The COVID-2019 Thread

[jabir]

Yea, but my aims a bit off as I aged - eyesight and all. Doubtful I'd get a good kill shot on a virus...

Even with dodgy eyesight you have a higher chance to hit than without a gun.

[Bettyboo]

Had a Brit NHS/private doctor on LBC yesterday for about 15mins, gist being that the NHS is prepared and capable of dealing with absolutely anything - just until it's few ICU beds are filled which they usually are anyway, after which things will rapidly escalate from bad to worse. Part of the reasons he gave is that its administrators are administrators, not doctors or front line hospital staff.

One point he made which others often overlook when discussing numbers (of beds, staff, etc,), is that before this virus the NHS was already dealing with serious conditions at close to capacity, with ICU beds occupied at up to 103%* at some hospitals.

*When a patient dies or recovers the bed is given to another patient the same day, so capacity can rise above 100%.

It can only pass 100% due to their administrative practice, not in reality... Kinda goes back to the earlier point of administrators f'king everything up which has pretty much been my experience in different management roles in different industries - middle managers/administrators are usually part of the problem. Generally, the Uk reaction seems strange, why are they expecting masses more cases and depths than China when the UK has a fraction of the population and is, in theory, a first world country?


Maybe 7-10 days before Africa explodes into massive numbers?

[Latindancer]

Yeah, death is very much a regular part of life in Africa. I'd say it's being underreported

[Klondyke]

Any plausible explanation to the almost zero figure in Russia?

[Seekingasylum]

The outbreak is further distinguished by the fact it has occurred after the planet entered its new epoch, The Age of The Stupid.

The unilateral declaration by the governor of Buriram province to invoke draconian exclusion measures protecting his fiefdom is very much a case in point.

In order to access neighbouring provinces one has to travel through Buriram. The checkpoints into the province will be myriad by definition. Who will man these? The army is under central command in Bangkok and the police are similarly controlled. So, how will this cordon sanitaire surrounding the province be maintained? Thailand is in effect a state which is more or less dependent upon its primate city of Bangkok and hinterland to function and this is illustrated by the daily flow of commerce feeding Buriram that travels primarily by road. So, everything is now to be examined daily by checkpoints which will be denoted by tailbacks of traffic for miles? And those who are found to have "fevers" are to be sent to hospitals in Buriram? Have you seen the state of a provincial hospital on any given day? They are like war zones with nursing care dependent upon escorting families who stay to care for the patient. And potential COVID cases are to be thrust into this petri dish of concentrated humanity???
And what happens to those who live astride provincial borders who travel daily to work and to conduct their business upon which thy depend for their daily food??
Naturally, all the Buriram government apparatchiks will be permitted to do what they want and when they want but everyone else will simply have to stay put and watch each other in dumb silence. But what of the thousands of internal work migrants who are employed in jobbing contracts in Bangkok, the ports and in construction wherever but whose homes are in Buriram province? Ae they to self isolate for 14 days at home in the moo baan when they only want to stay three?
And when supply chains seize up because of the miles and miles of tailbacks, what will happen then? Where and how will medical supplies be shipped in, how will food arrive? How will the agricultural sector function if it cannot deliver to its markets?? And how will fuel be delivered when the tankers are held up in these provincial roadblocks??

Yet all of this will be thrust upon the people of the province by the diktat of one man acting alone without any national authority.

The sheer stupidity of Thai in local government is truly a wondrous thing to behold.

[Seekingasylum]

Any plausible explanation to the almost zero figure in Russia?

They have simply not been reported. Here in Pattaya they are the only significant tourist demographic that sustained the "peak" season once the chinks were excluded from travel by their own government. The thing that sets them apart from everyone else is the apparent fact not a single one has worn a face mask anywhere, at any time, and nor are they likely to avail themselves of the hand gel dispensers.

Bless them, they just lumber along in their time-honoured way.

[nidhogg]

Just did some checking:

Thailand, first case Jan 13th, current total confirmed cases 147.
UK first case Jan 31st, current total 1,543.

Food for thought.

[AntRobertson]

Cos' 'Murica.

[lom]

Don’t really want a gun but hate to not have one if sh1t really does go sideways.

Must protect your preppers stock..

[kmart]

^^^The Thai hospital charge of 10,000 Baht for a Covid-19 test might have a bearing on those figures.

[nidhogg]

^^^The Thai hospital charge of 10,000 Baht for a Covid-19 test might have a bearing on those figures.

I think that is only for the private hospitals who will test non-symptomatic people. The Thai gov hospital only test symptomatic, and I think it is free then.

[harrybarracuda]

Yeah, death is very much a regular part of life in Africa. I'd say it's being underreported

If it's underreported anywhere, it's Russia. Typical of the fucking megalomaniac in charge.

If Russia only has 93 cases, my name is Harry Van Der Barracuda.

[PlanK]

[jabir]

Any plausible explanation to the almost zero figure in Russia?

China syndrome?

[jabir]

The outbreak is further distinguished by the fact it has occurred after the planet entered its new epoch, The Age of The Stupid.

The unilateral declaration by the governor of Buriram province to invoke draconian exclusion measures protecting his fiefdom is very much a case in point.

In order to access neighbouring provinces one has to travel through Buriram. The checkpoints into the province will be myriad by definition. Who will man these? The army is under central command in Bangkok and the police are similarly controlled. So, how will this cordon sanitaire surrounding the province be maintained? Thailand is in effect a state which is more or less dependent upon its primate city of Bangkok and hinterland to function and this is illustrated by the daily flow of commerce feeding Buriram that travels primarily by road. So, everything is now to be examined daily by checkpoints which will be denoted by tailbacks of traffic for miles? And those who are found to have "fevers" are to be sent to hospitals in Buriram? Have you seen the state of a provincial hospital on any given day? They are like war zones with nursing care dependent upon escorting families who stay to care for the patient. And potential COVID cases are to be thrust into this petri dish of concentrated humanity???
And what happens to those who live astride provincial borders who travel daily to work and to conduct their business upon which thy depend for their daily food??
Naturally, all the Buriram government apparatchiks will be permitted to do what they want and when they want but everyone else will simply have to stay put and watch each other in dumb silence. But what of the thousands of internal work migrants who are employed in jobbing contracts in Bangkok, the ports and in construction wherever but whose homes are in Buriram province? Ae they to self isolate for 14 days at home in the moo baan when they only want to stay three?
And when supply chains seize up because of the miles and miles of tailbacks, what will happen then? Where and how will medical supplies be shipped in, how will food arrive? How will the agricultural sector function if it cannot deliver to its markets?? And how will fuel be delivered when the tankers are held up in these provincial roadblocks??

Yet all of this will be thrust upon the people of the province by the diktat of one man acting alone without any national authority.

The sheer stupidity of Thai in local government is truly a wondrous thing to behold.

Quite aside from all of that, sheer logistics that the front line are unlikely to be trained in dealing with this sort of thing.

Recall that after the terrorist incident at the Russian opera house where a beta gas was used to neutralise the entire venue, most of the hostages that died soon after did so even though the antidote was on site and available, because the first responders did not know to avoid traditional treatment methods such as giving the patients water, since that was more likely to kill rather than cure.

[jabir]

Had the thought a couple days ago. Don’t really want a gun but hate to not have one if sh1t really does go sideways.

A 1911 and a 12 gauge shotgun.

I improvise with a 3-iron near the bed; or could be 6, not sure.

[AntRobertson]

Coronavirus in NZ: Tourists to be deported after failing to self-isolate upon arrival

Coronavirus in NZ: Tourists to be deported after failing to self-isolate upon arrival - NZ Herald

[Klondyke]

If it's underreported anywhere, it's Russia. Typical of the fucking megalomaniac in charge.

If Russia only has 93 cases, my name is Harry Van Der Barracuda.

There are so many intl. agencies in Russia. They are eagerly waiting on such "underreporting" case...
But we do know who to believe to, don't we? (Nothing but truth...)

[harrybarracuda]

Coronavirus in NZ: Tourists to be deported after failing to self-isolate upon arrival - NZ Herald

""There was a traveller who came in yesterday ... who was unwilling to commit to self-isolating for the two-week period, and said her intention was to continue with her travels," he said."

Well her travels are rightfully continuing. Just not in the direction she expected. Stupid bitch.

[Luigi]

Some koont even took it to Greenland.


There's simply no way of containing it.

[Seekingasylum]

The thing is Luigi, you have to remain at least a good six feet distant from another person if they are to be within your proximity for more than ten minutes or so, and you must avoid touching any surface unless you are able to immediately afterwards anoint your hands with an alcohol based gel or wash your hands in running water for 20 seconds. That can be tricky and inevitably you will touch something and unconsciously scratch your nose, rub your eyes or whatever. But it can be done and if one lives and works alone the regime can be maintained but pubs, bars, restaurants, etc are a no-no.

If you have wives, girlfriends, children or live within extended families and have pets then you might as well accept the inevitable.

[harrybarracuda]

Meanwhile, in India....

The Maharashtra government has decided that all people under ‘home quarantine’ for suspected exposure to the coronavirus will be stamped on the left hand. The state government stated that the left hand of all persons under home quarantine will be stamped to identify them easily in case they blend with the general public.

Coronavirus: Maha govt takes bizarre step to identify those under home quarantine amid scare over pandemic | Catch News

[Luigi]

If you have wives, girlfriends, children or live within extended families and have pets then you might as well accept the inevitable.

Yup, I'm actually only worried about my 70+ year old parents getting it.

Could have had it already, was laid out on the sofa for 2-3 days around a month ago.

Heading out for a legit massage now, so will probably be reinfected by the time I get back.

Don't really view it as a massive danger to the young fit and healthy.

[harrybarracuda]

Oh dear, the pangolin munchers are in a snit again (and no doubt Hoho and his puppy will be along for a whinge soon).

[harrybarracuda]

Yup, I'm actually only worried about my 70+ year old parents getting it.

Could have had it already, was laid out on the sofa for 2-3 days around a month ago.

Heading out for a legit massage now, so will probably be reinfected by the time I get back.

Don't really view it as a massive danger to the young fit and healthy.

My old man (aged 89) is up early and off to the shops before the riff raff wake up, taking back streets to avoid contact.

My only worry is that he is vulnerable to the crackheads and other assorted human detritus that might try and take advantage.