Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

Apparently the healthcare industry is the biggest recipient of PPP loans to the tune of 67 million if I did the math right.

Health-care industry was top recipient of PPP loans, data show

The health-care industry was the top recipient of loans under the Paycheck Protection Program through the end of June, the Trump administration said Monday, as it released the names of more than 650,000 businesses that got funds under the small-business lending program.

Launched as part of the government’s stimulus in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the PPP has so far issued $521 billion in loans. In a report Monday, the Small Business Administration said the program had helped support about 51 million jobs.

The health-care and social assistance sector got 12.9% of the money; professional and technical services received 12.7%; and 12.4% went to construction. Slightly more than 10% went to manufacturing and 8% went to hotels and restaurants.

 

OT but HCA related.

HCA paid $52.5M for 100 acres of land in south Lee County (Estero) where two other locally established hospitals (Lee Health, Naples Community Health) are competing to build a hospital. Way overpaid ($525k per acre) and land doesn't have underlying comprehensive plan designation or zoning for hospital. If hospitals are struggling so much how can they do things like this? Don't know, just trying to learn something

HCA Healthcare buys 100 acres in Estero for $52.5 million

 

Trump clubbing baby seals to earn hush money for porn stars is wrong, too - don't you think?

 

That article is from 2019, has nothing to do with the pandemic, which obviously changed things drastically for all of health care.

That is some very valuable real estate there, so I’m not sure I agree with your assessment as to the land value. But it is a bit odd with Lee Health all over the place (almost every hospital in Lee County is a Lee Health facility). I’m familiar with that area, and what’s the nearest hospital? Health Park? Something in North Naples? This is an area of high growth that probably needs its own hospital. Lee Health did recently open an emergency clinic fairly close by to Coconut Point IIRC, but if HCA gets the zoning for a hospital that could be a great location - maybe their idea is to try and get in there before Lee Health inevitably expands there.

 

Nearest hospital right now would be NCH of Immokalee Road in N Naples but most go to Health Park.

Lee Health already has a large facility built and ready to convert to full hospital once the lawsuits are settled. It is designed to add more floors when ready. State granted HCA and Lee Health licenses in 2018 and it has been in courts with NCH, Lee, and HCA all suing.

Real estate entitlement and development is my business and that land was not worth that much before you figure in that the zoning isn't there for it and the community will not support a zoning change that would negatively impact local favorite Lee Health.

 

A friend of mine who is a nurse at one of the biggest hospitals in Phoenix was asked why AZ could have 1 death yesterday, but over 100 today. She responded with a long explanation basically stating there aren't enough staff to take care of the sick. She isn't an ICU nurse, but got a crash reminder course, and has been working as one for a little over a week now. The sick bit still living take precedence over registering death totals. It's harsh, but the living still have a chance, and the b dead won't care if their death is counted a day or two later.

 

Yes, I think some have an expectation that this is like a video game, where the computer accurately updates numbers in realtime every day.

 

I’m no expert on hospital finances beyond the surface level information I shared. I can’t possibly answer for individual transactions.

I can say that a company worth north of $30 billion can have near term profitability issues and still pursue longer term plans. I just can’t speak to the wisdom of the execution of the plans.

 

Still not trending well.

US records more than 60,000 coronavirus cases to set new single-day record


In Florida alone, 43 intensive care units across 21 counties were reported to be at capacity as of Tuesday. The state also set a new record for the percentage of tests coming back positive, at 16.3 percent, on Monday, and broke its own single-day record with 11,458 new cases of the virus Saturday.

 

My point isn't so much to bash on them as much as to point out that they are not the hero's some deem them to be just because their numbers are dropping. Their numbers pretty much had to drop and a state like mine that was doing very well during lockdown expected cases to increase when opening up....but the steady drop in deaths and good hospital situation along with a good tracing plan and drastically increased testing made my state reopening the right choice.

 

Thanks my friend. I will take a look when I get a minute.

 

Pretty sure it depends on the source. I think many states report daily deaths the day they happen. And why do we see immediate holiday abnormalities if it takes a week to show? Wouldn't the holidays show up a week later too?

 

C'mon Dutchen. There is very little evidence that this hangs in the air for long periods. Also a jogger can see people and steer clear of them, and in my neighborhood (bigger yards, fewer homes) I can run my whole route and never pass anyone at noon, much less at dawn like these guys.

We have to all be nicer about this and understand that these guys probably know more about Covid then us since they actually had it and were directly informed by their MD as to how to handle it.

The rest of us read conflicting articles and message boards. Those 4 guys talked to the staff actually treating them for Covid-19.

 

I'm not sure. It's most likely someone took relative, historical seasonal deaths and compared this year. Covid deaths did not explain the difference between average deaths and this year. I'm sure it's reasonable to assume that some of the delta was unreported covid deaths but the rest requires further investigation. Makes for a good headline, tho.