Coronavirus (COVID-19): We Want to Hear from You

[tnbutterfly - Mary]

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 has been all over the news since its appearance in Wuhan, China in December. Eleven cities in China have been locked down and travel restrictions imposed on tens of millions of people in an attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus with reports of more than 900 confirmed cases of infection and more than 2 dozen reported deaths. Infections have been confirmed in South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and now this deadly virus has now made its appearance in the United States. Two confirmed cases have been identified - one in Washington on January 21 and another in Chicago today. Health officials have reported 63 people from 22 states are under observation for the virus.

We want to keep you up-to-date on the latest news. We need your help. Are you in an area where the Coronavirus/COVID-19 has been identified or where people are under observation for possible infection? We want to hear your story.

What precautions/screening/guidelines have been implemented in your place of work, airports, schools, etc?

Please complete the form below and let us know if you are willing to share your story.

Would you like to write an article to help us keep up with the unfolding Coronavirus / COVID-19 story - historical evolution, what is it, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, precautions, screening, diagnosis, etc. If so, send me a Private/Personal Message

Wuhan Coronavirus Form

[otgd8]

Hey everyone,

Not a nurse yet. Got accepted to a BSN program that I will be starting in May. I just wanted some of your professional opinions.

My floor (not unit) just got a case of COVID-19. I also work at a major university in an office setting.

Should I be telecommuting to my office job now as a precaution for others?

[Whitesranch, BSN, RN]

I work at Rush, the kid from Italy had an entire wing of the hospital to himself! All the news trucks were parked outside. It was crazy.

[TVNursing]

@otgd8

I'm in the same boat. I work for vascular acesss an EMT-I in a major university hospital in the city. I go around the hospital to put IV's in. We currently have a presumptive positive coVid-19 case in our hospital. But the hospital haven't issued any warnings or safety protocols. I don't know if I should communicating it to others so others can take precaution as well. I don't want to create any panic.

[LPN Retired, LPN]

On 2/4/2020 at 11:56 AM, NurseSpeedy said:

One big problem is people will NOT stay home when they are sick-they just go out and share everything and to hell with whoever they pass it along to during the process. Common sense and common curtesy seem to be limited these days.

Exactly. They think. Oh , I,just have to run out and pick,up few things . I'm not that contagious. I won't be close to anybody.

Thing is they sneeze or cough, and somebody else walks thru that airspace and the spread has gone further. I honestly stay home when I'm sick . I don't feel like getting out and mixing with people.

[toomuchbaloney]

1 minute ago, LPN Retired said:

Exactly. They think. Oh , I,just have to run out and pick,up few things . I'm not that contagious. I won't be close to anybody.

Thing is they sneeze or cough, and somebody else walks thru that airspace and the spread has gone further. I honestly stay home when I'm sick . I don't feel like getting out and mixing with people.

Some Americans think this is an overblown hoax. Some Americans cannot afford to stay home from work or pay to have their groceries delivered. Lots of younger people who get this virus may not feel terribly ill.

[RedWeasel, RN]

They now want us to use paper gowns and masks With this: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/infection-prevention-control-faq.html

[RedWeasel, RN]

They have downgraded our precautions saying a paper gown and paper mask is enough. (See link in previous post). I don’t know what I would do. It is under the FAQ for HCPs on CDC site today. But they also say they dont know how longnit lives on surfaces they also may expect us to clean rooms etc ...

[LPN Retired, LPN]

Arkansas has their first corona virus case. The person is in isolation in a hospital in Pine Bluff Arkansas . they say the patient was likely exposed thru out of state travel .

Oh me. I,knew it was just a matter of time, that Arkansas would get it too. No telling who the patient exposed before they got him/her into isolation.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

N.J. hospitals work up uniform, more-restrictive patient visitation rules

Quote

In a rare and possibly unprecedented move, New Jersey’s hospitals have decided as a group to create new, standardized visitor restrictions to protect vulnerable patients and hospital employees from the coronavirus.

The state’s hospitals and health systems worked with the New Jersey Hospital Association to formulate the new voluntary rules. Kerry McKean Kelly, the association’s vice president for communications and member services, said she could not remember hospitals ever working together in this way, including during outbreaks of the H1N1 and SARS viruses.

Under the new rules, all potential visitors will be screened for fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing; recent travel to nations with high coronavirus activity; and contact with individuals who have been diagnosed with the virus or are “under investigation.” They will not be allowed to visit if any of those conditions or factors apply to them.

Only two visitors at a time will be allowed per patient, and hospitals will prohibit visitors under age 12. “These standards are the result of the collective leadership of healthcare CEOs in New Jersey,” said “Our top priority is to protect patients, but we all agreed that a statewide approach also provides consistency during a time of uncertainty and anxiety over coronavirus,” NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett said in a written release.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200311.html

NOW it will get real for Americans:

NCAA No fans at March Madness Games

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2880420-2020-ncaa-basketball-tournaments-closed-to-fans-because-of-coronavirus

NBA suspends season due to coronavirus

Utah Jazz player developed presumptive case coronavirus

https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/coronavirus-nba-covid-19-sixers-jazz-thunder-20200312.html

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson diagnosed with coronavirus

Both in Australia filming a movie... Karen

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/entertainment/tom-hanks-rita-wilson-coronavirus/index.html

Trump announces all travel from Europe to be restricted amid coronavirus threat

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-announces-travel-europe-restricted-amid-coronavirus-threat/story?id=69543646&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_hero_hed

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

On 3/9/2020 at 9:32 PM, otgd8 said:

Hey everyone,

Not a nurse yet. Got accepted to a BSN program that I will be starting in May. I just wanted some of your professional opinions.

My floor (not unit) just got a case of COVID-19. I also work at a major university in an office setting.

Should I be telecommuting to my office job now as a precaution for others?

That would be a question for HR. I think a lot of people have had unknown exposure in the community already. I may be a bit old school- but our instructors never assigned us to isolation patients due to the risk of us accidentally braking precautions as a student (usually removing ppe).

[AbbeyR, ADN, BSN]

Travel screenings are pointless now, it’s spreading domestically so asking about travel isn’t going to help

[NurseBlaq]

Alabama still doesn't have it, allegedly. Nobody has been tested so how would they know?