Semi-OT: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread III (Info. Post 1)

[Ambrose]

not interested in getting into it on Trump other than to say as the leader of the country and one who was actively working against taking measures early, he absolutely deserves a ton of criticism.

That said, it's clear that someone was able to get through to him and the US Govt seems to be all-in on trying to deal with this now so I'm not going to waste time or energy playing the blame game. There will be time enough once we are through the crisis to identify some issues that contributed to making the issue worse.

And no it doesn't need to be said over and over. Everyone knows where the virus first started spreading. And yes Asians are getting harassed by ignorant people being led by Trump and others continuing with that labeling.

And sorry but that sucks and is needless.

And im sure to you it was also racist and fear mongering early when he put in the china travel ban.

That's a poor assumption because they are two different things.

No one is debating where it came from, the point is Trump has a lot of people who hang on his every word who might not be the most intelligent and get that he's referring to where it came from. They are going to treat Chinese people differently. S regardless of it being true that it came from China, he could reduce some of that hate by just calling it Covid-19. It's his arrogance that will stop him from doing it.

How can you mention poor assumptions and then assume the bolded? Just because 5 people post something online doesn't make it a legitimate issue.

[Texas Chuck]

To the people blasting Trump for calling it the "Chinese Virus", I don't ever want to hear you say "Spanish Flu" ever again. Don't be a hypocrite.

Don't use false equivilence.

[sfernald]

I agree with Bill Ackman or whatever his name is. Trump needs to come out ASAP and put this country under quarantine for a month. Have food & supplies delivered to everyone's houses

Amazon could handle the distribution of that. Trump should return his call if he hasn't.

[HotRocks34]

Wednesday 3/18 virus task force press conference summary


- Invoking Defense Protection Act (DPA). Just in case we need it (to get more medical supplies, I think)
- Sending out 2 medical ships to help fight virus. One going to NY. One going to west coast
- FDA looking at if people can do self-swab testing for the virus (to help do more tests, less burden on medical providers)
- HUD suspending all forecloses and evictions until end of April to help fight virus
- HHS doing directive today to allow doctors to practice across state lines. To help meet demand.
- Please delay elective surgery now, to help keep medical supplies and personnel free to help on virus
- We are looking at fight against virus as if we are on wartime footing
- We are ordering thousands and thousands of ventilators
- We have more than 10,000 ventilators in the stockpile. But may need way more.
- We want people to stop gathering in mass, like at beaches



ESPER (Sec of Defense)

- Making 1 million masks available right now
- We (DOD) have 2,000 ventilators which can be used now
- Army Corps Of Engineers now in NY to meet with Cuomo (more hospital space set up possibly)
- Will be talking to other governors soon about possibly creating more hospital space



WILKIE (VA Sec)

- If necessary, VA health personnel can assist others if there is medical personnel shortage because virus
- 44 vets currently have the virus. 1 has died from it
- We are cutting back on elective surgeries, appointments right now to not stress the health system




BIRX

- There is currently a backlog of tests waiting to be run (if positive or negative). That backlog is about to end (with private companies helping out with faster processing of tests)
- So, there is about to be a large spike in positive cases. Some will use this to say our curve is worse than Italy, but remember you are seeing the results of like 5-6 days in 1-2 days of reporting. This will distort the data (curve map). Our curves won't be stable until sometime next week
- We are still prioritizing testing in key (hotspot) areas
- Recent private testing positivity rate is like 7% (was 1-2% before; South Korea like 3-4%). [This is because we are doing the testing in places where more have the illness, etc (so number would be lower if test in non-hotspot)]
- We are studying curves of all nations to see what we can learn from them, and how to fight virus



Question ---------------> Seems the number of deaths rising fast. Mortality rate high now?

Birx ---------------------> In every nation, the mortality rate starts out higher because you're diagnosing the sickest first. The people who came in very ill. You're seeing deaths now from infections that started 2-3 weeks ago. This virus has dramatic impact in places like nursing homes (as in Washington state).



Also of note in the press conference was a reporter asked the president about celebrities/athletes supposedly jumping ahead of the line to get tested before others. So that talking point is out there now.

[MotownMadness]

I agree with Bill Ackman or whatever his name is. Trump needs to come out ASAP and put this country under quarantine for a month. Have food & supplies delivered to everyone's houses

Amazon could handle the distribution of that. Trump should return his call if he hasn't.

Amazon is looking to hire 100,000 people too. Actually thinking about putting in a app

[AdagioPace]

Yes, because if 75% of America gets infected (current curve if not stopped in a worst case), that's still a lot. Also you can't just look at deaths man. Look at people with permanently damaged lungs that live. Look at those that will get divorce papers, lose their homes, lose their jobs. I hate when people minimize this kind of stuff.

Some people will come out of this alive WISHING they died.

Death rate is just one factor, which is higher than the flu. The main issue with this virus is that it is much more contagious than a flu, and also people can spread the disease without even showing any kind of symptoms.

Hospitalization rate is high, which leads to overwhelmed healthcare systems. This is causing deaths and issues for people of other ailments who may otherwise need the care of doctors and nurses who are stretched very thin. With such a high hospitalization rate, if concerts, events, schools, etc were still allowed to happen (people will still go, many need to be protected from themselves) the economy would eventually collapse completely. Hell, even with lockdown, we are basically in a recession.

This is something to take seriously.

There is no "high hospitalization rate". That is abject nonsense. Most carriers either show no or only very mild symptoms.

I don't know what the situation will look like in the USA but in Italy 13% of cases require hospitalization (a % of which need ICU). So it's not quite black and white....

[Sisqo]

And im sure to you it was also racist and fear mongering early when he put in the china travel ban.

That's a poor assumption because they are two different things.

No one is debating where it came from, the point is Trump has a lot of people who hang on his every word who might not be the most intelligent and get that he's referring to where it came from. They are going to treat Chinese people differently. S regardless of it being true that it came from China, he could reduce some of that hate by just calling it Covid-19. It's his arrogance that will stop him from doing it.

The Chinese would have no problem calling it the American flu if it originated from here. I don’t have a problem calling it a Chinese flu. This PC correctness is so stupid. It originated from China like almost all the modern previous pandemics. Maybe if the Chinese people would stop eating food they are not supposed to eat this wouldn’t happen.

Sure? It has nothing to do with PC correctness its to do with whats going on right now and its one less stressor that they could have to deal with but people are too stubborn to give a **** that's their own problem.

[JHTruth]

Death rate is just one factor, which is higher than the flu. The main issue with this virus is that it is much more contagious than a flu, and also people can spread the disease without even showing any kind of symptoms.

Hospitalization rate is high, which leads to overwhelmed healthcare systems. This is causing deaths and issues for people of other ailments who may otherwise need the care of doctors and nurses who are stretched very thin. With such a high hospitalization rate, if concerts, events, schools, etc were still allowed to happen (people will still go, many need to be protected from themselves) the economy would eventually collapse completely. Hell, even with lockdown, we are basically in a recession.

This is something to take seriously.

There is no "high hospitalization rate". That is abject nonsense. Most carriers either show no or only very mild symptoms.

Every hospital in the bay area most likely has a dozen inpatients at a minimum with or suspected of covid19. Hospitalization rate in Italy is 15-20% (19 last I checked). Look at how badly healthcare systems in multiple countries are being overwhelmed and you are telling me it is not a high hospitalization rate? Wake up.

Lol Italy has 60mm people and around 31000 confirmed cases or .00051% of the population. If that "overwhelms" their healthcare system then their system is pathetic. If a real pandemic ever comes they will become the Walking Dead

[OkcSinceSGA]

There is no "high hospitalization rate". That is abject nonsense. Most carriers either show no or only very mild symptoms.

Every hospital in the bay area most likely has a dozen inpatients at a minimum with or suspected of covid19. Hospitalization rate in Italy is 15-20% (19 last I checked). Look at how badly healthcare systems in multiple countries are being overwhelmed and you are telling me it is not a high hospitalization rate? Wake up.

Lol Italy has 60mm people and around 31000 confirmed cases or .00051% of the population. If that "overwhelms" their healthcare system then their system is pathetic. If a real pandemic ever comes they will become the Walking Dead

What's sad is ours isn't much better. America has 2 beds per 1000 people. Now factor in those already taking the beds who had stroke/cardiac issues? Basically there aren't any open beds. Even now, crackheads/homeless fill our ER's in America and can tax a hospital trying to manage them. So you bet your ass if a couple hundred thousand start flooding ER's we will collapse.

[Sisqo]

And im sure to you it was also racist and fear mongering early when he put in the china travel ban.

That's a poor assumption because they are two different things.

No one is debating where it came from, the point is Trump has a lot of people who hang on his every word who might not be the most intelligent and get that he's referring to where it came from. They are going to treat Chinese people differently. S regardless of it being true that it came from China, he could reduce some of that hate by just calling it Covid-19. It's his arrogance that will stop him from doing it.

How can you mention poor assumptions and then assume the bolded? Just because 5 people post something online doesn't make it a legitimate issue.

5 people online.. sounds like an assumption

You know damn well its way higher than that.
Either way go about calling it whatever you want, if calling it the Chinese virus is more important to you than reducing the chance of additional stress or pain on the Chinese population than thats your call. i just don't see why its so hard to call it Covid-19 instead. That's my whole point, its easy to call it something else so why not? even if it is 5 people. Just why not?

[SOdisciple]

To the people blasting Trump for calling it the "Chinese Virus", I don't ever want to hear you say "Spanish Flu" ever again. Don't be a hypocrite.

Don't use false equivilence.

if you can't explain what the difference is I would appreciate it

[JHTruth]

Every hospital in the bay area most likely has a dozen inpatients at a minimum with or suspected of covid19. Hospitalization rate in Italy is 15-20% (19 last I checked). Look at how badly healthcare systems in multiple countries are being overwhelmed and you are telling me it is not a high hospitalization rate? Wake up.

Lol Italy has 60mm people and around 31000 confirmed cases or .00051% of the population. If that "overwhelms" their healthcare system then their system is pathetic. If a real pandemic ever comes they will become the Walking Dead

What's sad is ours isn't much better. America has 2 beds per 1000 people. Now factor in those already taking the beds who had stroke/cardiac issues? Basically there aren't any open beds. Even now, crackheads/homeless fill our ER's in America and can tax a hospital trying to manage them. So you bet your ass if a couple hundred thousand start flooding ER's we will collapse.

My wife is a nurse. They saw a slight surge a few weeks ago and a sharp decline since. Y'all can stop panicking about our system being "overwhelmed" lol

[MotownMadness]

That's a poor assumption because they are two different things.

No one is debating where it came from, the point is Trump has a lot of people who hang on his every word who might not be the most intelligent and get that he's referring to where it came from. They are going to treat Chinese people differently. S regardless of it being true that it came from China, he could reduce some of that hate by just calling it Covid-19. It's his arrogance that will stop him from doing it.

How can you mention poor assumptions and then assume the bolded? Just because 5 people post something online doesn't make it a legitimate issue.

5 people online.. sounds like an assumption

You know damn well its way higher than that.
Either way go about calling it whatever you want, if calling it the Chinese virus is more important to you than reducing the chance of additional stress or pain on the Chinese population than thats your call. i just don't see why its so hard to call it Covid-19 instead. That's my whole point, its easy to call it something else so why not? even if it is 5 people. Just why not?

Too make sure they dont escape the blame

[SF_Warriors]

There is no "high hospitalization rate". That is abject nonsense. Most carriers either show no or only very mild symptoms.

Every hospital in the bay area most likely has a dozen patients at a minimum with covid19. Hospitalization rate in Italy is 15-20% (19 last I checked). Look at how badly healthcare systems in multiple countries are being overwhelmed and you are telling me it is not a high hospitalization rate? Wake up.

You guys are in full blown stay in the house lockdown right? From the order I read, it seems the SF order was to stay home period.

Its an order but they are pretty lax about it. The only places really forced to shutdown were schools, gyms, clubs, bars, large gatherings. People still eating at restaurants..but for the most part the amount of people going out, meeting up with friends, etc have dwindled dramatically. People still go and walk around go to grocery stores, etc.

I work in a hospital and drive to work every day. Rush hour traffic is nonexistent. I had a friend and family member telling me they had 30+ cases at their respective facilities earlier this week/ last week. Mines has cases too but I am not allowed to say how many. But lets just say I wish it was under a dozen.

[MotownMadness]

All 3 of my kids have been puking and crapping themselves for the last 24 hours. When it rains it pours

[Courtside]

US mortality rate is currently at 1.5% in total. Still heavily skewed towards old & underlying conditions, WA state care facility. If the top level rate drops to 0.5%, what is the plan then? Full panic still?

Absolutely yes, because if 50% of Americans get infected, that means 825,000 deaths.

WTF do the numbers of dead have to reach insane levels for people to think it's worth taking action!?

Less action = likelihood of higher rate. The mortality rate is not baked into the virus, it is absolutely decided by the response to it, and ability to provide care. It could have been less than 0.5% if immediate shutdown happened like 10 days ago. That is no longer likely or even possible, unless some of these modified Malaria or HIV treatments work at high rates.

[madmaxmedia]

How can you mention poor assumptions and then assume the bolded? Just because 5 people post something online doesn't make it a legitimate issue.

5 people online.. sounds like an assumption

You know damn well its way higher than that.
Either way go about calling it whatever you want, if calling it the Chinese virus is more important to you than reducing the chance of additional stress or pain on the Chinese population than thats your call. i just don't see why its so hard to call it Covid-19 instead. That's my whole point, its easy to call it something else so why not? even if it is 5 people. Just why not?

Too make sure they dont escape the blame

From who? Regular people, our government, the medical community? You think this isn't going stay with us for decades, and NOT going to be a primary priority for study and attention going forward, unless we call it the 'China Virus'?

Trust me, no one or nothing is escaping scrutiny for this.

[SF_Warriors]

Lol Italy has 60mm people and around 31000 confirmed cases or .00051% of the population. If that "overwhelms" their healthcare system then their system is pathetic. If a real pandemic ever comes they will become the Walking Dead

What's sad is ours isn't much better. America has 2 beds per 1000 people. Now factor in those already taking the beds who had stroke/cardiac issues? Basically there aren't any open beds. Even now, crackheads/homeless fill our ER's in America and can tax a hospital trying to manage them. So you bet your ass if a couple hundred thousand start flooding ER's we will collapse.

My wife is a nurse. They saw a slight surge a few weeks ago and a sharp decline since. Y'all can stop panicking about our system being "overwhelmed" lol

Honestly, I hope you are right, for everyone's sake.

[ImSlower]

How can you mention poor assumptions and then assume the bolded? Just because 5 people post something online doesn't make it a legitimate issue.

5 people online.. sounds like an assumption

You know damn well its way higher than that.
Either way go about calling it whatever you want, if calling it the Chinese virus is more important to you than reducing the chance of additional stress or pain on the Chinese population than thats your call. i just don't see why its so hard to call it Covid-19 instead. That's my whole point, its easy to call it something else so why not? even if it is 5 people. Just why not?

Too make sure they dont escape the blame

My Japanese American friend was spit on two nights ago leaving a bar. He left because two pricks were jeering at him throughout the night. It is absolutely happening, and on a wide scale, because people like you, sir, insist even in this crazy time that your casual racism toward a few billion Asians trumps any logic to call the sickness the term the entire health world is using.

The rest of my opinions will be purely audio, but I welcome you to use your imagination.

[Sisqo]

How can you mention poor assumptions and then assume the bolded? Just because 5 people post something online doesn't make it a legitimate issue.

5 people online.. sounds like an assumption

You know damn well its way higher than that.
Either way go about calling it whatever you want, if calling it the Chinese virus is more important to you than reducing the chance of additional stress or pain on the Chinese population than thats your call. i just don't see why its so hard to call it Covid-19 instead. That's my whole point, its easy to call it something else so why not? even if it is 5 people. Just why not?

Too make sure they dont escape the blame

Yea because without calling it that right now we are going to totally forget where it came from 3 months from now. Makes complete sense... lol come on.