases outside on China in a matter of days.

Italy reports 63,928 confirmed cases and 6,078 deaths. Italy is set to tighten lockdown restrictions as daily case reports continue to rise and the fatalities balloon. Over 40,000 Italians have been charged with violating the lockdown.

Hydroxychloroquine, a drug commonly prescribed for malaria shows some promise for treating COVID19. Researchers are enlisting front-line healthcare workers for a clinical trial.

The disease is truly global at this point, with over 140 countries having confirmed cases out of 195 countries in the world. South Africa reported +128 new cases today, bringing their total to 402.

There are +9,293 new confirmed cases in the US so far today, bringing the total to 42,839. The US is now reporting more new cases daily than any other country including Italy.
The US had +106 new cases on March 8th and +461 new cases on March 12th.

Total US cases more than doubled in the past 4 days again, while Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan have all controlled their local disease spread to a manageable rate. Multiple medical professionals and leaders point to increased early testing and aggressive contact tracing as the keys to those countries success controlling the virus.

According to a new study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine, the so called Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is present in aerosols (droplets in air) for up to 3 hours, with a half life of about an hour, survives on metals and plastics for up to three days, with a half life of about 6 hours and remains viable on cardboard up to 24 hours.

The National Guard has begun activating. Under the authority of various states, the Guard will work with Governors and Municipalities to provide various support as needed.

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fl) have all tested positive for the virus. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Senator Lindsey Grahm (R-S.C.)) have self quarantined.

After four days of around-the-clock meetings, the Senate failed to advance the massive $2 trillion coronavirus bill for the second time today.

Governor Newsom is directing more than $42 million in emergency funding to expand California’s healthcare infrastructure as hospitals brace for an influx of patients.

More than $1.4 million will be used to expand testing capacity at a state public health lab in the city of Richmond; $8.6 million will be used to provide new ventilators, refurbish old ones and get IV fusion pumps. American Medical Response will get about $2 million to provide COVID-19 patient transportation.

All public Santa Cruz County schools remain closed.

Governor Newsom is warning parents to be prepared for schools to remain closed until after the summer break.

There were 919 confirmed cases in the Bay Area today, up from 210 last on March 13th.

The total cases confirmed in Santa Cruz county is 15.

Many local department stores have had shortages of certain items. Several stores limited the number of certain items per customer to prevent hoarding. Some stores are offering pick up or delivery services.

Amazon announced that some customers will see shipping delays, due to a dramatic increase in orders and new preventative measures taken at their facilities.

There is no reason to expect food shortages. During the worst of China’s lockdown, family members were allowed to purchase food or food was delivered.

Montage Health in Monterey is offering free eVisits for locals who think they may have COVID-19.

Visit the Coronavirus Daily Update Page on KSCO.com for more info.

You can find out more from the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, by going to santacruzhealth.org.

If you experience Fever, Cough or Shortness of Breath, please call your Health Care Professional.

Regardless of how healthy you are, to protect the most vulnerable, don’t be a disease vector. Take action by staying home as much as possible.

As is always true to prevent any communicable disease, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your elbow, avoid touching your face, and remember, don’t pick your nose!!

– The COVID-19 Update from KSCO’s Director of Digital Media, Jonty McCollyer

Sources And Further Info

Dr. John Campbell’s Daily Report

Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1

https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2004973

New Coronavirus Stable for Hours on Surfaces

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces

National Guard head: ‘Tens of thousands’ of Guardsmen could be used to help with coronavirus

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/488460-national-guard-head-tens-of-thousands-of-guardsmen-could-be-used-to-help-with

Coronavirus can travel twice as far as official ‘safe distance’ and stay in air for 30 minutes, Chinese study finds

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coronavirus-can-travel-twice-far-official-safe-distance-and-stay

California Gov. Gavin Newsom warns parents to be prepared for schools to not open until after summer break


https://abc30.com/california-governor-gavin-newsom-warns-parents-to-be-prepared-for-schools-to-not-open-until-after-summer-break/6022808/

Local hospital provides free COVID-19 eVisits

https://www.ksbw.com/article/local-hospital-provides-free-covid-19-evisits/31673723

Locations with Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, by WHO Region

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/world-map.html

Paid sick leave: Who gets it during the coronavirus outbreak

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/16/paid-sick-leave-coronavirus-house-bill/

Worldometer Coronavirus Cases

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus

Map: Coronavirus cases in the Bay Area, Northern California

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/04/map-coronavirus-cases-in-the-bay-area-northern-california/

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