Today on AirTalk, we discuss the state of COVID-19 in the United States. Also on the show, we take a look at the mental health resources available to Angelenos; talk with our FilmWeek critics about what they're streaming; and more.
AMA: US Has Highest Number Of Covid Cases, Best Practices Right Now And More
The U.S. yesterday overtook China for the highest total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, and by this morning had surged to just over 86,000. In all, more than 551,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide.
In L.A. County Thursday, Public Health director Barbara Ferrer had sobering news to report: The mortality rate for coronavirus now sits at 1.6% in L.A. County. That rate is higher than the nationwide average and significantly higher than what we experience with annual flu cases.
Read more on LAist.
If you have questions, ask our expert by calling 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Robert Kim-Farley M.D., professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; formerly with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization
We Talk To Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Director About COVID-19
Physical health isn’t the only health concern during a pandemic.
With the “Safer at Home” directive mandating social distancing, it’s more important than ever for people to stay connected and to care of their mental health, especially if they’ve already been struggling with mental health issues.
We talk with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Director Dr. Sherin about dealing with anxiety and other mental health challenges, as well as what resources are available.
You can find a list of Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health resources here.
You can also access L.A. County mental health services by calling the access hotline: 1-800-854-7771
Guest:
Jonathan Sherin, M.D., director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; he tweets
COVID-19: Difficult Ethical Considerations For Care And Treatment
With the coronavirus rapidly spreading throughout the United States, hospitals and medical facilities are now face to face with extremely difficult decisions around how to care for patients.
According to the Washington Post, some hospitals, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, are now considering “do not resuscitate” orders for COVID-19 patients. That’s because resuscitation and an all hands on deck approach poses extreme risks to healthcare providers who could come into contact with the virus. There’s already major concerns that hospitals will become overrun with patients leaving front-line workers drowning. With shortages of equipment and ventilators, doctors may have to make difficult decisions about who to prioritize with care. It’s unclear when and where these types of decisions could come into play, but many in the medical community are working on guidelines for rationing as the pandemic continues to worsen. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the ethics behind these decisions with experts. Do you have a question? Call: 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Aaron Kheriaty, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Medical Ethics Program at the School of Medicine at UC Irvine, he’s a member of the UC Office of the President’s Critical Care and Bioethics Task Force, which is establishing University of California hospital guidelines on these issues; he tweets
Lydia Dugdale, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of the Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at Columbia University, author of “The Lost Art of Dying” (HarperOne, 2020)
Rep. Adam Schiff On Efforts To Provide Federal Relief For Entertainment Industry
As we discussed last week on FilmWeek, entertainment industry professionals are among the hardest hit amid the stoppage of everyday work and life due to COVID-19. Whether you’re on camera or stage, or behind it, above the line or below it, production shutdowns mean that industry professionals who already rely on sporadic work as it’s available are left with few to no options for sustainable income.
Last week, Congressman Adam Schiff and other members of Congress who represent areas with large constituencies that work in the entertainment industry sent a letter to House leaders asking them to provide relief for both freelance and contract entertainment industry workers. “The unique freelance nature of work in film, television, theater, and live music means that a large number of the professionals who make these productions possible work only sporadically—often with extended periods between paying jobs—and count on income from each project to make ends meet,” the letter said in part. “As a result, many of them can’t qualify for traditional unemployment benefits or paid emergency leave, yet will now be unable to cover their basic expenses due to lost work.”
Today on AirTalk, Congressman Schiff joins us to talk about what relief both freelance and contract entertainment industry professionals can expect if the House passes the stimulus package that would provide financial aid to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.
Guest:
Adam Schiff, U.S. Congressman representing California’s 28th Congressional District, which includes Burbank, parts of Pasadena, and Glendale, and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee; he tweets