this is the mobile version, switch to computer if needed
20 March 2020
main information
(all times are Pacific unless specified otherwise)
mobile version of tracker
CLEANING
Soap
It’s the best way to wash up (and much easier to find than hand sanitizer).
Disposable gloves
For handling things that might be contaminated. Do not wash or reuse.
Disinfectant wipes
Look for products with active ingredients such as quaternary ammonium, sodium hypochlorite, or hydrogen peroxide.
Towels, clean linens
Or anything else you might need more of as cleaning habits change.
FOOD/NECESSITIES
Supplies of shelf-stable food
Beans, rice, flour, and canned items: enough for a couple of weeks, if access to grocery stores is limited.
Coffee or tea
Or other everyday “necessities”.
A first aid kit
Hospitals may be overwhelmed, so you’ll want to be able to treat minor problems at home.
90 days of medication
The CDC recommends stocking up on prescriptions, so contact your doctor.
WORK AND ENTERTAINMENT
Yarn, art supplies, or other hobby items
It’s a good time to dive into an activity you can do at home. Morale matters!
Things for working from home
From a desk chair to a mouse, it’s better to have the tools for your job if it’s possible to work remotely.
Electronics and, potentially, spare parts
If your phone or computer breaks, it’s an inconvenience in the best of times. Right now, it might be more than that, if stores aren’t open to get a replacement.
Games for family time
If you’ve got kids at home, you’ll need distractions!
IF YOU GET SICK
Medication for reducing a fever, like acetaminophen (Tylenol).
A thermometer for monitoring a fever.
Cough and cold medication
including cough drops and lozenges, cough syryps like Dayquil/Nyquil, and decongestants like Sudafed (the active ingredient is pseudoephedrine, so get the much lower cost generic version).
A humidifier can also help with a cough that makes it tough to sleep.
Rehydration solutions
Pedialyte or Gatorade works, but you can make it at home with a liter of drinking water, a scoop of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Plain water or other liquids also work for mild dehydration in adults.
Basics
what is COVID-19?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). [WHO: Coronavirus]
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans. [WHO: Coronavirus]
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. [WHO: Coronavirus]
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. [WHO: Coronavirus]
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. [WHO: Coronavirus]
How do I care for myself and family?
Everyone should take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families.
Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Maintain at least 1.5 metres or 6 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Persons with persistent cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance, but not mix in crowd. Make sure you and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene, meaning cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue or into your sleeve or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing. Go to the emergency room if your symptoms turn serious. Do not engage in self-medication.
COVID-19 prepartions
Masks and other protective gear [What preppers are stocking up on for COVID-19]
Water and storage [What preppers are stocking up on for COVID-19]
Medical equipment [What preppers are stocking up on for COVID-19]
from Dr. Sarah Boon:
These are the basic, solid graphics that people need to understand what to do and not to do in these times. Basic #scicomm, people!
—Dr. Sarah Boon, Co-founder & BoD @ScienceBorealis, Writer, editor, photographer, Former scientist, as posted on Twitter 12:32 pm, 24 March 2020
Coordinate help for charities.
If you have contact info and items needed by other charities, please let us know through the website contact form.
Contact
Feeding the working poor, elderly, and homeless
The Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Costa Mesa, CA, has an extreme shortage of paper plates, paper napkins, paper towels, plastic forks and spoons, and toilet paper needed to feed hundreds of working poor, elderly, and homeless every day.
If you are in the Orange County area you can contribute. See their website. Please provide contact info for other charities around the world.
720 West 19th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 USA
[949] 548.8861 Office
shannon@someonecareskitchen.org Executive Director
News and historical timeline
(all times are Pacific unless specified otherwise)
regular timeline
20 March 2020
from Washington Post:
The Peace Corps is evacuating its 7,300 volunteers from 61 countries because of coronavirus.
These are young people trained in public health under adverse conditions.
All of them are being fired.
—Washington Post, 20 March 2020
from Eugene Gu, MD:
So we artificially inseminate a cow, take away her baby when its born to make veal, and steal her milk meant for her baby just so that panic buyers can hoard it all and throw it away when it gets rotten.
—Eugene Gu, MD, attorney, @Newsweek columnist, as posted on Twitter 8:33 pm, 20 March 2020
from Seth Abramson:
MAJOR BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Intelligence Tried to Warn Trump About Coronavirus—and He Ignored Them
NOTE: Please RETWEET this. As we learn more about what Trump did in January and February, we must properly understand that the actions of this man cost lives.
—Seth Abramson, attorney, @Newsweek columnist, as posted on Twitter 8:33 pm, 20 March 2020
from Dr. Dena Grayson:
The chance for an available vaccine by October is near zero. I expect a 2nd even larger wave of #coronavirus infections in the Fall. Even with an effective drug for #COVID19 (we won’t have enough doses for all), the hospitals will get overwhelmed.
—Dr. Dena Grayson, MD, PhD. Expert on #Ebola, #coronavirus, pandemics, as posted on Twitter 4:55 pm, 20 March 2020
from Dr. Dena Grayson:
Hello elected leaders,
LOCK DOWN THE COUNTRY NOW. The explosion of #coronavirus cases in the U.S. is accelerating faster than *any* other country at *any* stage of the #CoronavirusPandemic.
INACTION = more people will DIE.
—Dr. Dena Grayson, MD, PhD. Expert on #Ebola, #coronavirus, pandemics, as posted on Twitter 4:42 pm, 20 March 2020
from Dr. Dena Grayson:
As predicted, the number of #coronavirus cases in US is exploding with greater acceleration than *any* other country with this many cases.
More #COVID19 testing is revealing the huge number of cases with more still to come.
Expect a MASSIVE surge thru the next few weeks.
—Dr. Dena Grayson, MD, PhD. Expert on #Ebola, #coronavirus, pandemics, as posted on Twitter 4:23 pm, 20 March 2020
from Michael Tracey:
Nurses in Boston are being forced to use racquetball goggles because they do not have proper medical goggles. I refuse to believe this was inevitable in the most prosperous country on earth.
—Michael Tracey, roving journalist, as posted on Twitter 4:08 pm, 20 March 2020
The Jimmy Dore Show
Pelosi Is Blocking Direct Cash Payments To Citizens. WTF?
20 March 2020 at 10:30 AM
from ABlackWomanWhoDontGiveAF*ck:
While you’re here mad as fuck about Senator Burr which we all should be I’m here to remind you that the same Republican party that Richard Burr belongs to is right now at this very minute trying to cut 700,000 families off SNAP benefits in middle of a fucking pandemic
—ABlackWomanWhoDontGiveAF*ck, as posted on Twitter 10:27 am, 20 March 2020
from Stu Cameron:
To all you panic buying and stockpiling, there haven’t been any shortages until YOU caused them.
It’s so sad that the ‘me first’ mentality has taken over, with many having no regard for the vulnerable.
Emergency workers who work shifts can’t even get supplies.
Stop it, now…
—Stu Cameron, as posted on Twitter 1:26 am, 20 March 2020
WHO Health Alert for coronavirus launches on WhatsApp
To increase access to reliable information, WHO worked with WhatsApp and Facebook to launch a new WHO Health Alert messaging service today. The WhatsApp-based service will provide vital information about COVID-19 to millions of people through their mobile phones. The services uses an AI chatbot to provide updated information on the pandemic, including how to protect yourself, questions and answers, and the latest news and press coverage. The Health Alert service is now available in English and will be introduced in other languages next week. This is part of WHO’s wider initiative to work with technology companies to get accurate health information into the hands of people that need it at this critical time.
—World Health Organization, 20 March 2020
UK closes pubs, cafes and bars, and announces other measures
In his daily briefing, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that cafes, pubs, and bars to close, as well as shops, theatres and leisure centres, are to close to protect public health.
The government are deferring taxes to the end of the financial year, as well as waiving VAT for some businesses. It will also provide a job retention scheme to pay 80% of wages for those who cannot work due to the pandemic.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Syria bans entry
Syria banned entry of visitors from multiple countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The government said that the cases in the nation remain zero.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Germany cases jump to 13,957
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported that the number of cases surged by 2,958 to 13,957.
The number of deaths increased by 11 to 31.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Spain’s deaths cross 1,000
The death toll in Spain increased to 1,002 from 767, said the country’s health emergencies chief Fernando Simon.
The number of cases jumped to 19,980 from 17,147 on Thursday.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Cape Verde confirms first case
Cape Verde reported its first coronavirus case in a 62-year-old British national who arrived on 9 March.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
New deaths and cases in Iran
Iran reported 149 new deaths, taking the total to 1,433 amid, while the confirmed cases neared 20,000.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Deaths in Taiwan
The number of cases in Taiwan increased to 135, including two deaths.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Indonesian fatalities
Indonesia cases jumped to 369, with 32 fatalities.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Cases rise in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s cases surged to 256.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Deaths in the Philippines
The Philippines recorded 230 cases and 18 deaths.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
South Africa cases reach 202
South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize reported that the number of cases in the country increased to 202.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
130 new cases in Malaysia
Malaysia registered 130 new cases, bringing the total to 1,030.
Of the new cases, 48 are traced to a religious gathering of around 16,000 participants near the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
More than 670 cases in Southeast Asia have been linked to this gathering in Malaysia.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Singapore sees 40 new cases
With 40 new confirmed cases, the tally in Singapore increased to 385. Majority of the new cases are said to be imported from the UK.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Belgium cases top 2,000
The number of cases in exceed 2,000 to total to 2,257, while the number of deaths surged to a total of 37.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Fifth death, new cases in India
India reported its fifth death while the total confirmed cases increased to 224, including one case from Punjab.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
South Korea reports 87 new cases
South Korea confirmed 87 new cases and three additional deaths, bringing its totals to 8,652 cases and 94 deaths.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
No new cases in Wuhan for second day
China’s epicentre, Wuhan city in Hubei province, recorded no new cases of infection for two consecutive days as of 19 March.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Death toll crosses 10,000 worldwide
The COVID-19 death toll has crossed 10,000 across the world, as of the end of 19 March.
The total number of infected people has increased to 244,000 while the recoveries stand at 86,000.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Italy’s death toll crosses China’s
The death toll in Italy stands at 3,405, surpassing the number of deaths in China which stands at 3,252.
The total confirmed cases in Italy stands at 41,035, more than half of that in China which stands at 81,193.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
CEPI finds eighth Covid-19 partner in Institut Pasteur
The Norwegian Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has made a $4.9 million investment in a Covid-19 vaccine consortium led by the Paris-based Institut Pasteur.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and DRIVE to develop Covid-19 drug
Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Emory University’s not-for-profit Drug Innovations at Emory (DRIVE) have partnered to develop a drug candidate for potential treatment of Covid-19.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
Israel approves import of generic of AbbVie’s HIV drug for Covid-19
Israel health ministry has approved the licensing of a generic version of AbbVie’s HIV drug Kaletra to treat Covid-19, as the cases in the country exceed 500.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 22 March 2020
Covid-19: US Researchers trial Chloroquine; ASHP reports shortages
Researchers at the University of Minnesota in the US have initiated a clinical trial to asses anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, a generic and derivative of chloroquine, to fight Covid-19.
—Pharmaceutical-Technology.com, 20 March 2020
