US may become virus epicentre

[Occams Barber]

SOURCE: Vox 24/3

US may become world epicentre for CV19
WHO says a third of the newest coronavirus cases worldwide are in the US

In the past day, about a third of all new confirmed coronavirus cases were in the United States, according to the World Health Organization.

WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris told reporters Tuesday morning that 85% of the previous day’s new confirmed cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, were in the United States or Europe. And 40 percent of those cases were reported in the US.

Even as President Donald Trump has begun publicly considering relaxing social distancing guidelines and restarting the economy, Harris warned that the “very large acceleration” in new cases could make the United States the new epicentre for the global pandemic.

The US “has a very large outbreak and an outbreak that is increasing in intensity,” she said, according to a Reuters report.

More...

OB

 

[Zoii]

Yes its an odd sort of leadership that:

• During a pandemic potential cases are tested at a rate well below other OECD nations
• Forces the payment of those tests which discourages those who can't afford the expense.
• Suggests that this is no worse than other flu outbreaks and these restrictions are nonsense
• Indicates that restrictions will be relaxed in a few weeks.

Its a very odd leadership indeed.

 

[Aussie Pete]

Yes its an odd sort of leadership that:

• During a pandemic potential cases at a rate well below other OECD nations
• Forces the payment of those tests which discourages those who can't afford the expense.
• Suggests that this is no worse than other flu outbreaks and these restrictions are nonsense
• Indicates that restrictions will be relaxed in a few weeks.

Its a very odd leadership indeed.

At least it gives something else for people to panic about. A few months ago it was climate change. There is a bonus, the economy is imploding. Maybe people will take God seriously now. Nothing else seems to be effective.

 

[MehGuy]

The more cases the more likely a deadlier mutation could form. We might have to rebrand it as the *American* virus.

 

[PloverWing]

Fortunately, our state governors are making wise and cautious decisions -- my state is currently requiring everyone to stay at home except for employees and customers of essential businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies. Most elementary schools, high schools, and colleges/universities have moved to online instruction. The CDC is giving us good, scientifically sound instructions. And even our normally-divided Congress seems to be working out some kind of funding legislation to address the epidemic.

Our president isn't really a leader right now, regarding the epidemic; he's just a guy who likes to talk. Most of us are looking to other branches of government for leadership at the moment.

 

[Occams Barber]

The more cases the more likely a deadlier mutation could form. We might have to rebrand it as the *American* virus.

Truer than you think.

A couple of days ago I posted a report from an interview with the Australian Prime Minister. These quotes are relevant:

"The country which has actually been responsible for a large amount of these (Australian coronavirus cases) has actually been the United States.”

"A failure to conduct adequate numbers of coronavirus tests meant the United States appeared to have many more infections in recent weeks than had been announced."​

But we forgive you

OB
*********************************************************************************

Most Australian coronavirus cases coming from USA: PM

The United States is the country of origin for most of the coronavirus cases in Australia, the Prime Minister has said.

Speaking on 2GB this morning, Scott Morrison said now was the right time to close the nation's borders.

“We were able to slow the virus' start and spread in Australia through these early periods," Mr Morrison said.

"The country which has actually been responsible for a large amount of these (coronavirus cases) has actually been the United States.”

Eighty per cent of coronavirus cases in Australia are people who have come in from overseas or have caught the disease directly from them.

A failure to conduct adequate numbers of coronavirus tests meant the United States appeared to have many more infections in recent weeks than had been announced.

 

[Silmarien]

Fortunately, our state governors are making wise and cautious decisions -- my state is currently requiring everyone to stay at home except for employees and customers of essential businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies. Most elementary schools, high schools, and colleges/universities have moved to online instruction. The CDC is giving us good, scientifically sound instructions. And even our normally-divided Congress seems to be working out some kind of funding legislation to address the epidemic.

Our president isn't really a leader right now, regarding the epidemic; he's just a guy who likes to talk. Most of us are looking to other branches of government for leadership at the moment.

My major concern is if he starts fighting with the states and denying them federal aid if they don't cede to his ridiculous demands. Granted, he's been so reluctant to do anything constructive at all, we might not even notice.

I'm also somewhat concerned about getting a hold over the situation in the states that are taking this seriously, and then the others spiraling out of control and exporting the problem back to us again.

 

[Zoii]

At least it gives something else for people to panic about. A few months ago it was climate change. There is a bonus, the economy is imploding. Maybe people will take God seriously now. Nothing else seems to be effective.

What a horrible response. Really this is a serious issue and your callous sarcasm is so inappropriate.

 

[dzheremi]

I'm in the capital city of California (Sacramento), and I was outside today for the second time in as many weeks (so, yes, I am taking this whole 'shelter at home' thing very seriously) and managed to get a fever from being in a grocery store for maybe an hour total. I tried my best to keep 6' of distance between me and others (e.g., if I approached an isle and saw that there were too many people, I went to a different isle until the crowd thinned out), but it was sort of pointless because before I could backpedal fast enough people would barge into that 6' of space to get closer to the item they wanted. Many people yammered away on their phones quite loudly and very few wore protective face masks (mostly just elderly people; I only saw one other person who was probably around my age -- I'm in my 30s -- who was wearing a mask). It was incredibly discouraging. Needless to say I won't be going outside of my apartment complex for a very long time, if I can help it.

If we do become an epicenter of the pandemic, I would not be in the least bit surprised. And when/if that happens, I fully expect President Trump to downplay it and whine and/or boast. "Making America Great" s a source of a horrible, deadly disease is not a good thing, Mr. President.

 

[Occams Barber]

I'm in the capital city of California (Sacramento), and I was outside today for the second time in as many weeks (so, yes, I am taking this whole 'shelter at home' thing very seriously) and managed to get a fever from being in a grocery store for maybe an hour total. I tried my best to keep 6' of distance between me and others (e.g., if I approached an isle and saw that there were too many people, I went to a different isle until the crowd thinned out), but it was sort of pointless because before I could backpedal fast enough people would barge into that 6' of space to get closer to the item they wanted. Many people yammered away on their phones quite loudly and very few wore protective face masks (mostly just elderly people; I only saw one other person who was probably around my age -- I'm in my 30s -- who was wearing a mask). It was incredibly discouraging. Needless to say I won't be going outside of my apartment complex for a very long time, if I can help it.

If we do become an epicenter of the pandemic, I would not be in the least bit surprised. And when/if that happens, I fully expect President Trump to downplay it and whine and/or boast. "Making America Great" s a source of a horrible, deadly disease is not a good thing, Mr. President.

The good news is that, at your age, any infection isn't likely to be serious unless you have underlying health problems. It's the grumpy old men like me and @Aussie Pete who are more likely to shuffle off.

OB

 

[dzheremi]

Thank you for that, OB. If I make it, I'll be 38 this year, so I may not have very long before I am consigned by society into the 'grumpy old(er) man' category myself, but I'm going to try my best to enjoy it while it lasts, cold and flu permitting.

 

[Aussie Pete]

The good news is that, at your age, any infection isn't likely to be serious unless you have underlying health problems. It's the grumpy old men like me and @Aussie Pete who are more likely to shuffle off.

OB

Not so much of the old......

 

[Aussie Pete]

I'm in the capital city of California (Sacramento), and I was outside today for the second time in as many weeks (so, yes, I am taking this whole 'shelter at home' thing very seriously) and managed to get a fever from being in a grocery store for maybe an hour total. I tried my best to keep 6' of distance between me and others (e.g., if I approached an isle and saw that there were too many people, I went to a different isle until the crowd thinned out), but it was sort of pointless because before I could backpedal fast enough people would barge into that 6' of space to get closer to the item they wanted. Many people yammered away on their phones quite loudly and very few wore protective face masks (mostly just elderly people; I only saw one other person who was probably around my age -- I'm in my 30s -- who was wearing a mask). It was incredibly discouraging. Needless to say I won't be going outside of my apartment complex for a very long time, if I can help it.

If we do become an epicenter of the pandemic, I would not be in the least bit surprised. And when/if that happens, I fully expect President Trump to downplay it and whine and/or boast. "Making America Great" s a source of a horrible, deadly disease is not a good thing, Mr. President.

Masks are pretty useless. You need something special to keep out a virus. About the only advantage of most masks is that it may keep your hands off your face.

You can't legislate for stupidity. Australia's Bondi beach had to be closed completely because people ignored the distance rule. Then the NSW government lets 100 sick people off a cruise ship. Go figure that one.

People are finding out just how hopeless and fragile the world system is. Maybe some will turn to Lord Jesus in this crisis. We can only hope.

 

[Occams Barber]

Not so much of the old......

OK -I agree I'm older - but you win on the Grumpy.

OB

 

[Zoii]

I'm in the capital city of California (Sacramento), and I was outside today for the second time in as many weeks (so, yes, I am taking this whole 'shelter at home' thing very seriously) and managed to get a fever from being in a grocery store for maybe an hour total. I tried my best to keep 6' of distance between me and others (e.g., if I approached an isle and saw that there were too many people, I went to a different isle until the crowd thinned out), but it was sort of pointless because before I could backpedal fast enough people would barge into that 6' of space to get closer to the item they wanted. Many people yammered away on their phones quite loudly and very few wore protective face masks (mostly just elderly people; I only saw one other person who was probably around my age -- I'm in my 30s -- who was wearing a mask). It was incredibly discouraging. Needless to say I won't be going outside of my apartment complex for a very long time, if I can help it.

If we do become an epicenter of the pandemic, I would not be in the least bit surprised. And when/if that happens, I fully expect President Trump to downplay it and whine and/or boast. "Making America Great" s a source of a horrible, deadly disease is not a good thing, Mr. President.

Unlike a previous post, I support your use of a mask. The previous poster is incorrect and they are NOT useless.

Two types to consider.
The Surgical mask: Covid 19 is NOT an airborne disease like TB or varicella. It is spread by droplet infection; ie when someone coughs or sneezes they send a spray of droplets that can be directly inhaled or land on a surface. The organism is viable for around 72 hours on a surface. So touch the surface then your face and suddenly the virus is transmitted. Surgical masks worn by the infected, effectively reduce the droplet spray.

They also provide some droplet protection.

N95 mask: These are worn by hospital staff treating confirmed cases. They have an effective filter removing 95% of particles that include viruses.

The efficacy lies in donning and duffing the masks correctly and ensure they fit correctly and using hand hygiene in between. Therese some good youtubes on the topic.

 

[solid_core]

You do not need to wait what the WHO says, there are stats online:

Coronavirus Update (Live): 423,882 Cases and 18,926 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Outbreak - Worldometer

The USA cases are really growing simiarly to Italy. But the USA has much more inhabitants.

 

[Cimorene]

The more cases the more likely a deadlier mutation could form. We might have to rebrand it as the *American* virus.

It should be named in honour of Trump.

#TrumpVirus was trending earlier but mainly bc of his incompetent leadership but what you wrote is another possible reason.

 

[MehGuy]

It should be named in honour of Trump.

#TrumpVirus was trending earlier but mainly bc of his incompetent leadership but what you wrote is another possible reason.

Alright. "I am coming down with the case of the Trumps" sounds good, lol.

 

[Aussie Pete]

OK -I agree I'm older - but you win on the Grumpy.

OB

 

[Andrewn]

Latest count is 784 deaths of Coronavirus in the US.

CDC estimates* that, from October 1, 2019, through March 14, 2020, there have been 23,000 – 59,000 flu deaths.

Preliminary In-Season 2019-2020 Flu Burden Estimates