Recent research has shown that the response to the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic has led to adverse mental health effects in some suffering from the consequences of ill-conceived pandemic policies.
In May, the nonprofit Well Being Trust, in conjunction with the D.C.-based Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, published research that suggests conditions stemming directly from Covid-19—including widespread unemployment, social isolation, dread and a murky future—could lead to an estimated additional 75,000 deaths on top of those caused by physical illness. Fatalities from drug overdoses, alcohol abuse and suicide (otherwise known as “deaths of despair”) is what those on the front lines of mental health are working to combat.Pacheco, who has worked at Tufts for nearly a decade and also serves as a member of the American Psychiatric Association Assembly Executive Committee, explains that his department has experienced up to 20% more patients than what was typical prior to the pandemic.Dr. Hairston, who also serves as the president of the American Psychiatric Association of Black Psychiatrists, echoes this experience; she’s noted an uptick in patients who are suffering from more severe mental health issues.“There’s certainly been a surge of patients in crisis,” Hairston explains. “Particularly working with those from underserved communities, there’s added distress about housing, the fear of getting evicted and unstable unemployment stemming from the virus. All of the uncertainty definitely makes a lot of these cases more challenging. It can be difficult to reassure patients.”
“COVID-crazy” is the only rational explanation for some of the choices California’s politicians have made recently. For example, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti authorized the city to shut off power and water to properties, including houses and businesses, that are in violation of gathering regulations.
“By turning off that power, shutting off that water we feel we can close these places down, which usually are not one-time offenders but multiple-offenders,” Garcetti said.He noted that local law enforcement officers are having a hard time dealing with gatherings where there are hundreds of people who are “breaking the law.”“We know we can do this,” Garcetti said, responding to a question about the measure’s legality.The authorization comes as the state battles a recent surge in confirmed cases. According to the mayor’s office, Los Angeles had nearly 198,000 cases as of Wednesday, as well as 4,825 fatalities.
I would argue at this point everyone is aware of the potential health consequences of coronavirus, including the fact that the case-fatality-rate is substantially lower than was originally touted. Americans have the ability to make fully-informed choices of how to protect themselves. If a large group of people wish to party on private property, the only dire consequence is likely to be that it may bring on herd immunity before vaccines can be issued.
It turns out that these large, private parties have replaced night clubs, as people rework their lives to accommodate prolonged COVID restrictions. Furthermore, Garvetti focused on the virus rather than the violence associated with this event: three people were shot over the course of the evening.
Garcetti said that while all nightclubs and bars have already been closed, “these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills” and often happen at homes that are vacant or used for short-term rentals….The issue of large, private gatherings received heightened scrutiny this week following a boisterous party Monday at a mansion on Mulholland Drive that ended in a fatal shooting.About 200 people were at the party when police first entered about 7 p.m. after numerous complaints from neighbors about the size of the gathering.Although officers cited and impounded some vehicles that were illegally parked, they did not break up the party — even though gatherings of any size are prohibited under Los Angeles County’s coronavirus health order.A shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m. LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers found two women and a man suffering from gunshot wounds. All the victims were taken to hospitals in critical or grave condition, and a 35-year-old woman later died. The other two were stable, officials said.
I bet the 35-year old woman was listed as a COVID-death.
In addition to this insanity, California may release a total of 17,600 inmates early to make space in crowded facilities in fear of this virus.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) told Fox News that “in total, 8,032 [inmates] have had their releases expedited and overall, we have reduced the total incarcerated population by more than 18,300 since March as a result of suspension of county jail intake, the expedited releases” and those released in accordance with their sentences.”We’re glad the governor is taking action to release more people,” Californians for Safety and Justice Executive Director Jay Johnson said in a July statement. “This is absolutely critical for the health and safety of every Californian. Too many people are incarcerated for too long in facilities that spread poor health.”
Question: Will any of the gang shootings that result from this decision also be listed as COVID-related deaths?
Not everyone has gone COVID-crazy in this state. For example, the Health Officer for San Mateo County just slammed California’s current COVID-19 watch list and policy for closing businesses, calling the state’s system “fundamentally flawed.”
San Mateo County Health Officer Scott Morrow outlined his criticism of the state’s testing data and what he called the “arbitrary and constantly changing framework that the State has set up to put counties on the watch list” in a message that posted to the San Mateo County Health website on Thursday.“I wish to apologize to all the businesses that were closed this week,” the statement read. “I am not supportive of these actions and, for San Mateo County, I believe they are misdirected and will cause more harm than good. This action is a bit like looking for your lost keys under a streetlight even though you lost them miles away.”Morrow went on to say he agrees with the state’s aim to minimize the spread of the virus, but also said that goal needs to be reached “while not destroying everything else in the process.”
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