Coronavirus (Sports-Related and General)

[phillychuck]

Oh, and here is the demographic data for the US which I've been hunting for the past week:

Thought y'all might find it interesting. (Data from the CDC)

For comparison, here is a total population graphic:

[rpmcmurphy]

If they had responded clearly and openly, we would not be where we are now. That's the problem with totalitarian governments.

Not just a problem with totalitarian regimes:

“The first coronavirus case in the U.S. and South Korea was detected on the same day. By late January, Seoul had medical companies starting to work on a diagnostic test — one was approved a week later. Today, the U.S. isn’t even close to meeting test demand” (Reuters 3/18/20)

And,

Of course, the line is becoming ever more blurred between Trumpism and totalitarianism.

[schillingfan]

I am beyond frustrated at Trump’s comment that the federal government is not a shipping clerk. The Defense Department is the best shipping clerk in the world. This needs national coordination exactly for things like masks, ventilators, emergency personnel (as health care workers will get sick.) This is something the federal government NEEDS to do several industries have volunteered to retool to make needed supplies. You don’t want state governors individually going to manufacturers you need them to identify the needs, the federal government to contract, something they used to be good at, and then transport to the state. This is making me crazy.of course with the hollowing out of top level managers, and acting secretaries, Homeland Security, DOD, FEMA, have lost a ability to manage crisis.

[julio]

Trump is doing what he always does, pushing back harder than he gets pushed. He's trying to emphasize the responsibility of the Chinese government for their lies and deception from late November through mid-January (and continuing now--no new cases yesterday??).

Even if I grant that... Trump is, in fact, doing what he always does - responding in a short-term way, with zero consideration of long-term implications, second-order effects, etc... and not worrying one bit about whether his statements are even accurate.

Keep in mind that, if we accept that the Chinese government practiced lies and deceptions from November through January (and I'm not going to argue that) - the Trump administration (and in particular, Trump himself) has done exactly the same thing. He consistently downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19; now that he's caught out, he's claiming that he knew all along it would be a pandemic. He's lying through his teeth.

Even today, he's not using his emergency military procurement power. He's activated it, but NOT ordered immediate manufacture of ventilators. Even today, his head is still in the sand (or somewhere). Even today, he's more worried about appearances - as they affect him personally - than substance.

As I said, don't defend this. It's not defensible.

[schillingfan]

Not to mention that from a logic standpoint two wrongs do not make a right!

[Philsmania]

Damning video.

Trump's coronavirus calendar of SHAME: he spent weeks LYING to Americans about...

[allentown]

Do we really believe that China had the ZERO number of new coronavirus cases, which it reported for yesterday? It seems totally implausible to me.

[phillychuck]

I believe it was Zero (reported) in Wuhan and the Hubei province. Asian countries are unfortunately now dealing with their own citizens bringing COVID-19 back from overseas

[el-pietro]

China didn' t report no new cases, they reported no new domestic cases. They have several cases from people who have travelled from other countries.
In other news three members of the Sixers org have tested positive. Unclear if its a player or otherwise.

[schillingfan]

Washington Post photographer took picture of Trump’s notes for his press conference and he had crossed out the written Coronavirus and hand written Chinese over Corona. My initial point was that Pence put out secret talking points to refer to it is Chinese or Wuham, and Trump alters notes, that’s why I called it propaganda, it’s an attempt to form a specific mindset in the population. Of course politicians try to influence what people think, but that is different from propaganda from the hugest office.

[bkox]

Kansas official: Pandemic isn’t a problem here because there are few Chinese people
https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article241353836.html

[allentown]

Quarantining would certainly be expected to bend the curve, it's very hard to believe Wuhan has moved to zero new cases. A densely packed city, with healthy and unhealthy quarantined together? Again, it simply isn't plausible.

[phillychuck]

Agree. Unless some sort of miracle mutation occurred.

[LegoDoom]

Sometimes there actually is a monster under the bed

[schillingfan]

Quarantining would certainly be expected to bend the curve, it's very hard to believe Wuhan has moved to zero new cases. A densely packed city, with healthy and unhealthy quarantined together? Again, it simply isn't plausible.

It’s my understanding that in Wuhan, sick people were isolated from their own family members, too.

[LegoDoom]

Younger Adults Make Up Big Portion of Coronavirus Hospitalizations in U.S.

40% of the people hospitalized were in the 20-54 bracket. I know you are searching for a reason why we should just isolate the old people and live life as normal, but that simply won't be the case. Please have a look at what CA and NYC are saying with regards to resources needed.

[LoneStarPhan]

I am afraid that we now are at a point where no matter what we do, the outcome is going to be painful.

[Lawman]

Agreed.

[Lawman]

The article points out:

Now, here’s the problem with taking serious action against the spread of this virus. In order to prevent a secondary outbreak before a vaccine is ready, it’s necessary to establish “herd immunity.” Herd immunity means that people need to get sick and then recover in pretty big numbers in order to make sure that the R₀ rate falls below 1 on the next wave of infections.

I don't think we have any definitive proof that this particular virus works like that, although one would think that, based on other viruses, it does.

[andyb]

I don't think we have any definitive proof that this particular virus works like that, although one would think that, based on other viruses, it does.

It depends on whether people that have gotten the virus and recovered become immune. We'll need more time to see if that is true. Also, the virus could mutate like the flu does. Something makes me think the version is Italy is more virulent than some of the versions in the other parts of the world (i.e. it is not only the collapse of their health system due to overuse).