COVID-19 Update: Friday, August 14th

Erratic reporting, declines, Masks with valves, New Zealand, Quarandreams and Numbers.

1. HCPs are expressing concerns over the new data reporting system citing erratic numbers from the new hospital reporting system that seem to differ from those being reported by the states. The same group shared examples of inappropriate allocation of resources based on these errors – such as 37k masks being routed to a school of 140 students. More information can be found at the COVID tracking project – (covidtracking.com), STAT reports, and in a letter published in the Washington post.

2. The Number of new cases for the week was down about 10% but testing was also down by about 10.5% so the reduced numbers may not indicate an actual reduction in cases.

3. Masks with valves or vents may be more comfortable but do little to actually prevent the spread of COVID. The valves and vents allow exhaled air to escape (that is their whole point) which allows the virus to escape as well, according to a new CDC report. This does not include N95 masks/filters - just vents.

4. New Zealand now has 17 new locally transmitted cases.

5. Quarandreams – that is the nick name given to the phenomenon of more vivid and stranger dreams people have been experiencing since the beginning of the pandemic. If you are experiencing more vivid dreams or dreams that are anxiety inducing, filled with trauma, or that include scenarios in which you are seeking solutions to some odd problem – you are not alone. Even dream recall (the ability to remember our dreams upon waking) is up by about 35%. While some are dreaming of post-apocalyptic scenarios, others are dreaming of increased social interactions and physical contact – things they have been deprived of since the pandemic began. According to a professor at MIT these are normal experiences in response to a time of increased stress. Reducing your news intake, developing healthy sleep routines, and reducing stress can help.

6. Numbers remained steady for the week with the CFR (case fatality rate) dropping from 3.24 to 3.15 in the US. Positivity rate (% of those who are tested and are positive) is 7.8%. And while the case count among children has increased, deaths in those under 18 remains very low at less than 0.1%

FINAL THOUGHTS: Another week has come and gone, and more strange things have happened in this whack-a-doodle year. Did you hear about the tongue eating parasite found in the fish? Or the hurricane forced winds that hit Iowa? If you don’t do yoga this may be a good time to start because this year demands agility and flexibility and resiliency. We have to laugh, or we would drown in our own tears. But we have made it another week because we are warriors. We have proven our grit yet again and if that doesn’t justify dessert, I don’t know what does. So, take the weekend off, kick your feet up, skip the news, eat ice cream, and watch a comedy – something that will make you laugh so hard you will worry about peeing your pants. You need a break, time to let your mind think about something else, time to let your nerves and stress levels have a little rest, time to renew and refresh and recharge so you will be ready for Monday.

Photo from 1918: I wish I knew the story behind this one. All I know is it was taken in WA. But it seems these ladies would have difficultly riding side saddle. When did hats go out of style?