Coronavirus Checkpoints

I don't see an open Coronavirus thread ATM, so here's a few tidbits from late Saturday:

From the Miami Herald, paywalled and too difficult to quote from: The Florida Keys set up checkpoints to keep tourists out, but the checkpoints will likely be taken down Sunday.

DeSantis purchases coronavirus drug touted by Trump, orders screening of New York-area drivers coming to Florida on I-95

At a news conference Saturday, DeSantis also said there would be a new checkpoint for drivers coming from the New York City area into Florida via Interstate 95.
When DeSantis ordered all air travelers from the New York City region to be screened, he said checking vehicles for New Yorkers wasn’t feasible. But on Friday he ordered a checkpoint for Louisiana drivers coming into the Panhandle via Interstate 10 since New Orleans was another “hotspot” for coronavirus cases.

Oh, and he ordered a bunch of hydroxychloroquine because El Trumpo is an expert in everything.

Rhode Island Police Go Door-To-Door In Hunt For New Yorkers

Rhode Island Police Go Door-To-Door In Hunt For New Yorkers ... They’re being ordered to self-quarantine for two weeks. Police on Friday also pulled over cars with New York license plates to give drivers the same orders. Cars traveling over the border encountered law enforcement authorities and signs ordering New York drivers to pull over to a checkpoint for questioning.
National Guard members have also been posted at Rhode Island’s airport, train stations and bus stops to grill travelers.
...
The American Civil Liberties Union blasted the governor’s crackdown as unconstitutional ... Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not ... constitute ‘probable cause’ to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver

It's going to be a long 18 months, folks.

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PriceRip's picture

          Isn't this the (Trump recommended) substance that killed a man recently?

[video:https://youtu.be/lY1zzRuPqdk]

RIP

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WoodsDweller's picture

That would be the drug. You see, Trump "really gets this stuff".

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

edg's picture

@WoodsDweller

They took a version used to treat ich and velvet in saltwater aquarium fish and to kill algae growing in fish tanks and ponds. Definitely not fit for human consumption.

A Phoenix-area man is dead and his wife is under critical care after the two took chloroquine phosphate in an apparent attempt to self-medicate for the novel coronavirus, according to hospital system Banner Health.

It does not appear they took the pharmaceutical version of the drug, but rather "an additive commonly used at aquariums to clean fish tanks," Banner Health said in a statement.

Source: Fearing coronavirus, Arizona man dies after taking a form of chloroquine used to treat aquariums

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Centaurea's picture

east of New Orleans has been inundated with Orleanians fleeing the COVID outbreak. As if there's a way to "flee" a pandemic.

There are small towns all along the Gulf Coast in MS, AL, and FL. Last week, residents there were told to stay home and not go into New Orleans for anything. They did as instructed.

But here came the people from New Orleans, bumper to bumper on the Interstate, overwhelming the small towns, and no doubt bringing COVID with them

I understand the "cringe" factor when we read about RI police looking for refugees from NYC. I can understand why people would want to get out of a city overrun by disease.

But I can also understand why those in the communities trying to self-isolate but being invaded would want to keep them out.

I also think this situation demonstrates why the likely consequences of climate change are a matter of national security, as Bernie has often said.

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"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

Lily O Lady's picture

@Centaurea

never seem to learn.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

@Centaurea
People have been fleeing from NY and NJ to these two places, too. It strains the resources and health infrastructure. They bring the virus with them. They need to stay home.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

Is it possible to top the left column or the masthead with a temporary link to an COVID-19 OT Diary. We all have frequent tidbits and news to drop. It would be great if there was a place to do that.

I haven't thought this through. It sounds like I'm asking for an imbedded app with it's own db.

But on that note, an evening Fireside Chatroom would be nice. Members only.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato

@Pluto's Republic
a continuous open ended OT that can added to at any time. Why don't you write the body to it Pluto, and then I'll put a link to it at the top of both the CC and front page.

It will be our chronicle for future reference.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@JtC

I thought that might be cumbersome, but if not, I'm game.

I suppose it could be hand indexed, unless tags are possible.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato

@Pluto's Republic
about the numbers.

Tags are possible.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@JtC

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Pluto's Republic's picture

FDA Approves Centuries-Old Blood Treatment for Critical Coronavirus Patients

.

March 26, 2020

The Food and Drug Administration has announced that physicians treating critically ill coronavirus patients now can use a centuries-old practice that injects sick people with the blood plasma of survivors of infectious diseases.

A treatment, known as convalescent plasma, will immediately allow doctors in the U.S. to use plasma donated by coronavirus survivors to treat patients who are in critical condition with COVID-19.

Medical experts say plasma from recovered patients is rich in antibodies against the virus.
“Use of convalescent plasma has been studied in outbreaks of other respiratory infections, including the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, and the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic. Although promising, convalescent plasma has not been shown to be effective in every disease studied,” the FDA said in the announcement.

.

The Chinese had favorably mentioned the technique in medical journals. It was reported to get seriously ill patients off ventilators.

I've seen calls for donors and stories of quick recoveries in the US. I guess they were testing ahead of FDA approval.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced New York doctors will begin to test convalescent plasma therapy in a trial starting in late March.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
WoodsDweller's picture

@Pluto's Republic @Pluto's Republic
John Campbell has been talking about antibody test kits (showing that the patient has had and, presumably, has recovered from the virus) as being close. Combine the two and you might have something.

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

Pluto's Republic's picture

@WoodsDweller

From way back in early medicine. They used whole blood transfusions in the beginning. Live medicine.

But, each hospital will have a list of donors they cured to solicit plasma from. So, they can make their own medicine. Pharmaceuticals have a very long lede time.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
CB's picture

@Pluto's Republic
within weeks from start of the pandemic. There were many ex-patients who were very happy to donate their blood to help others.

Expert: Plasma of cured patients effective in treating coronavirus
14-Feb-2020

Large amounts of antibodies have been identified in the plasma of some recovered coronavirus patients, Zhang Dingyu, director of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital said in a press conference on Thursday.

Initial results have shown the effectiveness of plasma transfusion in treating patients infected with the novel coronavirus, he said, calling on recovered patients to donate blood to help others.

The China National Biotec Group (CNBG) on Thursday said in a statement posted on Chinese social media platform WeChat that they have successfully prepared special immune plasma products, and will use them in the clinical treatment of severe coronavirus patients.

Made from plasma donated by cured patients, the products were prepared after virus inactivation treatment, and antibody neutralization tests against the novel coronavirus and multiple pathogens, CNBG explained.

Over 10 patients have so far accepted to undergo the new special immune plasma therapy with their condition significantly improving 12 to 24 hours after the treatment.
...
"First, donors must be in good health… we won't collect their plasma forcefully," Shen said. "They must donate voluntarily."

Shen said that he has been touched by the donors. "We will have more of the plasma since more patients are recovering."

Zhong Nanshan: plasma therapy is effective and safe
18-Feb-2020

"Plasma therapy is effective and safe," said Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory expert, at a press conference in Guangdong Province on Tuesday.

Zhong was responding to a question about the effectiveness and risk of using plasma from recovered coronavirus pneumonia patients to treat patients with severe symptoms.

In explaining his position, Zhong recalled that plasma therapy was first used to treat H5N1 in 2005 and again to treat H1N1 in 2009 with positive results.
...
"The advantage of the therapy is that it doesn't conflict with different blood types," Zhong said, expressing optimism about the treatment.

He, however, stressed that it's particularly effective to severely ill patients, but not for critically ill patients.
...
Zhong told reporters work and research are speeding up on medicines to treat this new virus and a drug called Chloroquine phosphate has shown good clinical efficacy.

"Chloroquine is not really a kind of medicine with a special effect, but it is worthy of study," Zhong said.
...

I have been following the coronavirus in China almost from the very start and have been extremely impressed by their actions. It really pisses me off that the Trump administration refused to take their (or the WHO's) advice. Now look at the mess the country is in.

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Hawkfish's picture

@CB

Has led to a backup in donating capacity. Last week I tried to get an appointment for my entire (co-isolated) family to give blood at once but they were booked out until late April. And from the way they scheduled it, I think they can only take one person at a time. Not sure how the supply / demand situation gets fixed under those conditions.

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We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg

Lily O Lady's picture

@Pluto's Republic

treated at Emory University Hospital.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

ggersh's picture

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

CB's picture

@ggersh
It indicts the US as a nation which once was a unifier of nations to one that now intentionally divides them into hostile camps.

I would argue that not much has really changed other than the names of the "teams". Prior to the fall of the USSR, there was a bi-polar world. China's sphere of influence at this time did not extend much beyond it's borders. With the disintegration of the Soviet block, there were tremendous hopes for a multi-polar world where nations could become equals among equals.

But that was not to be. The US quickly strove to position itself as first among equals. It used it's considerable financial and military power to expand it's sphere of influence to the very borders of both Russia and China. But try as it might, the US could not hold back the growth in power of these arch-rivals. These countries worked in tandem to effectively constrain and neuter American global influence in an increasingly non-aligned world.

The one thing this coronavirus pandemic has done is to lay bare America's declining power and impotence to the entire world.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RQxD4Ff7dY]

Unfortunately, I don't think The Wizard of America will leave the stage as benignly.

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CB's picture

get into big fight about allowing citizens to pass freely between these two borders after Hubei quarantine lifted. Jiangxi police went to Hubei side to check health certificates before allowing people to cross. Wuhan city still in partial lock-down - enter but not leave.

People who are afraid of COVID-19 spreading versus people who want freedom to go home or to work.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diW-LRz_T2A]

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The Gov here in RI is putting up hurdles
not only to the state economy, but also
interstate commerce. Dancing around legal
authority, using fed guide lines and going creative
from there. This protection racket is aimed at
civilians so far, enforced by the cops. Seems they are
hunting down suspected NY Yankee fans trying to
infiltrate the Red Sox nation with a pox.

We are here to protect Boston. The normal mafia NYC thru
PVD to BOS route is still open, if you have the right plates.

Going house to house searching for scary yorkers is a bridge
too far, IMHO. The cops just want to 'interview' suspected
foreigners so far. Might help if the local authorities had an actual
field test to use. Just setting up the pre-conditions for travel permits.

Get's added to your EZ PASS for a small fee.
/s

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