* Wait. Didn’t Wirepoints just declare that Illinois had “decoupled” hospitalizations and deaths from infections?…
A top federal health official is issuing a dire warning: Follow recommended coronavirus measures or risk having the worst fall in US public health history.
Coronavirus has infected more than 5 million people and killed over 166,000 nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. On Wednesday alone, there were 55,910 reported new cases and 1,499 deaths — the highest number of fatalities since May.
“For your country right now and for the war that we’re in against Covid, I’m asking you to do four simple things: wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and be smart about crowds,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I’m not asking some of America to do it,” he told WebMD. “We all gotta do it.”
Without following the recommendations, this could be “the worst fall, from a public health perspective, we’ve ever had,” he said. In addition to taking measures to combat the pandemic, people should also get a flu vaccine.
* A big flu outbreak is something that’s really scaring public health types…
Redfield said the CDC is urging people to get a flu shot, and the agency has purchased an extra 10 million doses of the vaccine — compared with the typical 500,000 — to make sure states have enough to cover uninsured adults.
“I’m trying to tell the American public, please don’t leave this important accomplishment of American medicine on the shelf,” Redfield said.
“We’re going to have COVID in the fall, we’re going to have flu in the fall,” he added, saying if people get vaccinated against the flu, they could potentially be freeing up a hospital bed for someone infected with COVID-19.
Redfield said conditions will depend on whether people follow the guidelines: wearing face masks, staying six feet away from others, washing hands often with soap and warm water and avoiding large crowds, especially indoors.
A bad flu outbreak coupled with a spike in COVID hospitalizations would absolutely slam the healthcare system.
* And it’s not just the flu…
Pediatricians are sounding the alarm about a concerning side effect of the coronavirus. They say immunization rates have plunged since the start of the pandemic.
But, yeah, let’s all stand with IPI and spread falsehoods on social media and stick up for businesses that stubbornly refuse to do their part. Rah rah.
…Adding… Maybe we should be more like Tennessee…
…Adding… Former CDC director…
- Not a Billionaire - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 12:50 pm:
My Doctors were concerned about flu vaccine shortage too. I will be sheltering in place and masking.I have high BP.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 12:53 pm:
I plan to get my flu shot as soon as possible and as I am high risk, I intend to shelter in place and mask up over the winter as well.
- OneMan - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:05 pm:
The fall is of great concern to my healthcare professional wife.
She thinks it is going to be really bad.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:07 pm:
Where is the very best place to be during a pandemic minus any vaccine or effective treatment?
Wherever one finds the Rich and Famous would be my best guess…you’ll find them isolating at Home…of course.
I’m not rich or famous…but I have a Home…and that’s where you can find me…for sure.
- Pundent - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:09 pm:
The contrast between Memphis and New York City tells us all we need to know about how this disease has been politicized and why not having a national response has left us in such dire straits.
- Anotheretiree - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:10 pm:
Def will get the flu shot. This lifestyle has become permanent for me. But… I wont be first in line for a Covid shot rushed through by a Trump administration’s CDC/FDA.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:14 pm:
I’ll be getting my flu shot and that was true regardless of the pandemic. I had my first real case of the flu this winter before Covid-19 broke and I have no desire to deal with it again.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:22 pm:
A 25% positivity rate is mind-boggling.
I try to get a flu shot every year. I certainly will this one.
- pool boy - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:24 pm:
Twenty five percent, did they consult with any doctors?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:28 pm:
For the love of Pete…
“We’re at 23%”
“Keep them open”
The value of life seems cheaper in other places(?)
Sincerely, 25% or less is acceptable.
Italy all but closed its whole country for far less, but a school can stay open?
- Mama - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:33 pm:
==”Schools in Memphis can stay open until Coronavirus positivity rate hits 25%.”==
OMG! That is a fourth of all the people who attend and work at the schools. Out of 1,ooo people that would be 250 sick people, and is only a tip of the iceberg because it affects their families too.
- Mama - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:38 pm:
==Italy all but closed its whole country for far less, but a school can stay open? ==
They are doing what Trump told them to do. Who the heck came up with the crazy “25% of the school infected with COVID-19 or less is ok”.
- Sonny - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:39 pm:
Can we stop legitimizing IPI now WTTW, WBEZ, other outlets that host their people and feature their ‘news’?
- Froganon - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
Putting our children first - as in first to be exposed to a pandemic. A pro-life state and ideology sacrificing children for political points. Ugh, double ugh (banned punctuation).
- LakeCo - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 2:09 pm:
=I’m asking you to do four simple things: wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and be smart about crowds=
Why is this hard? This shouldn’t be that hard.
- Glengarry - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 2:25 pm:
I feel for the hospital workers this fall and winter.
- don the legend - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 2:47 pm:
Trump will have an even harder time getting reelected with so many of his potential voters either too sick get to the polls to vote (mail-in votes bad, you know) or dead.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 4:01 pm:
America has become the problem of the World…sadly.
I don’t believe I am exaggerating when I say we are at the point of no return…we must start over again following the proved path of isolation/quarantine immediately …or reveal ourselves to the World as greedy and incompetent.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 4:09 pm:
Oops again…That was me @4:01 losin’ it…my memory?
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 4:46 pm:
Interesting that while the schools in Memphis are 90% minority students, the district itself is controlled by Shelby County and not the city itself. Wonder if that plays into their decision making.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 5:17 pm:
Dance Band 4:46pm-
Well, the school board appears to be majority-minority there.
http://www.scsk12.org/board/maps?PID=654
- Enviro - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 5:45 pm:
=Redfield said conditions will depend on whether people follow the guidelines: wearing face masks, staying six feet away from others, washing hands often with soap and warm water and avoiding large crowds, especially indoors.=
We should all show respect for our healthcare workers and follow these guidelines.
- A - Thursday, Aug 13, 20 @ 6:25 pm:
But who is asking for children to go back to school? Parents are. The ones questioning the safety of opening schools are the adults who work in them. And for that, they’re called lazy. Not concerned, dubious, educated about the disease. Parents? Concerned?