March 13, 2020

Covid 19, Update 8

There are five new suspected cases today.
Two (2) in Forsyth
Two (2) in Mecklenburg and
One (1) in Johnston

This brings the total number to nineteen (19)

Press releases are no longer being issued by NCDHHS.

Please refer to https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina for additional information Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in North Carolina

Good luck everyone.

❤lmsp

March 12, 2020

#StayTheF... Home movement

#StayTheFuckHome

https://staythefuckhome.com/

A Movement to Stop the COVID-19 Pandemic
Our governments are failing at preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and containing the COVID-19 pandemic. Slow reactions, public appeasement policies, and their urge to stabilize the economy are keeping them from taking the measures it takes to protect millions from this disease. It is time for us, as citizens of this earth, to take action now and do our part in fighting COVID-19.

Let's put it bluntly: Stay The Fuck Home!

The Self-Quarantine Manifesto
With no well-studied treatment and a viable vaccine still being out at least another year, the only effective way to keep the coronavirus epidemic at bay is to give the virus less chances of spreading. The following list of actions, ordered from easiest to implement to most effective in the fight against the pandemic, should serve as a set of loose guidelines for people who wish to join the movement and take action, where the people in charge continue to neglect.

Don't panic, but be alert.
Wash your hands often and practice good cough and sneeze etiquette.
Try to touch your face as little as possible, including your mouth, nose, and eyes.
Practice social distancing, no hugs and kisses, no handshakes, no high fives. If you must, use safer alternatives.
Do not attend concerts, stage plays, sporting events, or any other mass entertainment events.
Refrain from visiting museums, exhibitions, movie theaters, night clubs, and other entertainment venues.
Stay away from social gatherings and events, like club meetings, religious services, and private parties.
Reduce your amount of travel to a minimum. Don't travel long distances if not absolutely necessary.
Do not use public transportation if not absolutely necessary.
If you can work from home, work from home. Urge your employer to allow remote work if needed.
Replace as many social interactions as possible with remote alternatives like phone calls or video chat.
Do not leave your home if not absolutely necessary.
Please keep in mind there is no right or wrong amount of actions to take. Only take the actions that you feel comfortable with and that do not endanger your livelihood. Do not quit your job over this! However, keep in mind that every action helps.

Why it's so Important
SARS-CoV-2 is a highly infectious and potentially deadly virus that causes a respiratory disease called COVID-19. You might know it under one of its many other names, including 2019-nCoV, novel coronavirus, Wuhan coronavirus, China or Wuhan flu, or just simply coronavirus. All of these refer to the same virus that this movement is trying to stop.

Over the past months and weeks, the virus and corresponding disease have been compared over and over to the influenza virus and the seasonal flu. Due to the overlap in symptoms and seemingly similar severity, this comparison comes naturally to a lot of people, however, looking at what we know so far about this new virus, the threat it poses to society is not easily brushed aside.

More Contagious Than the Flu
With an estimated R0 between 1.4 – 6.49 and a mean estimate of 3.28[1], SARS-CoV-2 is much more infectious and spreads much faster than the seasonal flu, which has a median R0 of 1.28[2].

More Deadly Than the Flu
The so-called case fatality rate (CFR) of SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be at around 2%[3], meaning that unfortunately, an estimated 2% of people getting diagnosed with COVID-19 will succumb to it. In comparison, the CFR of seasonal influenza is estimated to be around 0.1%[4], this means SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be about 20 times more deadly than the seasonal flu.

Possibility of Severe Symptoms
An estimated 15 – 20% of infected individuals suffer from severe symptoms that require medical attention[5], including pneumonia with shortness of breath and lowered blood oxygen saturation.

No Treatment, No Vaccine, No Immunity
As SARS-CoV-2 has only recently emerged, there is no well-studied treatment for COVID-19 and more research is needed, in order to treat infected people efficiently. Likewise, there is no vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 yet[6] and the development of such vaccine will take a significant amount of time. With no vaccines and no prior and wide-spread immunity, anyone is a susceptible target for infection. While most infected people will only suffer from mild symptoms, this lack of herd-immunity can lead to severe illness in a significant amount of at-risk individuals.

Exponential Growth
Due to the lack of immunity to this new virus, the entire human population is the upper limit of possible infections. And although exponential growth always seems slow at first, it can lead to unfathomably high numbers in a rather short time. With the numbers of infected people currently doubling in a matter of a few days[7], our medical systems will be potentially overloaded, which will lead to higher numbers of fatalities, due to people not receiving the care they need.

By joining the movement and therefore limiting possibilities for new infections, you are not only protecting yourself, but you are also helping contain and limit the spread for everyone else, especially those who are at higher risk to suffer severe consequences from this virus.

If you care about this cause, please share it on social media, via e-mail or just tell your friends and family about it. But please, just #StayTheFuckHome.

March 12, 2020

Covid 19 Livestream Beginning at 4 pm

Watch the livestream beginning at 4 pm to get the latest on developments and response to COVID-19 in North Carolina. https://t.co/9xTy5EdERR.
#COVID19NC #StoptheSpread @NCEmergency https://t.co/mAYjAlTsbB

https://twitter.com/ncdhhs/status/1238166639255977984?s=19

March 12, 2020

Covid 19, Update 7

NCDHHS Announces Three Additional Cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina
Raleigh
Mar 12, 2020
Two people from Forsyth County and a person from Johnston County have tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total of positive cases in North Carolina to 12, including a Durham resident who tested positive in another state. The tests, conducted by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, are presumptively positive and will be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lab. All are doing well and are in isolation at home. While awaiting confirmation of results from the CDC, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will treat presumptive cases as positive and follow CDC guidelines to protect public health and limit the spread of infection.

The Forsyth and Johnson County local health departments will work to identify close contacts. The couple from Forsyth was on a cruise where other travelers have tested positive. The exposure for the person from Johnston County is being investigated. The CDC defines close contact as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with an infection with COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time of 10 minutes or longer. Based on information provided by the individual, county health officials will assess risks of exposure, determine which if any additional measures are needed such as temperature and symptom checks, quarantine and/or testing.

Because COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, North Carolinians should take the same measures that health care providers recommend to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses, including washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, staying home if you are sick and covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow.

It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which will also include future positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services will no longer issue press releases announcing new positive test results for COVID-19. Case counts will be updated daily on online athttps://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-north-carolina

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/ncdhhs-announces-three-additional-cases-covid-19-north-carolina
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March 12, 2020

Tracking this in North Carolina

I found it very disturbing when I read the official NCDHHS report which states that NC only has an allocation of 150 tests. The estimated NC population is 10.38 million from 2018.

March 12, 2020

Covid 19, Update 6

NCDHHS Announces Eighth Case of COVID-19 in North Carolina
Raleigh
Mar 11, 2020
An additional person from Wake County has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total of positive cases in North Carolina to eight. The tests, conducted by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, are presumptively positive and will be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab. The person is doing well and is isolating at home. While awaiting confirmation of results from the CDC, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will treat presumptive cases as positive and follow CDC guidelines to protect public health and limit the spread of infection.

This case is related to a traveler from Indiana who visited Biogen in Raleigh last week. The Wake County Public Health Division will work to identify close contacts, which the CDC defines as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with a COVID-19 infection for a prolonged period of time of 10 minutes or longer. Based on information provided by the individual, county health officials will assess risks of exposure, determine which if any additional measures are needed such as temperature and symptom checks, quarantine and/or testing.
Snip.
More at the link.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/ncdhhs-announces-eighth-case-covid-19-north-carolina

March 11, 2020

Covid 19, Update 5

NC Medicaid Updates Policies to Address COVID-19
Raleigh
Mar 11, 2020

NC Medicaid is implementing several policy changes in response to COVID-19 to slow the spread of the virus, support healthcare providers and protect more vulnerable North Carolinians. The policies, which will go into effect March 13, address pharmacy benefits, supplies and access to care and are designed to facilitate access for patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and to limit close contact for routine care, particularly for those at higher risk of severe illness.

People at higher risk of severe illness are adults over 65 years of age, those with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, and people with weakened immune systems.

Policy updates include:

Supporting Access to Care
Home Visits. Medicaid has existing clinical policies to reimburse for home visits. Providers are encouraged to conduct home visits, especially for vulnerable populations and group living.

Co-pays. Providers are reminded that co-pays are not required at the time of the office visit; a Medicaid patient should never be turned away for inability to pay a co-pay.

Virtual Consultation. Providers will be able to bill Medicaid for evaluations provided virtually by telephone for established patients who:

Are actively experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) or to assess prior to going to the emergency department, urgent care or other health care facility.
Need routine, uncomplicated follow up and who are not currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Would benefit from behavioral health assessment and management.
Limiting In-Person Pharmacy Interactions
Supply Quantity. Medicaid beneficiaries will be able to access longer supply of prescribed medicine.

Beneficiaries will be allowed to obtain a 90-day supply of prescribed medicine, excluding controlled substances, for both generic and brand-name drugs. NC Medicaid has removed the 30-day wait requirement to qualify for a 90-day supply.
Early refills will be allowed to coordinate care.
Beneficiaries can receive an extended 14-day emergency supply of medicines that require a prior authorization (up from a 3-day supply).
Providers are encouraged to write prescriptions for a 90-day supply and pharmacies are encouraged to fill 90 day supplies whenever possible
Access to Needed Medicines. NC Medicaid will be tracking pharmaceutical supplies to respond quickly to modify the Preferred Drug List for Medicaid as needed.

Accessing Medical Supplies
Providers of medical equipment and supplies may be reimbursed for providing masks to ill patients who require frequent transportation or attend public places for treatment such as dialysis.
Providers will not need prior authorization in order to initiate new orders for oxygen and related respiratory supplies.
If medically necessary, oxygen equipment and supplies, respiratory assist devices, CPAPs and ventilators that typically require prior authorization may be provided to beneficiaries without first seeking prior authorization.
These new Medicaid policies will go into effect March 13. Additional details and guidance will be available online at
https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/about-us/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-and-nc-medicaid

Link to press release: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/nc-medicaid-updates-policies-address-covid-19

March 10, 2020

Covid 19, Update 4

Governor Cooper Declares State Of Emergency To Respond To Coronavirus COVID-19

Raleigh
Mar 10, 2020
Governor Roy Cooper took the next step in the state’s coronavirus COVID-19 preparedness plan today and issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency. The declaration activates the Emergency Operations Center to help agencies coordinate from one location and makes it easier to purchase needed medical supplies, protect consumers from price gouging, and increase county health departments’ access to state funds.

In addition to Governor Cooper’s emergency declaration, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) is making several recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people infected.

“The health and safety of North Carolinians is our top priority. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure that North Carolina is prepared and responding to this virus, and this order helps us do that,” said Governor Cooper. “Though we are still in the early stages in North Carolina, time is a valuable resource and we must work together to slow the spread while we can.”

Key provisions in the order are similar to those enacted in a natural disaster. The order will help with the cost burdens and supplies that may be difficult for providers and public health to access due to increased demand. It also increases the state public health department’s role in supporting local health departments, which have been tasked with monitoring quarantines, tracing exposure and administering testing.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/governor-cooper-declares-state-emergency-respond-coronavirus-covid-19

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COVID-19 Mitigation Guidance

Raleigh
Mar 10, 2020
On Monday, March 9, 2020, NC DHHS confirmed 5 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wake County, increasing the statewide total to 7. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) is taking proactive steps to protect the health of our community by making recommendations that are meant to slow the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak and reduce the number of people infected.

We understand these actions will have a significant impact on the lives of people in our communities. NC DHHS is making these recommendations based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), current actions by other States, and the most up-to-date epidemiologic information we have to protect the public’s health. This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in North Carolina when such measures can potentially impact the spread of the disease. The recommendations should be implemented immediately and extend through March 31, 2020. We are monitoring the situation closely to determine whether these recommendations will be extended beyond March 31st.

HIGH-RISK PERSONS
NC DHHS recommends that people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should avoid large groups of people as much as possible. This includes gatherings such as concert venues, conventions, church services, sporting events, and crowded social events. People at high risk should also avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.

People at high risk include anyone:

Over 65 years of age, or
with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, or
with weakened immune systems.
The following recommendations pertain to persons and establishments STATEWIDE.

1) CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES
NC DHHS recommends that all facilities that serve as residential establishments for high risk persons described above should limit visitors and restrict all visitors who have respiratory illness or potential exposure to COVID-19. These establishments include: nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correctional facilities, and facilities that care for medically vulnerable children.

2) MASS GATHERING OR LARGE COMMUNITY EVENTS
NC DHHS recommends that event organizers:

Urge anyone who is sick to not attend.
Encourage those who are at high risk, described above, to not attend.
Adopt lenient refund policies for people who are high risk.
Find ways to give people more physical space to limit close contact as much as possible.
Encourage attendees to wash hands frequently.
Clean surfaces with standard cleaners.
3) ALL TRAVELERS
NC DHHS recommends that all travelers returning from countries and US states impacted by COVID-19 follow DHHS guidance on self-monitoring:

4) SCHOOLS
NC DHHS is NOT recommending pre-emptive closure of schools and childcare centers at this time.

The following recommendations pertain to persons and establishments in the TRIANGLE area.

5) WORKPLACE SETTINGS
NC DHHS recommends that employers and employees use teleworking technologies to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, employers should:

Urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits.
Consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming together at the same time.
6) MASS GATHERINGS, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL EVENTS
NC DHHS recommends that organizers of mass gathering events that primarily draw high-risk persons, including those that attract older adults, should consider cancelling or postponing these events.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/covid-19-mitigation-guidance

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After more COVID-19 cases reported, NC declares state of emergency

March 10, 2020
As coronavirus spreads, Gov. Roy Cooper urges people 65 and older to avoid large crowds. He also pressed the CDC for more materials to test more prospective patients.

By Anne Blythe



Gov. Roy Cooper declares state of emergency to respond to COVID-19 in North Carolina. Photo credit: Anne Blythe

Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in North Carolina on Tuesday to respond to COVID-19, the coronavirus spreading around the world and across the country.



Health and Human Services Sec. Mandy Cohen speaks to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on Tuesday morning to brief lawmakers on coronavirus. Photo credit: Rose Hoban
Snip...
Though Cooper has declared states of emergency in extreme weather events, he said this one is different in that it could go on for weeks and perhaps months.

In addition to providing more spending and response flexibility, the declaration gives the state more tools to fight price gouging.

“The state of emergency can help speed supplies and gives health care and emergency managers more flexibility,” Cooper said. “…It encourages insurers to make testing available for little or no cost and it expands the ability to use more health professionals who are working to respond to this virus.”
More at the link.
https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/03/10/after-more-covid-19-cases-reported-nc-declares-state-of-emergency/
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ETA Video

March 10, 2020

Covid 19, Update 3

Five More People in North Carolina Test Positive for COVID-19

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020
Five more people in Wake County have tested presumptively positive today for COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). All traveled to Boston in late February to attend a BioGen conference. Several cases of COVID-19 across the country have been tied to the conference. These cases are not related to the Wake County individual who tested positive last week. All are in isolation at their respective homes.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/five-more-people-north-carolina-test-positive-covid-19


Indiana Individual with Confirmed COVID-19 Traveled to North Carolina

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020
The Indiana State Department of Health notified North Carolina officials that a person who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 8 was in Durham and Wake counties on March 2 through March 6 while symptomatic. The person is in isolation at home in Indiana.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/indiana-individual-confirmed-covid-19-traveled-north-carolina

March 10, 2020

Here's How Your State Is Handling Coronavirus Testing

Here's How Your State Is Handling Coronavirus Testing

We contacted health officials in all 50 states and Washington, DC, to find out how many Americans have actually been tested for the coronavirus.

By Stephanie M. Lee and Zahra Hirji and Tasneem Nashrulla and Caroline O'Donovan and Otillia Steadman and Dan Vergano

As the coronavirus spreads in the US, with more than 270 known cases, the biggest question that’s emerged is how many infections remain undetected in a testing crisis that’s swept the nation. The CDC has come under fire for failing to catch the virus during its first, crucial weeks in the US. The agency distributed a diagnostic test to state labs that was faulty, and established rigid, narrow criteria for who could be tested. With the tests since fixed and the criteria expanded as of last week, the White House is now arguing that the crisis is effectively under control.

“I’m pleased to report that all state labs have the test,” Vice President Mike Pence, who oversees the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said Friday, adding that this week, enough tests for 75,000 patients had been distributed. But as coronavirus cases are confirmed by the hour across the country, most of all in Washington state, it is becoming clear to public health experts that there are many more that just aren’t getting detected.

To find out how many coronavirus tests are being conducted, BuzzFeed News contacted the public health departments of all 50 states and Washington, DC, between Tuesday and Friday.

Snip.

State by state results and
More at the link.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/stephaniemlee/coronavirus-testing-by-state?__twitter_impression=true