The COVID-2019 Thread

[Luigi]

^ Now that's some sheeeeet.

[Dragonfly]

#fakenews

Trump can't get the coronavirus, he just can't

that's a fact!!!

[Troy]

China Announces Coronavirus Epidemic ‘Passed Its Peak’ as It Sends Leftover Medical Supplies to Italy

That’s some good news.

or fake news ?

I heard the same from my Italian colleagues and they said it included 1000 mechanical respirator units, which are urgently needed. There is also an Italian company that makes them and they have increased production dramatically to try and keep up with the demand

[PlanK]

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video...y6C.mp4?tag=10

[misskit]

^ Got a giggle from that.

[Dragonfly]

it's 1am in Thailand, you people should be in bed

[Troy]

Absolute morons, every one should be wearing a mask.

In fact, it should be compulsory at all airports and public transport to wear masks. A % of all the people are likely to have it without knowing, so it's everyone's social responsibility to support the health services and slow the spread down.

Despite the complete lack of supply where I am the wife has managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat. From Nokhon Nowhere, she has phoned around her circle of Asian friends and a plastic bag containing about 20-30 face masks has appeared in my letterbox. She has told me I must wear them at Bangkok airport and especially in the queue to immigration and when checking in for the domestic flight. Once I am out of Udon I can forget about them until the return trip.

So Betty, what's the etiquette for wearing these masks in public? I guess I pop to the loo, wash my hands and don the mask. I will have to remove it for the camera at immigration. Do I need to dispose at that point and put on a new one after? Same procedure if I have a coffee or a bite to eat? How many will I need to get through the 4 hour wait for my domestic flight? Should I wear one for the international flight? What about the Domestic flight?

I'm just curious how many people go through in a day and how many I need for this journey....

[NamPikToot]

^ best wishes Troy its a crap shot unfortunately. Mrs has be selling on in bulk whilst she got supplies (no she didn't price gouge and she only bought for friends coz she had a supply) but the supply has dried and she kept a load back for the family. I am skeptical about the absolute benefit given a) you can breath through them and b) most benefit is under mined by all the other parts of your body exposed and a contact/contaminant risk and the sheer amount of times you unwittingly touch, rub or scratch yourself. still do what you can.

[David48atTD]

Europe got hammered last night, down 10 - 12%

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Across the World the markets continue to dive. Russia has major problems due to it's reliance on the oil price.

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The Dow Jones down within a whisker of 10% ... it's largest one day fall since the GFC

Midday optimism with that spike, but fell away towards the close with heavy selling (volume) towards the close.

Plus, it closed on it's lows which is usually not a good sign for the next day trading.

World Markets Stock Indices Heat Map

[David48atTD]

How did coronavirus start?

The first case of coronavirus was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan on December 12, 2019.
The virus is first thought to have originated from the city's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.

How do you catch coronavirus?

Coronavirus is thought to be spread by small drops of moisture we release when we sneeze or cough.
The moisture has to get into your body to make you sick, which means you can catch coronavirus if those droplets get into your eyes, nose or mouth.

How do I know if I have coronavirus?

The most common symptoms of coronavirus are fever, sore throat, dry cough and fatigue. Other symptoms can also include headaches, nasal congestion or a runny nose.
Diarrhea and nausea have also been reported as symptoms but they are less common.

How is coronavirus tested?

Coronavirus is either tested through a blood test, a swab test inside your nose or the back of your throat, or a sputum test (which tests a mix of saliva and mucus).

How long can coronavirus survive on a surface?

A study of previous coronaviruses found human coronaviruses could theoretically last on surfaces at room temperature for up to nine days.

That length of time could depend on:

• The type of surface, because viruses survive on shiny, hard surfaces longer than soft ones;
• Whether it is exposed to sunlight, because UV radiation kills viruses; and
• Temperature and humidity, because viruses last longer at lower temperatures and lower humidity.

How can I prevent myself getting coronavirus?

The best way to avoid catching coronavirus from touching a contaminated surface is to wash your hands properly and avoid touching your face.

Who is most at risk of catching coronavirus?

People over 65 are at higher risk of more severe symptoms, as are those with pre-existing conditions like heart disease or asthma.
Unlike during the influenza outbreak in 2009, pregnant women do not seem to be at greater risk of contracting coronavirus.

Is coronavirus worse than the flu?

Many people diagnosed with the coronavirus will feel like they have the flu.
The main difference between COVID-19 and the flu is that there is a lack of immunity in the community for the new coronavirus because there is no vaccine.

Another difference is that the coronavirus appears to take about six to seven days to spread between people, whereas the flu can spread between people in four days.

Can children get coronavirus?

Yes, although people aged under 18 are less susceptible to the virus, according to the limited clinical reports available.

Can dogs get coronavirus?

The World Health Organisation says there is currently no evidence that pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.

How long will the coronavirus last?

Scientists are working on new technologies to try and develop a vaccine for COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation said the first vaccines targeting the disease could take 18 months to develop, which would mean August, 2021.

Why is coronavirus so bad in Italy?

COVID-19 has a more severe effect on the elderly and people with existing medical conditions.
According to a 2019 UN report, 23 per cent of Italy's population is 65 or older.

https://tinyurl.com/vuhhlfr

[harrybarracuda]

I wasn't a Boris fan, but having listened to some wop twat talking about what a great job they're doing, I heard this on BBCWS:

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said: “We have all got to be clear, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation. Some people compare it to seasonal flu. Alas, that is not right. Due to the lack of immunity this disease is more dangerous.
“It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”

Today's numbers sum it up:

8274 new cases. Italy and Iran obviously are a large chunk.

On Sunday we start temp scanning people as they come to work.

I've been telling my colleagues to watch the opening scenes of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

[beachbound]

I may have posted this already. Pretty disturbing.

[armstrong]

Arsenal's manager has got it so that's the entire Arsenal squad out of action and the season fucked.

[katie23]

Metro Manila will be in lockdown by Monday for 1 month, until April 14. Movement will be limited, but goods (esp food) will still be transported.

Duterte puts Metro Manila under ‘community quarantine’ | Inquirer News

Foreign nationals banned from travelling to PI if coming from coronavirus hit countries

Philippines bans foreigners from coronavirus-hit countries

***

Personal note:

As I don't live in MM, I am for this lockdown. I can get my goods & services from local sources. There are some changes at work, but it will be ok generally. I think the lockdown is good, bcos if the virus hits the slums in Manila, people are f*****. PI doesn't have a strong medical system, and the officials know it.

(travel plans for Easter are shelved, but I'll survive). I'm not worried for myself, since I know I'm healthy and can withstand it. I'm worried for my mom since she's >65 and in the vulnerable group. Having the lockdown & limiting movement means she'll have less chance of meeting someone who's a carrier.

[PlanK]

Can dogs get coronavirus?The World Health Organisation says there is currently no evidence that pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.

They were on the suspect list, now not so.
So quite literally...



WHO let the dogs out.

[naptownmike]

Er, i take that back about the outsiders bit.
All those laid off BKK taxi drivers, Chonburi factory workers, Phuket/Pattaya bar girls are all coming back home.
To here.
Shit.
Mr Mainwaring - "DON'T P A N I C !"....

And factory workers returning from Korea.

[naptownmike]

Schools here in Maryland have been closed for two weeks.

Maybe Trump will get it from that Brazilian guy he was with last weekend that just tested positive.

[PAG]

[Bettyboo]

I'm just curious how many people go through in a day and how many I need for this journey....

I have good quality ones that I put on before I leave the house and keep on until I return home. Everywhere in Korea has the medical gel, so I'm constantly washing my hands as I'm going around, and obviously as I enter and leave the apartment. Once in the apartment I get some medical alcohol and clean some surfaces such as the door handles of the apartment, around the outside of the door where delivery drivers have been, etc, take 5 minutes. My masks can be put in the washing machine (not sure how much use that does...), but I bought 24 over a month ago, and have still not run out. When they just start to feel a bit ragged or I've had a long day outside, then I ditch them. I'll prbably by some more today, but the better quality ones with filters that can be changed, etc, are gonna be better (hard to find now).

Korea has terrible micro particle air quality, so there's a lot of masks available for that reason - they can be used with this virus.

All it does is slightly reduce the risk of me getting the virus, and if I have it then it stops me coughing and sneezing particles in the air - most, nowhere near all, infected droplets I may have are caught in the mask. Does it help 50% or so? Maybe. But the combines effect of everyone wearing them is significant in slowing the virus in society.

It takes a while to get used to never touching your face or hair for the odd scratch, but after a couple of days becomes second nature.

[Bettyboo]

And factory workers returning from Korea.

The wife was saying that a plane load of Thai workers, without visas, organized by the Korean government was stopped from flying back to Thailand by the Thai government, and also that the Thai government has stopped these Thai Caspers from returning to Thailand without a recent CoronaVirus test (which must have a negative result), but at 30,000 baht a pop none of them can afford it. I'm not sure how this can be legal, and am not sure if the wife is right. How can a country block their citizens from returning home? (Well, I suppose Britain did it with that girl that went to Syria to join ISIS, so governments can do what they want - even if it's not legal...).

[naptownmike]

There are quite a few Thais returning from working in Korea to my wife's village and people are understandably nervous.

They are supposed to self quarantine but will they?

Sister in law says there is a 20,000 baht reward for non compliance.

[Bettyboo]

^

I feel sorry for these folks. The Thai economy is so shite that they go abroad where they are treated terribly by the Koreas, often cheated out of wages, can't get Korean healthcare then head back to Thailand (often in debt) to no jobs, unable to pay their bills. The junta have really slaughtered these folk. But, yes, they should either stick to the airport quarantine (I was told they were taken to Chonburi for two weeks) or self-quarantine (how effective is that with all the data saying the virus can stay in your system for a very long time undetected and also after you have recovered from infection?).

[naptownmike]

Yeah some have borrowed money to pay some kind of agent to secure a job in Korea. Only to be sent packing after only several months work and now their out of a job and still have to pay that finders fee.

[jabir]

I agree, the Death Rate is really, really low.


It's the disruption to global life that's getting real.... World markets crashing, global tourist industry completely raped, entire bladdy countries on lock-down with the entire population walled-up in their homes, global sporting events canceled/suspended, etc etc

Yep, approaching 5k deaths, or 0.1 the number of heat related deaths pa, 0.022 of one day's increase in global population, 0.016 by drowning pa, 0.006 by suicide pa, 0.002 of deaths from HIV/AIDS pa, all dwarfed by the 15,000 children under 5 that die each day mostly from avoidable causes.

Sure that's a lot however you play with the numbers, but it's the disruption that's crippling people and economies not the deaths, though fear of catching corona modifies peoples' behaviours and adds to the social cost.

If that sounds pompous it's not intended, and a fair argument is what if it's you or someone in your family that gets it; well, that's tough though they could more easily get cancer, trashed in a car wreck and are 30x more likely to die in a fire.

So it's 5k today but deaths could soar tenfold by next month; ok, shift the decimal points one to the right and see if that really makes much difference to world markets that started blanching at 100.

[jabir]

Stock market DOW is taking a big hit. Never seen it like this before

Woke for a piss at around 4am, dow was recovering well to -4% from -9%, then some shit happened.