CORONAVIRUS LATEST: https://t.co/8tHniWxlBn
• At least 4,661 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 85 coronavirus-related deaths.
• Globally, there are more than 181,580 coronavirus cases and more than 7,130 deaths.— ABC News (@ABC) March 17, 2020
WELCOME TO THE NEW NORMAL… Bright spot:
First human trial of vaccine to protect against coronavirus pandemic starts in the UShttps://t.co/oCYI767FQ8
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 17, 2020
Out of curiosity in a quiet minute (don't have many rn) went back in my TL for earliest evidence of #COVID19. Here it is on Jan 1: @alexandraphelan raising the alarm over info that surfaced in her rough translations of posts on Chinese social media.
Jan 1st. The year of CoronaV. https://t.co/DBWpFcpUIN
— Maryn McKenna (@marynmck) March 17, 2020
Fascinating look at the production of masks and why we can’t suddenly
make many more n95. Behind these seemingly simple
products are $4m machines producing micron-length fibers for filtration, taking months to make https://t.co/Pfoq26JLCH— Martin Chorzempa 马永哲 (@ChorzempaMartin) March 17, 2020
Reported coronavirus cases worldwide via WHO:
China 81,077
Italy 24,747
Iran 14,991
South Korea 8,236
Spain 7.753
France 5,380
Germany 4.838
United States 4,412 (via @CNN)
Switzerland 2,200
United Kingdom 1,395
Netherlands 1,135
Belgium 1,085
Norway 1,077
Sweden 992— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 17, 2020
More than 80 countries have imposed travel bans to curb the new coronavirus https://t.co/6HRQH5Xcau
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) March 17, 2020
Data scientists @Penn incl'g @CjBayesian built an interactive model so hospitals can see if #COVID19 cases will overwhelm them. I link to it: https://t.co/ve4JKsIDpI
See what a huge difference ⬆️ing doubling time/⬇️ing R can make, and stay the hell away from other people.
— sharon begley (@sxbegle) March 16, 2020
The @guardian on today's data illustrating the dramatic contraction in the #Chinese #economy. The fall is even larger than consensus expectations.https://t.co/ywlzwOhjyX#China #markets pic.twitter.com/YF1HIRxyCb
— Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) March 16, 2020
The reason to watch China separately is that all the actions being taken around the world are basically based on China’s success in curbing spread of the virus. So what happens when measures are lifted is critically important for countries. Expect a resurgence, but when? How big?
— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) March 16, 2020
Hong Kong is using electronic wristbands, and an accompanying smartphone app, to alert officials if travelers violate a 14-day quarantine to fight the spread of coronavirus. https://t.co/Yy24wA00X1
— CNN International (@cnni) March 17, 2020
South Korea continues to show signs that its epidemic is abating, today reporting 74 new cases. Their massive testing effort aimed at identifying and isolating infected patients was no doubt a key part of their success in combatting virus, as were their early mitigation steps. pic.twitter.com/Wqqj6tPbCB
— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) March 17, 2020
The West is mistaking something big on Singapore's response to Coronavirus.
Schools are open here and have been the last two months. There is a lot of telework, but things are generally still open.
Difference incl. widespread testing, paid leave, 14 day timeouts if exposed.
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) March 15, 2020
Singapore's social distancing, basically:
If you have a fever, you can't get in anywhere. You're told to stay home, paid to do so, and life stops for 14 days.
If you're not feverish, then you can still go do things, just not in 250+ groups. And temperature will be tested often.
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) March 15, 2020
The plea from Singapore's Communications Minister S. Iswaran was direct.
“While we are not facing any shortages, please do not hoard, and purchase only what you need. Otherwise, no stockpile will be sufficient.” https://t.co/H6aeB1M0rJ
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) March 17, 2020
Malaysia’s lockdown is the latest threat to a Singapore economy already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/JxTgrT0vXC via @business
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) March 17, 2020
From March 18 to 31, Malaysia will ban all visitors, and residents are barred from traveling overseas while places of worship, schools and business premises will be shut except for markets that supply daily needs. #coronavirus @yantoultranguihttps://t.co/4TUK1HEatw via @markets
— Anuradha Raghu (@ByAnuradha) March 16, 2020
Olympic talks to decide if Tokyo 2020 can go ahead amid coronavirus crisis https://t.co/YHJ7xlUP9R
— The Independent (@Independent) March 16, 2020
Stop and consider for a moment. The global economy is melting down. Potentially a million or more people could die. And when meeting with other world leaders about the crisis, Shinzo Abe's priority is to declare that his own parochial agenda item will go forward. Leadership! (MP) https://t.co/mAAGj4rOFn
— SNA Japan (@ShingetsuNews) March 17, 2020
The Indian film industry is halting all productions from March 19-31 as part of efforts to contain the novel coronavirus in the country. https://t.co/YDYjUlXWuJ
— CNN International (@cnni) March 17, 2020
Australia coronavirus cases appear to be doubling every three days https://t.co/Q7zShxfy48
— ɪᴀɴ ᴍ ᴍᴀᴄᴋᴀʏ, ᴘʜᴅ ????? (@MackayIM) March 17, 2020
#BREAKING Russia seals off borders to foreigners over virus: govt pic.twitter.com/jPvzXMPnVA
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 16, 2020
90.
They had 30 new cases today only, hence the rush 2 close the border. Good move! pic.twitter.com/esn3aAOXYe— LeNoir (@LeNoir01923913) March 16, 2020
The actual number of infected people is much higher, by an order of magnitude, or maybe two orders of magnitude. I'm also afraid that the ban on events is already too late. In my opinion, the authorities are actually committing a deliberate crime without introducing a total
— Richard Zorge (@Richard_Sorge1) March 16, 2020
Makes them immune …
To reason
— The Mustard Man (@misguidedsoul7) March 17, 2020
Very even-handed: Merkel banning both religious gatherings AND brothels. pic.twitter.com/VuPKrfZD2N
— Peter R. Neumann (@PeterRNeumann) March 16, 2020
Switzerland has declared a state of emergency. All restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops will be closed starting at midnight. All public and private events will also be banned – AFP
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 16, 2020
BREAKING: Coronvirus Outbreak. One week after Italy's national lockdown (8 days after the north), Italy has three days with same number of new cases. This means 5 days after lockdown cases leveled off, consistent with typical incubation period of 3-5 days. This is good news. pic.twitter.com/YS9WQaVamP
— Yaneer Bar-Yam (@yaneerbaryam) March 16, 2020
OzarkHillbilly
First fatalities in my family. My NOLA son’s and his wife’s jobs are dead.
prostratedragon
@OzarkHillbilly: Oh sorry to hear that. That’s enough, let’s hope wherever these things get decided they’ve now done their part in this.
Andrew Johnston
So even as the local government eases up on restrictions on businesses, they’re imposing even more regulations. Just came back from the store, which now requires – in addition to masks and temperature screening – all people to use some app containing personal information. They have something similar on the buses as well. I could not get the app to work and while I did eventually find a workaround, the whole thing added a good 30-40 minutes to a trip that still usually takes around 3 hours.
This is your reminder that however much misplaced faith American organizations have in smartphone apps, it’s a hell of a lot more ridiculous here. Think it’s ridiculous that a poorly-tested app mangles a primary election? Imagine if the same thing could result in being denied access to potable water.
WereBear
Last night Mr WereBear said, “You know, you were right.”
Anyone in a relationship knows what a thrill that is!
See, a couple of weeks ago, I was fairly chill about the worldwide epidemic, because I remembered President Obama had created a Pandemic Response Team. If I needed to panic, I would get some indicator, I figured.
Not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined what broke on the news: that President HeadUPHisAss had dismantled it immediately upon taking office, and ensured our complete lack of response by replacing scientists in the CDC with True Believer Dominionists.
Let’s be clear. This is the societal equivalent of being wheeled into the operating room and introduced to your anesthetist, who is dressed like Bozo the Clown.
I didn’t actually panic, I didn’t raise my voice or anything. I just started telling everyone, work and home and friends, that this thing was going to be bad, and we had to take steps now. Which merely made me get treated like someone who was panicking, like the character who is going to lose it and get a face slap in a disaster movie.
It’s different now. And I don’t have to say I told you so because a lot of people are now thinking it.
I’m not an epidemiologist! I just listen to epidemiologists! It’s not hard!
OzarkHillbilly
A sign for our times: ‘coronavirus-free lap dances’ .
OzarkHillbilly
Nay, it is impossible… for trump.
rikyrah
I appreciate these threads.
evap
Reposted from a dead thread below, it is COVID-related.
I made it back home (Atlanta) yesterday after a 3 week trip in Europe (Germany and Ireland) and I experienced the new border crossing for myself. I flew from Dublin to Boston and so went through “pre-clearance” (customs and immigration) in Dublin airport. It was a 6 hour ordeal to get on my flight, most of which was spent in non-moving lines. Because I had been in a “bad” country (Germany), I had to do the CONVID-19 screening and the whole thing was just ridiculous. The room for secondary screening could only hold about 50 people and so the screening consisted of standing/sitting in a line with hundreds of people which did not move for almost 3 hours. Then a group of us were escorted to the holding area, I was there for more than 2 hours. The screening consisted of a 3 minute conversation with an agent who asked me where I had been, asked me if I had a cough or fever, and asked me if I had been near anyone who was sick. They weren’t taking temperatures. Then another long wait and I was handed my passport and allowed to go to my gate. Apparently, the CDC had to approve each person individually so agents were in communication with CDC people.
The airlines were all holding the flights until as many people as possible got through screening, my flight took off 5 hours after its scheduled time. The people not subject to screening (those who had only been in Ireland or the UK) had to sit on the plane for many hours while they waited for the rest of us. I think a couple of people on my flight did not make it, I was lucky in that I got in line at 7 am for a 9:30 am flight and so made it through.
The border patrol agents and security people were a mix of Americans and Irish and they were all calm and friendly. They handed out bottles of water and escorted people in line to the toilet as needed. One of the U.S. agents made a speech and essentially told us that he knew the whole thing was moronic, but they had to do it by law.
Many of the people trying to get back to the U.S. were students being sent home from study abroad programs. Some of the people in line had tried the previous day, which was the first day of the screening, and missed their flight because it took 6+ hours to get through screening. I was told that it was much more chaotic the first day.
So I spent 6 hours in crowded rooms with hundreds of people who may have been exposed. What could possibly go wrong??
Anyway, I am home now, thank goddess!
rikyrah
I don’t drive a lot. I take public transportation to and from work. When I do drive, I usually take streets. I had to take a LYFT to work today, and I almost had a panic attack with the driver being on the expressway. I’m too old for expressway driving. …I can’t believe I just wrote that.
WereBear
@rikyrah: So do I.
But then, I’m not a head in the sand type: I think most of us on this blog are not. It’s great to have like-minded others to vent with :)
OzarkHillbilly
@evap: Welcome home.
Baud
@OzarkHillbilly:
Sorry, man.
@evap:
What an ordeal.
Tony Jay
And over here in Brexitopia, our Tussardian waxwork of a ‘leader’ is doing what he always does, sheltering behind metaphorical sandbags filled with bluster and bollocks while tossing out the odd rhetorical grenade to justify doing the absolute bare minimum for the nation as a whole. He’s advised – but not ordered – pubs and restaurants to close, which means thousands of businesses across the country have been dropped into the shit without the right to claim insurance, and refuses to close down schools, on the grounds that too many vital workers would have to take time off work to look after their children, even though he’s strongly advising the nation’s grandparents (who shoulder a massive proportion of the post-school childminding burden) to shut themselves away for weeks.
It’s a complete abdication of Governmental responsibility with everything, and I mean everything, being left for individuals to decide based on whatever information they can garner from our shit Media so that the Government can claim that they didn’t tell anyone to do anything that turns out to have a detrimental effect on the economy.
When this is all done I’m going to have a fine time telling everyone who voted for this shower of cowardly conmen that they voted for this shower of cowardly conmen, and that they chose this over having a Government that would have done immeasurably better from Day One. But that’s a long way off and it’s not really a satisfactory compensation for having to watch as the Bought and Paid for Bullingdon Bumbler ensures that tens of thousands of vulnerable people are going to die preventable deaths while his friends in the Media pretend that all of this is just the way things were always going to be.
These fucking people.
Amir Khalid
I see you guys already know Malaysia is in lockdown.
OzarkHillbilly
@prostratedragon: @Baud: Guano happens, and this was as predictable as the sunrise. My little Bro is in the same boat, only worse: They just bought a house.
WereBear
I could not agree more. What we have in the US is somewhat better with our Laboratory of the States concept working for us. For a change.
Sharp Governors who jumped in to do what the Trump White House was actively NOT doing created a bulwark for their own citizens. This, in turn, put pressure on the federal response.
Shoutout to Governor Cuomo of NY for awesome leadership. Something I never thought I’d say, but hey: he is rising to this challenge.
Similarly, can people put pressure on local governments to declare local States of Emergency? We got NY State declarations, then we got County ones: this let businesses manage with some guidance and backing.
As you pointed out, this is CRUCIAL.
Baud
@Amir Khalid:
More time to spend with us!
Stay safe.
TheWesson
If social distancing is practiced to a high degree, then R drops below 1.0 and new cases start to trail off.
Then if we get widespread temperature checks, and those with fevers get coronavirus tests, and those with positive tests get isolation – then we can proceed to a more normal social life.
There would still be sporadic outbreaks of coronavirus here and there, which would have to be contained.
All this could buy enough time to get the vaccine and/or medicine going (without continuing to crash the economy.)
Geminid
Went to Kroger’s Sunday to do part A of my stock up (I always miss something, so I planned a part B for end of week). Pretty much everything was there, but the shelf stockers were busting ass. Like most “blue collar” workers, no work at home option for them. I was only able to buy the last package of my favorite Tumeric extract. I usually buy two. Surprised there was even one, since according to the advertising, tumeric prevents or cures everything but excessive credulity as to the efficacy of herbal supplements.
WereBear
@Geminid: I feel so for the workers: I have friends in retail and it’s a nightmare for them.
I went to a local Aldis, standing with my cart with considerable social distance — hey, people wearing gloves, you are still too close! Am I going to have to bring my trekking poles?
A worker made eye contact, opened a lane, and then went into the back. I didn’t think it was unreasonable for me to conclude she was opening another checkout as a sensible precaution. I piled all my stuff on the belt… and stood there.
I had to explain what I did, and why, and ask several times if I should move my stuff back into the cart and get on line. They just opened and checked me out, but I looked like the problem. Sigh.
Tony Jay
@WereBear:
Britain is such a top down, centrally-managed country that there’s very little local governments can do that they’re not already doing. Plus, of course, the cash spigot is totally controlled by Westminster, which means that whatever money there is will be aimed first and foremost at areas the Tories want to keep sweet.
I can’t believe (I can, but I shouldn’t be expected to) believe that they’re seriously talking about bailing out the airlines when there are tens of thousands of small businesses about to go under because this Government values continued donations from (and post-Government jobs within) the Insurance industry over the livelihoods of mere plebeians.
It all boils down to the damage the Tories have deliberately inflicted on the NHS. It’s been so gutted as a prelude to selling it off that it simply can’t cope with a pandemic of this nature, so the Government is doing anything it can to keep people from going to it for help, regardless of how many lives this costs. We – should – be pumping billions into it and mass-employing ex-healthcare staff to institute a national program of testing. We – should – be ordering an amnesty on loan and debt repayments, suspending energy bills and guaranteeing at the very least full sickpay for everyone so that we can institute a national quarantine. We – should – be doing a whole raft of things to allay public fears and get a grip on this thing. But we’re not. Because that requires leadership from people who actually give a shit about what happens to real people, and we don’t have any.
debbie
@WereBear:
Meanwhile, in Ohio…
Who knows? Reports aren’t consistent as to what’s going on with today’s primary. This morning, the local NBC affiliate reported that there would be in-person voting on June 2nd. The local NPR station said nothing about that. They did, however, indicate that lawsuits are about to be filed objecting to the order for a health emergency.
debbie
@Amir Khalid:
I think I also heard something about Manilla in imminent lock-down?
Betty Cracker
The governor of Florida is an idiot:
As these lunkheads were struggling to process galaxy-brain concepts like “10” and “15,” this was happening:
We’re doomed.
Barb 2
Dump have himself a 10 for his handling of this crisis. On a scale of 1to 10.
The covid-19 is spreading throughout WA. Gov Inslee has closed down bars and restaurants and other places people gather.
I go to a wound clinic (contact latex allergy). They are now taking temps before we can enter the clinic. There is an infusion clinic in the same building. Chairs from the waiting room have been removed (social spacing).
The cafe we go to is take out only. Meaning a whole lot of staff and wait staff are not earning money. Many of the women are single moms or both parents must work. So we ordered take out and a pie.
The traffic was light. The medical staff is well informed – no myth making. Probably not a Dump voted on the staff.
Trader Joe’s was out of all sorts of things. Sour dough bread and most other kinds of bread. Deliveries to the store are not and miss. Lots of hoarding of food – pasta and canned food and meat. The meat shelves were cleared out. That could be due to lack of deliveries.
Gas prices have dropped by 50 cents per gallon. Putin and Prince Bone Saw’s has war?
This is only day one of the self quarantine and crowd limits with each governor having to use CDC guidance to make up their own rules. I’m worried about the people who need their jobs but can’t afford to get ill.
Getting tested for covid-19 is still close to impossible. Even for doctors. (Interview with MD on MSNBC.)
Amir Khalid
@debbie:
Manila, and I think the Philippines as a whole, locked down before we did.
WereBear
@Betty Cracker: You know this was a tourist-bucks decision, and what makes them true, undiluted, lunkheads is how they are going to get a lot of free publicity from the mayhem which will ensue.
Way to brand a destination as a plague spot! That’s gonna be some fine PR!
debbie
@Amir Khalid:
That’s what I get for half-listening to the BBC.
Betty Cracker
I keep up with Fox News propaganda initiatives by monitoring Twitter feeds, and boy, has there been a messaging sea change. Just last Friday, they were downplaying the danger of the virus, noting how cheap and easy it was to fly and get restaurant reservations because of all the silly panic, etc. Now they’re treating C-19 like a genuine health crisis.
It’s always a chicken-and-egg proposition to try to figure out if Trump is driving Fox & Friends coverage or if F&F is driving Trump. But something clued one or both entities in to the seriousness of the pandemic over the weekend.
My guess is Trump’s ego sensed danger when he got wind of the measures governors in hard-hit states were taking to fill the vacuum in leadership at the federal level. There was a teleconference between the White House and governors yesterday.
Maybe prep work for that call revealed something so obvious that even the low quality hires were able to comprehend the yawning gap between state and federal actions. I don’t know. But something definitely changed.
Amir Khalid
@Baud:
It’s been reported that the Malaysian lockdown has caused Singaporeans to worry about the supply of food from our side of the Causeway. When it comes to farming, Singapore has bupkes; land is in short supply and crazy expensive. So everything they eat is imported, mostly from here.
Some Malaysians probably feel a little Schadenfreude over this. We’ve always resented that Singapore, a state that got kicked out of the Federation, is now better known around the world and seen as more glamorous. But Singapore couldn’t function without Malaysians commuting in to work everyday, and there’d be nothing affordable on its supermarket shelves without Malaysian agriculture.
Geminid
Jerry Fallwell Jr. announced Friday that Liberty University would open this Monday after spring break. A truly dumbass decision with a political motivation. All other Virginia colleges were suspending classes and going online. Then Virginia governor Ralph Northam announced guidance banning gatherings of over 100 people, which gave Fallwell an excuse to climb off the very high tree limb he had climbed on to, and announce Liberty would go online. A good development in terms of public health, but my vindictive side is disappointed that Falwell will not face the discredit of Lynchburg becoming a Covid-19 hotspot. A petty impulse.
Amir Khalid
@Betty Cracker:
The really unfortunate thing is that the damage can’t be undone that quickly: so many whom Fox News deceived about coronavirus are still deceived, and still refusing to take precautions.
Chris Johnson
@Betty Cracker: It’s interesting to me because I feel like much of this is being run out of Russia. If Fox is not doing what the UK under Boris Johnson is doing, that suggests Fox isn’t as tightly leashed by Putin, and they had to break from the intended response.
I figure this is war by other means, and it’s ironic that the best weapon the enemy has available is the Republican shock troops. It turns into a sort of desperation move: how much damage can be done to the US, to the UK, before the political factions that are enemy puppets are broken by their use as a conduit for a pandemic? I think the ‘let’s all go travel for cheap!’ or ‘let’s all get herd immunity real quick!’ reactions are enemy action.
The Pale Scot
I have to say that Declan Chan is a very cool name
Betty
@Tony Jay: I need to send you Dominica’s top calypso this year, “Don’t Complain.” Admonishes those who voted for the local conmen not to complain about their hardships and that was before COVID-19 hit.
RobertB
@WereBear: Dewine here in Ohio is pretty damn far from my favorite politician, but he hasn’t been messing around trying to own the libs.
Betty
@Tony Jay: Light entertainment: https://youtu.be/rI8cI3Ix9PA
The Pale Scot
@Chris Johnson:
Another Putin drag the world down to Russia’s level. With all the tobacco and vodka consumption over there, Russia is going to get decimated in the classical sense. At the very least.
Tony Jay
@Betty:
Ha! That’s some damned fine calypso.
Don’t complain, indeed.
J R in WV
Perhaps someone noticed that every time Trump opened his mouth to spew lies, the stock market instantly moved down another 10%, and told him about that correlation like 8 or 10 times. So that it finally sank in. ;-)
Not that I really believe it sank in, they just wrote a less than completely full set of lies for him to spew Monday. Don’t know what could have happened at Faux News — perhaps their favorite table at their favorite restaurant died?