Ventilators more lethal than Covid19

[Amity Island]

Covid death rates dropped as doctors rejected ventilators

 

[Docb]

I suspect that the death rates as the virus comes back will be far lower than earlier in the year simply because the medics are getting a better handle on the disease and have worked out better ways of treating it. That's the upside. The downside is that a lot more survivors will mean there are going to be a lot more people around bearing the scars of the infection. We have yet to get a handle on the implications of that.

By the way, I don't like to think of what is happening as a "second wave". The dip we have seen was a result of the suppression of transmission by the restrictions imposed on the populace. Once relaxed, the first wave has resumed where it left off. The big benefit of the dip was the time gain which seems to be have been used wisely by the medics to think about things and get their protocols better sorted. Pity the politicians were not as wise.

 

[grovesy]

There was a repeat showing on Sky News last night on their coverage of hospitals, called Hotspots . The medics seemed to discover fairly early on it was not like normal respiratory illness, and treated people with CPAP.
They also commented at the end with what is happening now the reporters wondered if the powers that be have learnt anything from early in the year, they had a sense they have not.

 

[Eddy Edson]

What does the data say about recent infections in aged care settings? I get the impression that might be an area where things are better now in the UK, for the moment, so maybe a big factor in the apparent lower mortality rates so far.

It's been a huge issue in the Victorian outbreak here - the virus just ripped through aged care homes which were disgracefully unprepared for it in July, despite all the international and interstate lessons from March and April. Because of this, Vic has seen mortality rates at the same levels as the UK and elsewhere had back then, and Oz total fatalities went from just ~110 up to July, to ~850 now, mostly because of Vic.

Makes me fume. But also makes me think that improvements in aged care management have been a major factor in lower "2nd wave" mortality rates, for geographies which has a real "1st wave".

 

[Docb]

Good question Eddy about care homes. Answer is that I have not seen any info but I suspect that lessons have been learned and death rates will be fewer although life for residents, particularly those with failing mental capacity, will be adversely affected. Part of the problem was the clear-out of hospital inpatients in the early days, many of whom were elderly and who got sent back into care homes taking the infection acquired in hospital with them. That at least should not be repeated - if it were that would be criminal.

 

[grovesy]

Lastest says they are in the rise in care homes, many are not getting the regular testing they were promised, those getting tests results have been taking days to get results and not all at once. To stop workers work in more than on place. They are suggesting that people from hospital who were positive be discharged into homes again, but to be isolated.They don't seem to mention those who are cared for in their own home and have either multiple carers or carers who visit multiple people a day.
Health Minister done rounds on media today.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Lastest says they are in the rise in care homes, many are not getting the regular testing they were promised, those getting tests results have been taking days to get results and not all at once. To stop workers work in more than on place. They are suggesting that people from hospital who were positive be discharged into homes again, but to be isolated.They don't seem to mention those who are cared for in their own home and have either multiple carers or carers who visit multiple people a day.
Health Minister done rounds on media today.

Staff working in multiple different places & as you say with multiple different home patients seem to have been really big factors. Plus the familiar dismal stories about inadequate PPE.

 

[grovesy]

Staff working in multiple different places & as you say with multiple different home patients seem to have been really big factors. Plus the familiar dismal stories about inadequate PPE.

Works in this sector are very badly paid here, many work for private companies, and many of those looking after people in their own homes have limited time to carry out their tasks, and time to get to next person.