29 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – July 28 2020”

  1. I posted this late last night on yesterday’s C-19 blog:

    The DESE and the MTA agreed late yesterday that education staff will get 10 professional days at the beginning of this school year to work on plans. Students will have 170 learning days. School districts have until this Friday to submit three different plans to the DESE and districts will have to announce what they plan they will open their schools with by August 10.

    Did you see this, Tom?

    Five Patriots, including Dont’a Hightower and Brandon Bolden, have opted out of the 2020 season.

    1. I’m glad Massachusetts is planning ahead of time. Need to be proactive and not reactive. In-person education is very important, but equally important is the safety of teachers, administrators, and students.

      I’m afraid the numbers of players opting out of this season will only accelerate to a crescendo in the NFL. I might have been optimistic when I said the NFL will begin the season and have 2 games before calling it quits. That may not even happen.

      Meanwhile, the Korean and Taiwan baseball leagues are in action with fans (limited capacity), New Zealand’s rugby and soccer leagues are in full swing with fans (at full capacity in some cases), and Ireland’s Gaelic football and rugby seasons have been in action for a while. Common denominator: These 4 countries crushed the virus.

      The article below epitomizes the U.S. Even doctors in hot spot areas disregard basic rules. It’s a form of selfishness that we collectively need to address as a nation. We’re not islands. We’re individuals connected to each other in a civil society. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article244514157.html

  2. 4 more Marlins have tested positive for the virus bringing the total to 15. Out of an abundance of caution just like Monday night tonight’s game between the Yankees and Phillies has been postponed. The two teams are to play two games in the Bronx tomorrow and Thursday. Will see if they do a doubleheader one of those days.

    1. I think we’ll see a lot of doubleheaders. There are only five off days out of the 60-game season. I think that teams may play doubleheaders ahead of anticipated rainouts, like they do in college baseball. The playoffs (with expanded teams) are supposed to start the last week of September. I don’t think MLB or the players would want to be flying from city to city making up games at the end of the season.

      Maybe some teams won’t be able to play their full 60 games.

  3. This study in JAMA Cardiology is an important reminder of how dangerous Covid-19 can be for the heart, also for folks in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, many of whom go through “mild” symptoms yet suffer from heart inflammation. By the way, this is what Eduardo Rodriguez, pitcher for the Red Sox, is going through. It’s serious and can have long-term effects that lead to mortality for some.
    https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1287994291902545920

    And, just as a further reminder of how devastating this pandemic has been for healthcare workers around the world, see article below. Thousands have died worldwide. Dr. Joe Costa, 56, is one of them. He died this past weekend. https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-ob-cv-costa-icu-doctor-mercy-coronavirus-20200727-qbb4ebvnizdvtpkk4octd27tda-story.html

  4. I wonder for the postseason for MLB will they have a couple hub cities like the NHL is having to complete the season. With the amount of players on the Marlins testing positive for the virus they got to be wondering will we be able to field a team tomorrow night in Baltimore.

  5. Regarding the NFL – Patriots players who have multiple rings opting out won’t necessarily be like dominos falling across the league. Patriots players, especially ones that have been around a bit, have a little more freedom mentally from having to pursue the ultimate goal (and risk their health and those around them to do it.)

    I still think an NFL season is not responsible, however.

    1. You may be right, Dr. Stupid. And, many in the NFL have very short careers and earn relatively little money.

      However, the NFL is 70% Black. African Americans have been hit very hard by the virus, much harder than other groups. In some states, as many as 65% of deaths are African American. A fairly large portion of players have extended families who they care for and live with them – often older folks. I think that some of the concern is for families’ health, not just the players.

      Compounding the issue is the BLM movement. I don’t think we should underestimate how upset African Americans are. And, they’re reminded on an almost daily basis that the civil rights struggle is not over. Hundreds of years of being treated as second and third rate citizens – the Constitution codified this, let’s not forget – and often taken for granted by a league hell-bent on maximizing profits no matter what, is infuriating some in the league.

  6. I just came to post a similar article to Joshua’s above. There is evidence of lasting heart damage in possibly the majority of Covid survivors – as with almost everything else Americans have difficulty addressing a crisis until it is past the doorstep, in the living room on the couch. We have such a desire to “move on” when we still don’t even know what this thing is, what it does, and how bad the lingering effects might be.

    My son is in private school – for which I have many mixed feeling as an advocate for public school – but nevertheless our ability to make that financial commitment (An ability we are blessed with but most are not) means his school will reopen easily with 8 boys per class.

    However I’m still hunting and gathering data bc it’s important to remember we still don’t know what we’re dealing with. I know that’s frustrating but just bc we want to have our arms around this doesn’t mean we do – we really really do not know what this beast is…

    1. Good comment, Mama. I’m worried about my son. He is in really, really good physical shape but I don’t know if that protects his heart.

  7. I read an article in yesterday’s Boston Herald that MGH is currently conducting phase 3 trials on “nitric oxide” as treatment for The Coronavirus. It was discovered by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Louis Ignarro in 1986.

    Joshua, your thoughts on this potential?

  8. Vicki, my clinical expertise is limited. The only thing I’ve read is that dexamethasone is to be used in severely ill patients. So, perhaps the doctor is cautioning against widespread use.

    Philip, I don’t know enough about nitric oxide’s effect on Covid-19. The substance has a long history of being used for other diseases, I believe.

    CF, that’s an interesting theory on the Patriots opting out and somehow Belichick benefiting. I have my doubts, however. It’s July 28th, 6 have opted our. More to follow, including David Andrews, I think. My guess is the opt-outs will rise steadily when training camp is underway and many test positive.

  9. All Marlins games cancelled through Sunday.

    Major League Baseball has altered its schedule for the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins and New York Yankees after the coronavirus outbreak that has hit the Marlins roster and coaching staff.

    As a result of the changes, the Miami Marlins will now be off through Sunday. They were originally scheduled to host the Baltimore Orioles from Tuesday through Thursday and the Washington Nationals from Friday through Sunday.

    The Phillies, meanwhile, will be off until Friday after initially being scheduled to host the Yankees on Tuesday and travel to New York for a two-game set with the Bronx Bombers on Wednesday and Thursday.

    Instead, the Yankees will square off against the Orioles on Wednesday and Thursday to create flexibility in the schedule later in the season.

  10. Now as a result the Yankees home opener Friday night against the Red Sox. I think will see more of these adjustments with team schedules as the season goes on.

    1. What is it with the youth of today and parties? What exactly is there to celebrate with a global pandemic, racial strife, etc. anyway????

      Having said that, my parents met at a party hosted at the home of one of my mother’s friends. In those days (c. 1955) parties with young people were still quite dignified compared to today.

      I really do wonder about the youth of today. May heaven help the generations to come after we have long gone.

      1. I recall some not so Civil parties when younger. Most guys wore nice sweaters and slacks. Girls wore dresses….but then we were barely allowed to wear slacks so there was that. There was alcohol. Drugs were new at that point. Our senior party at school had a rule that once in we were not allowed to leave because of previous problems with alcohol.

        Most younger adults now have great parties. I don’t think these folks represent all. And now it seems young folks are more active when it comes to planet, etc.

        Although I do remember our parents saying the same as you did about us. And their parents about them…..the roaring 20s was abhorrent to parents. I think it is an unwritten right of the generation that went before 🙂 🙂 🙂

  11. New case counts are diminishing a bit in the worst affected areas. But, we’re doing fewer tests than we did last week and the week before. About 150,000 fewer tests last week alone. So much for ramping up testing!

    The spread of cases throughout the country is intensifying. This may spell big trouble moving forward. There isn’t a region of the country that’s spared of rising cases. Just a few states like Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. How long can that last? Rhode Island has been seeing big jumps in recent days.

    Deaths today are already well over 1,000. I believe we’ll have the worst day since late May. This is tragic.

    There is one other country that is seeing a strange trajectory in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths (after a decline, now an increase in all three). And that’s Israel. Because of its small size, the statistics don’t look as alarming. But, Israel is suffering a U.S.-shaped coronavirus curve. It’s the only other country that is experiencing this.

  12. We all need a laugh

    So we’re into our 5th month of defeating COVID-19. These words made me laugh but there’s a lot of truth mixed in to consider. .#11 . Is Great!!!!

    1. So let me get this straight, there’s no cure for a virus that can be killed by sanitizer and hand soap?

    2. Is it too early to put up the Christmas tree yet? I have run out of things to do.

    3. When this virus thing is over with, I still want some of you to stay away from me.

    4. If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that stupidity travels faster than any virus on the planet, particularly among politicians and bureaucrats.

    5. Just wait a second – so what you’re telling me is that my chance of surviving all this is directly linked to the common sense of others? You’re kidding, right?

    6. People are scared of getting fined or arrested for congregating in crowds as if catching a deadly disease and dying a horrible death wasn’t enough of a deterrent.

    7. If you believe all this will end and we will get back to normal just because we reopen everything, raise your hand. Now slap yourself with it.

    8. Another Saturday night in the house and I just realized the trash goes out more than me.

    9. Whoever decided a liquor store is more essential than a hair salon is obviously a bald-headed alcoholic.

    10. Remember when you were little and all your underwear had the days of the week on them. Those would be helpful right now.

    11. The spread of Covid-19 is based on two factors: 1. How dense the population is and 2. How dense the population is.

    12. Remember all those times when you wished the weekend would last forever? Well, wish granted. Happy now?

    13. It may take a village to raise a child, but I swear it’s going to take a whole vineyard to home school one.

    14. Did a big load of pajamas so I would have enough clean work clothes for this week.

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