Coronavirus Updates

[Caliandris]

The one item that I saw which I think should be very widely spread is that Italian research testing 3000 asymptomatic citizens showed that half of them had the virus, and were shedding more than symptomatic carriers. This should make our governments very wary and should make them lockdown immediately. Doctors in the UK are reporting carnage in A and E, lack of protective gear, lack of beds, already. If we are to stop the spread of the virus, self isolation for all is required. It's the only way to stop it spreading to overload. I am appalled by pictures of students in Florida grouping together. It may not affect most people in their teens and twenties badly, but there is evidence that it is affecting them, from the Netherlands and Italy.

A thread I saw on twitter this morning is interesting, because it asks the question about whether Covid-19 could have been wild in the population for longer than we are told it has been. I don't know the naswer to that, but my daughter has had a dry cough for weeks - since the beginning of January. I had assumed that it couldn't possibly be Covid-19 because of the timing, but other people are reporting a dry cough and fever from December in the UK and postulating that it might have been around for longer. The trouble is that there are often coughs and colds around in the community in December to January, and I don't know how on earth you distinguish one from another without testing.

However, there are apparently a lot of people in the US saying the same thing. I'd have thought it could not have been wild for long without coming to the attention of authorities, because the exponential nature of the spread would have meant a lot more ill elderly people, but if 50% can be asymptomatic, I don't know. I'm not an epidemiologist, and even people who are don't seem to know much either.

 

[Brenda Archer]

I don’t have a better source for this, but if it’s true it’s unspeakably evil.

 

[Fionalein]

If half of the "healthy" population in Italy already have it... it might be really too late to do anything about it anymore.

As for dry coughs.... regular human coronavirus usually occurs after a rhinovirus infection (common cold). Not so often do we see the regular coronavirus alone. So some folks could have had just a regular cold with regular corona for weeks and then caught the new corona.

Or: The test was bad and just indicated any kind of coronavirus, not just the new one - in which case a high persistance among appearingly healthy individuals in winter would be really not so surprising at all.

 

[Ashiri]

Umm. Maybe get a glass of wine before reading this thread.

After reading that, one disturbing thought I have, is that some governments will declare the crisis over when summer comes and won't be prepared for consequences.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Gosh, that's....that's really too bad...

 

[Imnotgoing Sideways]

Oh look! The stupid bigot is being stupidly bigoted again.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Americans could get a check for $1,000 or more in the coming weeks, as political leaders coalesce around a dramatic plan to try to prevent a worse recession and protect people from going bankrupt.

The idea took off Monday when Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called for every American adult to receive a $1,000 check “immediately” to help tide people over until other government aid can arrive. By Tuesday, there was bipartisan support for the idea, including from President Trump. The White House even suggested the amount could be over $1,000, an acknowledgment of how big the economic crisis is becoming.

“We’re looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, adding that Trump wants checks to go out “in the next two weeks.”

Americans are very likely to get $1,000 (or more) checks. Here’s what you need to know.

 

[Kara Spengler]

Seriously, I don’t really understand how this happens every time something dire happens, which seems to happen a few times a year. How many guns do these people need? You get one (2?) then you’re pretty much set for life, no? I know zilch about guns, are they made to last only a limited time? Don’t they already have guns at home? How can there be line ups?

Maybe guns have changed since I was a kid? While I do not have guns my dad does: one flintlock replica (which does not shoot anyway) and one rifle.

 

[Kara Spengler]

If half of the "healthy" population in Italy already have it... it might be really too late to do anything about it anymore.

As for dry coughs.... regular human coronavirus usually occurs after a rhinovirus infection (common cold). Not so often do we see the regular coronavirus alone. So some folks could have had just a regular cold with regular corona for weeks and then caught the new corona.

Or: The test was bad and just indicated any kind of coronavirus, not just the new one - in which case a high persistance among appearingly healthy individuals in winter would be really not so surprising at all.

Interesting, I have my yearly cold as normal. However donnie only wants people tested who are showing severe symptoms.

 

[Kara Spengler]

Americans could get a check for $1,000 or more in the coming weeks, as political leaders coalesce around a dramatic plan to try to prevent a worse recession and protect people from going bankrupt.

The idea took off Monday when Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called for every American adult to receive a $1,000 check “immediately” to help tide people over until other government aid can arrive. By Tuesday, there was bipartisan support for the idea, including from President Trump. The White House even suggested the amount could be over $1,000, an acknowledgment of how big the economic crisis is becoming.

“We’re looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, adding that Trump wants checks to go out “in the next two weeks.”

Americans are very likely to get $1,000 (or more) checks. Here’s what you need to know.

So we are getting ubi partly thanks to rs?

 

[Cristiano]

 

[Eunoli]

What is most striking about this twitter thread is that its Fox news and could easily be from CNN or MSNBC if you read the comments.

 

[Fionalein]

Oh look! The stupid bigot is being stupidly bigoted again.

Who knows what he is mumbling bout. After all Putin could have told him there's a Virus on his IPhone...

 

[Luisa Land]

Maybe the link is already posted, then I am sorry

US, UK coronavirus strategies shifted following UK epidemiologists' ominous report | CNN

A study by UK epidemiologists predicts that attempts to slow, or mitigate -- rather than actively halt, or suppress -- the novel coronavirus could overwhelm the number of intensive care hospital beds and lead to about 250,000 deaths in the UK and more than a million in the United States during...

edition.cnn.com

A study from London about the possible development, which frightens me very much
"The study, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, was released on Monday by London's Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team, which says it is advising the UK government on its response strategy"
...
"The study says "the most effective mitigation strategy" would still lead to hospitals -- even at surge capacity -- needing eight times as many intensive care unit beds as they could provide in the UK. Yet the study also notes that "optimal mitigation policies" -- such as combining the home isolation of suspected cases, home quarantine of those living with suspected cases and social distancing among the elderly and others at high risk of severe disease -- might reduce peak health care demand in the UK by two-thirds and deaths by half.

The estimates of the number of deaths and the estimates of how long drastic measures will be necessary are not suitable for creating a cheerful mood

 

[Cristiano]

What is most striking about this twitter thread is that its Fox news and could easily be from CNN or MSNBC if you read the comments.

That is Fox 4 News In Dallas, not Fox News.

 

[Clara D.]

Seriously, I don’t really understand how this happens every time something dire happens, which seems to happen a few times a year. How many guns do these people need? You get one (2?) then you’re pretty much set for life, no? I know zilch about guns, are they made to last only a limited time? Don’t they already have guns at home? How can there be line ups?

Dunno why people see the need to stockpile guns, typically the trifecta of rifle/shotgun/pistol will cover most survival needs (with maybe a smaller .22LR rifle for small game). Personally, I tend towards Chinese made versions of Russian guns as they're reliable as all get out and can be worked on with the absolute minimum of tools and cheap.

The worst time to stockpile ammo is during a panic, the prices skyrocket.

In honor of the ongoing circumstances I'm getting these for my SUV (I recently got a new-to-me 2000 Grand Cherokee*):

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*It wasn't a "need a survival vehicle" moment -- I needed a vehicle that can haul goodly amounts of crap and be reliable enough to be a daily driver; having 4x4 is a bonus on top of that. However the gas mileage is even crappier than expected

 

[Caete]

 

[Caete]

Dunno why people see the need to stockpile guns, typically the trifecta of rifle/shotgun/pistol will cover most survival needs (with maybe a smaller .22LR rifle for small game). Personally, I tend towards Chinese made versions of Russian guns as they're reliable as all get out and can be worked on with the absolute minimum of tools and cheap.

The worst time to stockpile ammo is during a panic, the prices skyrocket.

In honor of the ongoing circumstances I'm getting these for my SUV (I recently got a new-to-me 2000 Grand Cherokee*):

Décor Decals, Stickers & Vinyl Art for Sale - eBay

Décor Decals, Stickers & Vinyl Art for sale - Free shipping on many items - Browse wall stickers & vinyl wall decals on eBay

www.ebay.com

*It wasn't a "need a survival vehicle" moment -- I needed a vehicle that can haul goodly amounts of crap and be reliable enough to be a daily driver; having 4x4 is a bonus on top of that. However the gas mileage is even crappier than expected

Just be sure that if you are using Chinese ammo as well, that you clean your guns quite thoroughly afterwards. Chinese ammo tens to be more corrosive than normal, especially in 7.62x25.

As for guns not lasting long, they are made to last given proper care. Sadly quite a few owners fail to maintain their weapons with preventive care. My firearms tend to be WWII vintage an are in great condition and very reliable shooters, maybe better than any 80 year old firearm should be.

 

[Pamela]

They forgot.

Trump's 'whole of government' response leaves out parts of the government

We're not just talking about federal efforts falling short. There are also federal agencies whose capacity has gone untapped.

www.msnbc.com

 

[Brenda Archer]

Americans could get a check for $1,000 or more in the coming weeks, as political leaders coalesce around a dramatic plan to try to prevent a worse recession and protect people from going bankrupt.

The idea took off Monday when Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called for every American adult to receive a $1,000 check “immediately” to help tide people over until other government aid can arrive. By Tuesday, there was bipartisan support for the idea, including from President Trump. The White House even suggested the amount could be over $1,000, an acknowledgment of how big the economic crisis is becoming.

“We’re looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, adding that Trump wants checks to go out “in the next two weeks.”

Americans are very likely to get $1,000 (or more) checks. Here’s what you need to know.

Does anyone know what this will do to people on other programs that are means tested? For example, Medicaid is paying for my Medicare Part B because I’m under an income cutoff. If I go over, I could lose more than I gain.