Novel Coronavirus discussions

[Handlebars]

Since when do news agencies promote advices from random people, say an anti-vaxxer who told people not to panic, relax, measles isn't a real worry, don't panic about an outbreak, their whole family had no complications from it, it wasn't that bad, the worst part is that they missed a concert they really wanted to go to?
NEVER HAPPENS. They always would issue a warning against that advice if any random person said that on air, they would never promote that advice.

So first there was that woman from the cruise ship off Japan telling everyone it's not bad, now this couple also from a cruise ship saying don't panic it wasn't that bad.

People taking cruises are maybe not the most savvy. But news agencies are favoring their stories and offering no contradiction.

 

[J.R.]

It's a problem when one only sees or accepts only one side of any issue. Note, I said sees and accepts, not necessarily agree.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Kind of a rant here, but...

We keep hearing "Don't panic." I feel compelled to ask:

What in blazes does that even mean in this context?

I don't think people are going to riot in the streets over this. But I do think a bit of "panic" at this point might be constructive in certain places. What is fascinating to me in all of the coverage on countries and politicians that have screwed this up, there has been scant coverage on the handful of countries that seem to have gotten things right (South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore).

Bluntly, the best way to keep the public from panicking would be for governments to have an effective and transparent response to this crisis. That doesn't seem like too much to ask.

 

[J.R.]

Kind of a rant here, but...

We keep hearing "Don't panic." I feel compelled to ask:

What in blazes does that even mean in this context?

I don't think people are going to riot in the streets over this. But I do think a bit of "panic" at this point might be constructive in certain places. What is fascinating to me in all of the coverage on countries and politicians that have screwed this up, there has been scant coverage on the handful of countries that seem to have gotten things right (South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore).

Bluntly, the best way to keep the public from panicking would be for governments to have an effective and transparent response to this crisis. That doesn't seem like too much to ask.

I think you have a point. I also think the word panic conjures up a lot of negative feelings. I have witnessed people getting worked up to a point it's destroying their soundness of mind. That won't help them. That's just what we can't do. I believe that's what most mean when they say don't panic. Sound deliberations and decisions are needed.

 

[Handlebars]

It's a problem when one only sees or accepts only one side of any issue. Note, I said sees and accepts, not necessarily agree.

Imagine it was about climate change. People saying not to panic, the worst part is that the ski season might be shorter in a few years... howls of outrage and name-calling would ensue if a news agency let that DENIAL slip through.

 

[J.R.]

Imagine it was about climate change. People saying not to panic, the worst part is that the ski season might be shorter in a few years... howls of outrage and name-calling would ensue if a news agency let that DENIAL slip through.

I'd say don't panic. My only reason for posting the two stories about recovery from this virus is to point out hope. Not to suggest any gospel. This thread is too doom laden and suggests no hope. If you want people to absorb the information you present, offer a little balance.

If you want people to rally to a cause there needs to be a hope message. That includes the climate change people that tell us of the end times. Every generation has an end times story.

 

[Handlebars]

I'd say don't panic. My only reason for posting the two stories about recovery from this virus is to point out hope. Not to suggest any gospel. This thread is too doom laden and suggests no hope. If you want people to absorb the information you present, offer a little balance.

If you want people to rally to a cause there needs to be a hope message. That includes the climate change people that tell us of the end times. Every generation has an end times story.

It depends on what the hope is for. If the goal is continuation of western life ina semblance of what we've known in the past half century, then governments must begin to act responsibly within days to stop incoming disease from travel and get masks in circulation en masse.
Cruise ships need to be shut down for now. etc.
That is what those knobs would call "panic". So panic on that. Now. If they get on a cruise ship they should not be let back in and they should know that before they go.

 

[Browneye]

The sickest we've ever been is post-cruise ship. A floating petri dish. LOL

All those snotty-nosed kids rubbing their hands up and down the stairway handrails. And those food buffets. Oh dear god.

 

[Deleted member 4210]

So WHO has finally declared the virus situation is a pandemic. Interesting. I guess its not until they say it is. Yet now, after its in 114 countries, they are concerned at 'alarming level of inaction' ? I guess that would have nothing to do with WHO telling everyone for so long that this was not a pandemic and basically inferring to the world not to worry.

Sheesh.

 

[Deleted member 4210]

The sickest we've ever been is post-cruise ship. A floating petri dish. LOL

All those snotty-nosed kids rubbing their hands up and down the stairway handrails. And those food buffets. Oh dear god.

A story on CBS MarketWatch commented on how parents were still sending their college daughter on a booze cruise because 'alcohol will ward off germs and coronavirus.' SMH.

 

[Browneye]

I'll just drop this here...
But just in case, I bought 130 rolls of TP today.

 

[john peck]

Fri March 6, 2020

CNN: Older Americans are advised to stay home :
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/health/coronavirus-older-people-social-distancing/index.html

New CDC guidance says older adults should 'stay at home as much as possible' due to coronavirus

No problem, I'm not that fond of my species to begin with; this forum is as close as I want to get to
my fellow man, & then only with some trepidation.

 

[Ebiker01]

The math says that it has a 8x-9x factor spread within a 7day period within any
This virus is faster then my Nitro city ebike.

On the cruise ship, people were under quarantine in their rooms or self isolating before that.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I'll just drop this here...

Ok, I'll bite.

With your numbers, and the US population 2020 estimated to be 330 million, we'd end up with approximately 66 million people infected with coronavirus.

That would represent about 560000 fatal cases.

Worse, since about 4% of cases are serious and require a lengthy hospital stay and time in an icu, we'd be looking at roughly 2.6 million people who would need to be hospitalized, probably for 3-4 weeks.

What is sobering about that number is that there are approximately 100,000 icu beds in American hospitals, and we have about 75000 ventilators available or in stockpiles. So even if we take heroic measures to "smooth out the curve" we are looking at a situation where hospital capacity is probably completely overwhelmed. If a lot of those cases hit all at once (which is what appears to be happening in Italy) then the situation is even uglier.

And please keep in mind that life goes on and people get injured or sick and need to go to the hospital for reasons other than covid-19. If our health care capacity is overwhelmed we will lose some of those people as well.

This is not a civilization-ending event. However, it is a very scary and very likely messy and ugly situation.

 

[Browneye]

Ok, I'll bite.

With your numbers, and the US population 2020 estimated to be 330 million, we'd end up with approximately 66 million people infected with coronavirus.

That would represent about 560000 fatal cases.

Worse, since about 4% of cases are serious and require a lengthy hospital stay and time in an icu, we'd be looking at roughly 2.6 million people who would need to be hospitalized, probably for 3-4 weeks.

What is sobering about that number is that there are approximately 100,000 icu beds in American hospitals, and we have about 75000 ventilators available or in stockpiles. So even if we take heroic measures to "smooth out the curve" we are looking at a situation where hospital capacity is probably completely overwhelmed. If a lot of those cases hit all at once (which is what appears to be happening in Italy) then the situation is even uglier.

And please keep in mind that life goes on and people get injured or sick and need to go to the hospital for reasons other than covid-19. If our health care capacity is overwhelmed we will lose some of those people as well.

This is not a civilization-ending event. However, it is a very scary and very likely messy and ugly situation.

You're assuming the entire percentage of the population is going to contract it. Personally I think you're way over-estimating what the numbers will be and horriblizing it. Panicking. Which you're entitled to do, your free choice. I'm going to go on with my life, thank you, under the assumption the numbers are not going to get anywhere near that. Should we do all we can do? Of course.

And I don't like sports venues and concerts and big groups anyway, so no changes there for me. I could easily do my job offsite, and a kingpin in the biz, so no worries there either. On the weekends I'm going to enjoy my toys and my life.

I wished I didn't live in the middle of metropolis, that's for sure. I have never liked the big city.

I also think WA state is run by a bunch of morons. I lived there for 35 years. They put idiots in charge. Oh well.

 

[Handlebars]

Trump has cut off travel from Europe starting soon. Imagine it includes travel from Europe through Canada as well. Good news for USA. Now to start making masks and other protective clothing, important medicines, and support the farmers. Glad we have neighbours that are not as defenseless as our officials are making our population. Our big announcement today from Mr. Dressup is a measly $1 billion for odds and ends some research money doled out without clue, and favoured political groups getting shares...including $50 million of it for other countries...Mr. Dressup is not a serious player, just a dope of a substitute drama teacher on the make.
Situation more and more dire.
Mr Dressup just attended a convention where there was a live virus spreader....the UK has some of their twits doing the same... one stupid minister infected her 84 yr old mother.

 

[Browneye]

I was born in Canada, Vancouver, dad was from Regina, his dad from Scotland. The numbers may have changed a bit by today, but I was forty when I found out that Canada was 10% of the population of the US, and 90% of their population lives within a hundred miles of the US border.

Just thinking out loud here. Based on these numbers a billion seems about on part with Trump's 8. [shrug]

Too many are arm-chair quarter-backing this thing. Everybody thinks they know better, and criticizing is all the rage. I'm going to sit back and let them do their jobs. It sure ain't my job.

 

[TMH]

Criticizing is always much easier than actually doing something - ask any politician!

 

[Handlebars]

I was born in Canada, Vancouver, dad was from Regina, his dad from Scotland. The numbers may have changed a bit by today, but I was forty when I found out that Canada was 10% of the population of the US, and 90% of their population lives within a hundred miles of the US border.

Just thinking out loud here. Based on these numbers a billion seems about on part with Trump's 8. [shrug]

Too many are arm-chair quarter-backing this thing. Everybody thinks they know better, and criticizing is all the rage. I'm going to sit back and let them do their jobs. It sure ain't my job.

Most everybody DOES know better than to invite a raging virus into your home and do nothing to protect.
Most everybody with anything like big money and an education DOES know enough to not knowingly expose your 84 yr old mom to a serious disease.

 

[Handlebars]

I was born in Canada, Vancouver, dad was from Regina, his dad from Scotland. The numbers may have changed a bit by today, but I was forty when I found out that Canada was 10% of the population of the US, and 90% of their population lives within a hundred miles of the US border.

Just thinking out loud here. Based on these numbers a billion seems about on part with Trump's 8. [shrug]

Too many are arm-chair quarter-backing this thing. Everybody thinks they know better, and criticizing is all the rage. I'm going to sit back and let them do their jobs. It sure ain't my job.

Huh?
He's asking for $50 billion just to help small businesses with low interest easy loans. He's asking for payroll tax relief. Our $1B is for everything including foreign nations who will help him get a UN seat.