Death from coronavirus in the United States

[Cimorene]

Coronavirus Updates: First Death in U.S. Confirmed In Seattle Area

The death comes as unexplained new cases in Washington State, Oregon and California suggest local, person-to-person spread of the virus in the United States.

A person in King County, Washington, near Seattle, has become the first in the country to die after contracting the coronavirus.

 

[Not David]

Terrible.

 

[Isilwen]

Very scary!

I'm in the medical field as an EMT. I am at high risk of Contracting the virus and with my asthma, not sure I would survive.

I am seriously considering a new profession.

 

[Cimorene]

Very scary!

I'm in the medical field as an EMT. I am at high risk of Contracting the virus and with my asthma, not sure I would survive.

I am seriously considering a new profession.

Aw God bless you. That would be so stressful. You have a hard job already. One that is so important but hard on you I'm sure.

 

[Tone]

Trump just asked the news people to not incite panic.

 

[Phronema]

Very scary!

I'm in the medical field as an EMT. I am at high risk of Contracting the virus and with my asthma, not sure I would survive.

I am seriously considering a new profession.

Thank you for putting yourself in harms way so that others may live.

 

[sfs]

Trump just asked the news people to not incite panic.

I'd say the virus is a bit more of a problem at this point than the news media. Viruses don't really care what tone you adopt.

 

[Tone]

I'd say the virus is a bit more of a problem at this point than the news media. Viruses don't really care what tone you adopt.

We also don't want everyone going out and sporting masks...or do we?

 

[sfs]

We also don't want everyone going out and sporting masks...or do we?

Why not? Masks don't do anyone any harm and they can provide some protection (N95 respirators more so than surgical masks.)

 

[Desk trauma]

We also don't want everyone going out and sporting masks...or do we?

In areas where the infection is active, yes we do.

 

[Tone]

Why not? Masks don't do anyone any harm and they can provide some protection (N95 respirators more so than surgical masks.)

Well, for one, we don't have the supply...so I hear. Also, what kind of a tone would this set on society? I also hear that Chinese restaurants are suffering now already.

 

[Angeldove97]

What a shame

But we should be losing our marbles over the flu - not this.

 

[Cimorene]

Well, for one, we don't have the supply...so I hear. Also, what kind of a tone would this set on society? I also hear that Chinese restaurants are suffering now already.

Well the families of the thousands of ppl who died from the coronavirus in China are definitely suffering more.

 

[Cimorene]

What a shame

But we should be losing our marbles over the flu - not this.

There's a whole spectrum of appropriate responses in between being losing your marbles & being flippant about it.

 

[sfs]

Well, for one, we don't have the supply...so I hear.

Which kind of makes it a moot question, doesn't it? I have a couple of N95 dust masks in my shop, and I fully intend to wear one when I go out, once community transmission comes to my area.

Also, what kind of a tone would this set on society?

I don't see why it sets a bad tone any more than washing your hands or covering your mouth does.

I also hear that Chinese restaurants are suffering now already.

Well, that's just stupid -- avoiding Chinese restaurants doesn't protect you from this virus.

 

[sfs]

But we should be losing our marbles over the flu - not this.

This is a substantially larger threat than seasonal flu, since it appears to have a case fatality rate five to ten times higher and is entering a wholly susceptible population.

 

[Tone]

Which kind of makes it a moot question, doesn't it? I have a couple of N95 dust masks in my shop, and I fully intend to wear one when I go out, once community transmission comes to my area.

This is understandable. I guess I am speaking of society possibly overdoing it by mass mask wearing and shutting down schools and businesses, due to a distant threat. If it comes to town then, of course, we should take precautions.

I don't see why it sets a bad tone any more than washing your hands or covering your mouth does.

Well, masks are not discreet and they tend to strike a more urgent note upon groups of people. I guess they can also lend some comfort as a real/perceived layer of protection from this virus.

Well, that's just stupid -- avoiding Chinese restaurants doesn't protect you from this virus.

I agree and I have to do some research to see if Chinese restaurants are indeed being affected by this.

*A quick Google search does seem to confirm that Asian Restaurants are losing business due to this crisis. This is the kind of panic that I am concerned about.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

We also don't want everyone going out and sporting masks...or do we?

Why not?

 

[sfs]

This is understandable. I guess I am speaking of society possibly overdoing it by mass mask wearing and shutting down schools and businesses, due to a distant threat. If it comes to town then, of course, we should take precautions.

Quite. It's the sort of thing that should be decided by public health professionals, not by politicians. (Or rather, by politicians based on consultations with the public health people.)

I agree and I have to do some research to see if Chinese restaurants are indeed being affected by this.

Oh, it wouldn't surprise me if people were behaving this way. Humans are pretty irrational, especially when they're frightened. And this one is frightening -- at least I find it frightening, and I study infectious diseases for a living. It's not going to be apocalyptic, but the next year or so is likely to be pretty unpleasant.

 

[Tone]

Why not?

Well, from my experience, this kind of behavior tends to set people on edge and can create divisiveness.