I, and I think all of us, really appreciate you detailing your experiences with this illness. A report of a case is really crucial. I tend to believe you are a pretty run of the mill case for this illness. I know the press were a bit of a "pest" but you provided a very useful public service. I feel, and severely hope you are now at the end of this and that your wife remains free of it.
You are now moving on to become one of those very precious 'rods in the nuclear reactor' I was talking about. Unfortunately these are only bought the hard way at present, instead of just a prick in the arm!
As I'm sure you realize the curse of this whole thing, is that though serious and critical cases are way in the minority. However, whatever the actual number they are numerous enough they are the face and fear of this pandemic. It is undeniable that there are enough of these cases to overwhelm costly, scarce and highly sophisticated ICU resources, in beds, personal and software. That is the essence and core of the problem.
Our governor in Minnesota is going to speak at 10:00 AM this morning. An inventory has been done of Minnesota medical facilities and it shows the issue I'm talking about.
We have a total of 450 ventilators in the Twin Cities metro it has been announced today. The population of Twin Cities Metro is 3.28 million. So that is a ventilator for every 0.014 percent of the population. So you see why we have to really slow this down. So you can see the rush to build ventilators. I hope the measures I spoke of last night will be successful. I really hope it is, but I think I can be forgiven for have considerable reservations about the practicality. At this time the metro only has 5.7% of its ICU beds open. So like other jurisdictions around the world somehow and someway more ICU beds have to be created, equipped and staffed pretty much immediately. How, I have no idea.
Now under serious consideration in the UK is self isolation of everyone over 70 for four months. Yes, four months. There is rational logic here as that age group are by far the most likely to need ICU care. As I have stated I am 73 years old with multiple risk factors for being in the severe and fatal column. My wife and I have been drawing back and just going out for groceries at non peak times. I have to go to the Mayo Clinic tomorrow. They have developed their own test. They have been screening patients and so far have come up with no positives, so I think I am reasonably safe to go.
Once we know there is community spread in the metro, I think my wife and I will begin self isolation.
Unfortunately our latest case in Minnesota is a teenager with a travel history. All non essential travel needs to be cut out now, and should have been done sooner in my view.
Anyhow enough of our problems, and again many thanks for putting a human face on this pandemic. Your recovery will boost the morale on all on this site.
While you have time on your hands please contribute often.
One thing we have in common are great AV rooms. I'm really blessed and fortunate as I have three great systems.
Lastly a site like this is likely to be a great way to avoid the worst of social isolation for those who choose, or have to have to self isolate. Your idea of a Steam Vent thread, will prove during this time to have been a stroke of brilliance, and an asset that could never have been imagined until now.
