The News: What You Need to Know

The amount of stories and statistics circulating right now is undeniably overwhelming. Rather than report on each political back and forth and the bills we know will pass (if it takes a few days), I am doing my best to wait on the trends of the news and then highlight the sections that are most salient as the spread of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, continues its rampage as a worldwide pandemic. That said, if you just need some good news first, look no further than the SGN...AKA: The Some Good News Network with anchor, John Krasinski.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/Video/tvnews/some-good-news-with-john-krasinski/vi-BB11Tzle?fbclid=IwAR0aLJmgtuXmAoukvu9DtWDRLMY5ulRfGACHANkihk5qEHHkpDoLvzRsVtk

If you need more ways to get the news in condensed packets with a bit of humor thrown in to make the content just palatable enough, Late night hosts are now back, many of whom are broadcasting from their homes at least once a week, if not more. Consider taking to YouTube if you did not get the chance to see them live!

As of yesterday, March 30th, roughly 75% of people in the U.S.A are (or soon will be) under instructions to stay indoors at varying levels of restriction, as states try to slow the wave of the coronavirus before hospitals are overwhelmed.

Locally, we are waiting to hear the daily briefing from our governor in the buckeye state, but here are the trends as they stand right now...although yesterday brought with it the most confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Ohio, we are still not seeing exponential growth and the strict social distancing measures that went into effect early on have kept the hospitals from being overrun. Also an important note about testing: as we have said, there is a testing shortage across the whole nation, so cases are drastically underreported. In addition, we do not have the number of negative tests conducted each day, or the data on recovered cases. These numbers will help us paint a much more accurate picture of the virus trajectory as a whole.

A hospital shortage has been a constant hypothetical worry, but now is brought even closer to home as a friend in my circle was diagnosed positive in a different state and needed a 5+ day hospital stay on oxygen after going to the Emergency Department. However, my friend is recovering, and our community continues these measures to ensure that all people have access to healthcare when they need it.

U.K. Study Findings

In an analysis conducted by the U.K. comparing COVID-related ICU admissions vs non COVID-related ICU admissions a few key points stood out as it relates to the population that this disease affects.

First, The average age of admission for COV cases was 60 years old vs. non-COV cases at 58 years old. This is a relatively small difference when considering that it was a small pilot study with fewer participants than the full analysis will have closer to 1,800 people. Age is an important statistic in and of itself because the media has repeatedly said that the people who will need the most ICU admissions due to severe cases will be older adults (65-80+).

Given that the mean age (average) is relatively unchanged, and not trending up from the normal age of ICU admission, this lends itself to the idea that this disease is capable of hurting young people just as much as older individuals, especially when social distancing is not taken seriously.

Second, aside from age, the number of comorbid conditions for patients in both categories was compared. Those admitted to the ICU with COV cases had relatively few comorbid (underlying health) conditions, and were primarily being treated for symptoms associated with COV such as pulmonary support, renal support, etc. Those admitted to the ICU without COV usually had 5+ comorbid conditions that needed attention such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc.

This speaks to the fact that the U.K., who was relatively late to implement social distancing , is seeing many otherwise healthy people needing to go to the ICU for COVID even when they are are not in the immunocompromised or otherwise medically compromised groups of individuals.

These statistics should paint a picture for all of us that this disease, while certainly more dangerous when contracted by "at-risk" folks, is capable of causing destruction to bodily systems for people without risk factors. This is why social distancing is so important for ALL OF US. Not just the immunocompromised. Not just 65+. Not just the...anyone.

All of us.

Let's continue to take care of one another and practice social distancing and other restrictive measures to keep our hospitals at or under capacity to give everyone their fighting chance. On, that note...

Back to the U.S.A...

While our president initially was hoping COMPLETELY IRRATIONALLY to "have the country open by Easter because it is an important day for other reasons also," cooler heads advised on the issue and now an official statement has been released federally that the current state of shutdown will continue at minimum at least until April 30th. This comes as a relief after hearing from our president that this virus was designed to "make [him] look bad in the polls," when asked about a unified, federal response by a reporter a few days ago.

This is not a bipartisan issue. This is a global humanitarian, healthcare issue.

While President Trump continues to boast that our country has adequate testing kits, more than enough ventilators, and "people should not be greedy [states asking for more medical supplies]," all evidence points to the contrary on all issues. The expected apex of cases in Ohio is expected sometime in May with approximated positive testing cases looking like 6,000-8,000 people a day. There is nowhere near the PPE needed to take care of that surge for people so institutions like dentists, veterinarians, and tattoo parlors are donating gloves, masks and other forms of PPE to all local hospitals. We are still in the calm before the storm in this state, and in the majority of our country, although the states such as New York are already fighting to keep up with the demand as over 66,000 cases have been reported.

Right now, here are the measures being taken in the U.S.A. to keep people physically distanced to slow the spread:

As Gov. DeWine said in a recent address, we need to be looking for the daffodils. If you missed this particular address, he was recalling an anecdote about his father who was in the final stages of dying from pancreatic cancer. On their property each year they planted daffodils. DeWine's father insisted that the daffodils be planted, rather than having his family stay indoors with him at all times. DeWine says that now, as he reflects on it, his father probably knew he might not see the daffodils flower after being planted, but he had the vision of his children, grandchildren, and generations following coming to prosper in that big, beautiful field. We need to be looking for the daffodils, and for ways to be planting the daffodils.

Here is my own homemade arrangement to remind me of that intention this week. In a strange twist to the story DeWine told, we are protecting our generations by staying indoors this time. But let us plant the daffodils of distance now so that when we all may peer outside, we can smile and run through the fields of gold hand-in-hand.

Under medical quarantine, I am not allowed out of my front door, unless I have on a mask and gloves and am headed directly to the doctor and back. My husband can go out in protective gear to get our delivered groceries, and occasionally mail, but we are not allowed to go for walks. We are allowed in our fenced in backyard to let our dog go to the bathroom. Social distancing may be hard, grieving events you wanted to attend so badly might be hard, stay six feet away from other might be hard, but please, have a dose of perspective for those who are always restricted even more than you--or even more strikingly, the ones who already have not made it out of this pandemic. We are truly in our home 24/7 and even as I type this I can see the first robins landing on the grass and scouring for worms near our daffodils. Such beauty even in the midst of such uncertainty.

I know that when I am allowed back outside, I will appreciate the sunshine, the rain and hail and wind more than I ever have before. And the first thing I plan to do is fly pelmel toward the nearest cluster of daffodils and thank them for giving me hope every day through the closed windows.

I feel that when we come out of this extended year of virus-winter, our spring will bring changes both warm and torrential. I am ready to batten down the hatches for while yet for all of us, and when we do get that all-clear, I am ready to face the unpredictable spring with you.

Prepare, don't panic.

-Allison