Lots to report today. First let me give you the daily info, then I’ll get to the news.
We are 66 days since our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut. We are 8 days from the scheduled beginning of re-opening.
1189 are currently hospitalized, down 23 today
3041 have died, 33 today
We had an AFL-CIO call with the commissioner of CT Workers Compensation today. He says there were 259 claims filed as of a few days ago. He expects all claims to be denied (form 43) because if a form 43 is not filed within 28 days the window for contesting the claim closes. He said a form 43 does not mean in every cased that the claim will actually be contested at hearing.
He did not know if or how many people were receiving continued pay or having medical expenses covered in those 259 cases.
Our attorney tells me that this is accurate. If a Form 43 is not filed with 28 days, the claim is presumed accepted.
However, we have had 2 members cases denied (form 43) so far, But the two 43s we have for our members are contested and were accompanied with a statement stating, in essence, that the virus may not have been contracted in the course of employment. We are receiving more claims as we speak.
I want to remind you that AFT CT members have legal representation for Worker’s Compensation, Unemployment, and DCF cases, so talk to your Local leadership
We have received a response on 2 OSHA complaints that were filed against Hartford Healthcare (Backus + Windham). You won’t be surprised to know that HHC feels they have done nothing wrong. There will be a next step.
Connecticut will have a new commissioner of the Department of Public Health. With the looming May 20 target date to reopen some non-essential businesses, Gov. Ned Lamont thought it was a good time to change leadership at the state Department of Public Health https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ctpost.com/local/amp/Coleman-Mitchell-is-out-as-commissioner-of-public-15263949.php
An article by Reveal that aired in WNPR last weekend with VNA RN Martha Marx. There is a link in the article to listen to the broadcasts.
“ A lobbying campaign driven by scarcity pushed the CDC to relax protective gear guidelines. Now tens of thousands of health workers are infected.”
Article about Hartford HealthCare and Yale Locals
Nurses preparing to push for ‘adequate PPE,’ hazard pay
Interesting article by Hartford Healthcare that explains the difference and importance of N95 respirators as opposed to masks.
Cloth Mask vs. Surgical Mask: The Surprising COVID-19 Winner
May 07, 2020
Which mask offers the best protection from COVID-19, a surgical mask or cloth mask? The answer: an N95 mask.
Well, that wasn’t fair. An N95 mask, which filters 95 percent of particles, is not recommended for public use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because these masks are critical supplies for the nation’s healthcare workers. An N95 is the best protection against COVID-19.
But both the CDC and World Health Organization recommend people wear a cloth mask in public when social distancing, defined as at least 6 feet from other people, is not possible. A mask is not a substitute for social distancing, but it protects nearby people from possible infection if you sneeze and expel droplets of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
A study published in April in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a cloth mask offers more protection than a surgical mask for people nearby. Researchers, using a measurement for viral loads, found 2.42 log copies per milliliter on the exterior of surgical masks and 1.85 log copies per milliliter on the exterior of cloth masks of infected patients at two hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. In the study, four infected patients coughed five times into a petri dish wearing no mask, then a surgical mask, then a cotton mask and, finally, one more round without a mask. Without a mask, the patients’ viral loads measured 2.56 log copies per milliliter.
How this pantyhose tweak can make your cloth mask even more protective. Click here.
Researchers swabbed from the each mask’s interior and exterior. Notably, most swabs from the inner-mask surface were negative. All swabs from the outer mask surface were positive. That’s the science behind recommendations that people refrain from touching mask exteriors. Remove a mask without touching the exterior. If cloth, throw it in the washing machine for an old-fashioned cleaning.
So why were there no viral particles inside the masks? Researchers have two theories.
“A turbulent jet due to air leakage around the mask edge could contaminate the outer surface,” according to the research letter. “Alternatively, the small aerosols of SARS-CoV-2 generated during a high velocity cough might penetrate the masks.”
Here, briefly, are protective characteristics of each mask:
N95: A respirator (above) evaluated, tested and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that filters 95 percent of airborne particles, protecting the wearer from large particles and small aerosol particles. Its effectiveness depends on a tight fit the the wear’s familiarity with getting the proper fit to minimize leakage.
Surgical mask: Sometimes called a medical mask, it protects people from the wearer’s respiratory emissions. (See below.) But it’s designed to protect against large droplets, splashes or sprays of bodily fluid or other type of fluid. Surgical masks are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Cloth mask: A dual-layered cloth mask is sufficient to protect people in public settings. It’s unlikely you’ll be infected in public by airborne viral particles. The real threat is touching an infected surface and then putting your hand to your face: Frequent hand-washing is a sure way to avoid COVID-19.
Need to see your doctor? New Patient? For more information about Hartford HealthCare virtual health visits, click here.
Click here to schedule a virtual visit with a Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth Urgent care doctor.
Stay with Hartford HealthCare for everything you need to know about the coronavirus threat. Click here for information updated daily.
Questions? Call our 24-hour hotline (860.972.8100 or, toll-free, 833.621.0600).
Get text alerts by texting 31996 with COVID19 in the message field.
https://hartfordhealthcaremedicalgroup.org/about-us/news-center/news-detail?articleid=26004&publicId=395
Action tomorrow at the L&M Local Office
Last night I had the honor of seconding the nomination of Joe Courtney for US Congress. Martha Marx made the nomination. Martha is also an AFT CT VNA RN member a candidate for State Senate.
I’ll end with this picture, taken 9 years ago yesterday. We had just finished counting the votes that formed the Backus Federation of Nurses
Be well,
John
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