Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Wednesday 29-July-2020
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
July 28, 2020
Today’s topics: Just cause you think you can’t catch CoViD-19 doesn’t mean its true, Young people infecting old people
There will NOT be a Friday call this week.
Saying you won’t catch CoViD-19 doesn’t make it so.
| Texas Representative Louie Gohmert has been walking around the congress for weeks while refusing to wear a mask. In fact, it has been reported that he demanded that his full office staff, including 3 interns, come to work each day and chastised them for wanting to wear masks. In an interview last month on CNN, he said if he caught the disease, then he would wear a mask. Well, earlier this week, he tested positive. Representative Gohmert was scheduled to fly with President Trump to Texas this morning and in a pre-flight screening, he tested positive. For an unknown number of days, he has been walking around the capital building spewing out viral particles without a face covering on. He is not alone. Other lawmakers, mostly Republican, decline to wear a face covering as well. In fact, much to my astonishment, both Nancy Pelosi in the House and Mitch McConnell in the Senate turned down an offer from the administration to have rapid testing for lawmakers in congress. In an important body of our government where members regularly fly home to meet with the public, not requiring testing and face coverings is short sighted. Today, Nancy Pelosi mandated that members of the House wear face coverings while on the floor but that doesn’t cover what they do in their offices and with their staff. Safety protocols should be implemented in Congress as they would be in any office complex. Just because Congress thinks they can’t get sick, doesn’t make that true. To quote my friend Paul M again, the SARS-CoV-2 virus doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what people think. It looks for weak links in protective measures and exploits them. Young People are infecting old members in their homes Today, the Washington Post reported on a pattern being seen by public health experts in Houston South Florida and elsewhere. They are seeing households where young people work outside the home or frequent bars or restaurants and then return home and infect sequestered vulnerable elderly people. In ethnically diverse parts of the Sun Belt with rapidly increasing new cases, there are a larger percentage of multigenerational homes. A study in 2016 by the Pew Foundation showed that about 20% of people live in a home with at least two adult generations of people living together. This method of spread is becoming more important as more young people become infected. Young people tend to have mild or no symptoms but may come home to older vulnerable adults. Young people do not live in a bubble and must exercise caution when they live in a multigenerational household. This is an important conversation to have with them. Be well and take care of yourself. There are storm clouds on the horizon. –Dr. Stu |
COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY
| Coronavirus update for July 29, 2020 World Wide Updates Indian state, West Bengal, extends lockdown to end of August Coronavirus “requires sustained pressure to reduce transmission,” WHO official says France reports more than 1,300 new Covid-19 cases Spain records highest number of new Covid-19 cases since May India eases more Covid-19 restrictions as cases top 1.5 million Iraq reports new daily record with almost 3,000 coronavirus cases, health ministry says Peru records highest daily increase in Covid-19 cases since June Germany has capacity to test all travelers returning to the country, health ministry says Russia claims it is already registering its coronavirus vaccine, but releases no scientific data US military bases in Japan increase restrictions as Okinawa Covid-19 cases rise France extends financial support scheme for unemployed tourism workers Covid-19 vaccine may not be available until mid-2021, German minister says European Commission signs deal to secure access to coronavirus drug remdesivir Iran reports 2,636 new cases of coronavirus in one day More than half of India’s Mumbai slum residents may have been infected with Covid-19 — study Hong Kong reports over 100 local Covid-19 cases for eighth straight day South Korea will impose strict control measures on Russian crew members from August UK signs deal to secure 60 million doses of potential coronavirus vaccine Japan records highest daily spike of coronavirus cases Vietnam reports 8 more Covid-19 cases in Da Nang Australia’s Victoria state confirms 295 new coronavirus cases China reports more than 100 new coronavirus cases for first time since April Mexico surpasses 400,000 coronavirus cases Iceland is an outpost of normality amid Covid pandemic ‘Unprecedented’ Hajj begins with 1,000 pilgrims, rather than the usual 2 million WHO warns coronavirus pandemic appears to be unfolding in ‘one big wave’ Madrid officials row back after outrage over plans for ‘immunity cards’ Hong Kong elections could be delayed Total Cases Worldwide: 17,132,177 Total Deaths Worldwide: 668,377 Total Recovered: 10,592,755 US Updates US stocks open lower and finish lower Minneapolis mayor issues emergency regulation closing indoor bar areas More than 9,000 new Covid-19 cases reported in Texas Denver Public Schools moves to remote learning NBA to provide thousands of no-cost Covid-19 tests More than 50% of new Covid-19 cases in Maryland are in people under the age of 40, governor says South Carolina orders face masks to be worn in all government offices and buildings 12 more New York City bars had liquor licenses suspended for Covid-19 violations, governor says First House Republican votes by proxy during the pandemic 8 Penn State student-athletes have tested positive for Covid-19 California reports 197 new Covid-19 deaths, a single-day record for the state Indianapolis Public Schools is recommending a remote learning model for this academic year Rhode Island delays moving to next phase of reopening due to Covid-19 spread from parties Medical group warns US must control pandemic now, or risk seeing deaths surge US Open Championship will be held in New York without fans Alabama governor urges school districts to return to in-person instruction Oklahoma reports fewer than 1,000 new Covid-19 cases today NBA announces zero positive Covid-19 tests since July 20 GOP congressman who frequently refuses to wear a mask tests positive for Covid-19 Florida sets new record for Covid-19 deaths for second day in a row CDC director admits “there’s been mistakes” in US Covid-19 federal response North Carolina State Fair canceled due to Covid-19 concerns Best Buy will stay closed on Thanksgiving Monkey study indicates good news for Moderna’s experimental coronavirus vaccine Trump administration was slow to recognize Covid-19 threat from Europe, CDC director admits Texas man called Covid-19 a ‘hoax’ until family gathering led to 14 infections, 1 death and his partner’s relatives rejecting his help Total US cases: 4,550,144 Total US deaths: 153,438 Total Recovered: 2,228,978 Total Tested in US: 52,985,577 Total cases in CA: 479,284 Total deaths in CA: 8,730 Total cases in FL: 451,423 Total deaths in FL: 6,335 Total cases in NY: 441,866 Total deaths in NY: 32,725 Total cases in TX: 420,084 Total deaths in TX: 6,265 Contact us |
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