New Coronavirus threat

south

Well-Known Member

I had a scroll through and couldn't see this posted.

This is the Imperial college report with modelling of how to best approach the Coronavirus. BLUF: mitigation doesn't work, even best case with just mitigating "flattening the curve" you end up with the US/UK health systems being overwhelmed for ICU beds by a factor of 8, with associated effect on mortality. Suppression through very tight lockdown (e.g. China, South Korea) followed by a full relaxation itself doesn't work, as soon as you relax then it will come back. The model they are proposing is suppression for periods of time, then relaxing before suppressing again. Intent being to keep the maximum number of hospital beds at any one time below the critical number whilst increasing resistance for the population.
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
Absolutely can’t believe how accurate Bill Gates’s Ted Talk was from 2015. Maybe he has a secret time machine that took him to 2020 back in 2015. Guess we should have listened back then!bill gates ted talk - Google Search
Pretty spot on. We ignored the ramifications of the Ebola outbreak because ... let's face it ... it was in Africa. I can't see the world making the same mistakes again. Well, let's hope so anyway.
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member

I had a scroll through and couldn't see this posted.

This is the Imperial college report with modelling of how to best approach the Coronavirus. BLUF: mitigation doesn't work, even best case with just mitigating "flattening the curve" you end up with the US/UK health systems being overwhelmed for ICU beds by a factor of 8, with associated effect on mortality. Suppression through very tight lockdown (e.g. China, South Korea) followed by a full relaxation itself doesn't work, as soon as you relax then it will come back. The model they are proposing is suppression for periods of time, then relaxing before suppressing again. Intent being to keep the maximum number of hospital beds at any one time below the critical number whilst increasing resistance for the population.
At the moment that is the best we can hope for. Just stop our health care system from being totally overwhelmed. It also buys time for vaccines and better treatments to be developed. This isn't something that will go away quickly.

I expect there will be a slow reboot as restrictions get eased over time but it may be years before we can completely get back to normal. The world's economy will take a severe knock from all of this. Beyond the immediate problems, we may have to deal with a worldwide recession and god forbid even a depression as a result of all this.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #124

I had a scroll through and couldn't see this posted.

This is the Imperial college report with modelling of how to best approach the Coronavirus. BLUF: mitigation doesn't work, even best case with just mitigating "flattening the curve" you end up with the US/UK health systems being overwhelmed for ICU beds by a factor of 8, with associated effect on mortality. Suppression through very tight lockdown (e.g. China, South Korea) followed by a full relaxation itself doesn't work, as soon as you relax then it will come back. The model they are proposing is suppression for periods of time, then relaxing before suppressing again. Intent being to keep the maximum number of hospital beds at any one time below the critical number whilst increasing resistance for the population.
Yep, that is the likely plan, suppress/relax until a vaccine is approved.
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
Set Damage Control State 1, Condition Zulu Alpha...

So New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 3 and with 48 hrs going to Alert Level 4 and lockdown... :D:D:eek::eek: except for essential services... so please stop the panic buying... it is not helping.

On a side note... So... ok then... this is going to be interesting...
Apparently, I live with lady called Paula... she seems nice...

Home
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Set Damage Control State 1, Condition Zulu Alpha...

So New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 3 and with 48 hrs going to Alert Level 4 and lockdown... :D:D:eek::eek: except for essential services... so please stop the panic buying... it is not helping.

On a side note... So... ok then... this is going to be interesting...
Apparently, I live with lady called Paula... she seems nice...

Home
Once we go into Alert Level 4, it'll be "hands to action stations. Standby to repel boarders" at ngatimozart's whare (house). :D

Life's going to be head for some with no boozers open and no rugger. I did go to a supermarket in Christchurch this arvo. Heaps of dunny paper. They had piles on the shelves and two full pallet lots on the floor as well. That was about two hours after the PMs big announcement. No signs of panic buying either. They were controlling entry though.

A wahine called Paula eh. Not Paula the westie??? :D:D
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
Once we go into Alert Level 4, it'll be "hands to action stations. Standby to repel boarders" at ngatimozart's whare (house). :D
ermmm sure... ok... :rolleyes:

Life's going to be head for some with no boozers open and no rugger. I did go to a supermarket in Christchurch this arvo. Heaps of dunny paper. They had piles on the shelves and two full pallet lots on the floor as well. That was about two hours after the PMs big announcement. No signs of panic buying either. They were controlling entry though.
I heard there was some panic buying from some super-markets... and as well as and including placemakers... lol

A wahine called Paula eh. Not Paula the westie??? :D:D
No different person... ;-)

On a side note...part of our business is classed as e

Primary industries, including food and beverage production and processing
  1. Packaging, production and processing of food and beverage products
  2. Food safety and verification, inspection or associated laboratory services, food safety and biosecurity functions
  3. Veterinary and animal health/welfare services
We make various meat trays for packaging... so that side will keep going as normal. My side as in fabrication;

Building and construction
  1. Building and construction related to essential services, critical infrastructure, or immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work
We are plumbers best friends as well as keeping many other industries going...
So I could be work as normal or be on call or rotation or in isolation ... don't know on that matter, will find out tomorrow.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #129
Canada has joined other countries in refusing to attend the July Olympic Games in Japan. The IOC hasn’t made a definitive decision. What really surprises is no outright response from Japan telling the IOC to piss off! With the world’s oldest population and a declining population this is very strange, especially the redflag warning Italy has provided, the country with the second oldest population.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
Set Damage Control State 1, Condition Zulu Alpha...

So New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 3 and with 48 hrs going to Alert Level 4 and lockdown... :D:D:eek::eek: except for essential services... so please stop the panic buying... it is not helping.

On a side note... So... ok then... this is going to be interesting...
Apparently, I live with lady called Paula... she seems nice...

Home
Well on the brighter side of things with the lockdown, I guess there will be an uptick in births rates in 9mths for NZ
 

OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
Post 1 of 2: Medical aid and test kit diplomacy

1. It was reported on 20 Feb 2020 — China donated a batch of novel coronavirus test kits to Japan —according to the Chinese embassy in Japan. China reached out to Japan upon learning the latter didn't have enough test kits, and sent the kits to Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases after coordinating with various parties, the embassy's spokesperson said. China is also supplying millions of masks and other desperately needed items to struggling governments, hoping to build political ties and defuse criticism that it allowed the disease to spread early on. This aid includes:
(i) sending teams of medics to Iran and Iraq;​
(ii) sending medical supplies to Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Pakistan; and​
(iii) even a US$500 million loan to help Sri Lanka combat the virus.​

2. Individuals are also offering help, as well. Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, for example, tweeted images of 500,000 virus testing kits and 1 million masks set to arrive in the United States. Ma, co-founder of the e-commerce company Alibaba, shared on his foundation's account this month that he had donated the materials. In a separate tweet, the Jack Ma Foundation announced Monday it would be expanding its donations to all 54 nations of Africa. In a statement, the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation said their goal is to aid the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in these nations, to follow with more support for other neighbouring countries as well.
“We and Alibaba Foundation will send two million masks, 150,000 test kits, 20,000 protective suits and 20,000 face shields to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. More help to other Asian nations is on the way! Go Asia!”​

3. All countries are at risk with COVID-19 and the world needs to work together in order for us all to overcome this common threat to humanity. More than 10 companies in China are supplying approved COVID-19 detection products, with half of these having CE (French for European Conformity) marking.

4. Chinese genetic giant BGI Group's Real-Time Fluorescent RT-PCR kits for detecting 2019-nCoV, have become commercially available in markets recognizing CE marking since Feb 26, following approval from China's National Medical Products Administration in late January. The RT-PCR kit can produce results in three hours as soon as samples are delivered to the lab, and overseas orders for the kits have been increasing, the Shenzhen-based company said, adding shipments are already heading to 51 countries and regions including Japan, Brunei, Peru, and Thailand, either for donation or sales.

5. The day after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles, the US President sent a personal letter to North Korean leader that seeks to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. North Korea on 22 Mar 2020 (Sun) welcomed the letter sent by Trump offering help in fighting the coronavirus but warned that good relations between the leaders was not enough to restart nuclear talks. The reclusive North has insisted that it has had no cases of the deadly virus, but has accepted the Russian donation of 1,500 coronavirus diagnostic test kits to Pyongyang (made at the request of North Korea).

6. Taiwan and the US will form a partnership on the research of rapid tests as well as the production of vaccines and medicines, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Co-operation measures include sharing contact tracing techniques and technology, holding joint conferences with scientists and experts, and exchanging medical supplies and equipment, the joint statement said. Further, Taiwan will provide 100,000 medical face masks per week to the US when its production capacity has stabilized, said Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Taiwan's foreign minister.

7. It has also been reported that thousands of novel coronavirus test kits are being sent to the Philippines to aid with their efforts to manage this pandemic — these gifts will save lives. These coronavirus test kits are arriving or have arrived, in the Philippines, with:
  • 100,000 sent from China (along with 100,000 surgical masks, 10,000 N-95 masks & sets of PPE)
  • 25,000 sent from South Korea
  • 3,000 sent from Singapore along with 1 Polymerase Chain Reaction machine.
8. To date, Singapore has provided aid and test kits to China, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines.

9. I encourage all readers of this thread to stay informed, wash your hands often and isolate yourself if need be. Please ignore the scare mongering blogs or Facebook pages who claim that donated test kits do not work (without a proper understanding of local test kit and drug approval systems and processes). Singapore’s ministry of health has clarified that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reaffirmed that the COVID-19 virus is spread mainly through droplets. However, the WHO noted that certain specialised procedures performed in healthcare settings may cause the virus to be aerosolised, and recommended that healthcare professionals take extra precautions in such settings. All hospitals in Singapore have put in place these extra precautions since the start of the outbreak. Here’s a list of resources on the disease:
 
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At lakes

Well-Known Member
Breaking news on News 24 channel that a passenger from the Cruise ship "Ruby Princess" has passed away in hospital. The passenger was a lady of older years.
 

OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
Post 2 of 2: More international cooperation is needed

10. To politicians, bloggers and social media influencers (using Facebook or Twitter posts) that engage in fear mongering against any ethnic group or Chinese made test kits— I say this:
‘A virus does not discriminate by nationality or ethnicity. More sharing of real clinical information, and less of your online personal vanity politics please. Enjoy your freedom of speech but this freedom comes with responsibility.’​

11. Healthcare workers in over burdened health care systems in coronavirus pandemic countries are dying from the coronavirus in their attempt to save lives of their sick patients. In an extreme case, Daniela Trezzi, a nurse working in San Gerardo Hospital, Italy to treat coronavirus patients committed suicide after she tested positive for the virus and feared she had spread it to others.

12. A COVID-19 therapeutic workgroup, comprising of members from various hospitals across different disciplines and the Health Science Authority (HSA) in Singapore, has been set up to look at using repurposed drugs with antiviral activity to treat infected patients, including the use of anti-HIV drugs Lopinavir and Ritonavir, Interferon Beta-1B and hydroxychloroquine. Singapore has started on a limited trial basis to use the blood plasma who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat the disease. The convalescent-plasma approach has also seen modest success during past severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak and researchers are hoping to increase the value of the treatment by selecting donor blood that is packed with antibodies.
  • Getting all the help you can, including getting accurate clinical information, obtaining adequate supplies of PPE and test kits (which are a limited resource), is more important that scoring cheap political points against any Chinese embassy.
  • This is because all help being funnelled by China (as the world’s largest supplier of test kits, PPE and ventilators), to a country, must be through its embassy.
  • The initial test may not be accurate as the amount of viral material available to sample is too little for the tests to detect the virus, said Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre.
  • As the virus may not be easily detected in some infected patients early in the course of the disease, a second sample for testing taken on a different day or at a different time would help to reduce the risk of a false-negative result. This may reflect the different viral dynamics where there are certain days when the illness can be detected better. Read more at Explainer: Why some Covid-19 patients visit the doctor twice or thrice before they receive a diagnosis
13. Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the WHO gave a list of six actions every country should take:
  • Expand, train and deploy health-care workers
  • Implement systems to find suspected cases
  • Ramp up production of tests and increase availability
  • Identify facilities that can be transformed into coronavirus health centers
  • Develop plans to quarantine cases
  • Refocus government on suppressing the virus
14. The world is not ready for a pandemic. As of 3 Mar 2020, China’s main manufacturers delivered about 14,000 non-invasive ventilators and 2,900 invasive ones in a month to Hubei. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Nikkie Lu, estimated the collective value of these machines at US$100 million to US$300 million.
  • Beijing Aeonmed Co, for example, has been working around the clock since 20 Jan 2020.
  • After meeting the China’s needs two weeks ago, its factory lines have been working flat out on orders from overseas for its lifesaving ventilators. With three shifts and even research and development staff working the production line, the company’s machines have been going non-stop. See: China’s Factories Work 24/7 to Build Ventilators for Milan, New York
15. The window had probably now closed on a South Korea-style approach of widespread testing and trying to trace the path of the virus for many countries. The US and UK, in particular, did not have the ability to do that and it is now too late for in this pandemic cycle to be effective. Likewise the British government's chief medical officer says that it is trying to buy more testing kits but points to a current global bottleneck on buying more kits. Pinoys should be grateful for any resources that are diverted by China, Korea and others for the benefit of your countrymen.
To quote from this article:

“A U.S. physician... said that more and more of her colleagues are reaching out to those on the front lines in China, South Korea, and Italy for advice, especially as their doubts about guidance from U.S. authorities grow.

...With no surefire Covid-19 therapy and a blizzard of conflicting information on what existing drugs might work, Antar said, “one of our main questions was about their experience with off-label use” — repurposing existing drugs approved for other illnesses to use in the fight against Covid-19.”
 
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John Fedup

The Bunker Group
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #136
Well this should come as no surprise, a COVID-19 outbreak on a CVN (the Teddy). The three infected sailors have been transferred off the ship and their contacts have been quarantined. It will interesting to see if the USN can contain the outbreak with more success than the cruise industry.

 

OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
An update from Singapore

1. The Australian published an interview with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on on 23 Mar 2020:
Why are Singaporeans so cooperative with their government?​
The Australian: Yes. Prime Minister, do you think the success you have had reflects on the social spirit of Singaporeans? That they are perhaps more cooperative with their own government than you might see in every country in the world?​
PM: Well, I think it is a great help for us that people listen to the government, they trust the mainstream media, they accept our explanations, and they appreciate the fact that we have gone to enormous lengths to be transparent and to explain to people in a timely way, what is happening, where they have to take precautions, what the prospects are going to be.​
We have a ministerial task force which is overseeing the response to Covid-19, and they have been holding press conferences every other day, sometimes every day, in order to bring people up to date and to prepare people when something particularly significant or surprising happens. I have, twice, made televised broadcasts to the nation in three languages to speak to people directly, to give the reassurance, but also to get people to understand how serious the situation is, and what we can do about it.​
I think all this helps. It helps to go into this with some social capital and some trust, but you have to build on that during the crisis. Because if you do not, and people start to doubt what they are told, or think that facts are being withheld, you will be in deep trouble very quickly...​

2. No medium sized city in the world is as prepared as Singapore in relation to crisis contingency plans — with 631 infected, 2 deaths and 38,000 people who are serving out stay-home notices, the health system is preparing for a spike in coronavirus infections — with the 330-bed National Centre for Infectious Diseases opened in 2019, the also newly opened Sengkang General Hospital in 2018 and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in 2015. Thus far, 39,000 in Singapore have been tested, with 200,000 more Singaporeans due to return from abroad (at a rate of 2k to 3k per day). The top 3 sources of imported cases to Singapore are:
  • UK
  • US
  • Indonesia
3. In the largest one-day spike of Covid-19 cases to date, the Ministry of Health (MOH) on 25 Mar 2020 said 73 more cases were confirmed in Singapore, with 38 cases imported from abroad. This brings the tally to 631 cases (Read more at Covid-19: Single-day high of 73 confirmed cases in S'pore, new cluster at PCF Fengshan emerges). Singapore has started transferring the less seriously ill coronavirus patients to select private hospital wards (so that the better equipped government hospitals can host the more critically ill returning Singaporeans). While Singapore has done its best to respond to the outbreak, it is under no illusions that the problem is over at all:

“If you take your eyes off it for a moment, suddenly I have an outbreak, like what happened in South Korea, and I will be in a perilous situation. It can happen to us at any time,” Prime Minister Lee said.​

4. Singapore’s strategy to combat Covid-19 is to attempt the “impossible” — by slowing the spread of the coronavirus as much as it can while avoiding the long-term impact of the pandemic, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on 25 Mar 2020. In his ministerial statement, Mr Gan said:
“We hope that if we do it right, we can significantly slow down the growth as much as we can until the whole pandemic is over, without either a sharp peak, or a long tail.”​

5. “This may sound impossible because the two (epidemic) curves are established by academics. But impossible as it may sound, we have to try our best to do so.” Mr Gan was referring to the global call to “flatten the curve” — a strategy mapped out by global health academics to reduce the peak of cases and stretch out the incidence of the disease so as not to overwhelm a country’s healthcare system (Read more at S’pore to attempt the ‘impossible’ in its strategy to fight Covid-19, says Gan Kim Yong).

6. Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Taskforce has decided to enforce stricter measures that would limit gatherings outside of work and school to 10 persons or fewer, and ensure that physical distancing of at least one metre can be achieved in settings where interactions are non-transient. These measures will take effect from 26 March 2020, 2359 hours and are expected to be in place until 30 April 2020. The Singapore Government’s new measures, include:
  • Closure of bars, cinemas, other entertainment outlets
  • Suspension of all religious services
  • Suspension of centre-based tuition and enrichment classes (but schools remain open)
  • Asking malls, museums and restaurants to reduce crowd density
7. It needs to be understood that these are exceptional times – it is reckless, irresponsible to behave like it is “life as normal”. Police and enforcement agencies to step up checks, to make sure that clubs, others, follow the rules. For example, on the number of people in enclosed spaces. The Minister of Home Affairs has said that: “If the rules are disregarded, action will be taken, including looking at the licences to operate.”

8. All 360 centres under PAP run kindergartens will close for four days from 26 Mar 2020 after 18 Covid-19 cases were found to be linked to its pre-school in Bedok North. Those infected were 14 employees at the Fengshan PCF Sparkletots centre, including the principal. The other four were the principal's family members. Some of the staff were at work despite feeling unwell, said PCF chief executive Victor Bay in a letter to parents.

9. As part of the collective response to combat COVID-19, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Myanmar, New Zealand and Singapore released a joint statement that these countries are committed to maintaining connected supply chains and work closely to identify and address trade disruptions with ramifications on the flow of necessities. A World Bank paper on avian flus forecast that a severe outbreak would lead to a near 5% fall in global GDP, and double that in Europe. That work, done in 2006, seems much closer to where we are headed than almost all the forecasts done in 2020.

10. Singapore has also contributed 3,000 tests kits and one polymerase chain reaction machine to support the Brunei Government’s efforts to fight the outbreak of the virus.
 
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OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
Mike Davie, CEO of Quadrant writes about his experience at Singapore’s National Centre for Infectious Diseases, as a suspect Covid-19 case. You can read his full post here.

[If you want to know about the behind the scenes on the fight again Covid-19 in Singapore, please read on]

Now back up a few hours. I'm on a work call when my temperature spikes and I can not think clearly. A dry cough had started earlier that day. With Tylenol not controlling the fever, I head to a local clinic. Prior to the previous Friday I had been in Home Quarantine due to our family travels to Korea and Canada. Upon returning the boys and I had 15 days in isolation at home. During that time, Leslie came back from a business trip to NY. We had obeyed all orders to stay home as we were high risk, due to the travels. Now, sitting in the doctors office, I went over this with him. After giving the timeline and explaining my symptoms I was thrown into an experience like no other.

Within seconds of ending my story, the doctor jumped into action (which I am guessing is the protocol they must follow). I was rushed into a back isolation room while the staff closed the office for decontamination. I could hear tons of commotion, cleaning, and calls being made to a central body, the mall and the ambulance dispatch.

I waited there for them to prepare my exit. The clinic is on the 3rd story of a mall. A back door lead me down a half lit back hallway that was sprayed with some disinfect cleaner. I was lead by the ambulance attendees down the flights of stairs and out the back door. They inform me we have two other pick-ups along the way. As we headed to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, two more potential Covid-19 patients joined us.

Now, this is where is gets interesting. As we are lead out of the ambulance two others drove away, while there is a line of more behind us. On the ground there were X's that mark the spot where we are allowed to stand. One by one, the line moves forward for the initial screening and segregation. Right before we are about to enter, we are told "No pictures, no video". So I make my way in but now my fever is out of control (no meds for 6 hours). The first nurse quickly marks me "High-Risk" and a porter take me into the hospital, through the hundreds and hundreds of people. For every patient there was hospital staffer; nurses, porters, janitors, doctors, pharmacists and technicians. It looked like a war zone, except for the fact all the staff were calm, deliberate, organized and professional.

The porter and I wind our way around the halls, where perfectly placed desks are on perfectly marked x's on the floor. Barriers prevent people walking in the wrong spots and signs mark who is where, and what is their status (high or low risk). I am giving paperwork to review. No, not insurance. No, not credit card. They are only concerned with the virus. The questionnaire clearly marks on the page "Do not photograph or share this information with anyone..." so I will respect their wishes. All I can allude to is that the health care system here, is like no other I have witnessed. They are doing everything to ensure the safety of the citizens, protection of the economy and that they are going to what it takes to end the spread.

There are about 30 desk in my section, with different levels of people's illness, but the one thing we all have in common is that we are high risk. As the night goes on they call us to check out our lungs. An x-ray room is only meters away. Everyone gets one. If you are lucky, and your lungs are good, they take a swab right there and you are on your way. You get to go home and wait 12 hours for the results. If positive, an ambulance will come right away and bring you back. After waiting 6 hours, and after dozens of people making their way, the doctor comes up to me with the bad news. Lungs are infected, I'm heading upstairs for the night.

Now, this will be the third time I'm informed "no photos / no video". I'm taken to a private isolation room, where I'll spend the night waiting for the results of the Covid test. I'm first fitted with a computer on my wrist that attaches to the electrode to monitor the basic stats of oxygen in my blood (one of the major concerns for people with Covid). Then comes the swab. For people who scroll Facebook and have seen where the swab goes... yes...it hurts... it is not pleasant. If you haven't seen, well it goes in your nose and tickles your brain it seems. As I finish the blood tests I realized really what was around going on around me.

As I can't show photos of the room, let's just say it is one of the most clean, modern and organized hospital rooms I have ever seen. To get into my room though there an 'airlock' type room where staff come in, close the first door, and the second opens. They are all wearing disposals hazmat type wear from head to toe. Every time they leave, they have to go into the decontamination room that separates my room from the hall, dispose of all their protective clothing, wash and disinfect anything they brought in with them. This process is repeated over and over again, with each visiting staff member. The amount of protocol to just visit me, is something amazing.

Around 3:30am I call it a night. Tests are done, fever still high and the doctor confirms I have pneumonia. I'll find out in 12 hours if Covid is the cause.

The morning comes, and as it rolls on, I'm greeted by the nurses and the doctor through out the morning. Every time someone comes in, they have to go through the whole process of disinfection. The amount of protective gear they go through, just to support me is unbelievable. I feel guilty, as you hope that they are safe. As they risk getting infected themselves, ALL of them are cheery, calm and professional. I can't imagine the stress they are going through, yet none of them show it.

Well, it's 3pm and the good news comes in, the first test came back negative for Covid. I have never been happier to only have pneumonia. But saying that, this disease is tricky. There have been cases where it hides, and with the state of my lungs, the doctors are taking no chances. Night two I am awoken for my second covid test at 3am. To fast forward the story, this test comes back negative as well. But with pneumonia, the doctor wants to take no chances. To see how my lungs are doing they bring an xray machine to me, in my room. Ok, now, if you have ever seen a mobile xray machine, it looks like a dinosaur with a crane neck. As the radiologist leaves, he then spends then next 10 minutes decontaminating it. And goes on his way. He was cheery and professional too. With hundreds of patients and dozens coming in by the hour... they are all keeping it together.

So I sit here, on day three. Heading off for the night. My next covid-19 test will be at 3am. I would like to say, I'm the lucky one. Lucky that I don't need a ventilator, and lucky that is just an oddly timed pneumonia. And with everything going on, the Singapore health system is ensuring my safety and the safety of those around me.

Now if you read to this point, I'd like to leave on this. To see first hand the chaos this is causing, the stress on the health system and the amount of work and supplies that are need to treat patients and keep the medical staff safe is beyond comprehension. Living it first hand, I have not only a new found respect for all those in the medical industry (including the extremely important janitors and cleaning staff who are keeping the hospital safe), but also for the system itself. There is a reason people should self isolate, there is a reason why we should practice social distancing, and there is a reason why, if you are sick, you get yourself out of the general population. The system here in Singapore is beyond amazing to witness. But there is a limit to its capacity. Today they are in good shape but that is because of the measure they take to keep it that way. Of health systems that aren't as advanced, I can't see how they will cope. It was like a war zone on the first floor with the amount of sick people. Singapore is able to keep it managed and organized, but I don't see how other nations will.

For societies and people who are taking the social distancing as a joke, get your act together. If you saw what is going on the inside, you'd sober up quite quickly on the reality that our medical systems face. So stop posting garbage that dimensions this pandemic. It's real, it's intense, people are dying and the medical staff are risking their lives to save yours.

Thank you to everyone who is working to keep us safe.
 
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John Fedup

The Bunker Group
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #139
Upon reading this, it is apparent why Italy is in crisis. While Western nations have state of the art facilities, there aren’t enough to handle what’s coming. I expect the US and Canada to be almost as bad as Italy and as the US is already thinking of relaxing isolation rules things might be worse.
 
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