WHAT’S GOING ON AT BMC WITH COVID-19? SOURCE: ‘IT’S A REAL SHIT SHOW’ … WHY IS THE MAYOR HIDING? IS THERE AN INFORMATION LOCKDOWN?
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
ADD 1 WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2020 shortly after 1 p.m. — THE PLANET received the following information from a high-level source with information relating to BMC’s handling of the initial coronavirus patient. In the interests of the public, we share it here as a supplement to our initial reporting (below).
“Testing at the time the initial patient was diagnosed was strictly controlled by the CDC and DPH,” the source said. “There was no local testing and while that may change in the coming week with commercial labs being allowed to test, it was not the case, and is not the case at this time. Testing was only approved by DPH if they had certain risk factors, including travel, which the initial patient did not. As a result, testing requests were denied for several days and when approved the swab was sent immediately to Boston, driven there by our staff. The DPH testing was not just a confirmation of a local test, it was THE test. It’s called presumptive positive because it then must be retested by the CDC in Atlanta.”
For more information on testing and the confusing issue of the “presumptive positive” diagnosis, readers should to to the Center for Disease Control website.
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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2020) — As you will see later in this column, the coronavirus, stubborn as it may be, is preventable and treatable with simple and reasonable precautions. Ignore the simplicity and replace reason with indifference, however, and you’re asking for trouble.
Such seems to be the case with a developing situation at Berkshire Medical Center. It begins with Patient Zero, who tested positive for COVID-19. Sources say he’s a man in his 60s, from Clarksburg in northern Berkshire County, the last town before you get into Vermont. Zero is an oncology patient who makes regular visits to the hospital. He entered the hospital on March 1 and stayed a week. During that time, he came into contact with dozens of staff and other patients. His doctor, who who sources say is a cancer patient and immune-suppressed, treated him as well as other patients.
Sources tell THE PLANET that Patient Zero was COVID-19 positive but was not treated with the proper protocols. Now, 75 BMC staffers have been ordered quarantined in an attempt to keep the virus from jumping the rails. This comes with the news that 15 teachers at Taconic High School are absent. Meanwhile, Mayor Linda Tyer skipped last night’s city council meeting and ignored a request from THE PLANET for information on the COVID situation. Does this make you more confident in her Administration’s ability to deal with the situation?
A BMC staffer told THE PLANET: “All is chaos here. A doctor may have come in contact with numerous patients, many patients. Which ones? We don’t know yet. How many people did the patient infect? We don’t know that either. [The] Administration told us not to say anything to anybody. I think I’m going to be off limits for the time being. Lots of confusion and no one wants to share what they know.”
I’m a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I’ve been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria…there is little I haven’t been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they ” probably don’t have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know…” and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games…that could be kyboshed too. Can you even imagine?
I’m scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I’m scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and “fight for yourself above all else” attitude could prove disastrous.
I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let’s meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.
———- ooo ———-
Bottom line is this: Stay calm, take reasonable precautions, keep living your life.
——————————————————————
“In a crisis, you want Cool Hand Luke, not Scaredy Cat Linda” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Fraidy Cat Tyer should be ashamed. Tucks it to us Kapanskis every which way and goes into hiding when Corona strikes fear into the hearts of Pittsfielders everywhere.
The Empty Suit II
Do Not Fear, Tyer and Bare Bare are here !! Right ? They will reassure you that things are still vlbrant, dynamic, and collaborative. And if you say your prayers, take your vitamins and walk on the right side of the street,….Maybe, Just Maybe, they will give you another Economic Engine. Be good now.
Yes. Things are also “inclusive and diverse.” All is sunny, all is well.
“With respect to Boston [Marathon bombing]. How much tragedy abounds everywhere else with NO media attention?”
-Abdu Sharkawy
This guy just likes to be obnoxious, should be sent to an African ebola clinic
COVID-19: Corona-virus is the newest Pittsfield debacle. I request bloggers post all of the Pittsfield debacles over the years. I will start it by naming polluted PEDA, which was founded in 1998 or nearly 22 years ago with 0 business tenants.
Its not a Pittsfield debacle. It is a corporate problem to downplay every negative piece of information.The president did exactly the same thing in waiting weeks for it to show then being so ignorant as to not change his game plan he was slow to act.If not for the press we would be sitting here now still not knowing.This is real news about a real virus and our goverment should always overreact when attack by a invader or virus.Thanks to the media we all have at least information about how to contain it.Trump Tyer are not leaders.They are PR for their brand.I wish Mazzeo and Clinton were in charge in this emergency.Trump just does not get it.
The press is a joke. They spent more time calling President Trump a racist for stopping travel from China than they did caring about people dying from this horrible virus. Great job President Trump!!!!! We could be Italy right now, but we still have a long road to go and we need to be very aggressive to stop this virus. President Trump will speak tonight.
To clarify a misleading statistic it should be known that although Corona virus deaths are now being pegged at about 2.5% for the general population it is 15-18% for elderly or those with respiratory issues. So while you may blow it off as nothing to worry about for yourself you might want to be more cautious about bringing it to others. And remember that while you or your children may show no symptoms, you still might be carrying and sharing it with love ones.
And as Dan’s story highlights, do NOT depend on the medical or political experts in this city to have your back. They cannot even take care of themselves and are now hiding under the covers.
If you are an older person there is every reason to be scared of the corona virus. What you expect is to be told the truth by the leaders and health care Professionals in your City and Community. Not hiding the numbers or the facts. That in itself is the danger. Use common sense, change your comfort zone, protect yourself.
What leaders? Do you mean Mayor Hideaway?
The Clairmonts are hiding in the Colorado Rockies safely away from the coronavirus
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever might get em though. They can run but they can’t hide.
Are you serious?!!! She’s on vacation?!
Charlie Baker cut his Utah vacation short, to return to MA & provide leadership! Bring back the mayor! Geez…..
Let’s not forget that at the onset of an epidemic, mild or asymptomatic cases are often not counted in the total numbers of diagnoses. This results in an inflated mortality rate.
The situation at BMC is very concerning. The cover-up, the lack of information, and at worst, deception sounds like the tip of the iceberg for a very huge problem for BHS. What are the true risks of seeking care there at this time?
As for Moon and Tyer, it seems quite likely that their absences from the meeting last night were very deliberate and planned. Moon had a petition on the table
to receive a response from the mayor concerning the city’s emergency preparedness plan to deal to with Covid-19. As the intensified situation unfolds at BMC, PPS, and in the community, the convenience of them both not being at the meeting cannot be overlooked.
Mayor Tyer is not in hiding. As a matter of fact last evening she was at a county wide meeting held by the Berkshire Boards of Health. She attended as well as many other officials across Berkshire County including Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Jake Mccandless, who were receiving an update on the latest info regarding COVID-19 and the preparationsand ongoing activities occurring. I did not see either one surrounded by bodyguards, preventing anyone to talk to them. And I believe I saw Amanda Drane from the Eagle there.
This has been on BMCs radar for months and planning has been taking place accordingly and I commend them for that. There are many moving parts in this still evolving situation. Anyone that is informed and follows this knows because it is a novel virus there are some unknowns and things change along the way due to new information or trends being observed. You can place your blame on communist China for their secrecy that prevented our Country from not having the latest information.
Thanks for the information, BRIAN
Are you saying there were no basic protocols violated?
JOHNNY
I noted that too. No one from the hospital has said for the record that no basic protocols were violated. Right now, from what we’ve been able to uncover, it does appear as if there were such violations.
“including Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Jake Mccandless”
NOW I FEEL BETTER!
Big Mc suggested more doughnuts for everyone.
BMC has not been on this “for months” that was a PR statement to the Eagle. If they were aware of this for months, why did they not preorder supplies appropriately?
They are running a 55 day supply of needed protective equipment.
If they were on it for months how did they ignore basic hospital safety? not post preventative sanitation stations at all the entrances? Ask nurses to reuse masks?
How did they allow an oncology patient into an area with dozens of compromised and sick patients?
Why not do what other infusion sites are doing in MA, drive and wait with rapid entrance to infusion centers?
A friend who is getting treatment at a different health system has been told to show up 10 minutes before the appointment, wait in their car, and they get a text when their infusion room is ready. No group infusion rooms, no waiting rooms. BHS still is still “double booking” appointments and making people wait in waiting rooms.
Here’s a very simple safety step they could have take. Immediately, cancel all elective surgeries and appointments where there is no critical care need.
Why haven’t they done that? Because executive staff bonuses are based on economic performance.
It seems to me that if the hospital was on top of it for months and all standard contamination protocols were followed than 75 employees would not be in quarantine!
Hit the nail right on the thumb
It’s poor management at the cost of the slaves and patients.
Then why couldn’t the Mayor advise the taxpayers of the City of this meeting?! Thank you for your update but I feel it is the Mayor’s job to advise us. Many, many of us are not in her inside circle like you are.
Uh, why are so many BMC staff been told not to come to work if everyone was following protocol.? Just time off to enjoy the nice weather? That would be a pretty nice perk during a pandemic, even for Pittsfield.
Thanks for the update and explanation. However, I must question the statement that this has been on BMC’s radar for months. That seems nonsensical. The virus has not been around “many months”.
Good point, CHUCK.
The report of the cluster of pneumonia diagnoses in Wuhan happened last week of December. Almost immediately many of us in healthcare that pay attention to these things triggered discussion. Soon after it was determined that this was a problem. Preparations began taking place. In my book Jan-March constitutes months but maybe I should have used a different description to prevent manipulation of the meaning by some here. Before January was over many of us including BMC were deep in preperation including BMC who soon found out none of could purchase protective equipment because China was not shipping any and they produce much of what is sold.
BRIAN
If you and BMC were in such “deep preparation” for so long, why was the hospital so lax in any numbers of ways, most of which were detailed in my column. Tell me flat out, if you know: What part of the information from my sources about the failure to follow protocols is incorrect? Answer only if you know, for a fact, citing sources. If you don’t know, that’s cool too.
With all due respect Brian,she has a terrible track record. Many people I know don’t have a computer to view her site. How are people to know where she goes anyway?Fenway and the Boston and Colorado routes seem to be favorites of her,why haven’t you kept us up to date on those whereabouts? Who pays for those Boston trips?
I would only add that she should have had someone from her office there on her behalf and officially introduced as such. Of course, this is the council’s meeting. The mayor is there by invitation. She can accept or not.
Thank you for reminding us. I do blame communist China for their unbelievable secrecy. They kept this virus secret for some time and gave the rest of the world no time to prepare. Nursing homes could have been put on lockdown ahead of time and a lot of those people in Washington State nursing home would still be alive. So many died there that it is such a horrible tragedy.
Whatever Tyer and TFB come up with will be more PC than scientific.
Has the Eagle staff fled the county? The corona virus situation here was the “tipping point” in the Governor declaring emergency yet there is no story? The version of the website I see daily has multiple copies of the same story all over the screen, or one story says 5 deaths and another next to it says 7. Talk about a shit show.
Wonder whose side the local paper will be on. Will they want to get important possibly life saving info to their customers or protect their advertising dollars with the city and hospital. Are they working on a story with spin or one without spin? Or any story at all.
I think most of the customers they have left are those who advertise with them.
According to Pee Pee Petie the Lovely Linda was absent from the CC meeting last night as she was attending a meeting locally with with City Health representatives about the virus. Would love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting. Evidently we are not going to get any type of update from that meeting. Meanwhile, Moonbeam was also not in attendance as she was home ill. She did have time to write an emotional note explaining why she was not there so that Pee Pee could read it.
The meeting lasted just 1/2 hour. What a waste of time. Amazing since the City has so many issues, such as the box fans in the windows of PHS, crime, traffic issues, prostitution. drug addiction, massive amount of teachers absent from THS, just for a few examples. Why is this CC even meeting? What are they doing to better Pittsfield. We evidently have a SILENT MAYOR and a SILENT CITY COUNCIL. Pittsfield taxpayers deserve so much more, but we are not going to get anything but increases in taxes with this Administration.
Unfortunately the city took a big loss when Mazzeo left her seat. It has since replaced by Yuki who I believe has only said “I” at all city council meetings. Seriously, has she said anything yet at any of the meetings? Maybe her friend shouldn’t have told her she should run.
Yuki Cohen is a rubber stamp of the Moonbeam group. She’s hosted fundraisers for DA Andrea Harrington and is graduate of the MWPC boot camp 101.
https://www.wamc.org/post/seeking-equity-berkshire-women-train-politics
She lives in Pittsfield but sends her children to school in Lenox. Dynamic and vibrant Pittsfield doesn’t cut it for her.
Yes…she would dig and dig with questions.Moon Caccamo marchetti need yo ask questions.
Dan, questions for you & your audience regarding the label “presumptive positive diagnosis.” Does that mean that the person has been tested for cvirus & awaiting confirmation? Or does it mean the person is showing flu-like symptoms and has been tested for and ruled out seasonal flu? Or does it mean no testing has been done at all, with the person showing flu-like symptoms?
That’s the million dollar question.Mayor and officials dropped this one big time.
Presumptive positive means only one thing but has been co-opted by the news to mean many things.
Presently Presumed positive means the person has had one sample tested and it has been positive but has not had confirmation testing done by the CDC.
In order to speed up testing and distribute workload the CDC has begun allowing State labs to do confirmation testing. There was a delay in MA due to lab certification for the rapid test. It wasn’t really anyone’s fault, the FDA approved a new test, the CDC has to certify the labs for the test, all 50 states and additional territories get in line, the certification takes a week.
Also the type of testing has changed. There is a new rapid test which is 98% accurate.
So a presumed positive patient can now be rapid tested locally, then confirmed by a state lab that is certified by the CDC. That is the new model they are working towards.
One positive test, presumed positive. Second test by a certified lab, positive.
Thanks Police Report.
You are welcome. Your best source of data is from the WHO or CDC directly.
Person Under Investigation (PUI): Any person who is under investigation for having the virus that causes COVID-19, or who was under investigation but tested negative for the virus.
Presumptive Positive case of COVID-19: Anyone who has tested positive for the virus, but testing was conducted at the local or state level. Currently, presumptive positive cases must have sample undergo confirmatory testing at the CDC.
(This will be updated as State labs are certified)
Laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19: Anyone who has tested positive for the virus at the CDC laboratory.
(This will be updated as State labs are certified)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/reporting-pui.html
Besides an expert in the rule of law, education and road maintenance tax expert, City government Now your a doctor as well. WOW!
If you know how to read & what to ask a proper source….. Ya, it’s called intellectual.
Seems like or is well informed about many things.
For the record…all of the source who’s quoted in this sounds like a nurse for the MNA with the last name of VanBramer. She’ll say whatever she can to make BMC sound bad. Take this for what it is worth. As an employee it’s not nearly as bad as she (or whomever they are) is making it sound (in terms of the “chaos” at BMC.) The virus on the other hand is no freaking joke. This administrations way of dismissing it or making it sound like the flu is totally off base.
TAD
THE PLANET never reveals sources who request and are given anonymity. Since you bring up a name, however, we can say that this person was NOT among our sources, who came from a cross-section of operations both within the hospital, related to the hospital, and government.
Dan, you’ve really put your censorship operations into overdrive, haven’t you?
I think I’d have more confidence in testing knowing it was Sonja Farak than local centers conducting rapid tests…
Meeting in progress to close schools.
COVID-19 is now a pandemic
GOVERNOR DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY. world health organization declared pandemic. Where’s the mayor????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Who cares !
She is getting around $100,000 per year in Kapanski Cash. Least she could do is make a statement the day after the governor declares an emergency. It’s not enough to go to meetings. She is the elected leader of the city, and the voters deserve to hear from her.
But regardless of her salary, she’s useless
She should at least get up to bat.
DR. Anthony Fauci stated today that the cvirus fatality rate is 1%.
I’ve got a banana peel in my car in case I run out of purell
He would be incorrect.
Thank you Dr Police Report do you concur?
Mortality for COVID-19 appears higher than for influenza, especially seasonal influenza. While the true mortality of COVID-19 will take some time to fully understand, the data we have so far indicate that the crude mortality ratio (the number of reported deaths divided by the reported cases) is between 3-4%, the infection mortality rate (the number of reported deaths divided by the number of infections) will be lower. For seasonal influenza, mortality is usually well below 0.1%.
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=96b04adf_2
He has said its “at least 10%” which is 10x that of influenza.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
Total cases: 938
Total deaths: 29
3% mortality
Jurisdictions reporting cases: 39 (38 states and District of Columbia)
4pm update 1007 cases, 31 deaths. 3% mortality.
Influenza is .1% (a tenth of a percent) so right now COVID-19 is 30x more lethal.
I would suggest that Dr. Fauci didn’t do well or didn’t even take a course in math. He probably thinks a $20 tip on a $100 meal bill is 1% too.
City Tax dollars at work:
Three street sweepers one behind the other cleaning a pothole riddled street on the West side, to the point one of the brushes fell off the sweeper and shot across the road.
And let’s hope the dopes don’t do street sweeping on garbage day like they did in my neighborhood last year, because the cans are obviously in the way.
JOE
You need one of them there $600 garbage cans. Maybe the mayor can sell you one or at least share the name of the “artist.”
You may have to narrow it down. P R just about every side street has issues.
My sources at the DPW tells me that they are actually using the sweeper to fill in the potholes with road debris as it is cheaper than asphalt. It was working just fine up until that little kerfuffle.
My employer told me to work from home yesterday for the next 2 weeks because I had one of the people that BMC quarantined on Monday over for dinner Saturday. Nobody wants to take any chances. Fortunately, this person is on day 5 after exposure and, so far, no symptoms or illness. Although I was told that days 5 to 9 are the peak. Here is an interesting site. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
The real problem in Pittsfield is Crony virus
That’s a good one right there!
That’s the post of the day!!
Interesting that Berkshire County has the same number of cases than all of Mexico.
yah if our numbers are accurate and not last weeks numbers
I heard 75 staff at BMC are quarantined including doctors – true?
Self-quarantine and that number might easily double.
If you run out all the known patients and staff that came in contact with patient zero or his oncologist, you are looking at hundreds of people, and easily 200 staff. It will be a disaster if staff start coming down with it, it will be the perfect storm of ineptitude.
Pittsfield is a perfect breeding ground for viruses and germs because everywhere you go, people are packed in like sardines. Too few stores for so many people.
This is from the CDC website;
Based on what is currently known about the novel coronavirus and similar coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS, spread from person-to-person with these viruses happens most frequently among close contacts (within about 6 feet). This type of transmission occurs via respiratory droplets. On the other hand, transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented. Transmission of coronavirus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through fomites.
That’s not true. In fact there are actual studies that show the transition path being contact on surfaces for 30min to three days and that contact can be up to 4.5 meters or more. The CDC hasn’t updated their website.
The Chinese study was peer reviewed then China forced the removal of the document.
Yes PR your correct again! Here is the updated CDC statement on how the virus spreads.
Q: How does COVID-19 spread and what are the symptoms?
A: COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, which means to become infected, people generally must be within six feet of someone who is contagious and come into contact with these droplets.
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing
Trump simply is not a leader.Trump is a brand
Yes
If anyone knows someone with the virus say “I”
Finally some local nursing homes are in lockdown. Pittsfield should have done this weeks ago. I will communicate with relatives by phone and will miss seeing them in person, but this is the only way to save these very vulnerable people. We all need to be very careful. Stay away from the elderly or really anyone over 60 especially those with chronic health problems if you even suspect you are ill.
It’s Official A Pandemic. Mayor and Officials dropped the balling time here.
Heard Lovely Linda is hiding in the EMA Space Capsule at the BIC building.
Thank you President Trump for stopping incoming flights from China over 5 weeks ago. Can you imagine the chaos if Dementia Joe was president??? Truly a scary thought! Biden needs cognitive testing!
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/03/11/exclusive-as-coronavirus-crisis-rages-tom-cotton-launches-television-ads-exposing-joe-bidens-chinese-corruption/
Bozo the clown would be more qualified than Dum Trump
The presumptive Democratic nominee for President! Yee gads!
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/03/10/watch-joe-biden-suffers-problem-teeth-during-victory-speech/
Why don’t you give us the sound bite when Trumpsaid the Corona Virus would blow over in two weeks. That was three weeks ago. And where the hell is this useless Mayor lately. As an invited guest that’s where you need to be at a City Council
Meeting. You do dumb Proclamations?
A week ago Trump said the number of cases was 15 and those people were getting better. OOPSIE He is doing a slow rollout of test kits so that the numbers remain low. Fiddling as Rome burns as they say.
Trump just not qualified
Schools are no longer required to meet the minimum 180 days of education. Any closures of elementary to high schools will not have to made up past the 185th day of session. If a school closes for two weeks, once back in session, the school year will automatically end on the 185th day of the school year.
Chronic absenteeism will be calculated for the year as of March 2, 2020. Any absenteeism after that date will not be counted against the school.
DA just announced she will no longer attend yoga classes.
One state I believe is Corona v free..West Virginia
Those Moon Shiners are making White Lighting vaccines/ cures 24/7 .
How about Hillary?
The D OW looked like Bosquets today.
Hillary wants Bill tested, again.
James, that’s a stretch.
Or campaign fundraising events.
That ‘s a stretch
Pittsfield taxes should be cancelled for the quarter because of people staying home sick.
and not getting the services they are paying for, especially from their government
Many nursing homes in Pittsfield are finally on lockdown. This should have been done weeks ago after what happened in Washington state. How long does it take locals to get the message to do something to help protect our vulnerable citizens?
If nursing homes are on lockdown how will Biden campaign ?
From the CDC parking lot.A reminder of what Trumpism has done.
Yes…delayed reality by our President
TSC
You WAY overplaying your hand. So many repetitive comments so quickly do not help your credibility.
Talk about losing confidence in BMC! We all put so much trust in our one and only hospital. And to think that they deliberately did not use basic protocols for this virus makes me wonder in what other ways are they deficient. And will the finger ever be pointed to an individual or group? Answer: NO
Also, what is the reason for the 15 teachers being absent at Taconic?
We put these questions to the mayor. No response. She’s not ducking us. She’s ducking you, the people. One gets the feeling she’s in way over her head, that the responsibilities of office have caught up with her reluctance, and that she’s frozen with a fear that comes from incompetence.
The insanity of this life ….. can’t stand it. Why do people hold positions if they don’t give 2 f’x about anyone else
Paywall, buy a subscription…. $$$$$$$$ !!!!!
NB A has just suspended the season. Last game currently being played. Thank goodness shoe polish isn’t the cure for covid-19. Jake and Curtis have used it all up on their hair and beard.
The ineptness of the Berkshire Eagle.
They talk about how they are dedicated to reporting as the corona virus takes hold.
They provide a link to their impressive coverage and it doesn’t work.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/berkshireeagle.com/coronavirus/
(Online editor: get rid of the period at the end of the url it doubles the domain URL) SMH
Our reporting and coverage of the coronavirus is a critical community resource during this public health crisis. Therefore, you’ll find that if you are a subscriber or not, you can access and read all of the latest COVID-19 updates on our website at BerkshireEagle.com/coronavirus. There, you’ll get all of the latest news, updates and information for the Berkshires and southern Vermont and beyond. It’s impressive.
Not Found
The requested URL was not found on this server.
Apache/1.3.39 Server at http://www.berkshireeagle.com Port 80
HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found
Then the place a not too subtle advertizement for subscribers.
While you’re there, if you’re not yet a subscriber, I hope you’ll consider becoming one. We cannot do the work we do to inform you without your subscriptions, so please consider helping our newsroom continue its mission of providing you with local news.
PR
The Boring Broadsheet has a digital platform made of junk and done on the cheap. THE PLANET’s coverage today speaks for itself of our superiority — a staff of one besting an entire newsroom on a vital story. Thanks for sharing.
The One Man Gang!
BHS and BMC have failed the public.
At Berkshire Medical Center, leaders have begun exploring access to travel nurses after members of the hospital’s staff were exposed to COVID-19. Meanwhile, “the hospital is redistributing staff from departments to shortfall areas,” Media Relations Director Michael Leary said.
(They’ve been on this for “months” wouldn’t this have been something they should have looked into months ago? Did they consider that everyone that has a major hospital will be looking for travel nurses.)
Leary declined to answer questions about the number of Berkshire Health Systems employees under quarantine, but a spokesman for the Massachusetts Nurses Association said its nurses report some 70 BMC staff people were asked not to come to work due to exposure.
“Of those 70, 54 are nurses,” said Joe Markman, the association’s associate director of public communications.
(It’s really bad when that number isn’t told to the public by the hospital and has to come from the union.)
Leary said all staff who were exposed are out on paid furloughs. “It does not count against their vacation or earned time,” he said.
(I’m sure vacation time is what they are worried about, not the extraordinary health risk you’ve put them in.)
Markman said nurses also had concerns about being asked to reuse masks. He said that goes against best practices and is a point the union is pushing back on.
But Leary said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines allow for mask reuse in times of outbreak, which commonly deplete protective resources. These guidelines refer to “limited reuse.”
(So they’ve been on this for months but somehow they don’t have supplies and they are continuing to schedule electives. What a disaster)
Remdesivir
At Sunday’s debate what’s the chances of Bernie or Creepy Joe says I’ve fallen and can’t rebut?
You clearly have not heard Trump talk at his cult rallies.
Cult?
Democrats in 2016: Trump is not presidential, he can’t even speak properly.
Democrats 2020: We give you Biden.
I swear by my hairy legs I have heard Trump.
Tom Hanks (Mr. Rogers) and his wife Rita now have the corona virus. They are in Australia and are being treated. So far their symptoms are mild, but that can change with this virus. Both are 63 years old.
Europe should have stopped travel from China when they were finally told by a irresponsible China that there was a virus outbreak in that country. China should have been immediately isolated from the rest of the world. Europeans traveling to this country brought the virus with them and our situation would have been much worse if President Trump did not stop travel from China. President Trump has now stopped travel from Europe.
In Italy there are hundreds of people dying on a daily basis. It is total chaos and even people with heart attacks and strokes cannot be treated since the medical facilities are overwhelmed with corona virus patients. Nurses and doctors are coming forward to describe just how bad it is in Italy.
It is all a gimmick Pat.
Thank you President Trump for shutting off travel from China early. If only Pittsfield people had somebody who is as swift to act as President Trump. Here everything is in slow motion despite the fact that we are facing this dangerous virus.
Everything is in slow motion for sure. Hardly anyone can get tested. People in the know know that thousands of people are infected and spreading the virus widely as we speak. But without the tests their danger is hidden from view, as Trump desires it. You Pat, are in denial due to idol worship. And that is quite sad.
Another local message board that had a lot of Trump supporters was recently shut down. MassLive had a great message board, but got very uncomfortable that all of their far left ideas were not supported by the general public. It had to go.
Remember that guy that walked behind Hillary with the Valium pen, I mean tactical flashlight?
Joe’s handlers will have to double the dose this evening.
“the coronavirus, stubborn as it may be, is preventable and treatable with simple and reasonable precautions. Ignore the simplicity and replace reason with indifference, however, and you’re asking for trouble.”
There hasn’t been a single word in this article – that is not true. Staff thrown into the worst without proper training, masks instructed to be microwaved, infected patients are scattered throughout the hospital, staff being rotated from floor to floor, visitors are still allowed, real numbers of covid+ patients not revealed!! It is a scary place to be and work these days. Please stop with ignorance and comments that insult the author! This is the unfortunate truth! Please wake up, Berkshires!
BMC employee, anonymous
Thank you, ANON. Pass the word: THE PLANET is open to any inside information there. Send them here or to me personally at danvalenti@verizon.net.
I would like to give a HUGE shoutout to the first responders as these are the most trying times. Thank you for all you do. Stay well and God bless you all.
Tyer is our representative for safety along withYon Mccandless Marchetti.They have not shown leadership.Schools must close for containment.There is only social gatherings that allow the virus to spread .Make the call early not late.We need leadership so dont look to the federal goverment…….As most republicans saw this as a media hoax and are slowly seeing the media is trying to inform about what is going on.Stop talking about hysteria and panic .Stop bringing people together for a short amount of time.Schools should close for the next 2 weeks and then reassess the data.Dont wait for a school outbreak.Pittsfield should be 1st to lead…..
Is the mayor really in town? Has anyone actually seen her? Incredulous that she hasn’t called a press conference to inform the public about the outbreak. Hospitals in other communities are offering “drive-by” testing where the sick don’t have to even get out of their cars, putting less hospital workers at risk.
This whole corona virus outbreak provides a strong argument against sanctuary cities and open borders. President Trump is doing an outstanding job protecting the citizens and the interests of our country. It’s also disturbing to see how, over the years, our pharmaceuticals have handed over the production of 97% of antibiotics and vitamins to China.
I think people need to take a step back and look at this pandemic through logical lenses. Traditional media and social media especially has the world thinking we are living through our last days.
It is a serious problem. And it will be resolved. The fate of humanity does not lie in the path of Covid-19.
There are an abundance of highly contagious, potentially life-threatening illnesses faced by humans all the time. Influenza, norovirus, the common cold. They are contagious, they spread, and people survive. Millions of people are stricken with the flu each year despite an available vaccine. And people die from it.
Two months ago the news was the unusually high number of Flu A and Flu B diagnoses this season. Doctors offices and urgent care facilities were booked to the max. Resources were stretched, health care workers were exposed. And, people survived.
We will survive this people.
Mankind will survive. But there will be many less of us around to experience it.
It’s not a matter of survival, it’s a social contract. The government is supposed to be prepared for these things and to execute plans effectively, the same with hospitals. They have both failed. They are going to spend more time covering up for their failure then they have preparing to be successful.
The joke that BHS and BMS have been preparing for months was a sound byte put out by BHS and will be parroted by Tyer and Baker. It is a lie.
Lovely Linda is going to speak to the taxpayers at 11a.m. today. Finally! How many comments have been written on this website alone asking where she has been? Can’t help but wonder what has taken so long for her to speak! It is a bit late now! Unfortunately in my mind she has a record of not telling us the truth, so because it has taken her so long to respond to us taxpayers I am going to have a difficult time believing her comments. Has it taken this long for her to “collaborate” with her private circle to come up with her” innovative “comments to the public? Trying to keep an open mind but admit it is difficult with her track record. I am sure she will be “vibrant” and “dynamic” during her press conference.
Governor is forcing the issue. They had a POW wow, remain calm, BHS and Pittsfield doing all it can, this is a PR tour to limit panic and to cover for BHS.
Wait you have been tapping your fingers waiting for a response that according to you should have happened days ago? now she gives said response and it’s not good enough for you? hmm I find that shocking. Did you need the Mayor to tell you to wash your hands weeks ago like a child ..wait don’t answer that.
The Board of Health can’t even be relied upon for a basic preliminary inspection – why would we rely on them for any reason. They all didn’t sign up to corral a pandemic, hell this ain’t Flint Michigan, but Lead in the water makes people sick in Berkshire Massachusetts none the less…. this ain’t China – but that was Made in China – my kids go to school here? And apparently China has the supplies WE need – they the only ones who know what matters ?
Our kids aren’t important enough for toxic PREcaution, don’t keep letting these frauds roll our dice and 50 on red, crony some fraudulent documents later, they literally DO NOT CARE. Understand, stop asking yourself WHY? I just told ya! THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT PEOPLE THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR SALARY & THEIR HEADLINES & GREEN BEER. ONLY ONES WITH strict DEADlines is Mary-Joe. Our time was up a proverbial few months ago. Quit movin and Shakin, get the Cigar outta your *@#& and do something!
Our local Board of Health doesn’t do their job during normal times. Just walk into the dollar stores on North Street and also the one on Merrill Road, they are filthy and both should be shut down. Our Health department and Mayor don’t know how to handle the skunk odor from Berkshire Roots. The Lanesboro Board of Health has shut down the Dollar General because of the filth in there. Why does Pittsfield not monitor this? Does any department in this Administration do their jobs? Sorry if I sound angry, but I am very angry at the condition of Pittsfield and the crap attitude of our elected officials! People say move, well I am not going to let some dumb butt fools run me out of the City I grew up in and use to be proud of.
This is a result of a 4 year mayoral term. She knows she is untouchable. She does not have to lift a finger and that big check and perks are going to be there.
Whelp…. Looks like Trump just about killed the Obama economy. Thanks boomers.
Very fake news.
Anything going on at city hall? Just seen TV news vans pull in there
Facts are the facts: CDC recommends 6 feet distance between people. Kids and teachers in our schools are always closer than the recommended 6 feet. Factual. Period. CLOSE THE SCHOOLS.
But then the poor kids will go hungry because the parents are pissing the welfare and food stamp money away on tobacco and alcohol and lottery instead of feeding the kids.
House democrats have introduced legislation to undo Trump’s travel bans from c-virus stricken areas. It’s called the “No Ban Act” and would allow travelers from Wuhan & other areas to arrive in the U.S. unimpeded. Democrats appear to hate America. What is wrong with them? No common sense!
Fritz,
That’s unbelievable. I think this quote fits.
Three great forces rule the world:
Stupidity, Fear and Greed.
Albert Einstein
I can’t believe that ANYONE would vote for these Democrats again after this shameless lack of caring about the safety of the American public. They are using this to get Americans sick and then dependent on government then they think they can seamlessly switch us over to communism without us even realizing it since we will all be so sick. Who in their right mind would invite more potentially sick people into the country while using the excuse, “well, the virus is already here”. Nancy and Chuck get the best of healthcare so they aren’t worried about themselves or their families getting sick. These idiots do not realize that more sick people from other countries means more people will get it here and this is not good without having a vaccination yet. People need to call Washington and complain about what Chuck and Nancy are trying to do!!!!
Here’s some potentially good news……the White House is debating whether to delay the tax deadline.
Hope everyone was totally enlightened by Lovely Linda’s Press Conference on the virus. Nothing said about the large number of teacher illness this week at Taconic, nothing said about the 75 employees out at BMC or the shortage of cleaning supplies in the City. What a waste of time. Also wondering why in the hell that as a taxpayer you have to subscribe to her so called virus update on the City website. Why does the witch with a B need our names? We are paying her huge salary, has she forgotten that? I feel this is an insult that I have to give my name to get update on a virus that is worldwide. This is so wrong! Lovely Linda is so unprofessional. Any true professional knows that you repeat a question that has been asked so that ALL the audience knows the question. Also, thought it was strange that DA Andrea was there, especially when the October Mountain trial is going on. Wonder if she has even stepped foot into the court room since the trial started. Another waste of taxpayers money, her and Lovely Linda.
You really need some fresh air!
You are absolutely correct. Total waste and city should be posting updates to their website instead of having us subscribe for information. Sad and shameful waste of a press conference. Mayor Hideaway better hope Dan doesn’t make her press conference the topic of his next colum.
Andrea Harrington never met a camera she didn’t run too or a courtroom she didn’t run from!
She removed a portrait of DA Gerry Downing from the North Adams court house which was placed there as a memorial to the beloved DA.
Harrington replaced the memorial portrait with her own portrait. Court staff are livid with Harrington over this egotistical, arrogant, and disrespectful move.
She should resign. She’s a disgrace.
WTF!!!!!??? Harrington obviously does not realize the courthouse is not her office or domain. Being DA gives her no authority to wipe out vestiges of prior administrations. That portrait was placed there by the presiding Judge Mike Ripps. Again, she doesn’t know what she doesn’t know and what she has done. What a disgrace is right.
And why in the hell did she have to drag all those other highly paid official from their jobs to stand there looking like fools? Kerwood looked like he needed to take a dump badly. Some of the others had to feel like fools being used like props while she chattered on saying very little of actual value. I swear she is related to Trump.
When will we know about the governor’s meeting at 2:00 with Lovely Linda??!!!
Your not invited.
Because politicians always want to show they have the support of their team behind them! The dog and pony shows put on by mayors’ and other elected officials over the years are legion, and a huge waste of tax dollars, assuming the other team members would actually be working, versus humping the duck away from the office somewhere else, but that’s a big assumption.
The DA was there because she’s a politician, not a prosecutor.
Da was there because capeless/Caccaviello Rico case involved faker. Won’t be anymore emails or phone calls. Faker had her swept for bugs and recording devices.
If you want to know how to deal with Cornona Joe Biden has the answers on his website. His press conference today was a joke. And Tulsi Gabbard wants to give every American $1,000. She is nuts.
Chuck and Nancy are a joke. They are fighting to let more potentially sick people enter the country using the excuse that the virus is already here? What is their game plan? Getting us all sick and dependent on government handouts so they can easily switch us over to socialism/communism? I want government to help us during this time, but Nancy and Chuck are trying to ramp up this illness by their absolutely stupid ideas. People need to call Washington and complain about the disgusting ideas these two are pushing!!!!
Pat
Hope you don’t mean me. That’s not me.
No, not you. I mean Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
Dan, It may be time to run for cover. Todays press conference Linda said, “City officials for purposes of tracking, monitoring, planning, and evaluating our actions” are in place”. City Officials!! Really now. She named them and I have to ask what do they know about a virus or sickness or even a fever? Not a doctor in the group.. There is one person in the group I have confidence in making a good judgement. Matt Kerwood has brains and guts. He is the hit man for this group and like a good soldier he takes it. No complaints either. He takes a lot of anger and complaints that others should get but Matt takes it. I hardly know him, but I admire his guts for taking these complaints and anger and like a good soldier he does not complain Wish I could say the same about others mentioned who are supposed to help us through this virus crisis. Time to worry.
The lack of maturity of college students in this country on full display. The same young people who think that Bernie and communism are great. So disgusting. It’s like they are celebrating the corona virus outbreak. Yeah, we get that you don’t want to be in a so-called learning environment (although that is questionable since it’s mainly indoctrination), but can you show some respect and concern for the reason why you are being let out of class. Also, how about respecting the police even if you are being told by your Marxist professors that you shouldn’t respect people like the police who are authority figures.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/after-college-cancels-classes-over-coronavirus-1-000-students-gather-in-street-jump-on-cars-throw-objects-at-cops-in-apparent-celebration?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200312Trending-CollegeGoesCovidWild&utm_term=TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News
1 payer healthcare is not communism Pat.It works like
car Insurance.
Wrong again, school committee. Please go back to school and actually learn something.