Coronavirus Updates

[Kara Spengler]

In my city the big local festival isn't until May, so that's not being discussed right now. However, a scheduled appearance at the coliseum by the Harlem Globetrotters has been canceled.

In my state (Louisiana), the state secretary has postponed the primary election, which was originally scheduled for April 4. A new date for it hasn't been firmly fixed yet, but the word is it will mostly likely be June. LSU is moving to online classes beginning March 30. One big move is that the governor has announced a general 30-day prohibition on "non-essential" visits by the public to nursing homes, with an exact list of restrictions still being drafted. Visits to government prisons in the state are also on moratorium.

In other news: NASCAR and IndyCar have postponed their scheduled races this weekend; next weekend's NASCAR event is off too. If you follow golf, the PGA announced that the rest of the underway Players Tournament (which began yesterday) was cancelled, along with the Masters and every other scheduled event pretty much until May. Like the NBA, the NHL has suspended their season. The NCAA has also canceled their mens and women's basketball tournaments, along with - well, basically every NCAA tournament through June (track & field, swimming, volleyball, gymnastics, etc etc etc). So in other words, sports is basically canceled in the US for now. I wonder what dedicated domestic sports networks like ESPN and etc will do, they literally will have nothing to report for months. Even major "e-sports" events (if any are scheduled) of the size that these networks would report on are likely to be canceled since these events still involve players, officials, and fans in large physical gatherings.

That is the way e-sports are traditionally covered but they do not have to be. All the players are basically teleworking already, you just need the footage.

 

[Stora]

Trump declares national emergency over coronavirus

US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency to help handle the growing outbreak of coronavirus.

The order allows the federal government to tap up to $50bn (£40bn) in emergency relief funds to help state and local health officials.

The move loosens medical insurance regulations, and could speed up the creation of new hospitals and the search for new treatments.

There are 1,701 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US, and 40 deaths.

Trump declares national emergency over coronavirus

 

[Innula Zenovka]

'Unlike anything seen in peacetime': NHS prepares for surge in Covid-19 cases

Hospitals cancel non-urgent operations in unprecedented shutdown of normal activity

www.theguardian.com

This is one of the many advantages of a National Health Service -- cumbersome and bureaucratic though the NHS is, at least the government and medical advisors can, in an emergency like this current one, start pulling levers and things start to happen.

 

[Eunoli]

Trump is shaking the hands of all the speakers at the National Emergency press conference - and they are touching their faces.

 

[Salome]

 

[Salome]

 

[Pamela]

Well the important thing is the stock market recovered what it lost yesterday. Right?

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump is shaking the hands of all the speakers at the National Emergency press conference - and they are touching their faces.

Never has the "facepalm" reaction button seemed more appropriate.

 

[Clara D.]

Hardware stores are slightly less likely to be cleared out of disinfectant stuff, just got some wipes at the local Ace.

 

[Salome]

Reiterating the science Arilynn posted yesterday:

 

[Salome]

I’m case you need a little something to help restore some faith in humanity right now...

 

[eku zhong]

Trump is shaking the hands of all the speakers at the National Emergency press conference - and they are touching their faces.

Also everybody touching the podium and adjusting the podium Mic and then the passing of the mic around the reporters.. not such a good idea.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Fascinating thread by an expert in the field on the British government's controversial policy of trying to manage rather than contain Covid-19

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

That is the way e-sports are traditionally covered but they do not have to be. All the players are basically teleworking already, you just need the footage.

You're not wrong but, I mean, who's gonna sponsor that? Half the reason the tournaments pick up so many sponsors is the ability to sell stuff to fans at the venue. Online only, you trade all that for maybe a couple of ads between matches.

 

[Kara Spengler]

Trump is shaking the hands of all the speakers at the National Emergency press conference - and they are touching their faces.

Yes, noticed that and msnbc pointed it out too. Way to set a good example donnie.

 

[Kara Spengler]

Followup? What group did it that was not people you personally hired?

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Governor just announced that starting next Monday public school's out in the state. School teachers and admins will still get paid as usual thank goodness.

My city has now banned events larger than 250, and have closed a few public venues altogether - so the zoo, the performing arts center, the public golf course, the convention center and all community centers. They've also said public bathrooms are being locked at the city parks that have them.

The city's Easter Egg Hunt has also been canceled! Poor kids.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

More on herd immunity, from The Times. After reading it, I think I have a much clearer understanding of not only the general concept, but also of how it applies to the current pandemic, than I had before.

Coronavirus: How herd instincts can help to limit the damage | News | The Times

Coronavirus: How herd instincts can help to limit the damage Tom Whipple , Science Editor Friday March 13 2020, 5.00pm, The Times We don’t think of ourselves as a herd. The idea of the needs of the co...

www.evernote.com

 

[danielravennest]

Despite this showing up in the news today, my AT&T account page online has no notice or indication of it. It shows the regular 1TB limit on my account (which I use 5-10% of normally). On the other hand, their billing system is so slow it takes 3 days at the end of the period before I can see the final usage total, and start to see my usage for the new month's service. I'll check again in a few days to see if there is any sign of the cap lifted.

 

[Free]

My city has now banned events larger than 250

So I guess we're still a go for the bus trips, huh?