Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 (nCoV-2019)

[W. K. Lis]

...

Officials and experts believe the total number of infections here is significantly higher, with testing largely limited to those arriving for hospital care. The country’s large, elderly population, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, is also seen as factor for the high number of fatalities.

Coronavirus death toll in Italy surpasses 3,400, overtaking China’s - National | Globalnews.ca

However, Italy has far fewer confirmed cases - 41,035 as of Thursday against 80,907 in China.

globalnews.ca

Seniors would be most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.

From link.

From link.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Though the indoor movie theatres are closed, are the drive-in's still open? See link.

 

[gabe]

Though the indoor movie theatres are closed, are the drive-in's still open? See link.

View attachment 237078

Mustang has delayed opening until further notice.

 

[Johnny Au]

Seniors would be most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.

From link.

From link.

No surprise that Florida and Arizona have many counties with large populations of the geriatric. It's no coincidence that baseball spring training facilities are located in those two states. After all, the median age of a baseball fan in the United States is 59.

Speaking of baseball, there's not going to be baseball for a few months.

 

[PinkLucy]

MLB is following the CDC recommendations. They have sent out emails about it.

 

[Admiral Beez]

The lack of TV sports is going to really hurt the traditional networks. What else do they have, news?

 

[Johnny Au]

The lack of TV sports is going to really hurt the traditional networks. What else do they have, news?

There's no slow news days with the pandemic.

 

[jje1000]

Coronavirus death toll in Italy surpasses 3,400, overtaking China’s

Posted March 19, 2020 1:32 pm

Italy’s death toll from coronavirus overtook that of China, where the virus first emerged, on Thursday as hospitals said they were being overwhelmed and the government prepared to prolong emergency lockdown measures.

A total 427 deaths were registered in Italy over the past 24 hours, bringing the total nationwide tally to 3,405 since the outbreak surfaced on Feb. 21. China has recorded 3,245 deaths since early January.

However, Italy has far fewer confirmed cases – 41,035 as of Thursday against 80,907 in China.

Officials and experts believe the total number of infections here is significantly higher, with testing largely limited to those arriving for hospital care. The country’s large, elderly population, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, is also seen as factor for the high number of fatalities.

Coronavirus death toll in Italy surpasses 3,400, overtaking China’s - National | Globalnews.ca

However, Italy has far fewer confirmed cases - 41,035 as of Thursday against 80,907 in China.

globalnews.ca

A problematic issue- is it possible to trust China's numbers, given the CCP's insistence at dissociating itself from the epidemic (along with its suppression of independent Chinese reporters/scientists during the Wuhan quarantine)?

A regional health official in Wuhan, centre of the outbreak, demanded the destruction of the lab samples that established the cause of unexplained viral pneumonia on January 1. China did not acknowledge there was human-to-human transmission until more than three weeks later.

Chinese scientists destroyed proof of virus in December

Chinese laboratories identified a mystery virus as a highly infectious new pathogen by late December last year, but they were ordered to stop tests, destroy samples and suppress the news, a Chinese

www.thetimes.co.uk

This is a dilemma- reporting the CCP-announced numbers without question basically gives them legitimacy in their global PR fight (no doubt they are closely following US numbers), but there is no independently-verified count otherwise. More importantly, have the CCP's numbers been used as a consideration for public responses in some countries?

 

[lenaitch]

This article link is somewhat Off Topic. But bare with me. We've been discussing the situation in the U.S. and recently, of course, here as well, noting how deficiencies in healthcare coverage or employment standards are among those things that may contribute to bad personal health outcomes, but also the spread of pandemic.

As such, CBC reporter Lauren Pelley re-tweeted a story about a fellow reporter discussing have her baby right now and that led me read said woman's article on the state of maternal healthcare in Texas.

One of the most depressing reads ever................1/3 of women of reproductive age have no health insurance in Texas.............what could go wrong..........?

The extraordinary danger of being pregnant and uninsured in Texas

The state’s system for helping the uninsured thwarts women at every turn and encourages subpar care.

www.vox.com

This is the reporter's personal story:

What it’s like to have a baby during the coronavirus pandemic

I got an induction in the hope of avoiding a Covid-19 health care catastrophe.

www.vox.com

And yet they consistently fail to have a national consensus on improved healthcare access. Even efforts like the ACA and Medicaid changes consistently remain playthings presidential and gubernatorial administration cycles. Who can afford $30K for coverage other than the wealthy.

There is no constitutional basis for a nationally-consistent single-payer healthcare in Canada, yet we managed to both do it and keep it. The only perennial contention is federal-provincial funding, which is consistent with just about every other aspect of government funding. Then again, to Americans, we're just a bunch of socialists rule by a foreign Queen.

 

[Northern Light]

Apparently, at least 2 U.S. senators, after receiving a briefing on the Corona Virus, dumped their stock holdings before the full crash of the market.......

Sen. Loeffler Dumped Millions in Stock After Coronavirus Briefing

The Georgia Republican is the second senator who has gotten rid of their holdings right as the stock market went bad.

twitter.com

 

[jje1000]

Feinstein, too it seems.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1240827599057760256

And yet they're all still in Washington bickering over how much money to give to Americans.

Get it done before America takes matters into its own hands and burns down the Capitol!

 

[Videodrome]

Also Jim Inhofe. I say anyone who did this resigns and gets charged.

EDIT:

Add Ron Johnson to the list.

 

[tiffer24]

No surprise.

#BREAKING: @AirCanada temporarily lays off over 5,000 employees due to #COVID-19 outbreak.

 

[gabe]

Bit of good news here, the pressure brought by employees like this one, and people like you amplifying their concerns has had an impact.

2 hours ago, Toyota announced it will shutter its North American plants for at least 2 weeks; and give workers full-pay during that time.

Toyota closes plants for two weeks as auto sales expected to drop 80 per cent

In a matter of hours, a major London-area industry flip-flopped on its call to remain open amid the coronavirus pandemic, deciding instead on a two-week shutdown an…

lfpress.com

Now people must social media shame the other non essential companies and businesses that are forcing workers to work during a pandemic like Value Village.

 

[AlbertC]

Head of the Saskatchewan Medical Association tests positive for novel coronavirus, blames curling bonspiel

The head of the Saskatchewan Medical Association has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after participating in a curling event in Edmonton last week that was attended by dozens of doctors from across Western Canada.

Dr. Allan Woo says he believes he contracted the coronavirus at a curling bonspiel held March 11 to 14.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit home for me and my family. I was tested on Tuesday and the results came back positive on Wednesday night. I am at home and continue to monitor the situation closely,” Dr. Woo said in a statement Thursday.

He said the bonspiel is an annual event that usually attracts 50-60 physicians from Western Canada.

According to the statement, Dr. Woo first noticed symptoms Tuesday morning and has since been isolating himself. He also calls for vigilance among health-care workers about the fast-moving pandemic, which poses risks to all.

“As I write this, I am reminded that physicians are not invincible. The risks of this pandemic are far too real. I hope my personal situation serves as a signal for all health-care workers, and others, to be vigilant about their health.”

Thursday, Saskatchewan announced four new cases of COVID-19, including Dr. Woo. The province now has 20 reported cases.

Head of the Saskatchewan Medical Association tests positive for novel coronavirus, blames curling bonspiel

Thursday, Saskatchewan announced four new cases of COVID-19, including Dr. Woo. The province now has 20 reported cases

www.theglobeandmail.com