Corona Virus Update 6/13

On March 8, the first positive case of Covid was announced in Connecticut.
(97 days ago)

On March 22 we went into lockdown.

On March 28 we had 203 hospitalizations.

On April 21, 1,972 were hospitalized.

We started reopening on May 20, 887 were hospitalized.

Today we have 233 hospitalizations.

4,186 have died.

117,000 + have died in the U S

600 + Healthcare professionals have died in the US

418,000 + have died worldwide



The following thoughts are from my many conversations with my healthcare sisters and brothers who are on the front line of this pandemic.

 We have learned a lot about this virus but there is still more we are unsure of than we are sure of. We know it is highly contagious, we know it is deadly, and we know we have no cure.
Although we are now told we have “adequate supplies of PPE” we also know that we are continued to ask to use masks for a week at a time and to use other PPE while seeing multiple patients.
We know this increases the risk of infection for ourselves and our patients.
We don’t know why we are asked to do this.
We know that when we become sick and need to be seen for Covid that we sometimes have to pay Copays and deductibles.
We don’t know why.
We know that although we spend double shifts exposed to Covid at work and become Covid positive, that we are denied Workers Compensation because “we might have acquired it in the community.
We don’t know why.
We know that if we are told to stay home from work and quarantine that we sometimes have to use our own PTO time.
We don’t know why.
We know that we need an emergency OSHA standard to protect us but that Mitch McConnell refuses to bring it to a vote in the Senate.
We don’t know why.
We know that the physical, emotional and psychological toll of all this weighs heavy on us yet management and government doesn’t seems to see this.
We don’t know why.
We know that we are called heroes but don’t feel like we are treated as such
And we don’t know why.

Corona Virus Update 6/11

It is 95 days since our first confirmed case of Covid in Connecticut and 21 days since starting to reopen.
246 are currently hospitalized. 
4,146 have died.


I want to share a couple of videos with you. 

This is a link to a short video of our Rally in New London  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz2E0dFiaoY

And if this message on frontline workers doesn’t move you, I don’t know what will 

https://youtu.be/o5gGTNhUh-o

Be well,
John

Corona Virus Update 6/10

Today I spoke to a nurse who contracted Covid-19 at work. He has filed for Workers Compensation and been denied (not surprising, everyone gets denied initially.) We believe he will win his case, and like all our members, is represented by our union attorneys at no cost to himself.
However, he is still unable to return to work because he is so ill and he is collecting 60% of his pay on short term disability and bills still continue to come in. He has to meet rent, make car payments, and today had to pay $178 to his primary care provider and $40 to his oxygen supply company. He is unsure how long his employer will continue his health insurance and is unsure of the transition to long them disability in another 2 weeks.
My question is this.
Is this any way to treat a Hero?


Hospitalizations in Connecticut are down to 270 today.
We are 94 days since our first confirmed case, we topped out at 1,972 hospitalized patients, and we are 20 days into phase one of our reopening.

Kaiser Health News published a good article about the 600+ U.S. Healthcare Workers have died.

https://khn.org/news/exclusive-investigation-nearly-600-and-counting-us-health-workers-have-died-of-covid-19/



This link are Q&As from the CDC. The 4th Question deals with why the CDC “still recommends the use of N95 or better in caring for a Covid positive our person under investigation.”

Sometimes I think we forget that this has always been the CDCs position and that Contingency and Crisis capacities did not change this guidance, they only allowed a TEMPORARY relaxation of the guidance due to supply shortages. 

The page was updated on May 29.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-faq.html

“CDC’s guidance to use NIOSH-approved N95 disposable filtering facepiece or higher level respirators when providing care for patients with suspected or known COVID-19 is based on the current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and related respiratory viruses.

Current data suggest that close-range aerosol transmission by droplet and inhalation, and contact followed by self-delivery to the eyes, nose, or mouth are likely routes of transmission. Long-range aerosol transmission, such as is seen with measles, has not been a feature of SARS-CoV-2.

Potential routes of close-range transmission include splashes and sprays of infectious material onto mucous membranes and inhalation of infectious virions exhaled by an infected person. The relative contribution of each of these is not known for SARS-Co-V-2.

Facemasks commonly used during surgical procedures will provide barrier protection against droplet sprays contacting mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, but they are not designed to protect wearers from inhaling small particles. N95 and higher level respirators, such as other disposable filtering facepiece respirators, powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), and elastomeric respirators, provide both barrier and respiratory protection because of their tight fit and filtration characteristics.

Respirators should be used as part of a respiratory protection program that provides staff with medical evaluations, training, and fit testing.

Although facemasks are routinely used for the care of patients with common viral respiratory infections, N95 or higher level respirators are routinely recommended for emerging pathogens like SARS CoV-2, which have the potential for transmission via small particles, the ability to cause severe infections, and no specific treatments or vaccines.

CDC recommendations acknowledge the current challenges with limited supplies of N95s and other respirators. Facilities that do not have sufficient supplies of N95s and other respirators for all patient care should prioritize their use for activities and procedures that pose high risks of generating infectious aerosols and use facemasks for care that does not involve those activities or procedures. Detailed strategies for optimizing the supply of N95 respirators are available on the CDC website. Once availability of supplies is reestablished, the guidance states that the use of N95 and higher level respirators should resume.”

Failure to return as soon as possible to Conventional Capacity strategy (including N95 or better for Covid positive and PUI patients) increases the risk to the public and caregivers. 

Today we delivered needed PPE to the Heroes of Windham and Natchaug Hospitals. The PPE was provided by the AFT Executive Committee under the leadership of President Randi Weingarten. (Jan sits on the Executive Committee)
We cannot thank the Executive Committee enough for their concern and solidarity with the healthcare workers of AFT.

Be well,
John

Corona Virus Update, 6/9

Hospitalizations dropped below 300 today in Connecticut.

Currently hospitalized are 293
At one point almost 2000 were hospitalized. 

Which brings me to my one request today.

Can you please give me an update on your hospitals and the use of PPE?

I’d like to know if you are reusing PPE or doing “extended use” of PPE, above and beyond normal infection control practices.

1. Using PPE for more than one patient?

2. How long are you using PPE? (Days, etc.)

3. What PPE are you using in this reuse or extended use fashion? (Surgical masks, N95s, gowns, etc.)

Remember, we have surgical masks and face shields. Going out most days to locals.

Thank you and be well,

John

Contra Virus Update 6/8

Our hospitalizations are down to 324 at the current time.
We topped out with 1,972 hospitalized at one time.
13 CT residents died in the last 24 hours, which is the lowest daily death rate since mid March. That being said, 4,084 Connecticut residents have passed from Covid-19.

This is a nice article on the rally we held in New London, that appeared in People’s World.
https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/conn-health-workers-demand-ppe-honor-their-lost/

Please remember we have PPE (surgical masks and face shields.) Contact me.

Be well,
John