Wuhan virus (coronavirus) arrives in the USA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The ones that truly tick me off are the ones who are taking advantage of the situation - either trying to spin this politically or trying to get a free vacay out of it. No, it is not in the best interests of our country to completely shut down our economy over what, to most people, will be no more serous than a common cold. It also makes zero sense to make people too afraid to report their symptoms because they don't want their friends/families to be singled out for quarantines.

Minimizing the situation isn't helping anyone either. I don't know why you are assuming that people who think that self-quarantine is a good idea are looking for free vacations. In fact, many people on this site are wondering if they can get permission to telework even if they have kids at home...the opposite of not wanting to do their jobs!

Frankly, I think downplaying the risk is the biggest concern in the US right now. Advising people to take precautions like avoiding unnecessarily going to crowded places is sensible...because the economic impact of that is far lower than the alternative if there is an outbreak leading to much more extreme quarantine measures (like what Italy is currently experiencing). Advising employers to allow telework as much as possible would also be a good, relatively mild intervention. The likelihood is high, at this point, that a lot of people will contract the virus (I've seen 30-70% in the next year). Luckily, most people will be just fine, but a much larger fraction than from the seasonal flu will have severe symptoms. If we can keep the spread at a manageable rate, then our health systems will be able to treat those people. If we pretend like nothing's happening and the rest of the world is, apparently, just stupid and fear-mongering...well, then we can't help all of those people and the economic impact will be far worse than people cautiously deciding not to go to the movies and to Disney World for a few weeks.

Most major tech conferences for the next few months in teh Bay Area have been cancelled. Those conferences are planned over-a-year ahead of time. Companies are going to lose a lot of money by cancelling these conferences, but they've done the risk analysis and decided it was better than risking an outbreak at one of their conferences. If you don't trust foreign governments to understand economic risk, do you trust Facebook? Intel? Workday? (https://www.barrons.com/articles/coronavirus-is-forcing-companies-to-cancel-conferences-51583147701)

30 to 70%? That's quite a range. That should tell you something right there.

Yeah, it tells me there are a lot of unknowns right now...which means that it's irresponsible to dismiss the situation as NBD. FWIW, I think the details of the virus itself are currently much better understood than the likely responses, which is also contributing to such a broad range.

It tells me that they know nothing at all and panic is just stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bit over a month ago, I suggested we start building hospitals in 10 days like the Chinese, and people here called me crazy. Washington state is now purchasing a motel and starting to construct modular facilities.

I don't remember that post but did you have any ideas for where to build a hospital in 10 days? Or just "somewhere in the US"? Did you specify Seattle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Italy exports cases to two more countries--Portugal and Andorra, both with their first cases. This brings export countries to about 33.

Moscow also reporting its first case--Russia has not reported any new cases beyond their original 2 weeks ago. No details, but could also be related to Italy.

India also was stuck at three cases from a while ago. It now has two cases, one imported from Italy and another from the UAE. Spread to India could be a big deal considering all the back office it supplies for companies everywhere.

Moscow case also a traveler from Italy.

Jordan and Senegal also report their first cases, both Italy related.

This should make around 37 countries where the virus has been exported from Italy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Italy exports cases to two more countries--Portugal and Andorra, both with their first cases. This brings export countries to about 33.

Moscow also reporting its first case--Russia has not reported any new cases beyond their original 2 weeks ago. No details, but could also be related to Italy.

India also was stuck at three cases from a while ago. It now has two cases, one imported from Italy and another from the UAE. Spread to India could be a big deal considering all the back office it supplies for companies everywhere.

Moscow case also a traveler from Italy.

Jordan and Senegal also report their first cases, both Italy related.

This should make around 37 countries where the virus has been exported from Italy.

Maybe places should be banning flights from Italy. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The ones that truly tick me off are the ones who are taking advantage of the situation - either trying to spin this politically or trying to get a free vacay out of it. No, it is not in the best interests of our country to completely shut down our economy over what, to most people, will be no more serous than a common cold. It also makes zero sense to make people too afraid to report their symptoms because they don't want their friends/families to be singled out for quarantines.

Minimizing the situation isn't helping anyone either. I don't know why you are assuming that people who think that self-quarantine is a good idea are looking for free vacations. In fact, many people on this site are wondering if they can get permission to telework even if they have kids at home...the opposite of not wanting to do their jobs!

Frankly, I think downplaying the risk is the biggest concern in the US right now. Advising people to take precautions like avoiding unnecessarily going to crowded places is sensible...because the economic impact of that is far lower than the alternative if there is an outbreak leading to much more extreme quarantine measures (like what Italy is currently experiencing). Advising employers to allow telework as much as possible would also be a good, relatively mild intervention. The likelihood is high, at this point, that a lot of people will contract the virus (I've seen 30-70% in the next year). Luckily, most people will be just fine, but a much larger fraction than from the seasonal flu will have severe symptoms. If we can keep the spread at a manageable rate, then our health systems will be able to treat those people. If we pretend like nothing's happening and the rest of the world is, apparently, just stupid and fear-mongering...well, then we can't help all of those people and the economic impact will be far worse than people cautiously deciding not to go to the movies and to Disney World for a few weeks.

Most major tech conferences for the next few months in teh Bay Area have been cancelled. Those conferences are planned over-a-year ahead of time. Companies are going to lose a lot of money by cancelling these conferences, but they've done the risk analysis and decided it was better than risking an outbreak at one of their conferences. If you don't trust foreign governments to understand economic risk, do you trust Facebook? Intel? Workday? (https://www.barrons.com/articles/coronavirus-is-forcing-companies-to-cancel-conferences-51583147701)

30 to 70%? That's quite a range. That should tell you something right there.

Yeah, it tells me there are a lot of unknowns right now...which means that it's irresponsible to dismiss the situation as NBD. FWIW, I think the details of the virus itself are currently much better understood than the likely responses, which is also contributing to such a broad range.

It tells me that they know nothing at all and panic is just stupid.

I don't know how "encouraging telework" = "panic". What is stupid is refusing to learn from what's happening around you and failing to remember that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Not surprising, given how reactive we Americans tend to be when prevention poses the slightest inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three new deaths in Washington state. The Street’s not gonna like that.

Probably in the nursing home.

I saw it reported yesterday that there were 50 more people associated with the LTC who have respiratory symptoms including some with pneumonia. They are expecting more positive results.

I suppose that someone from the outside must have brought the virus into the facility weeks ago and it has had time to spread among the residents. I feel so bad for them and their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bit over a month ago, I suggested we start building hospitals in 10 days like the Chinese, and people here called me crazy. Washington state is now purchasing a motel and starting to construct modular facilities.

https://mynorthwest.com/1744406/king-county-motel-coronavirus-patients/amp/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The ones that truly tick me off are the ones who are taking advantage of the situation - either trying to spin this politically or trying to get a free vacay out of it. No, it is not in the best interests of our country to completely shut down our economy over what, to most people, will be no more serous than a common cold. It also makes zero sense to make people too afraid to report their symptoms because they don't want their friends/families to be singled out for quarantines.

Minimizing the situation isn't helping anyone either. I don't know why you are assuming that people who think that self-quarantine is a good idea are looking for free vacations. In fact, many people on this site are wondering if they can get permission to telework even if they have kids at home...the opposite of not wanting to do their jobs!

Frankly, I think downplaying the risk is the biggest concern in the US right now. Advising people to take precautions like avoiding unnecessarily going to crowded places is sensible...because the economic impact of that is far lower than the alternative if there is an outbreak leading to much more extreme quarantine measures (like what Italy is currently experiencing). Advising employers to allow telework as much as possible would also be a good, relatively mild intervention. The likelihood is high, at this point, that a lot of people will contract the virus (I've seen 30-70% in the next year). Luckily, most people will be just fine, but a much larger fraction than from the seasonal flu will have severe symptoms. If we can keep the spread at a manageable rate, then our health systems will be able to treat those people. If we pretend like nothing's happening and the rest of the world is, apparently, just stupid and fear-mongering...well, then we can't help all of those people and the economic impact will be far worse than people cautiously deciding not to go to the movies and to Disney World for a few weeks.

Most major tech conferences for the next few months in teh Bay Area have been cancelled. Those conferences are planned over-a-year ahead of time. Companies are going to lose a lot of money by cancelling these conferences, but they've done the risk analysis and decided it was better than risking an outbreak at one of their conferences. If you don't trust foreign governments to understand economic risk, do you trust Facebook? Intel? Workday? (https://www.barrons.com/articles/coronavirus-is-forcing-companies-to-cancel-conferences-51583147701)

30 to 70%? That's quite a range. That should tell you something right there.

Yeah, it tells me there are a lot of unknowns right now...which means that it's irresponsible to dismiss the situation as NBD. FWIW, I think the details of the virus itself are currently much better understood than the likely responses, which is also contributing to such a broad range.

It tells me that they know nothing at all and panic is just stupid.

I don't know how "encouraging telework" = "panic". What is stupid is refusing to learn from what's happening around you and failing to remember that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Not surprising, given how reactive we Americans tend to be when prevention poses the slightest inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

SIX people dead in WA

https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-02-20-intl-hnk/h_fb0376fccb2640aaf19c2998f445de9c?utm_content=2020-03-02T20%3A22%3A32&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNNi&fbclid=IwAR0zGqHoA5QvQeLgJlU5uvc4kW08RT-aFf38p4-CNXJS3omgnkbhmlxFrng&fbclid=IwAR00CgHJAzn6e6kAo0p5lQvsMXoS9YNNpqQXxP0ZNpgASshUZ1k7Hc0-Vu0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is the mortality rate so much higher in Wuhan?

Um, it's CHINA!

I think when the after-action report is completed it's going to show that Wuhan's health care system was simply overwhelmed. Chinese medical care can be crowded on a normal day but the massive turnout at the early stages in their hospitals simply overpowered their ability to give proper care.

In other provinces, they had some lead time and were able to set up procedures and do things like clear the wards of some people who could go home or shouldn't be around a virus. I think these few extra days gave them time to get their plans in order and prepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SIX people dead in WA

https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-02-20-intl-hnk/h_fb0376fccb2640aaf19c2998f445de9c?utm_content=2020-03-02T20%3A22%3A32&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNNi&fbclid=IwAR0zGqHoA5QvQeLgJlU5uvc4kW08RT-aFf38p4-CNXJS3omgnkbhmlxFrng&fbclid=IwAR00CgHJAzn6e6kAo0p5lQvsMXoS9YNNpqQXxP0ZNpgASshUZ1k7Hc0-Vu0

The Governor should call a state of emergency. Wow!

[Anonymous]

Have they closed Schools in WA or FL? That's my main concern currently.

[Anonymous]

Global total of cases now exceeds 90,000. Cases outside of China now exceed 10,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SIX people dead in WA

https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-02-20-intl-hnk/h_fb0376fccb2640aaf19c2998f445de9c?utm_content=2020-03-02T20%3A22%3A32&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNNi&fbclid=IwAR0zGqHoA5QvQeLgJlU5uvc4kW08RT-aFf38p4-CNXJS3omgnkbhmlxFrng&fbclid=IwAR00CgHJAzn6e6kAo0p5lQvsMXoS9YNNpqQXxP0ZNpgASshUZ1k7Hc0-Vu0

The Governor should call a state of emergency. Wow!

It sounds as though the deaths have been mostly, if not entirely, related to that one LTC facility.

[Anonymous]

For those keeping track, here is the breakdown of US cases:

Arizona – 1
California – 18
Florida — 2
Illinois — 4
Massachusetts —1
New York — 1
Oregon — 3
Rhode Island — 2
Washington state — 18 (includes 6 fatalities)
Wisconsin — 1
New Hampshire — 1

Here is the breakdown for our northern neighbor:

18 cases in Ontario
8 cases in British Columbia
1 case in Quebec