Covid-19 discussion and humor thread [Was: CDC says don't touch your face to avoid Covid19...Vets to the rescue!

[row_33]

2 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

My hands were good, even got the Wegmans to bring a hand sanitizer station by the avocados cause ya have to pick and press the avocado to judge its ripeness right? More than any other fruit by a mile!

thought it was ready if you can easily flick off the stem, or what’s left of it

[Augie]

 

For the “mathy” people out there. (Sorry if this was posted already.) I found it worth a few minutes. 

 

Stay home as much as you can! Don’t be an “E”! 

[Lurker]

Sign of the times.     This was today at the Surfine supermarket in Eden.    Guess which aisle and win a cupie doll...

 

 

Not as bad as these folks, however:   

 

 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/03/10/coronavirus-australia-family-buys-12-year-supply-toilet-paper/4985534002/

 

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Lurker

[RocCityRoller]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

"I find it interesting you neglected to share the entire portion of the Atlantic article below, "

Oh do you now?  Or do you have a little agenda here when you end with "Limiting information as to why the test kits are delayed is intellectually dishonest and dangerous."?

 

Everybody gets to share what part of the article interests or strikes them as important, including you.  Reads like you're throwing some shade, not just sharing.

 

I didn't include that portion because I personally feel it's an obstacle that could have been readily overcome with coordination and cooperation.  Yes, clinical samples can be a limitation early on but there were certainly patients both in US and in other countries that will ship samples at the time delays in test development were occurring.  I don't think they were (or needed to be) as rate-limiting as the article implies.  The main issue is the FDA didn't invite test development nor enable it, as it's done for previous emerging diseases.

 

I worked in Pharma for a decade cheek by jowl and working closely with people developing tests.  I know how tests are developed.  I've had cocktails with and chatted up people at the FDA about their concerns with developing clinical tests. 

The delays to the process here were far beyond what is reasonable in the cause of accuracy.   It is egregious as I see it, and I will throw "shade".

 

Accuracy is important, so is freakin' getting it done.  And that starts at the top, with defining priorities. 

There will always be false negatives and false positives in clinical tests.  Some of these only emerge in practical field use - interferences that weren't considered or tested when the test was developed.  Some of them are not "on" the tests - people don't happen to have virus in their throat when it's swabbed, it's down in their lungs; or the swab isn't dampened enough, or it isn't stored or processed properly.   

But a test is a tool, and in an emerging contagious disease scenario, undue delays in testing or failure to develop a test promptly is not justified in the pursuit of undue perfection.  One simply defines performance standards the test has to meet, looks at the data that shows the test meets them, and moves.

The effort is not so coordinated right now, BTW.  The FDA simply started to authorize test development under a simplified EUA.

 

 

Hey Hapless, you are informed and have shared some good info here. My point is that there are a number of factors tied into the delay in getting accurate tests out. They should all be noted.

 

Let's look at a quick timeline of the response.

1) January 22 - 580 cases of COVID-19 confirmed Globally

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

 

2) January - Early lack of samples to create a test stalls labs around the world in  late January.

 

'BioMérieux just released three versions of its coronavirus test this week, after beginning work on it on January 23. Miller says that with every viral outbreak, the company’s biggest problem by far is getting access to virus and patient specimens so that it can validate its tests. Even when working with nonauthoritarian countries, a combination of government processes, researcher reticence, complex shipping regulations, and patient-privacy concerns makes getting samples difficult for diagnostic companies like his.'

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/why-coronavirus-testing-us-so-delayed/607954/

 

3) January 31st - Department of Health and Human Service issues notice that a public health emergency exists. (On January 31 there were @12,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally.)

 

"As a result of confirmed cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide."

https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/2019-nCoV.aspx

 

4) Early Feb - CDC had test kits early in February, and they proved to be faulty due to reagent issues yielding false positives.

     Results from early screening kits developed in China, South Korea and Japan are now in question as screening practices in those early infected areas also improves.

 

5) Feb 29 - As CDC screening test issues were corrected an FDA EUA was modified to allow CLIA certified labs to submit request to begin manufacture of test kits.

 

6) March 12 - EUA amended to use test kits developed by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.(RMS) while manufacture and distribution of FDA approved lab kits accelerates. The Roche kit requires widely used lab testing systems that can each process 4000 COVID-19 samples a day, 4x faster than current testing processes.

 

7) March 13 - TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.) approved for use.

https://www.fda.gov/media/136113/download

 

General Timeline Source: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization

 

From the actions above I see an ever evolving response to a novel (new) virus outbreak that is rational and prudent. What would have happened if 1.5 million defective screening kits had been allowed to be used?

 

BTW I was a data manager at ACM Labs (CLIA certified) on over 70 FDA clinical trials projects. Anecdotally there were times where screening tools, developed internationally were faulty. It was the stringent processes in place that assisted in developing more accurate screening tools in the US. I don't claim to know everything about the whole process, but I do know there is a process in place for good reason.

Edited March 14, 2020 by RocCityRoller

[Augie]

20 minutes ago, Lurker said:

Sign of the times.     This was today at the Surfine supermarket in Eden.    Guess which aisle and win a cupie doll...

 

I am familiar with what empty toilet paper shelves look like. The paper towels were purchased by those who came along later. The paper bags are for the desperate! 

 

 

.

Edited March 14, 2020 by Augie

[Sundancer]

My daughter just went to the store to get some garlic for some pasta we are making tonight. She said everything was normal. All aisles stocked, nothing seemed to be out. There must just be pockets of sheeple following each other into stupidity. 

[Augie]

1 minute ago, Sundancer said:

My daughter just went to the store to get some garlic for some pasta we are making tonight. She said everything was normal. All aisles stocked, nothing seemed to be out. There must just be pockets of sheeple following each other into stupidity. 

 

I’ve been fascinated by this “pocket” situation. It’s a mess here, and I wasn’t looking for months of supplies. There was a death about 10 miles from us, and a confirmation in Cincinnati before things got crazy. I’m not sure if that sets people off?

 

Have you had any nearby incidents that the media has been obsessed with?  This thing is real, but the pockets make me curious. 

[RaoulDuke79]

7 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

My daughter just went to the store to get some garlic for some pasta we are making tonight. She said everything was normal. All aisles stocked, nothing seemed to be out. There must just be pockets of sheeple following each other into stupidity. 

I expect things to calm down in a bit. When they first stated closing things is when everyone went nuts. I suppose everyone is stocked up now. I went to Costco on Thursday and it was a madhouse. My mother in law went today and said it was mostly back to normal. 

Edited March 14, 2020 by RaoulDuke79

[Lurker]

Wegman's in Hamburg at 5:45 am today (I wonder how their TP aisle looks now):

 

 

https://buffalonews.com/2020/03/14/i-went-to-wegmans-at-547-a-m-saturday-oh-my-god/

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, plenzmd1 said:

Quick question. If you bought avocados today, do you think Corona Virus could get inside the skin? Ya know everyone was pawing at those things, as was I. 
 

rethinkIng homemade guacamole. LOL

 

Not inside the skin, no.  But it's a point that if you've purchased unpackaged fresh veg., the skin could be contaminated.  As you hold the avocado to cut and scoop out, you might contaminate the edible part.  Might dunk in some peroxide or bleach water (that's like 0.02% bleach or 1:100 dilution of standard 2% household bleach) for 10 min then rinse.  Note that some bleach is more concentrated - 8.25% - and some is less - 1%, adjust accordingly. 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Lurker said:

Wegman's in Hamburg at 5:45 am today (I wonder how their TP aisle looks now):

 

 

https://buffalonews.com/2020/03/14/i-went-to-wegmans-at-547-a-m-saturday-oh-my-god/

 

They all seem nicely positioned to be susceptible to the Sunrise Attack of the Zombie Horde.  Do you think they will have fast feet and a good L pivot to present a defensive shopping cart wall?

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/working-from-home-during-a-global-pandemic-bingo?fbclid=IwAR2CBSgbhq3W9FupoVEPb75qjlj-RQ4IW3rUbRaTkOjhasF0Qn5lKS4bM3c

 

[RocCityRoller]

12 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

They all seem nicely positioned to be susceptible to the Sunrise Attack of the Zombie Horde.  Do you think they will have fast feet and a good L pivot to present a defensive shopping cart wall?

 

That is the Sunrise Attack of the Zombie Horde!

 

Ironic that fear shopping like this increases your risk of getting sick. COVID or not. It is still flu/ cold season....

Time for REM

 

 

[Augie]

1 hour ago, plenzmd1 said:

My hands were good, even got the Wegmans to bring a hand sanitizer station by the avocados cause ya have to pick and press the avocado to judge its ripeness right? More than any other fruit by a mile!

 

Wegman’s is far ahead of Publix in that regard. Publix has wipes available where you get your cart, and I was generous and kept them with me. No sanitizing stations to be found anywhere. Still, the cashiers were smiling! 

 

In contrast, my last trip to the mall in a while yesterday found the Apple store with employees in surgical gloves and Purell stations all around. They’d hit the station after each customer like hospital personnel heading from one room to the next. Far more impressive than the grocery stores! 

[Chandler#81]

[Lurker]

24 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

They all seem nicely positioned to be susceptible to the Sunrise Attack of the Zombie Horde.  Do you think they will have fast feet and a good L pivot to present a defensive shopping cart wall?

 

Hamburg's Twinkie gauge might be running low tonight...

 

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Lurker

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

https://nextstrain.org/narratives/ncov/sit-rep/2020-03-13

 

Left side scrolls down for table of contents.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Foxx said:

i thought it was a 'guesstimate' put forth by the governor of Ohio which would be essentially semantics but still a difference in wordsmithing and thus, meaning.

 

Guesstimates put out by public officials should have logic and science behind them and they should withstand pressure-testing against comparative situations.

 

2 hours ago, Foxx said:

i might also take exception here in the 'logic', going with the fact that China quarantined all of Wuhan and essentially ground all of the Hubei province to a halt. not exactly an apples to apples comparison. as such, the math is not complete. 

 

I see your point, but in fact Wuhan reached 1000 positive test cases Jan 25th, 2 days after the city shut down on Jan 23.  So the apples are closer than you might believe.

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, RocCityRoller said:

 

Hey Hapless, you are informed and have shared some good info here. My point is that there are a number of factors tied into the delay in getting accurate tests out. They should all be noted.

 

Let's look at a quick timeline of the response.

1) January 22 - 580 cases of COVID-19 confirmed Globally

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

 

2) January - Early lack of samples to create a test stalls labs around the world in  late January.

 

'BioMérieux just released three versions of its coronavirus test this week, after beginning work on it on January 23. Miller says that with every viral outbreak, the company’s biggest problem by far is getting access to virus and patient specimens so that it can validate its tests. Even when working with nonauthoritarian countries, a combination of government processes, researcher reticence, complex shipping regulations, and patient-privacy concerns makes getting samples difficult for diagnostic companies like his.'

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/why-coronavirus-testing-us-so-delayed/607954/

 

3) January 31st - Department of Health and Human Service issues notice that a public health emergency exists. (On January 31 there were @12,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally.)

 

"As a result of confirmed cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide."

https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/2019-nCoV.aspx

 

4) Early Feb - CDC had test kits early in February, and they proved to be faulty due to reagent issues yielding false positives.

     Results from early screening kits developed in China, South Korea and Japan are now in question as screening practices in those early infected areas also improves.

 

5) Feb 29 - As CDC screening test issues were corrected an FDA EUA was modified to allow CLIA certified labs to submit request to begin manufacture of test kits.

 

6) March 12 - EUA amended to use test kits developed by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.(RMS) while manufacture and distribution of FDA approved lab kits accelerates. The Roche kit requires widely used lab testing systems that can each process 4000 COVID-19 samples a day, 4x faster than current testing processes.

 

7) March 13 - TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.) approved for use.

https://www.fda.gov/media/136113/download

 

General Timeline Source: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization

 

From the actions above I see an ever evolving response to a novel (new) virus outbreak that is rational and prudent. What would have happened if 1.5 million defective screening kits had been allowed to be used?

 

BTW I was a data manager at ACM Labs (CLIA certified) on over 70 FDA clinical trials projects. Anecdotally there were times where screening tools, developed internationally were faulty. It was the stringent processes in place that assisted in developing more accurate screening tools in the US. I don't claim to know everything about the whole process, but I do know there is a process in place for good reason.

 

Yeah, you know, RocCity, my heart is really just sick about this, but I don't have the heart to debate the timeline and missed opportunities here.

 

I don't think we know that our screening tool is so much more accurate at this point than all the developed tests being used overseas.

 

I have heard, but do not know, that even the Roche kit requires RNA extraction equipment which many public health and hospital labs lack.

[Augie]

Here’s maybe a silly question: If we had the tests, and could confirm who has actually got the virus, what would we do differently? There is no magic pill, right? If it’s Covid-19 or some other flu strain, you stay home to isolate and recuperate, hopefully. Is there something different you would do? At least initially? 

 

Also, I just heard on the news Disney doesn’t shut down until tomorrow. WHY? And who is actually there? They say the tourism industry is looking at a one trillion dollar loss, but that may largely be offset by the toilet paper industry! 

 

 

[Jrb1979]

The U.S. and Canada would be smart to do what Spain and France has done. Both countries have closed everything except for gas stations and grocery stores. Spain has now banned people from leaving their homes except for work or to get essentials. If you do have to leave only one person per household is allowed to leave at a time. 

 

IMO its the best way to stop the spread since a lot of people aren't taking the social distancing seriously 

[Capco]

21 minutes ago, Augie said:

Here’s maybe a silly question: If we had the tests, and could confirm who has actually got the virus, what would we do differently? There is no magic pill, right? If it’s Covid-19 or some other flu strain, you stay home to isolate and recuperate, hopefully. Is there something different you would do? At least initially? 

 

Also, I just heard on the news Disney doesn’t shut down until tomorrow. WHY? And who is actually there? They say the tourism industry is looking at a one trillion dollar loss, but that may largely be offset by the toilet paper industry! 

 

We'd be able to quarantine far more effectively if we had a good grasp of the worst hit areas.  

 

It'd also be nice to know if we were one of the 4-out-of-5 who got the virus but had relatively mild symptoms.  Knowing if you're immune could be very beneficial for both you personally and society at large. 

 

Knowledge is power.  

Edited March 14, 2020 by Capco

[Chandler#81]

[Augie]

3 hours ago, Capco said:

 

We'd be able to quarantine far more effectively if we had a good grasp of the worst hit areas.  

 

It'd also be nice to know if we were one of the 4-out-of-5 who got the virus but had relatively mild symptoms.  Knowing if you're immune could be very beneficial for both you personally and society at large. 

 

Knowledge is power.  

 

That makes sense. Unfortunately, we are so far away from being able to test even the worst cases we are miles from testing those who have mild symptoms and/or are immune. I don’t see us catching up on that front any time soon, it’s moving too fast. 

 

I’m wondering what we would do differently today.  

 

I wish we were ahead of that curve rather than behind it. That knowledge can not come soon enough. 

 

Right now, everybody has to act as though it’s basically a quarantine. No going out other than for essentials like food and medications. If you feel any affects whatsoever, you find another way to get that done. Happy Hour is over for a while, people! But you do get to work from home in your underwear, so there’s an upside! 

 

EDIT: Even if you know you are immune or have minimal affects, that does NOT mean you can’t carry it and transmit to others. To most young people, this isn’t life threatening.....to you. But to your parents or others you encounter, well....be fair to them too. 

Edited March 15, 2020 by Augie

[Sundancer]

46 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

The U.S. and Canada would be smart to do what Spain and France has done. Both countries have closed everything except for gas stations and grocery stores. Spain has now banned people from leaving their homes except for work or to get essentials. If you do have to leave only one person per household is allowed to leave at a time. 

 

IMO its the best way to stop the spread since a lot of people aren't taking the social distancing seriously 

 

The shutdown at best flattens the curve. This thing isn't going to be stopped by social distancing of a few weeks unless there's a vaccine or cure in a month available to all (not happening). It's coming. 

 

It took 2 months from Wuhan and POTUS got directly exposed at least twice. Thinking any of us isn't getting it is naive. 

 

That doesn't mean we should go take risks. Just noting that the best we can all do is social distance as much as possible and try to put some slack in the healthcare system.

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Sundancer

[Augie]

35 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

 

 The shutdown at best flattens the curve. This thing isn't going to be stopped by social distancing of a few weeks unless there's a vaccine or cure in a month available to all (not happening). It's coming. 

 

It took 2 months from Wuhan and POTUS got directly exposed at least twice. Thinking any of us isn't getting it is naive. 

 

That doesn't mean we should go take risks. Just noting that the best we can all do is social distance as much as possible and try to put some slack in the healthcare system.

 

 

Yes. Flattening the curve is all we can do at this point, so let’s do it. We cannot stop it. But we CAN behave wisely. 

 

 

.

Edited March 15, 2020 by Augie

[K-9]

10 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Yes, I don't know if it is deliberate lies or misunderstandings or delusions, but for any political philosophy it's very counterproductive to be anything but meticulously straight-shooting in times like these.  The most uninformed people have a weasel-word and a bull#### detector installed.

 

When things happen like your friend or fellow parent or neighbor takes her husband (who has air traveled recently, but not to Italy or S. Korea) or her son to the ER with high fever and cough, he tests negative for flu and other viruses, and he can't be tested for covid-19 because he doesn't meet the DOH criteria of travel to specific countries or exposure to a known infected person, there's a whole cluster of people who say "Now Waitaminut Here!" when they hear national leaders, be they politician or NIH/CDC, say that 1.5 million or 5 million tests will be available by the end of the week - and then they aren't. 

It's not about politics, it's about hearing one thing and experiencing another.

 

IMO the difference between the panicked and counter-productive behavior in this country (like buying TP off the shelves) vs. countries like Singapore and Taiwan where they have been publicizing the virus and the need for public health measures far more widely but the citizens seem very calm and matter-of-fact in the face of masks, protective gear, and restrictions, is a feeling of trust that the government is speaking truth to them and acting for the collective good, and if everyone collectively does their part all will be well.

 

And I'll stop here because I truly don't want to derail this into competing political philosophies, but hopefully people can agree that we need leaders to speak consistent facts to the people they lead and in a health emergency situation it's a problem when this doesn't happen, even if it's not deliberate untruth.

Ultimately, it’s about safety. And in order to ensure the highest level of safety, we need to know what the numbers REALLY are! I am F ing livid that testing has been deliberately suppressed for cheap political gain. My apologies in advance if that comment invites unwanted debate (that is not my intention AT ALL), but it appears to be the truth and needs to be said. How else can we explain having a 6 week head start and STILL coming up so woefully short in such an important matter of public safety.  It’s shameful. 

[Cripple Creek]

 

[Jrb1979]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

Yes. Flattening the curve is all we can do at this point, so let’s do it. We cannot stop it. But we CAN behave wisely. 

 

 

.

It might be the only way to get the people that don't understand the severity of this to understand. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

5 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

It might be the only way to get the people that don't understand the severity of this to understand. 

 

 

...safe to say the message is ringing clear at least here in Rochester.....empty shelves in every store........grocery stores now limiting canned goods, meat, poultry, etc in addition to other items previously limited....people lined up outside waiting to get in...all schools now closed....work colleagues with kids in college are picking them up as dorms and campuses shut down....never have seen anything like this in my 66 years....supposed to take my children and daughter in law to Aruba on 3/22.....as restrictions tighten, that's out the window...

[Jrb1979]

Just now, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

 

...safe to say the message is ringing clear at least here in Rochester.....empty shelves in every store........grocery stores now limiting canned goods, meat, poultry, etc in addition to other items previously limited....people lined up outside waiting to get in...all schools now closed....work colleagues with kids in college are picking them up as dorms and campuses shut down....never have seen anything like this in my 66 years....supposed to take my children and daughter in law to Aruba on 3/22.....as restrictions tighten, that's out the window...

Its good to see some people are getting it. There is still lots that aren't. Here in my city the University kids aren't getting it. They closed down a street near the school so a bunch of them could party for St. Patrick's Day. I have seen a few posts from friends on Facebook that still plan on traveling outside of the country cause as they said"If I get sick there is people there to take care of me" 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

5 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

Its good to see some people are getting it. There is still lots that aren't. Here in my city the University kids aren't getting it. They closed down a street near the school so a bunch of them could party for St. Patrick's Day. I have seen a few posts from friends on Facebook that still plan on traveling outside of the country cause as they said"If I get sick there is people there to take care of me" 

 

...makes no sense for us to go to Aruba......they're testing at their airport and if you're positive, automatic 14 day quarantine.......if you get sick while there and test positive, same result....I'm not even sure if Blue Cross would cover you there......all schools are now closed....all public, private and cultural activities are now postponed through 3/31.....we stay at the Riu Palace which is all inclusive, but we don't want to be bound to the hotel........read where all Canadians returning home from international travel are automatically quarantined for 14 days....everything is changing HOURLY......St Maarten has now placed restrictions on US travelers.......and the US could begin to restrict domestic travel......

[BillsFan4]

50 minutes ago, KD in CA said:

 

But......the article says they ARE building a coronavirus testing site, no?   And, apparently, someone told the White House about the project.  I assume we're not getting worked up simply over the POTUS not having all his Google shell-entities straight.

 

Seems like a pretty disingenuous headline to me.

 

 

They made it sound like the site would be up nation wide very shortly (said they would announce when on Sunday), then spent a bunch of time telling everyone how to use the site. How they can schedule tests on it etc. Even had a chart made up going over the website.

 

Come to find out there are actually no current plans to roll out the site nation wide and google has no idea they were going to make this announcement.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2020 by BillsFan4

[BillsFan4]

This is pretty cool. 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about all the healthcare workers throughout the world, on the front lines of this pandemic. Lots of stories of bravery and selflessness. I am very thankful for all of them.

[BillsFan4]

It was only a matter of time. Stay safe friends. 

[KD in CA]

1 hour ago, May Day 10 said:

Its digging a little bit.

 

Trumps moves and public address friday were decent enough. The market loved it.   If this does get out of hand, he will need to answer to the lack of urgency and action early on.  That wednesday "thing" was bizarre.

 

I want to see some decisive moves to shut most things down.  Needs to happen now.  Do that, appropriate aid to the right places and times.  Massage the economy in the aftermath.  The opportunity is there for this to be a big victory.  I'm far from a trump guy, but I'm still rooting for him/them to lead and look good.

 

Where I live pretty much everything is already shut down.  They're even shutting down ski resorts (now that it finally snowed!).  

 

What's not shut down yet?

[Jrb1979]

Just now, KD in CA said:

 

Where I live pretty much everything is already shut down.  They're even shutting down ski resorts (now that it finally snowed!).  

 

What's not shut down yet?

Airports should be shut down. In case anyone hasn't noticed the majority of cases have come from people who have traveled by air and yet that is allowed to continue. 

[/dev/null]

6 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Guesstimates put out by public officials should have logic and science behind them and they should withstand pressure-testing against comparative situations.

 

 

It's just a "guesstimate".  It's nothing really.  Think about it, zeros are nothing.  So if you add a zero, or two, or three to the end of a number you're not really adding anything.  You know, like there's no big difference between 1 and 10.  or 1 and 100, or 1 and 1000.  It's just a bunch of nothing to end of a number

[Sundancer]

Merkel pegged it. Most will get it. Social distance slows the spread and dampens the impact on the healthcare system. The “live your life go on your trip visit your friend”  denials need to stop.

[Bob in Mich]

From what I have read, the trained medical personnel, ICU beds, and the ventilators (respirators) seem to be the limiting resources when hospitals get overwhelmed.  If we could do enough national testing to determine which areas are likely to go hot first, shouldn't we try to get additional resources to those areas?  I don't know how long the 'extra' help would be needed and so this may not be practical, but couldn't we mobilize military transport planes and temporarily shift resources around from quiet areas to the hot spots?  Once an area slows, the resources (people, beds, ventilators) are sanitized and moved to the next hot spot.

 

I am unsure how many machines or volunteers could be manufactured or accumulated as I am sure states or even hospitals would be reluctant to loan out anything if they fear an imminent outbreak in their region.  Widespread testing though could help in the determination of impending hot spots.  Would something like this be helpful or even doable?

[John in Jax]

6 hours ago, KD in CA said:

 

Where I live pretty much everything is already shut down.  They're even shutting down ski resorts (now that it finally snowed!).  

 

What's not shut down yet?

It’s the same story here in north FL. I was out yesterday to Publix and Walmart, and I would say that those two stores had about the same, or even less customers, than for a normal Saturday. Of course, they were out (or almost out) of the things that most other stores were out of: Water, TP, alcohol wipes, canned soup, red meat (plenty of healthier meat available like turkey & ham...LOL). They had plenty of dairy products too. Restaurants I passed by had customers, but parking lots were not as full as normal.