COVID-19 Update: Tuesday, July 14th

Lags in testing again, healthcare workers dying, issues in Kazakhstan, a new air filter, and another mask study. It's a little heavy today so do a mental health check first.

1. As numbers surge we have begun to have significant PPE shortages again, hospitals in

hot spots are starting to become overwhelmed, shutdowns are happening again, and testing results are lagging. In some areas, we are back to it taking weeks to get test results due to testing backlogs. Arizona has been particularly hard hit on the testing front with testing taking up to 2 weeks. This can perpetuate the spread and significantly limit the usefulness of contact tracing.

2. 3000 healthcare workers around the world have died from COVID-19. The Five countries who have lost the most include: Russia (545), UK (540), USA (507), Brazil (351) and Mexico (248). This does not include those who have become ill.

3. Kazakhstan is reporting a strange new pneumonia that appears to be more deadly than coronavirus. The WHO believes this is just improperly diagnosed COVID but they are investigating to determine if that is the case or if this is something new. It is very possible this is COVID given the high number of false negatives some tests produce. I will keep monitoring this closely and keep you updated, try not to worry about this one yet.

4. Scientists claim to have developed a new air filter that can capture and kill 99.8% of SARS-Cov2 (the virus that causes COVID). The findings were published in Materials Today Physics and is a nickel foam filter. The filter works by heating up to kill the virus. I am guessing this is not available at Home Depot yet.

5. A study published in Physics of Fluid tested masks to determine how effective they were at blocking droplets. (worth noting this are simulated droplets not actual covid laden droplets). With no covering the droplets traveled up to 8 feet. With a bandanna the droplets made it 3 feet 7 inches, with a folded handkerchief they made it 1 foot 3 inches, with a commercial cone mask they made it 8 inches, with a quilted cotton mask they made it only 2.5 inches. So as long as you aren't a close talker..... This was not a clinical trial, it was a mechanical simulation, but we do get some great information from it.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Six months is a long time. It is a long time to stay home, a long time to go without hugging a loved one, a long time to be vigilant about hand-washing and distancing and saying no all the time to your children who just want to see their friends. It's a long time to be in a house alone. It's a long time to be in a house with others. And that can easily wear you down, exhaust you, and make you throw your hands up in surrender. And while it may feel like you are the only one doing it - the only one staying home, the only one wearing a mask, the only one telling their child they can't go, yet again.....you are not. There are lots of people experiencing those same struggles, feeling that same exhaustion, wondering if it will matter and contemplating if its worth it. You see, the right choices are rarely the easy ones. Sometimes we get that lucky, but more often, the right road is the one fraught with obstacles, hurdles and thorns. Surround yourself with people who are on the same road. Encourage others to join you. Rest often. Eat cheesecake, and remind each other that you are amazing and strong and resilient and that one day this will end because you chose the right path.