The Coronavirus Thread

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by purr1n, Mar 16, 2020.

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  1. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Just as a point of reference, "lombardy region", named after the germanic tribe that invaded and decided they'd rather like being the roman emperors, tyvm, but we'll lead from Mediolanum - lit. in the middle, now Milan - is basically the biggest, densest and wealthiest region, and the only place with a USA-style urban sprawl that goes on for any distance.

    Looks like you've beaten us several times in r0. That's not great.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    This is why I'm not trusting any of the new cases plots. The testing in the USA is simply too spotty. If we believe new cases to be reflective of reality, then we would actually be a world of hurt because deaths will lag the new cases. However looking at this below, the situation in NYC and Detroit still seems dire with no break in sight. This data is two days older than what I have though.

    It's scary that people in the Lombardy region are still dying at the same rate as two weeks ago.

    upload_2020-4-10_22-25-46.png
     
  3. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Looking at your user info panel and really f'ing wishing I was living in Antarctica.

    Sharing a house with an 81yo with cardiovascular conditions during this has had me in a constant low-level panic for weeks.

    Better than if she was in a home, I guess.
     
  4. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Jeez. Do official death numbers take account of those people who die home?

    Surely in France we don't know clearly. First it was only people died in hospital and now we also know death numberd in homes for elderly people.
     
  5. Rustin Cohle

    Rustin Cohle FKA jazztherapist

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    I have no trouble believing the mortality rate is lower. I’m not invested in arguing otherwise and will gladly acknowledge the data when we have it. I’m more concerned about narratives and the agendas they serve—and how stories are reported always offer clues. SFGate and the LA Times are not telling the same story as I read them.

    As for pure BS, I see more concerning concentrations of that elsewhere.
     
  6. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Unsubstantiated (so far) reports of how some wards have 10 a day dying of complications borne of COVID-19 on my end that are being suppressed. Learned through a frontline worker leaking info to a respected reporter, so hey, could be fake news.

    Officially, numbers here are 4,428 confirmed cases, 157 recovered with 247 dead. Huge chunk of that is in my densely-packed region, Metro Manila (1,227/37/59), which is where the alleged whistleblower works; 10 more a day would skew the numbers a bit.

    Honestly, call me a cynic but this is easy to believe.
     
  7. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Even in countries which aren't deliberately lying, there are many deaths at home which are not marked as COVID-19, and never will be, because by the time we have the tests they'll be 6 feet under or cremated.
     
  8. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Interesting point, you can check in the local Italian sources, I cannot find the link, but it was reported that Italy did post mortem testing and if the test was positive, the death was counted as a CV death no matter what the causes.
    Dr Birx said in one of the briefings that in the US and if a person died with CV, the death is if he or she died of CV. So it could be going both ways.
    I do not think we need to assume that people stopped dying of anything other than CV, particularly old people.
     
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Somebody should explain to him the difference between bacteria and viruses.

    https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...e/news-story/1264e2222b7c5c7b103c579d12835252
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Hahahahahaha.

    Well technically CV-19 is a germ that has "outsmarted" antibiotics. But so are all other viruses, prions, some fungi, etc.

    In a strange way, he might have needed to explain that. I'm absolutely sure most Americans don't know that antibiotics don't work against viruses. I would hear from Mensa folks about how they pop zpaks whenever they were coming down with a cold. It's not that they don't teach things in the USA. It's more that it goes in one ear and out the other.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2020
  11. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    That assumes that places with heavily overloaded health systems, where not even the health professionals can get a test, have the spare capacity to test not only the obviously suspicious out-of-healthcare deaths but also the not immediately suspicious ones.

    I know home death have gone up like 30% in the UK but the vast majority of these aren't getting tested because there's only so much lab time available, and so many prepackaged tests, and those are better spent on the living.
     
  12. Rowethren

    Rowethren Acquaintance

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    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52196815

    Interesting and sad interview/article which just goes to show how under reported the numbers must be. I am sure the same thing is happening here in the UK but it means we will never truly know the toll of this disease...
     
  13. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I'm sure it is.

    I'm British, although been living in India for last 15 years. Seeing what is happening in UK is so distressing. Reading about doctors both not having proper PPE and being unable to get access to testing.

    I have become a bit cynical about the cheer-leading. Is it all orchestrated to take the people's minds off how little the government cares about the health workers? Home secretary says she is sorry about people's perceptions. Madam, the BMA is not people.
     
  14. Rowethren

    Rowethren Acquaintance

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    She is a truly unpleasant person!

    "I'm sorry if people feel that there have been failings."

    Possibly the most backhanded thing she could have said especially coming from her first briefing. She isn't acknowledging there have been failings, which clearly there has, she is just saying sorry for people thinking there has been o_O.
     
  15. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    That's the nicest thing I've ever heard anyone say about her!

    It seems that all parties have to find their nastiest extreme bastard for the post of Home Secretary. And they always do.
     
  16. TomB

    TomB MOT: Beezar

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    ^ This. I was watching it live and it appeared to me that he shifted to talking about germs in general and increased antibiotic resistance as an example of how germs get "smarter." Granted, it's hard to tell sometimes with his short-hand-speak, but that was my impression.

    Besides, it's a bit difficult to think he is in meetings every day that must include discussion of potential drug treatments against COVID-19 and not have the subject come up that antibiotics will have no direct effect. They are proven to help with secondary effects, however: other infections as a result of a weakened condition from the virus.
     
  17. neomax

    neomax RobS / hinterlander

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  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    One good thing that I hope comes from this: ridding the old mentality that people need to show up to a building to do work. For some jobs this is necessary. For many today, this is not.

    I get the argument that managers will be afraid that people will slack off if they are working from home. However, everyone I've spoken to has told me that they are more productive. They don't waste time getting up earlier than normal to drive 1-2 hours to work (normal in El Lay). They don't waste their lives away driving home another 1-2 hours. Let's face it. People who sit in their cubes probably f**k around for 5 hours and do 3 hours of actual work each day.

    I don't at all buy the argument that people will be unproductive working from home. Personally, I think it's because old school management likes to rely on power games and loves to skull f**k their underlings because they themselves f**k around 7 hours of the day or either are incompetent. It's really not that hard to know if the people under you are doing their jobs or not. They either are or they aren't. And if they aren't, you get rid of them. Don't have to keep them on and keep skull f'ing them for being poor performers.

    Finally, working from home does wonders: lower pollution, lower gas costs, likely no need to own more than one car per family, less traffic congestion, more people exercising and walking around the neighborhood.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2020
  19. neomax

    neomax RobS / hinterlander

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    when i was in America i was shocked by how many cars idled in lines at drive thru fast food places. i forgot the name of this place but it was this chicken restaurant and you had cars circled the entire building in line and my friend told me its like that throughout the day until they close. why cant americans park the car and walk inside to order?
     
  20. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    This. My job been doing more of WFH because they do not want to expand their corporate offices with rent cost. For them it is cheaper to have higher level employees to work from home then to have them in the office. Why? This is due to they can have more phone agents (Customer Service and Collections) in the office taking calls, while not trying to lease a new office building.
     
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