Corona Virus Update 6/29

Today, on our 112th day since our first confirmed covid case in Connecticut, our hospitalizations dropped below 100 (99) To date, 4,320 residents have died from this Virus You have all done a great job in advocating for proper PPE to keep healthcare workers and patients safer. It has not been easy. Hospitals were quick to use the parts of CDC guidelines that suited them while ignoring the underlying message that Full Airborne protections should be utilized unless there was a shortage. Now that hospitalizations are down, let's advocate for a return to normal infection control practices that we have always adhered too before the pandemic. It might be just the thing to help prevent a second wave.  Let's also push for adequate supplies on hand and for the President to order manufacturers to produce the PPE we will need for the second wave or whatever pandemic comes next. Good news from Michigan! Michigan Medicine Physician Assistants say ‘Union Yes’

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and AFT Michigan President David Hecker following the announcement that the University of Michigan has officially recognized the AFT as the representative of the nearly 350 physician assistants employed at Michigan Medicine: AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “As the country faces unprecedented economic, health and racial justice crises, workers need job security, financial and health protections, and a voice on the job more than ever. Our frontline workers, like those at Michigan Medicine, show up for the people of Ann Arbor every day and have been on the frontlines of this pandemic—they protect us, and they deserve protections to keep themselves and their families safe.  “Today is a victory for close to 350 healthcare workers, but more broadly for the people of Michigan, who rely on Michigan Medicine for high-quality frontline care for their families. I want to give special thanks to the tireless work of AFT Michigan and the University of Michigan for working together to make this possible. As the university continues to navigate its response to the crises we face, they have shown that if we have decision-makers in the room who value worker dignity and voice, we can emerge stronger together.” AFT Michigan President David Hecker said: “The physician assistants on the United Physician Assistants at Michigan Medicine organizing committee did a solid job talking to other physician assistants and building consensus around the need for a union—the need to have a strong voice at the table. Organizing a union is always hard work, but doing it in the middle of a global pandemic is tremendous. We welcome UPAMM into AFT Michigan.” ###  Special thanks to Trung Le RN, from our UHP Local, who once again spoke up to tell his story of contracting Covid-19 while on the front line. Tonight he spoke to the DTC Platform Drafting Committee to help them prepare the platform that will guide the party. Be well, John

Corona Virus Update 6/26

Today marks 100 days since the first Covid-19 death in Connecticut
We have lost 4,307 Connecticut residents to this Virus in those 100 days
Today we have 127 hospitalized, which is far less than our peak of 1,972, but it is up 5 from yesterday
414,889 have been tested, 46,059 have been positive, 65 in the past 24 hours

 In many southern and western states, cases continue to climb.
The “U.S. set a record on Tuesday, as 34,700 new cases of COVID-19 were reported” and  “On Wednesday, that record was broken, as more than 38,000 new cases of the coronavirus were reported.

Anne-Marie in Manchester sent me this graphic on Covid deaths worldwide. It shows worldwide Covid deaths as compared to deaths of other causes. It starts on January 1 and moves forward. Covid begins at the bottom of the chart on January 1. 

https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/2645529/?utm_source=embed&fbclid=IwAR03nafF0TJ9nI-tZOxmam8bc0rn0V2-byQ1bRwsPXVZtZoXvhQGZKC79EU

This is info from our law firm on what is helpful in a worker’s compensation case:

John and Bill,

Attached is a recent medical report we received regarding one of our many COVID Workers’ Comp cases.

This, or something similar, is very helpful in getting a favorable result for our members.

We are also asking these members to document and share with us records of any loss as a result of contracting COVID at work.

• Use of PTO
• Any period of time that was unpaid
• Any benefits/ money received from a short time or long term disability policy
• Any out of pocket expenses associated with treatment (prescriptions, deductibles, co-pays, etc.)

Thanks,

Eric

The letter from the doctor says “in my professional option, within a  reasonable degree of medical probability, I believe that ####### obtained COVID-19 from close contact at work. Patient relates that they were (then describes how they worked closely with a patient for X amount of time) and a few days later the patient tested positive. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said Thursday that nationwide serological testing, or testing for antibodies, shows that the rate of infection, including from asymptomatic cases, is much higher than the confirmed number of diagnosed illnesses. ‘Our best estimate right now is that for every case that was reported, there actually are 10 other infections,’ Redfield said on a call with reporters.”

This Virus has taken a toll on healthcare workers. Over 600 have died and others are stressed, tired, and in need of a break. Many also need someone to talk to as PSTD is a reality.
Please take advantage of resources, including Emotional care, grief counseling and other resources for people in need, available through these sites:

1. Your facility's Employee Health Plans

2. AFT Trauma Services

https://www.aft.org/benefits/trauma

3. Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/virtual-family-assistance-center/ct-family-assistance-center.html

 Be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 6/24

We are 108 days since our first confirmed casein Connecticut. 

Hospitalizations are down to 124. 

Cases are spiking in other states. 

Connecticut is now asking travelers from some states to self quarantine for 14 days to help prevent a second wave here. 

We have worked very hard with the Governor’s Office on presumptive Workers Compensation. (The presumption would be that if you worked in healthcare, and contracted Covid, that it was work related) You have shared your stories and it has made a difference. Although we have not achieved our goal of an executive order on presumption, we have made improvements. One of them was in having hospitals cover Covid related healthcare expenses without copays or deductibles. It has not been easy, but I am happy to let you know that your efforts have finally gotten us to have the Governor’s Office pressure ALL of our hospitals to waive these fees. As of now, any treatment of our members for Covid at our hospitals will be with zero copays or deductibles. 

It is important that you let me know if this is not the case in practice. 

Top U.S. health officials told lawmakers Tuesday that they haven’t discussed the Covid-19 pandemic with President Donald Trump for more than two weeks, a period in which cases have surged in some of the most populous states.

Link

Yesterday I shared the first clip of a cartoon story strip. Here is the link to the complete story strip. 

https://thenib.com/in-vulnerable-martha/ 

Be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 6/23

We are 107 days since our first confirmed case of Covid in Connecticut. We are 98 days since our first death.  We are 33 days into reopening.

Hospitalizations are down to 138 (the high was (1,972)

We have lost 4,277 Connecticut residents (in 98 days)

This is from an article in late April but still relevant as our numbers in Connecticut’s hospitals drop and we fight to return to “normal infection control practices.”  In April we filed OSHA complaints because our members were at risk from a lack of PPE- https://www.thedailybeast.com/osha-complaints-flood-in-from-covid-19-frontline-health-workers

“In another complaint against Backus Hospital in Connecticut, Sherri Dayton, an emergency nurse, wrote that the hospital “is not providing healthcare workers with N95s when coming into close contact with suspected and confirmed COVID patients,” who themselves are not made to wear surgical masks. “The hospital has surgical masks for every patient, but is not requiring patients to wear them in the room,” wrote Dayton. “The hospital also has N95s but is not giving them to employees who are caring for unmasked patients.”

This in response to Danbury Nurses picking up AFT provided PPE this week: 

“Interesting that Dawn Martin phoned me to inform me that Danbury Hospital has  over a 3 month supply of masks etc. I reassured her that this was for our nurses protection and not an insult to Danbury Hospital. This is a high five to AFT CT and AFT National”. 

My response to Danbury Nurses (and all of you)

“Nice.

Can you ask her if that means a 3 month supply of PPE at CDC Conventional Capacity usage rate? (burn rate) And if they say "yes" can you ask why the PPE is not now "one patient/one time" use, like it has always been for infection control prior to the pandemic.”

Can you all ask the same of you’re employers?

Article from the NIH Director about the results of mitigation policies on the spread of the Virus. The results seem to be consistent with what we saw in Connecticut. Early in the pandemic we were seeing a doubling of cases every 2-3 days. 

“As difficult as the shutdowns have been, new research shows that without these public health measures, things would have been much, much worse. According to a study published recently in Nature [1], the implementation of containment and mitigation strategies across the globe prevented or delayed about 530 million coronavirus infections across six countries—China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, France, and the United States. Take a moment to absorb that number—530 million. Right now, there are 8.8 million cases documented across the globe.

The result? Early in the pandemic, coronavirus infection rates grew 38 percent each day, on average, across the six countries: translating to a two-day doubling time. Applying all policies at once slowed the daily COVID-19 infection rate by 31 percentage points! Policies having the clearest benefit were business closures and lockdowns, whereas travel restrictions and bans on social gatherings had mixed results. Without more data, the analysis can’t specify why, but the way different countries enacted those policies might be one reason.”

https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/06/23/public-health-policies-have-prevented-hundreds-of-millions-of-coronavirus-infections/

We've rescheduled our career education workshop on legal issues facing nurses and health professionals for members of affiliated healthcare unions that was previously canceled. Plan to join us online next month for what is sure to be an informative course: WHAT: Healthcare "Legal Issues" Training Workshop WHEN: Monday, July 27 from 5:00 to 7:00PM. (during the regular scheduled monthly Healthcare Council meeting). WHERE: Online via Zoom (access info to be provided prior to the workshop).  HOW: Click here to register online Issues covered include work-related injuries, how to file a claim for Worker’s Compensation if you contracted COVID-19, and the right to union representation. The presenter is AFT Connecticut legal counsel Eric Chester. Click here for more info to share with fellow union members. In this ever-changing environment, make sure you know where you stand and what rights you haveto union representation. More to come, and In solidarity, Jennifer Benevento Professional Issues & Development Coordinator, AFT Connecticut Bill Garrity Vice President for Healthcare, AFT Connecticut P.S. Can't make it to the training yourself but know fellow caregivers who would benefit? Forward this message to them so they can plan to join us. here is some information about the Red Cross’ virtual family assistance center: https://www.redcross.org/virtual-family-assistance-center/ct-family-assistance-center.html Emotional care, grief counseling and other resources for people in need are available through this site.  Thank you to Bill Gerrish of the CT DPH for providing this info.  I’ll close with a cartoon of one of our members that made national press.  Be well, John

Corona Virus Update, 6/20

We are 104 days since our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut

We are 30 days into reopening.

The good news is that hospitalizations are down to 150.

There have been 45,557 confirmed cases

4,238 have died.

Across the United States, we have had 2.28 million confirmed cases and 121,000 deaths

Worldwide there have been 8.72 million confirmed and 461,000 deaths

Over 600 healthcare workers have died.

We’re learning more about how to treat it and how to slow it’s spread but there is still much we are unsure of.

While cases in Connecticut continue to decline, cases in some other states are climbing.

Experts differ on what they think comes next with this pandemic, but we must understand that we are far from getting back to normal, even here in Connecticut. Healthcare workers continue to reuse PPE for days or weeks at a time, something that they would have been disciplined for in December, as it is a clear violation of standard infection control practices.

The President still has not invoked the Defense Production Act which would order manufacturers to produce PPE, much as is done with military hardware in wartime.

OSHA and The CDC have weakened guidance and placed caregivers and patients at increased risk.

The Senate refuses to take up the HEROES Act, which would fund towns, schools, hospitals and add protection for healthcare workers.

There will be time to analyze what we need to do better in a second wave or the next pandemic, and I am encouraged that our numbers are improving in Connecticut, but it is not time to signal “all safe.” Please remember that when you wear a mask, when you wash your hands, when you practice social distancing, it is not a political statement, it is showing respect for others safety.

Be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 6/17

The numbers in Connecticut continue to look better and the numbers in some other states continue to look worse. 

We are 101 days since our first confirmed case in Connecticut, 27 days into reopening and today we started phase 2 reopening. 

Hospitalizations are down to 186 statewide 

9 deaths in the past 24 hours

80 of 6,430 new tests were positive (a low %)

That being said, below you can see how we compare to other states as far as declining or increasing cases

Tracking by Johns Hopkins shows on 6-16 at 8:00 p.m. EST worldwide 8,144,842 confirmed cases; 440,342 deaths worldwide; 116,854 U.S. deaths (26%).  The website https://rt.live/ tracks the highest and lowest COVID-19 reproduction rates, measuring the average number of people who become sick from an infectious person.  A value less than one shows the spread of the disease to be slowing, greater than one increasing.  States with fastest spread of COVID-19 are Arizona 1.18; Alaska 1.14; Montana 1.12; Arkansas 1.09; Mississippi 1.09; Oklahoma 1.06; South Carolina 1.06; and Washington 1.05.  States with the slowest spread of COVID-19 were New Jersey 0.79; New York 0.80; Delaware 0.82; Connecticut 0.83; Michigan 0.83; Minnesota 0.84; Hawaii 0.85; and Illinois 0.86

I want to thank our Healthcare Locals in SE CT for their weekly round tables with area legislators and for including me on these zoom calls. It gives us all a chance to hear from the people with boots on the ground on how things are going. I encourage other Locals to consider this approach. 

Be well,

John

Corona Virus Update 6/16 - Day 100

DAY 100

Today is the 100th day since the first confirmed Covid Case in Connecticut and the 26th days since reopening. Tomorrow we begin phase 2.

201 are currently hospitalized

4,210 have died.

I’d like to remind you and ask you to share with your members, this opportunity for learning.

Dear AFT Nurses and Health Professionals Leaders and Members,

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid out to bare the health inequities for people of color more than in any recent times.  At the same time, nurses and healthcare workers have been working in stressful and unsafe conditions throughout the pandemic—traumatic experiences which can lead to depression and anxiety.  For black and brown nurses and healthcare workers, the intersection of racism and traumatic work experiences can mean heightened overwhelm and anxiety. 

Please join us for a webinar discussion specifically for healthcare workers led by licensed clinical psychologist, L. Kevin Chapman, Ph.D., A-CBT, HSPP, and moderated by Alexis Rean-Walker, Secretary-Treasurer of Health Professionals and Allied Employees in New Jersey and member of the AFT NHP Health Equity workgroup.  Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences; learn the components of emotions and how to identify triggers to emotional experiences; and will learn tools and strategies to assist in coping. 

One nursing continuing education contact hour will be provided- only to AFT member attendees.

When: Jun 19, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Time

Register in advance for this meeting:  https://aft.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwocO6rpjwtHtEi_Zja2EABUfrP-zzqbB97  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

ACCREDITED PROVIDER:

• American Federation of Teachers/Nurses and Health Professionals is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
• Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP for 17108 contact hours.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

• There has been no commercial support of this program and the presenters declare there is no conflict of interest.

OUTCOMES:

• At the completion of the webinar, nurses will report more self-confidence in identifying emotional triggers and the ability to manage emotions in response to racial injustices and the pandemic. 

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION:

• The learner must attend 100% of the session.  After the learner has completed the session,  a certificate of attendance, program evaluation/survey must be completed.

CONTACT HOURS:

• Contact hours awarded for 100% of activity attendance and successful completion of a program evaluation.

Be well,

 John 

Corona Virus Update 6/15

Today is 99 days since our first confirmed case of Covid in Connecticut.
We’ve had 3 deaths in the last 24 hours, our lowest daily number in almost 3 months. That being said, 4,203 have died.
Hospitalizations are down to 203 at this time.



AFT calls ourselves “A union of professionals,” but perhaps in this Covid world we should be called “A union of essential workers.” From healthcare workers, to teachers and paraprofessionals, to public servants, we truly are essential. The Heroes Act will fund the work we do, by decreases in funding for towns, states, and Medicaid funding, which can directly harm hospitals and healthcare members. It has passed the House but the Senate refuses to take it up. Please watch this 30 second video and then contact your senator, even if you live in a blue state with great senators like Blumenthal and Murphy. I asked Representative Joe Courtney if it matter since we know our senators support the act and he said it still does help. He said the sheer volume of calls coming to Washington makes a difference.
BTW, a part of the HEREOS Act is a call for OSHA to enact a mandatory emergency standard on Covid.

https://youtu.be/kIdW9dup8Wc

Take Action

• Write a letter and tell your Senator to fund state & local governments 
• Call your Senator and use these sample talking points
  • Congress has not done nearly enough to provide state and local governments with the funding they need to continue to deliver quality public services.
  • If we see massive layoffs because we don’t get state and local aid, there will be extreme cuts to public services with catastrophic effects. Entire communities will suffer both from a public health and economic perspective.
  • We can’t fight this pandemic or reopen the economy without strong public services and public service workers to deliver critical services.
  • We continue to put our lives on the line every day to serve our communities. We do it because we love our jobs and care about helping people, and I don’t think anyone believes we deserve to be laid off.

Key Funding Components of the HEROES Act for Connecticut
The coronavirus has wreaked unprecedented havoc on the lives of the American people. Our economy, our schools, our jobs and our way of life have been disrupted. To recover from this pandemic, safely reopen our schools, and allow people to safely return to work to restore our economy, we must maintain critical state and local services, such as law enforcement, education and healthcare.
We need Connecticut’s senators to support critical pieces of the House-passed HEROES Act in the next COVID-19 relief bill:
• At least $100 billion for public K-12 education and public colleges and universities to reopen safely and to account for the unanticipated, increased costs of operating schools in a COVID-19 environment. Reopening schools and colleges while keeping students and staff safe will take more, not fewer, resources, especially as students will return to school with significant academic, social and emotional needs. Connecticut would receive $843 million in education funding if the Senate passed the HEROES Act. The K-12 portion of these funds would provide Connecticut $548.3 million. That’s enough to save or restore the positions of 2,181 teachers, 764 teacher aides and 1,483 other workers.
• $500 billion for state aid and $350 billion for local aid that funds the services that retain our EMTs, public safety officers, teachers and school workers, sanitation workers, homecare providers, and other frontline public service workers who are essential to fighting this pandemic and reopening our economy. They have been there for us, and they are a critical part of our recovery, as well as keeping our communities safe and livable. Connecticut would receive $7.1 billion in direct aid to states and $4.8 billion in direct aid to local governments if the Senate passed the HEROES Act.
• $175 billion for the health and safety of our frontline providers and the American people. We need widespread testing, contact tracing, adequate PPE supplies, relief for affected families, and expansion of Medicaid to ensure that vulnerable populations are treated to stop the spread of the virus. Connecticut would receive $1.9 billion in Medicaid funding through the HEROES Act.
Our states, cities, towns and public schools continue to anchor America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping communities safe, limiting the spread of the virus and supporting our children. The Senate must act now to fund these essential services that are at the heart of our recovery and our ability to reopen our economy. Eighty-four percent of Americans support increased federal aid to protect healthcare, education, safety and other services and keep frontline workers on the job.

Education Opportunity

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid out to bare the health inequities for people of color more than in any recent times.  At the same time, nurses and healthcare workers have been working in stressful and unsafe conditions throughout the pandemic—traumatic experiences which can lead to depression and anxiety.  For black and brown nurses and healthcare workers, the intersection of racism and traumatic work experiences can mean heightened overwhelm and anxiety. 

Please join us for a webinar discussion specifically for healthcare workers led by licensed clinical psychologist, L. Kevin Chapman, Ph.D., A-CBT, HSPP, and moderated by Alexis Rean-Walker, Secretary-Treasurer of Health Professionals and Allied Employees in New Jersey and member of the AFT NHP Health Equity workgroup.  Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences; learn the components of emotions and how to identify triggers to emotional experiences; and will learn tools and strategies to assist in coping. 

One nursing continuing education contact hour will be provided- only to AFT member attendees.

When: Jun 19, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Time

Register in advance for this meeting:  https://aft.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwocO6rpjwtHtEi_Zja2EABUfrP-zzqbB97  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

ACCREDITED PROVIDER:

·         American Federation of Teachers/Nurses and Health Professionals is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

·         Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP for 17108 contact hours.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

·         There has been no commercial support of this program and the presenters declare there is no conflict of interest.

OUTCOMES:

·         At the completion of the webinar, nurses will report more self-confidence in identifying emotional triggers and the ability to manage emotions in response to racial injustices and the pandemic.  

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION:

·         The learner must attend 100% of the session.  After the learner has completed the session,  a certificate of attendance, program evaluation/survey must be completed.

CONTACT HOURS:

·         Contact hours awarded for 100% of activity attendance and successful completion of a program evaluation.

Be well,
John