U.S. Is Now the Coronavirus Epicenter

As of Thursday, the United States has the most recorded cases of COVID-19. The number of total coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose to 85,749, surpassing China’s total of 81,430. It is likely that the number of cases is much higher than reported, as the U.S. healthcare system has been unable to provide easy and effective testing to most of the population.

Image credits Richard Codor (above) World Meters (below/right)

The testing timeline in the U.S. has been rocky. The first case of coronavirus in the U.S. was registered on January 20, but fewer than 4,000 tests had been administered in the U.S. by February 27. The number of tests given by March 12 was less than 4,000. The United States has been unable to provide large-scale testing for the virus until recently. In a March 12 hearing in the Hosue of Representatives, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a key figure in the United States’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic addressed the issue.

The system is not really geared to what we need right now, what you are asking for. That is a failing. Let’s admit it. The fact is, the way the system was set up is that the public health component…was a system where you put it out there in the public and a physician asks for it and you get it. The idea of anybody getting it easily, the way people in other countries are doing it, we’re not set up for that.

NBC

Early testing is crucial in limiting the spread of COVID-19. South Korea saw its first case of the virus on the same day that the United States did, January 20th, and the government was quick to implement a testing program. By March 5, South Korea had administered more than 140,000 tests.

Eric Feigl-Ding is a senior fellow and epidemiologist at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, D.C. He notes that South Korea is now testing 15,000 people a day, with a maximum capacity of 22,000.

In terms of per capita testing, Korea has run 3,600 tests per 1 million population. In contrast, U.S. has just run five tests per 1 million people.

NPR

That approach to this pandemic is paying off. On March 26, South Korea recorded a less than 1% (.98%) increase in cases of COVID-19. In contrast, cases in the U.S. increased by 26.5%. Those numbers are only going to increase as the United States struggles to combat a healthcare crisis with a system unprepared to handle it.

Why does Coronavirus Spreading So Easily?

Outside a host, viruses are dormant. They have none of the traditional trappings of life: metabolism, motion, the ability to reproduce. AD

And they can last this way for quite a long time. Recent laboratory research showed that, although SARS-CoV-2 typically degrades in minutes or a few hours outside a host, some particles can remain viable — potentially infectious — on cardboard for up to 24 hours and on plastic and stainless steel for up to three days. In 2014, a virus frozen in permafrost for 30,000 years that scientists retrieved was able to infect an amoeba after being revived in the lab.

Washington Post

This could have been stopped by implementing testing and surveillance much earlier — for example, when the first imported cases were identified.

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York.

Now at least 160 million Americans have been ordered to stay home in states from California to New York. Schools are closed, often along with bars, restaurants and many other businesses. Hospitals are coping with soaring numbers of patients in New York City, even as supplies of essential protective gear and equipment dwindle.

NY Times

Sources:

Loss of Sense of Smell May Be Symptom of CoVID-19

NY Times reports that doctor groups are recommending testing and isolation for people who feel their ability to smell and taste is reduced, even if they have no other symptoms.

They report that an infected mother said she couldn’t smell her baby’s full diaper and cooks say they can’t smell curry or garlic and that the food tastes bland.

Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, and ageusia, an accompanying diminished sense of taste, have emerged as peculiar telltale signs of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and possible markers of infection.

NY Times

Measures Taken to Decriminalize Psychedelics in Washington D.C

Earlier this year advances were taken in the early steps to decriminalize many psychedelics in Washington D.C. The Ballot initiative was given initial approval by the Board of Elections, and will now have to get the approval of their title and summary statement. If the ballot initiative goes through, psychedelics will be of the lowest priority in local law enforcement. The measure does not remove any penalties. Decriminalize Nature D.C is the organization behind this ballot initiative and had many advocates speak in favor of decriminalization at its original hearing.

Decriminalization can only bring safety and knowledge around the therapeutic use of substances that are already widely available, It will allow therapist to speak candidly to clients, researchers and students to pursue areas of study without fear of retribution, and an overall more educated society.”

Measure To Decriminalize Psychedelics Advances In Washington, DC

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Last year Denver, Colorado became the first city to decriminalize psychedelics and several more cities have followed suit. Many people have advocated the legalization of psilocybin mushrooms because of their therapeutic purposes.

Sources

Elon Musk Donates 12,500 Ventilators to Hospitals

Earlier this week Elon Musk purchased 1255 FDA approved ventilators from Chinese manufactures. Tesla is currently in the process of getting them distributed and installed, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Tesla has also supplied 500,000 masks for health care workers. This occurred after Musk tweeted out that Tesla would manufacture ventilators if there was a shortage.

We expect to have over ~1,200 [ventilators] to distribute this week. Getting them delivered, installed & operating is the harder part.

Musk via Twitter

Musk had previously been dismissive over the outbreak of the virus tweeting out “The Coronavirus panic is dumb” later clarifying that he believes the panic to be more dangerous than the virus itself. He later reported that Tesla is working on ventilators although it is not clear how long it will take to manufacture these ventilators, it could be months.

This is such a critical time for America and the world. It is a time for action and cooperation. By coming together across multiple industries, we can make a real difference for people in need and for those on the front lines of this crisis. At Ford, we feel a deep obligation to step up and contribute in times of need, just as we always have through the 117-year history of our company.”

Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman

Despite steps being taken by the companies, the president has not ordered these companies to manufacture medical supplies through the Defense Production Act, which was invoked on Wednesday, and the decision to manufacture medical supplies is up to the discretion of each company.

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DOJ Wants to Suspend Certain Constitutional Rights Because of Coronavirus

Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) wants chief judges to be able to hold people and suspend other constitutionally-protected rights indefinitely without trial during pandemics like coronavirus and other national emergencies, according to a report by Politico’s Betsy Woodruff Swan.

POLITICO reviewed documents that show the DOJ quietly asked Congress to draft legislation.

The move has tapped into a broader fear among civil liberties advocates and Donald Trump’s critics — that the president will use a moment of crisis to push for controversial policy changes. Already, he has cited the pandemic as a reason for heightening border restrictions and restricting asylum claims. He has also pushed for further tax cuts as the economy withers, arguing it would soften the financial blow to Americans. And even without policy changes, Trump has vast emergency powers that he could deploy right now to try to slow the coronavirus outbreak.

The DOJ requests — which are unlikely to make it through a Democratic-led House — span several stages of the legal process, from initial arrest to how cases are processed and investigated.

POLITICO

The DOJ has requested Congress allow any chief judge of a district court to pause court proceedings “whenever the district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situation,” according to draft language obtained by Politico. This would be applicable to “any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil processes and proceedings.” They justify this by saying currently judges can pause judicial proceedings in an emergency but that new legislation would allow them to apply it “in a consistent manner.”

Rolling Stone

Dogs May Test Positive For Coronavirus – No Evidence They Can Transmit to Humans

A second dog tested positive for coronavirus in China. Dogs have not shown symptoms of the disease. The Hong Kong government is urging people to stop kissing their pets and also to not abandon them either.

Update: PLEASE DO NOT GIVE AWAY YOUR DOG BECAUSE OF THIS ARTICLE! That is not the intentional suggestion of this article. The best advice one can probably get from this article is that you may not want to be overly affectionate with other people’s dogs right now if you are immunocompromised or you stay with someone who is. But, it’s very important to note that there is no indication the dog can transmit the virus to humans.

In February an elderly 17-year-old Pomeranian tested “weak positive” for the virus. The dog was quarantined until deemed to be free of coronavirus, then the owner took the dog home. The dog died two days later. It is extremely unlikely that the dog died from the virus but we’re told the dog’s owner wasn’t willing to allow an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Last week a German shepherd in Hong Kong was sent for quarantine after their owner was confirmed as being infected. The dog “repeatedly tested positive” for the COVID-19 virus.

The Hong Kong animal-welfare authority stressed that there is currently no evidence that pets can be a source of the virus or that they can get sick from it. “Under no circumstances should [owners] abandon their pets,” it said.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) said that infectious disease experts and multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations, all agree there is no evidence at this point to indicate that pets become ill with Covid-19 or that they spread it to other animals, including people.

Market Watch

Does Elderberry Increase Risk Of Death With CoVID-19?

There are a few articles circulating around the natural-health blogosphere that warn of potential increased risk when consuming Elderberry to avoid or lessen the severity of the coronavirus.

…elderberry also enhances cytokine response, which may not be so good when one of the complications of pandemic influenza is cytokine storm.

Vancouver Sun – 2010

This concern comes from a 2001 study that concluded:

Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production.

NCBI – 2001

But a 2016 study showed Elderberry can inhibit cytokines in people who have a health issue where cytokines were not helpful to the overall situation.

A natural preparation “Inflaminat” based on black elder berries (Sambucus nigra L.), violet tricolor herb (Viola tricolor L.) and calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis L.) possessing anti-cytokine activity was developed using the designed algorithm.

Science Direct – 2016

Furthermore, cytokine storms are a consequence of severe infections. A cytokine storm will happen when someone is severely ill with any influenza or any Coronavirus. At this point, when someone is dealing with a cytokine storm, the person should be hooked up to a ventilator.

Conclusion – Is Elderberry Safe with Coronavirus?

Elderberry, as a preventative tonic, without any added sugars, is perfectly safe to consume if someone is trying to avoid or lessen the severity of a virus, including coronavirus. Elderberry seems to suppress viruses and may reduce inflammation. Also, check out other supplements to defend against coronavirus.