All in Health

CDC shows a slight rise in Covid cases; other rates stable

CDC shows a slight rise in Covid cases; other rates stable

Tatiana Prophet
Health

While the death rate is currently flat, hospitalizations are up in some areas and stable in others. From all the curves we’ve observed, it almost looks like each time there’s a rise in percentages of each indicator, the rise is shorter than the previous rise. Further, the “milestone” in the news today — the most positive cases since the peak in July — is for cases. And President Trump’s got it right, cases do not necessarily indicate severity as in hospitalizations or deaths. Keep an eye on hospitalizations and deaths, and don’t let anyone scare you.

Remember what we’ve learned in previous CDC articles: if any statistic is described as Covid-Like, Pneumonia-Like, and/or Influenza-Like, that means the illness was NOT laboratory confirmed. When it’s definitely lab-confirmed is when they list the statistic as just Covid — cases or deaths. This is important because these numbers are overlapping. This also applies to deaths, because in the United States the medical coding is the SAME for both lab-confirmed, and non-lab-confirmed, deaths. As long as the doctor thinks it’s Covid, it will be counted. But if there is no lab test, then the Pneumonia/Covid/Influenza deaths will be overlapping with the Covid/Pneumonia but no Influenza, and so on.

VIEW CALIFORNIA'S RAW HOSPITAL NUMBERS

VIEW CALIFORNIA'S RAW HOSPITAL NUMBERS

Tatiana Prophet
Health

The number of laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 hospital patients is less than 6,000. This number is rising, but the number of suspected Covid-19 hospital patients is falling slightly. This would explain a rise in cases, since more testing is being conducted. As of July 3, 2020, the number of ICU beds available is only slightly lower than the number of general Covid-19 patients, and far exceeds the number of Covid-19 patients in the ICU.
However, these numbers are statewide; hospital beds may be getting close to maximum in counties with the most cases, such as Los Angeles. Stay tuned for L.A. numbers soon.

Animated graph: Yes, Covid-19 deaths are still going down in the United States

Animated graph: Yes, Covid-19 deaths are still going down in the United States

Tatiana Prophet
Health

UPDATE: As of July 4, daily Covid-19 deaths in the United States fell to above the average daily deaths from influenza/pneumonia and below those for diabetes.

Daily Covid-19 deaths for the United States peaked at 2,683 per day on April 21, 2020. View this chart to see the progression of daily deaths compared with the top 15 causes of death, and those average daily deaths from the year 2017.

The graphs that show a huge uptick in cases should be labeled “known cases,” as they represent those that were tested. Tests have been rising int he United States for the last few weeks, resulting in a precipitous rise in cases, many in the 18-49 range. But the death rate for this age group is quite low. Most of the Covid-19 deaths, while tragic, remain above age 80, and involve pre-existing conditions. The anomalies — no preexisting conditions or young people, remain in the hundreds for the entire nation. This is compared with the 120,000-plus deaths now recorded.

Yale epidemiologist says evidence shows HCQ safe for Covid 'standard of care'

Yale epidemiologist says evidence shows HCQ safe for Covid 'standard of care'

Tatiana Prophet
Health

By TATIANA PROPHET

A professor of epidemiology at the Yale University School of Medicine has reviewed all 16 studies of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, and not only does he state that it will save thousands of lives threatened by Covid-19, but recommends it be used — with screening — as soon as possible to treat the disease.

In a passionate, at times pithy manuscript, Dr. Harvey A. Risch showed how the studies showing no benefit of hydroxychloroquine were looking at the wrong stage of the disease and evaluating an unnecessarily high dosage. He called one study “a fishing expedition” and another “deeply flawed.”

Dr. Risch, a cancer researcher as well as epidemiologist, concluded that “all available evidence” points to the general safety of the drug in combination with an antibiotic and “preferably zinc,” thus recommending it to become the standard of care.

When all other physicians have been silenced, including Dr. Oz, either being censored or walking back their enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine, why is Dr. Risch one of the few voices still offering a full-throated recommendation of this drug, touted in March by President Trump as a game changer? Evidence. The studies that have been highly publicized, including the VA Hospital study and the Lancet, involved hospitalized patients, he said.

Covid-19: Randomized trials well under way for hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir

Covid-19: Randomized trials well under way for hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir

Tatiana Prophet
Health

NYU Langone began trial April 1
South Dakota announced study April 13
Both will involve 2,000 patients
With a controlled placebo

Photo: The Sanford USD Medical Center, a sprawling complex in Sioux Falls.

By Tatiana Prophet

SIOUX FALLS — Gov. Kristy Noem announced Monday that the state was “going on the offense” and would be partnering with Sanford Health in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. Doctors have been using the drug across the country on a compassionate basis while the FDA weighs approval.