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

[BillsFan4]

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

 

Confirmed COVID19 cases:

 

Worldwide- 1,422,000

 

US-  394k

Spain - 141k

Italy- 136k

France- 109k

Germany- 107k

 

New cases in the last 24 hours:

 

US - 26,778

France- 11,059

Germany- 4,083

Spain- 3,942

 

 

Big spike in deaths today. Over 1800 today (up from 1200 yesterday). Highest single day total yet. ?

 

We also surpassed the death total total from the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic (12,500 deaths from April 2009 to April 2010). 

Edited April 8, 2020 by BillsFan4

[K-9]

27 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

What has to be understood, is that the people doing the modeling are asked to consider a number of different inputs and assumptions.

 

They make their models accordingly, stating the assumptions that go into each model clearly.

 

Then leaders and politicians choose which model they wish to publicize, but don't always state the assumptions upon which the model is based, clearly.

 

So, for example, if the model publicized assumes a 50% reduction in transmission due to social distancing, but people take it so seriously that we actually achieve a 75% reduction in transmission due to social distancing, the model is seen as "wrong" - but there is probably a model out there which started with different assumptions, and would match what actually happened much better.

It’s my understanding that an aggregate of several models is considered by most states but that the Feds reference the IHME at the University of Washington model most often. There are dozens of modelers providing forecasts. 

[Punching Bag]

11 hours ago, John in Jax said:

Yes, agreed. That’s why I said “some semblance “ of normal, vs the complete shutdown we have now, which is ruining many, many lives. And the longer the shutdown goes on, the more lives will be ruined (economically, emotionally, & physically).

 

Agreed. Companies can open up work, do briefing of requirements with new rules to work and violation consequences as they do other issues (gifts to public officials, timekeeping policies, etc). screen workers before entering and ensure workers report non-compliance for safety of everyone.  

 

My agency is closed telling us to work from home but security people are using same arbitrary rules as they did before 90% of people worked from home while building is almost empty.  Why should someone who has own office be restricted to going to office and work as long as they understand basic rules?

[Punching Bag]

On 3/5/2020 at 5:38 PM, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Then there's this:

 

There is no photo either.....

[Sundancer]

4 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

 

 

I'd like to think the next time this happens we'll operate under worst case scenarios initially. But its always a political/economic question more than it is a death count question.

 

 

 

There is already a pitchfork-weilding legion that thinks the models were terrible and the modelers should have their heads on spikes. 

 

As if being wrong on the high side in this kind of situation that has been horrible is a bad thing. 

[May Day 10]

I think we are in decent shape in wny.  Things were shut down on the 22nd.  We are + 2 weeks out and things are fairly under control as of now.  Not sure if we are going to experience a raging fire of cases such as parts of italy, new Orleans, nyc, etc... 

 

Still got a long way to go, but I think the fact that we share a state with nyc and Cuomo shut us down early in the progression is huge.  Plus not a huge centralized city proper population

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Limeaid said:

 

Agreed. Companies can open up work, do briefing of requirements with new rules to work and violation consequences as they do other issues (gifts to public officials, timekeeping policies, etc). screen workers before entering and ensure workers report non-compliance for safety of everyone.  

 

My agency is closed telling us to work from home but security people are using same arbitrary rules as they did before 90% of people worked from home while building is almost empty.  Why should someone who has own office be restricted to going to office and work as long as they understand basic rules?

 

My personal opinion is that we need to look to the example of some of the countries that have had success with containment.  They have high personal mask-wearing and they screen frequently for fever at workplaces, entrances to stores etc.

 

I think we need to take to universal mask-wearing until there is enough serology data to sort out exactly how much of the population was infected and what kind of symptoms they had.  The masks probably have to be masks with a bit of function - a sewn mask with some kind of filter material, a medical mask, not just a bandana tied over the face. 

 

We need to have some kind of contact tracing using cell phone data set up, plus teams of on the ground trackers.  Unemployed servers from restaurants could perhaps be trained for this - they usually have good people-skills and good memories.

 

And we need to have our s*** together as far as testing.  Anyone with a fever gets tested with 1-day turn around and anyone they've had contact with gets traced and tested.

 

I think large public gatherings and bars/restaurants are going to have to wait a bit, but overall (with the above caveats) I think by the end of the month/mid May IF we have our act together a lot of businesses can resume.

EDIT: I'm going to put this video in the Facts thread but I'll put it here too.  This is why we need people to MASK if they're together indoors, in spaces where windows can not be opened.
 

 

[Sundancer]

 

26 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

I think we are in decent shape in wny.  Things were shut down on the 22nd.  We are + 2 weeks out and things are fairly under control as of now.  Not sure if we are going to experience a raging fire of cases such as parts of italy, new Orleans, nyc, etc... 

 

Still got a long way to go, but I think the fact that we share a state with nyc and Cuomo shut us down early in the progression is huge.  Plus not a huge centralized city proper population

 

You may be right but the death count nationwide may be 100% more today than yesterday when you wake up tomorrow. It will be over 2000 for sure but it's not clear what the total will be. After a few days of level death counts, that leveling is getting blown out of the water with today's data. I'll post the charts in the morning but it's going to be a tough one, and if Italy is any indication, the death toll, once it levels, stays level for 2-3 weeks. The warnings of a tough week ahead were right on target. Seeing rises in MA and GA (two of the last states to shut down so they will surge later) and also MI. 

 

Lesser surges everywhere else and NYS had a record day in deaths too. 

 

To give an indication, as I type, we are at 1942 deaths for the day. Here is the historic count through yesterday:

 

 

25 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

My personal opinion is that we need to look to the example of some of the countries that have had success with containment.  They have high personal mask-wearing and they screen frequently for fever at workplaces, entrances to stores etc.

 

I think we need to take to universal mask-wearing until there is enough serology data to sort out exactly how much of the population was infected and what kind of symptoms they had.  The masks probably have to be masks with a bit of function - a sewn mask with some kind of filter material, a medical mask, not just a bandana tied over the face. 

 

We need to have some kind of contact tracing using cell phone data set up, plus teams of on the ground trackers.  Unemployed servers from restaurants could perhaps be trained for this - they usually have good people-skills and good memories.

 

And we need to have our s*** together as far as testing.  Anyone with a fever gets tested with 1-day turn around and anyone they've had contact with gets traced and tested.

 

I think large public gatherings and bars/restaurants are going to have to wait a bit, but overall (with the above caveats) I think by the end of the month/mid May IF we have our act together a lot of businesses can resume.

 

What we've done to our healthcare workers cannot happen twice. And what we are doing to all the other patients who cannot get the normal care they need also can't happen twice. People need to STFU and accept tracking until we are clear of this, and we need a national plan. That is the ONLY way this doesn't happen again, and worse the next time. 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Sundancer

[Punching Bag]

12 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

My personal opinion is that we need to look to the example of some of the countries that have had success with containment.  They have high personal mask-wearing and they screen frequently for fever at workplaces, entrances to stores etc.

 

I think we need to take to universal mask-wearing until there is enough serology data to sort out exactly how much of the population was infected and what kind of symptoms they had.  The masks probably have to be masks with a bit of function - a sewn mask with some kind of filter material, a medical mask, not just a bandana tied over the face. 

 

And we need to have our s*** together as far as testing.  Anyone with a fever gets tested with 1-day turn around and anyone they've had contact with gets traced and tested.

 

 

Can we get one of these in Bills using a fishing hat with Bills logo?

https://www.amazon.com/MANIFO-Bucket-Full-face-Protective-Fisherman/dp/B0869FC6Y7/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=face+shield+hat+men&qid=1586306193&sr=8-4

 

This was sent me for my wife but she has no interest.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=face+shield+hat+women&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

4 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

What we've done to our healthcare workers cannot happen twice. And what we are doing to all the other patients who cannot get the normal care they need also can't happen twice. People need to STFU and accept tracking until we are clear of this, and we need a national plan. That is the ONLY way this doesn't happen again, and worse the next time. 

 

If they try to force tracking people will just leave phones home (I do not know what they people who cannot not look at it when crossing street will do).

 

Remember to wipe public phone if you can find them.

[Sundancer]

3 hours ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

...if I understand correctly, it should NOT be flourishing in Brazil which is in their summer season..........

 

 

 

Understand from who? There's not been evidence that it will even though politicians have said they believe it will.

 

Where there are lots of bodies and bad healthcare, this thing will catch fire. Think: India. 

5 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

 

 

If they try to force tracking people will just leave phones home 

 

 

 

^^^--Things that will never happen, or at least not happen on a scale large enough to create a problem. People would rather have Big Brother in their pocket than give up their phones, even the most Libertarian among us. 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Sundancer

[Punching Bag]

3 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

^^^--Things that will never happen, or at least not happen on a scale large enough to create a problem. People would rather have Big Brother in their pocket than give up their phones, even the most Libertarian among us. 

 

I leave my phone at home a lot. Only reason I used to bring it was my boss lives in PA (he used to commute to northern VA every day) and I could not make long distance calls at work.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 minute ago, May Day 10 said:

I think we are in decent shape in wny.  Things were shut down on the 22nd.  We are + 2 weeks out and things are fairly under control as of now.  Not sure if we are going to experience a raging fire of cases such as parts of italy, new Orleans, nyc, etc... 

 

Still got a long way to go, but I think the fact that we share a state with nyc and Cuomo shut us down early in the progression is huge.  Plus not a huge centralized city proper population

 

I think Buffalo, Rochester etc. show the difference between locking down promptly and delaying.

 

That said, per the NYT article Buffalo is still steady on the "cases doubling every 4 days" line.  Need a few more days to tell if the curve has rounded out.
Deaths are still OK, meaning medical care still good and it hasn't swept through any nursing homes like a scythe yet.

 

Rochester curve has rounded out to a lower rate of "cases doubling every 6 days" which is great but probably not enough to avoid overloading hospitals eventually.

[Cripple Creek]

One guys perspective from the front.

 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2020/04/06/opinion-covid-19-like-nothing-we-have-seen-before-says-doctor/2949787001/

 

 

 

One bit of good I guess.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/himalayas-visible-for-first-time-in-30-years-as-pollution-levels-in-india-drop

Edited April 8, 2020 by Cripple Creek

[Punching Bag]

if you want some humor I read this comic every Tuesday (free online comic).

http://www.puckcomics.com/

 

One of the bonus (non-serial) pages is a bit risque covid humor.  Please do not edit URL and repost per mod direction.

Remove spaces; trying to prevent spiders from including it in searches.

https: //i.i bb . co / XZYHNcx / Phoebe.png

 

Oh for your information the writer/artist is a Hamilton, Ontario school teacher.

[Punching Bag]

 

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said:

One guys perspective from the front.

 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2020/04/06/opinion-covid-19-like-nothing-we-have-seen-before-says-doctor/2949787001/

 

 

 

One bit of good I guess.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/himalayas-visible-for-first-time-in-30-years-as-pollution-levels-in-india-drop

It’s uncanny how these accounts from medical personnel around the world have sounded the same since the first reports leaked out of China. 
 

 

[Punching Bag]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2020/04/04/donald-trump-cant-bully-nfl-starting-season-before-safe-coronavirus/2948895001/

Quote

 

“As long as we're still in a place where when a single individual tests positive for the virus that you have to quarantine every single person who was in contact with them in any shape, form or fashion, then I don't think you can begin to think about reopening a team sport," Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, told NFL.com’s Judy Battista on Thursday.

"Because we're going to have positive cases for a very long time."

 

 

[John in Jax]

9 hours ago, Cripple Creek said:

One guys perspective from the front.

 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2020/04/06/opinion-covid-19-like-nothing-we-have-seen-before-says-doctor/2949787001/

Quoted from the story above: 
“I ran a floor of COVID-19 positive patients with severe symptoms. Our team used the combo of hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin and it seemed to help! Of the patients that I treated for these four days who where acutely ill — all ages and health conditions — most (loosely defined and footnoted) seemed to improve and were able to be discharged home. I can say that I transferred no one to the ICU but I sent many people home.“

So yet ANOTHER testimonial for hydroxychloroquine! That’s good news. I’m glad that doctors are using it, and didn’t listen to idiotic talking heads on TV who were badmouthing it for days on end.

[plenzmd1]

11 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

I leave my phone at home a lot. Only reason I used to bring it was my boss lives in PA (he used to commute to northern VA every day) and I could not make long distance calls at work.

WTF is a long distance call? 

1 hour ago, John in Jax said:

Quoted from the story above: 
“I ran a floor of COVID-19 positive patients with severe symptoms. Our team used the combo of hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin and it seemed to help! Of the patients that I treated for these four days who where acutely ill — all ages and health conditions — most (loosely defined and footnoted) seemed to improve and were able to be discharged home. I can say that I transferred no one to the ICU but I sent many people home.“

So yet ANOTHER testimonial for hydroxychloroquine! That’s good news. I’m glad that doctors are using it, and didn’t listen to idiotic talking heads on TV who were badmouthing it for days on end.

 

[John in Jax]

2 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

WTF is a long distance call? 

 

LOL So not sure why some of y’all in here are going to great lengths to try and shoot down this drug (I have an idea though), but since I have been locked up at home, I have watched (& read online) a LOT of coverage about this matter, and the overwhelming “anecdotal” evidence is that it is helping WAY more people than hurting them. In fact, I haven’t seen ANY reports of it actually hurting somebody....of someone having a serious side effect. If you’re in a bad situation because you’ve contracted the virus, and the choice is between taking this drug to see if it helps you OR not taking it, the answer seems to be very clear. But yeah, don’t eat fish tank cleaner, and of course consult with you doctor before taking it.

[plenzmd1]

Just now, John in Jax said:

LOL So not sure why some of y’all in here are going to great lengths to try and shoot down this drug (I have an idea though), but since I have been locked up at home, I have watched (& read online) a LOT of coverage about this matter, and the overwhelming “anecdotal” evidence is that it is helping WAY more people than hurting them. In fact, I haven’t seen ANY reports of it actually hurting somebody....of someone having a serious side effect. If you’re in a bad situation because you’ve contracted the virus, and the choice is between taking this drug to see if it helps you OR not taking it, the answer seems to be very clear. But yeah, don’t eat fish tank cleaner, and of course consult with you doctor before taking it.

Because spreading false hope is exactly why we are in the situation we are in. 
 

and no disrespect, but I think I will take this guys opinion over yours, 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_A._Haseltine

 

and for the record, this dude is a regular on Fox News, don’t think his agenda is what you think it is. 

[Gray Beard]

hydroxychloroquine is used to prevent malaria, and has “quine” in it.   So does quinine water.  Quinine water was first used by the British as a way to prevent malaria.  Quinine water is also known as tonic water. It’s bitter and unpleasant to drink. Gin and tonic was invented as a way to make quinine easier to take.  Therefore, my wife and I are planning on making gin and tonic part of our daily routine. 

[plenzmd1]

12 minutes ago, Gray Beard said:

hydroxychloroquine is used to prevent malaria, and has “quine” in it.   So does quinine water.  Quinine water was first used by the British as a way to prevent malaria.  Quinine water is also known as tonic water. It’s bitter and unpleasant to drink. Gin and tonic was invented as a way to make quinine easier to take.  Therefore, my wife and I are planning on making gin and tonic part of our daily routine. 

have always said when i get sick i drink more cause alcohol kills germs!

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

There's some evidence that caretakers of infected people can protect their health by wearing masks, the WHO guidance said, but "there is currently no evidence that wearing a mask (whether medical or other types) by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/says-no-healthy-people-wear-184300796.html

 

I only posted in this thread because of it's possible contradictory nature 

 

[plenzmd1]

5 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

There's some evidence that caretakers of infected people can protect their health by wearing masks, the WHO guidance said, but "there is currently no evidence that wearing a mask (whether medical or other types) by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/says-no-healthy-people-wear-184300796.html

 

I only posted in this thread because of it's possible contradictory nature 

 

I thought the whole point of the masks was even though you think you are healthy, you may actually have the virus and the masks help from spreading it..that is why i have been wearing one.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

12 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

I thought the whole point of the masks was even though you think you are healthy, you may actually have the virus and the masks help from spreading it..that is why i have been wearing one.

 

ergo why I only put it in the "joke" thread.

 

Maybe a point that should have mentioned was You only need it in public and not in your home.  

In an emergency 

 

[K-9]

FEMA seizing supplies from hospitals? Here’s an LA Times article about it. Transparency would be nice. 
 

https://apple.news/AjoGnUisdRiu28Hv8TUlBDw

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

this topic is crazy to not mention people in politics so I'll make some self edits and use AIRED

 

Fact: Hydroxychloroquine has side effects, one of which can be fatal

According to Plowe, who has been studying the drug for decades, AIRED statements are misguided. “You can lose your life. That's pretty clear.

 

This is a drug that can cause serious side effects. The eye issues tend to be people who've taken it for a long time. But the really serious cardiac issues — the potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias — those can occur the first time you take the drug,” Plowe tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

 

“And it's not just older people who have heart issues, who are at risk. It can even occur in people with normal hearts, so that's a real concern.”

 

The most common side effects associated with hydroxychloroquine are headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, but cardiotoxicity — “medication-induced damage to the heart” — has been documented as a “rare but serious complication” of the drug. Z-packs, as AIRED, have also been tied to deadly heart complications, also in rare cases.

 

to see the story look up 

Abby Haglage

Yahoo Lifestyle  post date April 7, 2020, 8:30 PM EDT

Edited April 8, 2020 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

I asked Hap to address the validity of that ^ 

[John in Jax]

2 hours ago, plenzmd1 said:

Because spreading false hope is exactly why we are in the situation we are in. 
 

and no disrespect, but I think I will take this guys opinion over yours, 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_A._Haseltine

 

and for the record, this dude is a regular on Fox News, don’t think his agenda is what you think it is. 

Wow. IT’S NOT MY OPINION, and I NEVER said that it was!
 

I don’t have the time, and don’t want to scour the internet for the THOUSANDS of cases where this has helped people (and NO reported “side effect” deaths), then cut and paste the stories, and put them in here....the drug is helping people ALL OVER THE WORLD. A quick Google search will let ANYBODY see that.

Here’s an example of false hope, I guess:

https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Democratic-state-rep-explains-why-she-opted-for-unproven-COVID-19-treatment-not-hospital-569461601.html

Edited April 8, 2020 by John in Jax

[plenzmd1]

22 minutes ago, John in Jax said:

Wow. IT’S NOT MY OPINION, and I NEVER said that it was!
 

I don’t have the time, and don’t want to scour the internet for the THOUSANDS of cases where this has helped people (and NO reported “side effect” deaths), then cut and paste the stories, and put them in here....the drug is helping people ALL OVER THE WORLD. A quick Google search will let ANYBODY see that.

Here’s an example of false hope, I guess:

https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Democratic-state-rep-explains-why-she-opted-for-unproven-COVID-19-treatment-not-hospital-569461601.html

The danger John is people thinking this drug is a panacea and start to relax in their precautions. As Haseltime said in the interview, in every pandamic/epidemic, there will be instances of this so called "lazarus" effect. And that dude is as smart as they come.

 

I agree, if you are dying and your doctor sees this as best alternative, fire away. But we do not need broad policy decisions, or see public actions change,  based on some anecdotal evidence that it has helped in some cases. 

 

Trust me, prolly not a person in this country who does not hope it helps and is an effective treatment.

[BillsFan4]

Wisconsin yesterday:

 

 

 

 

Pictures like this all over the Internet.

Might want to start looking into what you need to do to be able to vote by mail (in November) in your state now. 

Edited April 8, 2020 by BillsFan4

[bbb]

Has anybody filled out the unemployment for self employed people who were wiped out by this in NYS?  I have a question before I do it.  

[Figster]

2 hours ago, plenzmd1 said:

I thought the whole point of the masks was even though you think you are healthy, you may actually have the virus and the masks help from spreading it..that is why i have been wearing one.

I think its very misleading to tell everyone the masks only help carriers from spreading. It sends mixed signals and is wrong in my humble opinion. You can't tell me a mask, any mask , doesn't prevent people from putting hands around their mouth or nose. You also can't tell me more filtration of the air doesn't give you more chance of catching smaller particles. Spittle/small droplets from a cough or sneeze travels. Where do you think this ends up when it lands on your lips? In your eyes?

 

I'm not sure If its the so called experts just trying to save face after telling everyone healthy folks need not wear a mask.

 

Use common sense... 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Figster

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

The United States on Tuesday reported more than 1,800 coronavirus-related fatalities, a new one-day high.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/07/coronavirus-latest-news/

 

a Guardian report has a higher number

[BillsFan4]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

FEMA seizing supplies from hospitals? Here’s an LA Times article about it. Transparency would be nice. 
 

https://apple.news/AjoGnUisdRiu28Hv8TUlBDw

Wtf is that? How are you going to tell States and local hospitals to acquire their own supplies and then seize them when they do?  ?‍♂️?‍♂️

[John in Jax]

1 hour ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

The United States on Tuesday reported more than 1,800 coronavirus-related fatalities, a new one-day high.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/07/coronavirus-latest-news/

 

a Guardian report has a higher number

And On the Other Hand: 

"A key forecasting model used by the White House has revised its prediction of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., now estimating a peak of 60,415 by early August.  The model created by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington had predicted a peak of 81,766 deaths in an update on Sunday.  Public health experts, including Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, have previously estimated that as many as 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die from the novel coronavirus."

 

So even though these numbers have been fluctuating WILDLY (Remember when they said that 2.2 million people might die [this was with no lockdowns]? Editing the latter to:  By the end of March, the White House was projecting 100,000 to 240,000 deaths as America's best-case scenario for the pandemic. That was WITH the lockdowns...so they were only off by 400% just 8 days ago). Obviously, these new numbers are GOOD news!

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/491715-key-coronavirus-model-revised-downward-predicts-60k-deaths-in-us-by-august

 

ETA: I'm constantly amazed at how many folks in this forum are posting up so many negative, depressing, "doom & gloom" stories, and then actually attacking and/or laughing at others (with Emoji use) for being positive and optimistic.  Just astounding....

 

ETA #2: I'm hearing/seeing/reading that ALL OVER THE WORLD, a LOT of people are being counted as a Covid-19 death, when the actual truth is that Covid-19 was NOT the real cause of their death. So of course, this also SKEWS the numbers. I think that we may never know the "real" numbers, especially since they keep saying that there are so many asymptomatic carriers out there. Re the latter: I don't think you can force people to get tested to see if they had the virus. And I'm pretty sure that a TON of people will pass on that test, if offered.

Edited April 8, 2020 by John in Jax

[plenzmd1]

13 minutes ago, John in Jax said:

And On the Other Hand: 

"A key forecasting model used by the White House has revised its prediction of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., now estimating a peak of 60,415 by early August.  The model created by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington had predicted a peak of 81,766 deaths in an update on Sunday.  Public health experts, including Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, have previously estimated that as many as 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die from the novel coronavirus."

 

So even though these numbers have been fluctuating WILDLY (Remember when they said that 2.2 million people might die? LOL), this is GOOD news!

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/491715-key-coronavirus-model-revised-downward-predicts-60k-deaths-in-us-by-august

Just saw Cuomo with positive news on hospitalizations...looks like all this crap we have been doing is starting to work...just like the great news above!!!!

 

Every piece of positive new is welcomed!

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Kiwis are apparently quite sensible birds:

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/new-zealand-isnt-just-flattening-the-curve-its-squashing-it/2020/04/07/6cab3a4a-7822-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab

 

"It has been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned."

....

"It took only 10 days for signs that the approach here — “elimination” rather than the “containment” goal of the United States and other Western countries — is working.

The number of new cases has fallen for two consecutive days, despite a huge increase in testing, with 54 confirmed or probable cases reported Tuesday. That means the number of people who have recovered, 65, exceeds the number of daily infections."

The reason that New Zealand jumped to a level 4 lockdown with only 102 cases? “We were hugely worried about what was happening in Italy and Spain,” said one of them, Stephen Tindall, founder of the Warehouse, New Zealand’s largest retailer. “If we didn’t shut down quickly enough, the pain was going to go on for a very long time,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s inevitable that we will have to shut down anyway, so we would rather it be sharp and short.”

 

We are doing the "pain going to go on for a very long time" in the US of A because we do not, even now, have a uniform lockdown.

 

 

 

 

[BillsFan4]

Article on contact tracing:

 

https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-policy-watch/is-contact-tracing-getting-enough-attention-in-u-s-coronavirus-response/