CoViD-19: Orange Plays Chicken With Governor | County Jobs: Become A Contact Tracer | Death Isn't The Only Metric That Matters | Wear A Mask

Darren dons a mask at Fiesta Island (taken 7.14.2020)

When I was a little girl, maybe 1st grade, I was in a school talent show. Me and two other girls sang a variation on the San Diego Zoo theme song and during my performance I kept shushing one of the other girls for singing too loud. 

Not much has changed all these decades later (The Bossy R) because while watching today's County Media Briefing, all I wanted to do was comment back to everyone still denying the virus, blaming the governor, arguing about having to wear masks, complaining that their gyms and salons are closed: STFU. WE TRIED YOUR WAY AND IT DIDN'T WORK, SO COMPLY OR FURTHER RUIN OUR ECONOMY AND LIVELIHOODS AND WATCH MORE PEOPLE DIE OR SUFFER THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF THIS SCARY VIRUS AND DISEASE. Yeah, free speech, whatever, people are 'entitled to their opinions' but this virus and science in general does not care what you believe, there aren't always two valid sides to every story, and you NOT wearing a mask actually impinges on MY rights to LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Phew. I feel better now. /rant, as they say.

• The not so great escape: Korean visitor recaptured after trying to flee coronavirus quarantine in Hong Kong for third time - South China Morning Post (7.13.2020)
  (Fine of $25,000hk for breaking quarantine is approximately $3200US)
• Don't Talk About Covid-19’s ‘Waves’—This Isn’t the Spanish Flu -WIRED
  The findings were conclusive: The earlier and harsher a country’s lockdown, the lower its eventual death toll. “The case is closed in terms of how best to contain this,” says Amitava Banerjee, associate professor in clinical data science at University College London. “The less stringent your measures, the more deaths you have, by a country mile.”
• WEAR A GODDAMN MASK:
• Universal Masking to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Transmission—The Time Is Now (JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association) Early in the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that anyone symptomatic for suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should wear a face covering during transport to medical care and prior to isolation to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets. After emerging data documented transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from persons without symptoms, the recommendation was expanded to the general community, with an emphasis on cloth face coverings that could be made more widely available in the community than surgical masks and to preserve personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators to the highest-risk exposures in health care settings. Now, there is ample evidence that persons without symptoms spread infection and may be the critical driver needed to maintain epidemic momentum.
• CDC calls on Americans to wear masks to prevent COVID-19 spread - CDC (7.14.2020)
• Outrage after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp voids local orders requiring face masks - MarketWatch
• Schools: To Re-Open Or Not To Re-Open
• Kids as pawns - Popular.info (7.14.2020)
• CVESD follows SDUSD & LAUSD Decisions: School Year to Start in Distance Learning Model
• Orange County's largest school districts won't comply with Board of Education vote to return to classroom - CNN (7.14.2020)
• Meanwhile, here are Orange County's CoViD-19 stats (spoiler alert: it's very, very bad)
• St. Pete (Florida) law firm offering free living wills for teachers returning to school amid coronavirus surge - WFLA 
• Navy Ship USS Bonhomme Richard Fire:
• APCD (Air Pollution Control District) has released lab results for air samples collected on first day of Navy ship fire. 
• County of San Diego Media Briefing
• Over 500+ new cases again
• 12 new deaths (after 14 new deaths yesterday)
• Contact tracing is significantly down but county put out a job announcement with over 300+ applications since announce
• Scripps doctor explained long-term complication trends from COVID-19 
• Blood-clotting
• Smoking/vaping increase severity of lung problems 
• Pulmonary/breathing complications
• Neurologic disorder/so-called "foggy brain"
• Increase stroke
• General weakness
• Cardiac failure
• Kidney problems 
• 40 year old spend 45 days in hospital. Wife and brother both also infected. Spent whole time intubated with a ventilator on his stomach.
• SARS and MERS both had long-term lung function problems
• Important to PREVENT the illness, not just 'get it and get over it'
• 3 skilled nursing facilities have had state help with staffing
• Del Mar Thoroughbred Club tested jockeys/trainers/staff did testing; 15 positives (all asymptomatic but now in isolation for 10 days)
• Confirmed cases are not duplicated tests on same positive case
• Contact tracing is about 75-80% in 48 hours, but only 46% in 24 hours. 
• County could be more restrictive, but not less than state order. County will continue to comply with state orders. 
• FEMA extended Great Plates through August 9
• More Young San Diegans Getting Sick, Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 - County News Center (7.14.2020)
• Long-read press release from Bolte Media client Lorna M. Johnson:

“SPORTS, SCHOOLS, AND COLLEGES MUST NOT RE-OPEN THIS FALL UNTIL WE ARE CONFIDENT STUDENTS AND ATHLETES LIVES CAN BE PROTECTED. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR,” SAYS LORNA M. JOHNSON, FORMER OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE, NURSE MIDWIFE AND HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE

LOS ANGELES, CA - July 15, 2020 – Lorna M. Johnson, the Lorna M. Johnson Global Institute's founder and the sponsor of the Change.Org petition on priority protections for Healthcare workers, is urging the government, sports business owners and schools to not re-open this fall and put their students and athletes lives first.

“There is no room for error,” Johnson said. “People are dying. When you open the schools up, when you open the NFL stadiums up, when you open colleges and college athletics, you will add fuel to this virus, and we will not have a do-over. This hits every age group – school-age children, millennials, GenX - it’s not just the Boomer generation. We need to create a comprehensive, consistent plan from the government, education departments, college presidents, school superintendents, sports franchise owners, and any events that can be a super spreader.  

“Until we have that plan, we need to go back to the basics — the one-two-three of preventing the spread.  Wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing. We can help bring the infection rates down by doing this and prevent the crash of our healthcare system. Young people will adapt to the way they need to learn. Sports will transform.  It's not just about ourselves but also about the healthcare workers, our families, our neighbors, and our community.”

To advocate for her fellow Healthcare workers, Johnson created a Priority of Service petition with Change.Org that demands protections and rights for nurses and healthcare workers who are front-line in the fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“It is no longer an if, but it is a now, as we are in a bigger wave of infections than when we first sheltered at home. Our healthcare workers and systems must have the tools they need to continue standing on the front-lines," added Johnson. “This petition demands our voices be heard in supporting our Healthcare systems and workers. We face a total shutdown of our healthcare system if we continue to ignore our front line workers' needs.”

To sign the petition, click here. Click here to find a COVID-19 testing site near you.

ABOUT:

Lorna M Johnson, MSN, NM, NP, is a business leader, philanthropist, nurse-midwife, and clinical professor. This proud U.S. citizen of Jamaican-Cuban heritage has served as an international dignitary, diplomat, and consultant. She is the founder of the Lorna M. Johnson Global Institute and Foundation, a Past Member of The National Healthcare Advisory Committee for President Barack Obama, an Advisory Board Past Appointee of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and a Queen Mother in Ghana, among other accolades.  Ms. Johnson founded and serves as an owner/executive for the Advanced Family Care Medical Group, an inner-city medical clinic serving thousands of patients in East and South Central Los Angeles, California. She is a former international track and field athlete who qualified for the Olympics in the 100m dash (11.4) and four by 100m relay team. She has dedicated her life to wellness, social justice, and education, especially for women and girls.