Patterico's Pontifications

3/10/2020

Indicators of Our Lives Changing Radically Add Up Daily

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:48 am



The indicators that life is going to change keep piling up day by day.

Italy’s quarantine extended to entire country, as Dana noted yesterday.

Pearl Jam cancels its North American tour.

Israel quarantining all entrants for 14 days.

Ireland cancels St. Patrick’s Day parades.

Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune apparently moving to taping without live audiences.

Coachella festival to be postponed until October.

Harvard tells its students not to return from spring break and will conduct classes online.

At Rice, where my daughter attends, classes this week have been cancelled and noises have been made about moving to online classes next semester.

Even Donald Trump, whose Act I was “Everything Is Fine and Soon We Will Have Zero Cases,” will not be able to ignore the changes forever. Act II is coming, and it will be titled: “There Is No Way Trump Could Have Known It Would Get This Bad.” Never mind that everyone was telling him for weeks how bad it was likely to get. That will be the defense.

When I posted that on Twitter, a Trump superfan offered up an alternate Act II:

Nothing keeps people calm like the government deliberately lying to them about the seriousness of a potential pandemic!

168 Responses to “Indicators of Our Lives Changing Radically Add Up Daily”

  1. “Never mind that everyone was telling him for weeks how bad it was likely to get. That will be the defense.”

    Defense against what?

    If Trump suddenly became the most pessimistic person on the planet, this would change things how exactly?

    What motivates cheap sniping like this?

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  2. The office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) was scheduled to deliver the Worldwide Threat Assessment to the House Intelligence Committee on Feb. 12 and the hearing has not been rescheduled, according to staffers and members of the House and Senate intelligence committees. The DNI’s office declined requests for a comment on the status of the report. Democratic staffers say they do not expect the report to be released any time soon.

    The final draft of the report remains classified but the two officials who have read it say it contains warnings similar to those in the last installment, which was published on January 29, 2019. The 2019 report warns on page 29 that, “The United States will remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support.”–Time

    Now, that’s from Time, so a grain of salt is in order. The upshot being that the T-rump is dragging this report from public knowledge. That is certainly plausible and in character with this regime.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  3. Give the man a break. After all, he says that a million test kits have been delivered. If this isn’t dramatic progress in a nation of 3 million, what is? Besiades that, he will be relying of the tried and true Republican approach to all ills – a tax break.

    John B Boddie (286277)

  4. Give the man a break. After all, he says that a million test kits have been delivered. If this isn’t dramatic progress in a nation of 327 million, what is? Besiades that, he will be relying of the tried and true Republican approach to all ills – a tax break.

    John B Boddie (286277)

  5. Testing.

    Dana (4fb37f)

  6. If Trump suddenly became the most pessimistic person on the planet, this would change things how exactly?

    What motivates cheap sniping like this?

    I guess your cheap sniping is motivated by your slavering cult worship. To answer your question….

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  7. I wonder how the citizens of some democratic-run cities feel now about being told that human feces and used needles laying all over sidewalks was not as serious a problem.

    Why hasn’t Trump fixed that?
    _

    harkin (b64479)

  8. So what’s new on the impeachment front?

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  9. Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 3/10/2020 @ 8:10 am

    To be fair to Trump, couldn’t that Flumaggedon forecast have applied to every recent administration?

    Kishnevi (e266d6)

  10. FDNY has 20 EMS workers under quarantine after one of them worked three shifts after contact with someone who contracted coronavirus out of the country before testing positive for it themselves.

    Speaking of, FDNY firefighters are no longer responding to priority 2 or lower medical calls where there are coronavirus symptoms in order to protect whole firehouses from having to be quarantined with commensurate increase in response times.

    Make America Ordered Again (23f793)

  11. Some of us knew this was going to be bad, and didn’t need the government to spoon feed us reality.

    That we can now discuss a viral contagion that could mutate and kill millions is proof that impeachment is over.
    Munroe (dd6b64) — 2/1/2020 @ 10:50 am

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  12. We have enough information that the corona virus still isn’t as bad as the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak in 2008.

    It seems that much of this panic is media induced.

    However, at my work, all travels has been indefinitely suspended and we even have to go through Occupational Health for screening for any domestic travels as well.

    Airline tickets are drastically cheaper now… my wife and I are looking to see if we can take advantage of it. 😉

    Regardless…I think we’re in for a bumpy few weeks…

    whembly (51f28e)

  13. Donald J. Trump
    @realDonaldTrump
    1h
    Wow!
    @foxandfriends blew away the competition of Morning Joke (which did very poorly) on MSDNC (Another Comcast sleaze production), and @CNN’s New Day, in the Morning Television Ratings. A total blowout, but that’s what you get when you treat “Trump” fairly!

    mr. president trump, who enjoys poetry readings in small cafes, candlelit evenings at home, and quiet walks in the park, knows what is important in a coronavirus pandemic

    he has a special talent that way, unmatched by any other 42nd street bone spur sufferer

    it’s him

    nk (1d9030)

  14. If Trump suddenly became the most pessimistic person on the planet, this would change things how exactly?

    What motivates cheap sniping like this?

    Munroe (dd6b64) — 3/10/2020 @ 8:05 am

    It’s not about optimism. It’s about telling the truth. By lying that this virus was totally contained, Trump maintained his zero credibility and zero ability to lead us through hard times. Trump likes to say the worst president in history was Dubya, but Bush was excellent at leading our nation through a dark hour because he was a fundamentally decent human being that we could identify with and trust. Trump (and his fans) think honesty is naive, and it’s so cool to lie and manipulate. This is actually not clever at all because when you actually need to lead, no one trusts you. The nation’s prestige and honor actually do matter in the long run.

    You admit you dismiss this by calling this a ‘cheap’ issue. It’s amazing except you’re a Russian bot or a weirdo.

    Dustin (736fa7)

  15. If the past is any indicator, Trump will claim that he’s been warning everyone to prepare for some time now, and that anything to the contrary is MSM lies.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  16. Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 3/10/2020 @ 8:10 am

    Bringing up the threat of coronavirus in the midst of your impeachment nonsense would’ve been considered a “diversion”.

    Tell me that isn’t true. I’m in the mood for a lie today.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  17. 11. whembly (51f28e) — 3/10/2020 @ 9:11 am

    It seems that much of this panic is media induced.

    No, it was induced by Xi Jinping’s and Donald Trumps’ quarantine policies. Xi Kinping dd it to keep the virus from getting out of China.

    And the CDC and other health authorities treat everything either by almost totally ignoring it or going into Def Con 1.

    I read that after the fact this was a new virus was first detected in December, Chinese scientists were ordered not to publish and to destroy all the samples.

    However, at my work, all travels has been indefinitely suspended and we even have to go through Occupational Health for screening for any domestic travels as well.

    Airline tickets are drastically cheaper now… my wife and I are looking to see if we can take advantage of it. 😉

    Regardless…I think we’re in for a bumpy few weeks…

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  18. However, at my work, all travels has been indefinitely suspended and we even have to go through Occupational Health for screening for any domestic travels as well.

    Airline tickets are drastically cheaper now… my wife and I are looking to see if we can take advantage of it. 😉

    Regardless…I think we’re in for a bumpy few weeks…

    Few weeks? This will go on until somebody changes the medical advice.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  19. Bringing up the threat of coronavirus in the midst of your impeachment nonsense would’ve been considered a “diversion”.

    Tell me that isn’t true. I’m in the mood for a lie today.

    Leadership involves stepping up to risks.

    Duh Donald is incapable. And that’s no lie.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  20. To be fair to Trump, couldn’t that Flumaggedon forecast have applied to every recent administration?

    You can answer your own question by putting it in context.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  21. Hysterical overreactions to manufacture a “crisis”. It’s like when an antifa goon falls to the ground screaming about “police brutality” when they haven’t laid a finger on him.

    We could also prevent tens of thousands of flu deaths and tens of thousands of car accidents by just hiding in our basements forever. Funny thing, this sort of irrational behavior will only help Trump — because there will be some marginal decrease in the spread of coronavirus due to this silly play-acting. But of course, if the coronavirus kills only a few thousand, everyone will be treated as if Trump murdered then personally. Because there would have been NO deaths under presidents Jo or Hillary!

    Jenny from Iowa (6f11d4)

  22. Biogen’s Boston conference continues to be leading source of coronavirus cases. 32 people infected with COVID-19 now linked to February meeting of managers.

    Also from Instapundit.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  23. Google the 1976 flu outbreak.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  24. Well, I can’t tell people what to do, but let me make one suggestion: If you think you’re going to have to shut down sooner or later, you should probably just go ahead and do it sooner. With a disease spreading more-or-less exponentially, and with a lengthy contagious period in which there are no symptoms, by the time it’s obviously spreading among your students or employees, you’ll be past the point where interrupting transmission will really make a difference.

    Glenn Reynolds. One of Jenny’s “hysterical over-reactors”.

    Heh…!!!

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  25. “Trump likes to say the worst president in history was Dubya, but Bush was excellent at leading our nation through a dark hour because he was a fundamentally decent human being that we could identify with and trust.”
    Dustin (736fa7) — 3/10/2020 @ 9:25 am

    If only Bush Jr. had been at the helm during Katrina and the Great Recession things wouldn’t have turned out so bad.

    The Dow would have to drop 10,000+ more to match that % wise. No doubt Trump is hitting Bush Jr. up for advice.

    How soon we forget. Sometimes hypocrisy is just the result of faulty memory.

    Munroe (fe9b88)

  26. @17

    11. whembly (51f28e) — 3/10/2020 @ 9:11 am
    It seems that much of this panic is media induced.

    No, it was induced by Xi Jinping’s and Donald Trumps’ quarantine policies. Xi Kinping dd it to keep the virus from getting out of China.

    I strongly disagree.

    The media is largely driving this.

    I work in the Healthcare industry as IT professional for an institution that has large Emergency Departments in the region. And no one here is freaking out…and most are exasperated by the over-wrought commentary.

    The panic that is impacting everything here isn’t aligned with the severity/impact of COVID-19 disease. That’s because it is largely driven by the old-guard media (NYT, CNN, WSJ, etc…) and social media platform (FB, Twitter, etc…).

    That’s not to say that COVID-19 isn’t serious… of course it is. However, so far, it hasn’t reached to the H1N1 (swine flu) level of severity in 2008. (social media isn’t as prevalent as it is now, and the old guard media wasn’t interested in freaking out as this was the beginning of Obama’s tenure).

    Keep in mind that 95% of the work done to contain/mitigate epidemics are done by local healthcare entities, taking information and recommendations from the CDC and state health entities. These local healthcare entities have devised/implemented plans for epidemics just like this one.

    And the CDC and other health authorities treat everything either by almost totally ignoring it or going into Def Con 1.

    The CDC and even the Trump admins officials are fine. They’re doing just about everything they can rationally do to address this. I don’t really have that much of an issue with Trump’s tweets other than the fact that he’s too defensive and can’t help from inserting his foot in his mouth, but who are we kidding?

    I read that after the fact this was a new virus was first detected in December, Chinese scientists were ordered not to publish and to destroy all the samples.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/10/2020 @ 9:41 am

    The whole world knew about it in early December and we’ve been monitoring ever since. The US literally has numerous institutions at various levels monitoring/devise plans.

    whembly (fd57f6)

  27. 3. John B Boddie (286277) — 3/10/2020 @ 8:26 am

    , he says that a million test kits have been delivered. If this isn’t dramatic progress in a nation of 3 million, what is?

    Each test kit can test 700 to 800 people. So 4 million test kits (expected by the end f thr week) could test over 3 billion people.

    But doctors don;t want to order the tests because of the quarantine consequences if someone tests positive, not on;y for that person but for all their contacts. Health authorities are tying to limit tests because if they don’t they’ll have to change their guidance or create enormous practical problems for everybody, including doctors.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  28. 21. Jenny from Iowa (6f11d4) — 3/10/2020 @ 11:03 am

    We could also prevent tens of thousands of flu deaths and tens of thousands of car accidents by just hiding in our basements forever.

    The question is: Why don’t we do that?

    But of course, if the coronavirus kills only a few thousand, everyone will be treated as if Trump murdered then personally. Because there would have been NO deaths under presidents Joe or Hillary!

    There might have been more, but it wouldn’t have been a major news story, but just a three or four paragraph squib at the bottom of page 6.

    Xi Jinping thought he could prevent difficulties for Chinese travelers by taking drastic measures to bottle up the disease within China. And he might have, if the president had still been Obama or W.

    And also if he hadn’t created some social media companies there in order to prevent Chinese from sing uncensored Facebook or Twitter. It was censored, but the censorship didn’t quite catch up with the disease. It might be easier to censor if what was censored was not itself one of the most important things censored. News of the disease got out and they had to report it to te WHO.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  29. If only Bush Jr. had been at the helm during Katrina and the Great Recession things wouldn’t have turned out so bad.

    I think he was talking about 9/11, where Bush did a decent job. The job he did during the collapse of the financial markets wasn’t terrible. Do have any specific complaints about what he did there or is this another example of you being a Troll who has no real point?

    Time123 (66d88c)

  30. I strongly disagree.

    The media is largely driving this.

    I don’t think they’re driving it in Italy or South Korea. I think the contrast between the two might indicate how responses can affect the situation. But there’s obviously a lot of differences between the two countries.

    Time123 (66d88c)

  31. How soon we forget. Sometimes hypocrisy is just the result of faulty memory.

    No. That’s unpossible. Real hypocrisy requires a mens rea. Like when you troll.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  32. I don’t think they’re driving it in Italy or South Korea.

    Or Israel or Switzerland, both known for living by being practical and level-headed.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  33. 28. Sammy – As of 6 March –

    The CDC will distribute test kits capable of testing over 1.1 million people by the end of the weekend, and another 1 million tests will be in quality assurance testing by next week, according to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn.

    Initially the White House had hoped to have distributed the test kits by the end of the week, but was not able to ramp up to meet that demand. Now, Pence is saying that the capacity to conduct at least 2.1 million tests will be available by next week and a consortium of private testing companies will add still more capacity as time goes by.

    There seems to be some confusion (probably mine) about the number of test kits and the number of tests to be supported. Still, 2.1 million tests for a population of 327 million doesn’t sound like a lot of progress.

    John B Boddie (286277)

  34. Time123 (66d88c) — 3/10/2020 @ 1:22 pm

    After WMD and tens of thousands dead and maimed, gee I dunno, do you think Bush Jr. had a slight credibility problem?

    The markets seemed to think so, or is the massive collapse totally off his ledger? I don’t know why I’m even bothering to ask.

    To bring up Bush Jr. as a golden reference, as Dustin did, and for you to seemingly buttress it, speaks volumes for the blanket hypocrisy on display here. Pretty much a typical day in #NeverTrumptopia.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  35. ” I’m in the mood for a lie today.”

    I was in the mood for a strawman argument, so I looked for a munroe post.

    Davethulhu (fe4242)

  36. Cripes! More moderation blues…

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  37. Gallup reports that, post-impeachment, Americans prefer Republicans in Congress more than Democrats for the first time in 15 years.

    Times are changing.

    Make America Ordered Again (6a3f87)

  38. The media is largely driving this.

    So, like, the CIA is. Yeah. I know.

    Make America Ordered Again (6a3f87)

  39. My idiot governor has declared a state of emergency over 11 cases and told people to stock up for 2 weeks and stay home. Classes cancelled etc.

    NJRob (4d595c)

  40. @31

    I strongly disagree.

    The media is largely driving this.

    I don’t think they’re driving it in Italy or South Korea. I think the contrast between the two might indicate how responses can affect the situation. But there’s obviously a lot of differences between the two countries.

    Time123 (66d88c) — 3/10/2020 @ 1:24 pm

    South Korea? I’m not sure, but my sense is no… remember, this isn’t their first pandemic rodeo (Avian Flu, Swine Flu, etc…). I could be wrong, but I’m looking at the John Hopskin site and it looks like SK has already peaked, meaning the number of active infections is on a downward trend.

    Italy? Yes. Again, don’t take this as me being to blase about this… it’s a serious pandemic that we need level-headed approaches. Educating the public must take priority, yet far too often we’re seeing political posturings.

    The issue is that this is a new disease and very contagious, so people who need acute (ie, hospitalized) treatment will be in trouble if we do not slow the spread and that resources aren’t overwhelmed at once.

    So far, the disease looks likely that most people who are susceptible will get it, but we want to space that out so that all the acute cases get the care they need.

    Hence why you’re seeing mitigation strategies in place at various steps…all the way down to self-imposed quarantine.

    whembly (fd57f6)

  41. My idiot governor has declared a state of emergency over 11 cases and told people to stock up for 2 weeks and stay home. Classes cancelled etc.

    And that will put pressure on New York. So dumb.

    Make America Ordered Again (6a3f87)

  42. NY State now has more confirmed cases than WA State, but no dead people there (yet).

    Paul Montagu (cbbfc4)

  43. “I was in the mood for a strawman argument, so I looked for a munroe post.”
    Davethulhu (fe4242) — 3/10/2020 @ 1:42 pm

    Mr. Trump, after the strike, told associates he was under pressure to deal with Gen. Soleimani from GOP senators he views as important supporters in his coming impeachment trial in the Senate, associates said.

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-new-national-security-team-made-fast-work-of-iran-strike-11578619195

    Davethulhu (fab944) — 1/10/2020 @ 8:35 am

    Just too easy, Mr. Thulhu. Impeachment was a factor in his Iran strike decision but wouldn’t factor in any coronavirus warnings back when it might’ve mattered — do I have this strawman right?

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  44. After WMD and tens of thousands dead and maimed, gee I dunno, do you think Bush Jr. had a slight credibility problem?

    No. But there are idiots who blame him for flawed intelligence.

    The markets seemed to think so, or is the massive collapse totally off his ledger? I don’t know why I’m even bothering to ask.

    If you knew wtf you were talking about, you’d know W warned about the bubble.

    …for you to seemingly buttress it, speaks volumes for the blanket hypocrisy on display here.

    For you to keep misapplying terms and calling people names for the gross sin of having a different opinion speaks volumes about your slavering obeisance to the Great Goad Cheeto.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  45. Here’s a pretty good site I found for tracking numbers on the virus.

    https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

    Until we get a better picture I’ll just proceed with caution and numerous grains of salt.

    harkin (b64479)

  46. This is fast becoming nothing to sneeze at.

    More likely a cough, instead. 😉

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  47. CORONAVIRUS CASES JUMP IN MASSACHUSETTS, GOV. CHARLIE BAKER DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY. Fifty-one new cases were reported on Tuesday.

    Jenny!, there’s that damned @Nevertrump Instapundit at it again

    “Damn all that FAKE NEWS!”, she wheezed.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  48. “For you to keep misapplying terms and calling people names for the gross sin of having a different opinion speaks volumes about your slavering obeisance to the Great Goad Cheeto.”
    Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 3/10/2020 @ 3:31 pm

    I called no one a name, yet you call me out for it.

    The commenter I responded to called me a name, and you let that pass.

    So, just the usual BS.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  49. Got an email from my VA saying they were limiting or prohibiting visits to certain units, and issuing instructions to vets who might have any problem.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  50. Meanwhile…….

    “In a 9-2 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said lead singer Robert Plant’s and guitarist Jimmy Page’s 1971 rock anthem did not infringe “Taurus,” written by guitarist Randy Wolfe of the band Spirit.”
    _

    I had no idea this is still going on.

    I listened to lots of Spirit in the early 70s, they were pretty good. The lawsuit seemed ridiculous.
    _

    harkin (b64479)

  51. “Just too easy, Mr. Thulhu. Impeachment was a factor in his Iran strike decision but wouldn’t factor in any coronavirus warnings back when it might’ve mattered — do I have this strawman right?”

    Munroe, a strawman argument is where you argue against a point that nobody is making. Rags didn’t say anything about the impeachment trial, which was over for almost 2 weeks prior to the cancelled report by the DNI.

    Davethulhu (fe4242)

  52. Just got this announcement from the Chancellor of UCI:

    […]
    • As I mentioned in my March 8 message, while instruction for this week continues to take place in person, instructors are directed to exercise flexibility and to adjust their course practices and policies to accommodate students who cannot attend in-person classes over the next few days.
    Final exams next week will be administered remotely. Departments and instructors should work together to determine the most appropriate solutions for finishing courses and assigning grades, putting student health and success first in their decision making.
    We are transitioning to a remote learning mode for Spring quarter. In limited cases, such as courses involving a lab, studio instruction, or clinical experiences, instructors will need to make accommodations to meet the course requirements whether in person or via an alternative delivery mode. Deans and department chairs will communicate these exceptions by the end of the week after consulting with the provost office. Otherwise, students will be able to receive instruction through distance learning options.
    Graduate students will transition to remote work whenever possible and may also continue work in research labs after consulting with their faculty and departments. Instructional tools and classrooms remain available for hosting online meetings, seminars, and course development. Access to research spaces and other resources necessary for graduate work will continue.
    Students living on campus are strongly encouraged to return to their off-campus residences and, if possible, and to stay at home during the Spring quarter. As described above, Winter quarter final exams and Spring quarter instruction will be available to students living remotely. Students who remain in on-campus housing for the Spring will also receive instruction remotely and should be prepared for reduced on-campus activities and interactions. Dining services will remain open, with modified service options. The Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs will offer guidance on student services and housing in a separate message tomorrow and will create a process for identifying students who wish to move off campus for the remainder of the academic year.
    […]

    [emphasis in original]

    Also, all events and gatherings of 100 or more people are to be cancelled, and all athletic events will take place without spectators. Most campus offices will remain open.

    ¡Ay, caramba!

    Dave (6b3a27)

  53. I called no one a name, yet you call me out for it.

    You called allllllllllllllllll of us (with a very few trollish exceptions) a name. A stupidly inapposite name, to boot.

    Identifying you as a troll is not “calling you a name”. That’s what you ARE because that’s what you DO.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  54. Davethulhu (fe4242) — 3/10/2020 @ 4:56 pm

    Mr. Thulhu, according to Mr. Pierre’s snippet the report was published days before the impeachment acquittal. So, spin the dates as you like.

    Any attempt by Trump to focus on anything other than impeachment was dismissed as a diversion by folks in your camp. That it’s not an argument your camp wants to make anymore is fairly obvious.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  55. I listened to lots of Spirit in the early 70s, they were pretty good. The lawsuit seemed ridiculous.

    Saw then in San Antonio a couple of times. Or maybe one of those times was Austin… Hey, it was the sixties.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  56. Hmmm, I’m sorry to hear that Dave. It sounds like UCSD is doing the same, and I suppose it will only be a matter of time before the other UC campuses follow suit.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  57. I think he was talking about 9/11, where Bush did a decent job. The job he did during the collapse of the financial markets wasn’t terrible. Do have any specific complaints about what he did there or is this another example of you being a Troll who has no real point?

    Time123 (66d88c) — 3/10/2020 @ 1:22 pm

    I am trying to imagine 9/12 with a leader that had no capacity for leadership. Say Trump shouting that fire doesn’t melt steel and it’s the deep state hoping to ruin him personally, or Al Gore who was a different sort of narcissist.

    As far as the housing bubble, we all know sub prime lending was a Barney Frank sort of thing, not a Bush sort of thing. Shady real estate deals are indeed terrible for our society. I’m not sure why a Trump fan would think Bush was the problem, except they sometimes tell us what they really are concerned about in their weird little ways.

    Bush wouldn’t have stabbed the Kurds in the back or invited the Taliban to Camp David.

    Dustin (9c58b3)

  58. Anything to preserve the hippies in the faculty, eh? Can’t be anyone of them under 70 by now.

    nk (1d9030)

  59. Test. Is the comments section up and running?

    Dana (4fb37f)

  60. That it’s not an argument your camp wants to make anymore is fairly obvious.

    What? That T-rump SHOULD be impeached?

    I’ll be your huckleberry!

    Plus, if Duh Donald had a particle of leadership OR balls, he’d have led out REGARDLESS of what others might say.

    Troll.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  61. @52. Dave, what’s peculiar this pattern of ‘overreaction’ – or ‘precaution,’ if you like, is that the people most at risk from this bug are the senior citizens set, the ‘Earl Bird special’ crowd, not the kids.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  62. harkin 46,

    Another coronavirus website that seems good.

    DRJ (15874d)

  63. @52. Dave, what’s peculiar about this pattern of ‘overreaction’ – or ‘precaution,’ if you like, is that the people most at risk from this bug are the senior citizens set, the ‘Early Bird special’ crowd, not the kids.

    Dang- still moderating; can the web catch this virus– or just be a carrier?? 😉

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  64. “Mr. Thulhu, according to Mr. Pierre’s snippet the report was published days before the impeachment acquittal. So, spin the dates as you like.”

    January 29, 2019

    2019 Munroe, that’s last year. That was the date of last year’s report.

    Davethulhu (fe4242)

  65. Davethulhu (fe4242) — 3/10/2020 @ 6:34 pm

    Kudos, Mr. Thulhu. I stand corrected. My bad. The date for the 2020 report is apparently unknown.

    All of which is inconsequential to the point. The “diversion” charge was incessantly levied whenever Trump attempted to focus on anything other than efforts to oust him from office. Those have only stopped because the current “diversion” has suddenly become the way to oust him.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  66. Anything to preserve the hippies in the faculty, eh? Can’t be anyone of them under 70 by now.

    Nah, we continue to hire young, new faculty to replace the old ones who retire and/or kick the bucket.

    After all, your kids won’t brainwash themselves.

    Dave (6b3a27)

  67. Munroe (dd6b64) — 3/10/2020 @ 6:54 pm

    You are SSSOOOOOOooooo full of crap.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  68. Whembly, what I’m trying to get at is how did the response process of South Korea differed from that of Italy and does that explain the differences in outcomes. It seems to me that it does, and that our response hasn’t been as aggressive as it could have been.

    Time123 (b0628d)

  69. After WMD and tens of thousands dead and maimed, gee I dunno, do you think Bush Jr. had a slight credibility problem?

    The markets seemed to think so, or is the massive collapse totally off his ledger? I don’t know why I’m even bothering to ask.

    My first question was going to be what you think the cause / effect link is between Bush’s credibility WRT to WMD and the stock market crash. But than I remembered that you don’t view the world through a fact based lens of cause and effect. You don’t draw smart, interesting observations and conclusions based on facts. So you’re never going to provide an answer to that question.

    Talking with you as if you have a point beyond grievance based conspiracy theories is a silly mistake on my part. I need to remember use the mute script.

    Time123 (66d88c)

  70. I am so sick of sicko Trumpkins trying to make their Fifth Avenue sicko look good by trying to make good people look bad.

    nk (1d9030)

  71. South Korea? I’m not sure, but my sense is no… remember, this isn’t their first pandemic rodeo (Avian Flu, Swine Flu, etc…). I could be wrong, but I’m looking at the John Hopskin site and it looks like SK has already peaked, meaning the number of active infections is on a downward trend.

    Maybe, although South Korea is still identifying new clusters. What South Korea has done that Europe and the US haven’t done is widespread testing.

    DRJ (15874d)

  72. Coronavirus testing by country:

    As of Sunday, 1,707 Americans had been tested for the novel coronavirus, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. South Korea, by contrast, has tested more than 189,000 people. The two countries announced their first coronavirus cases on the same day.

    I’ll let you figure out why the responses are so different. And if you think we can catch up or it doesn’t matter, think again:

    U.S. coronavirus testing threatened by shortage of critical lab materials

    The slow pace of coronavirus testing has created a major gap in the U.S. public health response.

    DRJ (15874d)

  73. Fortunately in the US, state and local governments are stepping in despite the federal government initially (and maybe still) prohibiting non-CDC testing.

    DRJ (15874d)

  74. This is an interesting map that shows that latitude (and associated environmental factors) might be an important factor.

    Time123 (66d88c)

  75. DRJ (15874d) — 3/11/2020 @ 7:38 am

    If you’re looking for a quick, nimble, and effective response; if you’re looking for a response that comes without bureaucracy and red tape; if you’re looking for a response that immediately directs resources where they’re needed in an efficient fashion — then you want the feds, baby! Nobody cuts through the red tape and bureaucracy like the feds!

    https://patterico.com/2005/09/09/an-observation-on-the-katrina-rescue-efforts/

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  76. I am fine with letting each jurisdiction do initial testing. It is the federal government — currently the Trump Administration — that wants control. There are good reasons to want standardized testing but so far they are focused on standardized non-testing.

    DRJ (15874d)

  77. I dunno if Patterico was being factious in the quote you cited, Marilyn, but we just went through a whole evolution about how Walmart was in NOLA days before the feds. The feds actually held up relief.

    Central planning can kill you. Something your Great Goad Cheeto is too stupid to understand.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  78. “I’ll let you figure out why the responses are so different. And if you think we can catch up or it doesn’t matter, think again:”
    DRJ (15874d) — 3/11/2020 @ 7:35 am

    As of now, South Korea has seven times the cases as the U.S. and they have a rash of new cases today. But testing is certainly one way to blame Trump, so that gets hyped.

    I expect the U.S. to get much worse, as I think the virus is unstoppable except by seasonal changes or by massive infringement on civil liberties as has been seen in China.

    Only one thing is certain. As new facts roll in, it will go through a Blame Trump filter to decide what gets hyped. It’s Katrina Redux.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  79. They have 7 times as many cases because they are testing. They know what they are dealing with. We don’t.

    DRJ (15874d)

  80. You are wrong that we always blame Trump, but some people always defend Trump.

    DRJ (15874d)

  81. Reason is poor propaganda when opposed by the yammering, unceasing lies of shrewd and evil and self-serving men.

    –Robert Heinlein

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  82. “They have 7 times as many cases because they are testing. They know what they are dealing with. We don’t.”
    DRJ (15874d) — 3/11/2020 @ 8:41 am

    They have nearly twice as many deaths as the U.S., as of today. Unless you think deaths are unrelated to the actual number of cases, South Korea has significantly more cases than the U.S., despite it being much smaller in population.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  83. Why flu might be seasonal (that is, one reason, besides a lower fraction of people not being immune) why it could be that R0 goes down) The flu virus is a little like a spore, that opens up in warmer and wetter placee, like the human body, and in fact, even less.

    I don’t know if the same thing is true of coronovirus

    Boldface mine.

    https://www.insider.com/when-is-flu-season

    “The virus survives better in cool, dry temperatures,” {Amanda] Simanek said. [associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health.]

    And that’s thanks to a protective gel-like coating that surrounds the flu virus while it’s in the air.

    The flu is an airborne infectious disease. So in order to spread, the virus needs to survive long enough in the air to travel from one person to the next. And that’s where the virus’s gel-like coating helps when it’s cold outside.

    In colder temperatures, that capsule, which is made of fats and oils called lipids, hardens into a shell around the virus. This protects the virus and keeps it alive long enough to spread between victims.

    For comparison, this isn’t as easy to do when it’s warm outside because the lipid coating degrades, exposing the virus to the environment where it can easily get destroyed before finding a host.

    Once the virus is inside you, your body temperature degrades the coating, releasing the virus. After that, the virus starts to wreak havoc and replicate in hopes of infecting you and the next bystander. If you get the flu, you will be contagious for 5 to 7 days after your symptoms begin.

    [Where in the world does this 14-day time period for isolation in the case of coronovirus come from? And why are they using it? And then, if so, why isn’t the 14 days multiplied by the number of persons quarantined together???]

    It doesn’t help that people tend to congregate inside in close quarters when it’s cold and dreary outside, making it that much easier to spread those tiny respiratory droplets containing the virus.

    So if the flu virus spreads most in colder temperatures, does that mean warming global temperatures could lead to a milder flu season in the future? Experts aren’t yet entirely sure.

    But some research suggests that mild winters with mild flu seasons can cause a rebound effect, where the next year’s flu season is more severe. That’s because with fewer infections during the previous year, more people are susceptible the following year.

    That’s what seems to have happened after the 2011-12 flu season. The 2011-12 flu season was relatively mild. But the following year, the 2012-13 flu season was “moderately severe,” according to the CDC…..

    ….This article was reviewed by Tania Elliott, MD, who specializes in infectious diseases related to allergies and immunology for internal medicine at NYU Langone Health.

    Now one difference between the flu and coronovirus is that the flu easily mutates, and that’s why they keep on offering new vaccines (sometimes to the wrong strains because they plan this in advance and they’re not very good at projecting which strains of flu will be circulating. Influenza mutates so much that 90% of the virus particles released from an infected cell are non-infectious.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  84. Things I expect before the end of March (this assumes that CV19 is noticeably more deadly than the flu, something that requires better statistics to know):

    1. Border closings. I expect that flights to the US will halt and the southern border will close. I would not travel out of the country without plans to stay there for a month, maybe two.

    2. Internal travel restrictions. Maybe something as simple as limiting air travel to hard hit areas, but I think it will be more pro-active than that. If done soon, it may speed the point where the (inevitable) epidemic burns out.

    3. Bans on large events, particularly events that draw “outsiders.” Baseball is going to have a bad time in April, and the season may have to be adjusted. Conventions, concerts, plays all impacted. Maybe movies, too.

    By sometime in May or June we’ll be seeing the other side of this, but the next couple of months are going to be difficult. I’m looking to see if I have enough canned goods to avoid going to the store a lot. Being retired makes some of this a lot easier than it will be fore others.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  85. However, so far, it hasn’t reached to the H1N1 (swine flu) level of severity in 2008.

    The magic words there are so far.

    The numbers I’ve seen for swine flu were calculated over a 12 month period after the fact. The numbers we’re seeing for covid19 are for Jan, Feb, and part of Mar as of now. There’s not much in them from Dec.

    The R0 and mortality numbers for covid19 are more serious than H1N1.

    frosty (f27e97)

  86. So what’s with all this intensive cleaning?

    . Just heat the room to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, (or whatever) and it’s destroyed. There might even be a very narrow range that degrades it, except I would assume it’s a minimum. It can’t degrade too fast, or it would never escape the body.

    (of course test out samples to see what’s necessary to destroy it, and also see, or check the literature to see if in fact the coronovirus also in encased in something like a spore.)

    All this about how long it survives outside the body may depend upon the temperature and humidity, so there’s actually no correct answer.

    If it’s flu, it’s supposed to , and it has to degrade in conditions resembling the human body. And if people are in close enough contact to each other, you my not need any extended period of time. Someone coughs and another person breaths it right in.

    And what’s this about coughing into your elbows? I know it’s fallen out of fashion, but they might mention {Kleenix] tissue and handkerchiefs.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  87. There are good reasons to want standardized testing but so far they are focused on standardized non-testing.

    I think it unfair to blame Trump for any fault of the CDC or HHS. Nearly everything in those agencies is done by career bureaucrats, and would happen the same way under any president. I doubt that Trump is trying to hinder testing.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  88. Walmart could make a bundle with $19.95 quick-result testing services.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  89. Rush Limbaugh said it’s called Covid-19 because it’s the 19th. No it’s the 5th. The number 19 comes from the year 2019. But some of the rest is all right.

    Rush doesn’t even know that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo did not really put a quarantine around New Rochelle. He just required that no large gatherings take place within the zone. He’s just trying to reduce R0, not eliminate any transmission in and around New Rochelle. The National Guard is there to do intensive cleaning (probably at least 95% unnecessary and pointless) and deliver food to children otherwise eligible for free school lunches and breakfasts but whose schools are now closed, and maybe some other people.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  90. Sam Harris says he has five friends who are healthy, fit skiers, all of whom contracted COVID-19 in northern Italy and returned stateside: two are in intensive care, one on a respirator, the other in a medically induced coma.

    He makes a point in his March 10th podcast: “Making Sense with Sam Harris #190 – How Should We Respond To Coronavirus (with Nicholas Christaki)” about the importance of social distancing now, even if almost everyone will eventually get it… because flattening the curve of people who get it has the value that it won’t overwhelm life-saving intensive medical support all at once, so more people will survive it. A nurse I know makes the same argument.

    Make America Ordered Again (23f793)

  91. And the handwsshing for 20 seconds with soap?? That’s something for doctors and nurses in hospitals and they can’t do it consistently. They’re supposed to do that between patients.

    Besides which, your hands will quickly destroy the virus, if it is like the flu. Now if there is a break in the skin…it’s too late to wash an hour later.

    And they can’t recommend anything better than regular soap? Dishwashing liquid is probably better and even better would be detergent, in not too high concentration.

    Everybody is going by the book, and the book is obviously wrong on some places. 14 days!!

    And then not multiplying the 14 days by the number of people isolated together?

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  92. 89. Make America Ordered Again (23f793) — 3/11/2020 @ 9:30 am

    Sam Harris says he has five friends who are healthy, fit skiers, all of whom contracted COVID-19 in northern Italy and returned stateside: two are in intensive care, one on a respirator, the other in a medically induced coma.

    Could that have something to do with the very cold weather on ski slopes – maybe there’s a big difference between temperatures in the 20s and temperatures even in the 40s or 50s. Or is there simply a more intensive epidemic there, so that people are exposed to more virus and multiple times, or is it both?

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  93. your hands will quickly destroy the virus

    How the heck do you figure?

    Make America Ordered Again (23f793)

  94. Breaking: The World Health Organization has just officially declared the virus a pandemic. (pan means everywhere, as in panachrome film). It doesn’t mean more deadly than a regular epidemic)

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  95. W’s problem was not that we didn’t trust him, but that he trusted too many others too easily. It’s a problem with decent people; they usually expect other people to be decent, too.

    He even let a Clinton holdover at CIA inform him those WMDs were there, and show him satellite photos which were (at best) misinterpreted. Even Colin Powell was taken in.

    He would have done a lot better if he let one of his dad’s old hands vet the help.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  96. We won’t “most all get it.” Even the flu only gets one in 5 or so. People who can isolate, should. And everyone should avoid the open buffet on the Yangtze cruise ship.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  97. The Germans are saying they expect 60-70% of their population to get it, if I read that right.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  98. Today CERN (the world’s premier particle physics lab in Geneva) announced that as of next Monday, access would be restricted to only those approved by the lab management and leaders of experiments as requiring site access to fulfill mission-critical tasks. Everyone else is required to work remotely.

    Also, nobody over 65 will be allowed on-site, without even more dire exceptional circumstances.

    Also, all professional and other visits to CERN are disallowed. All club activities are suspended.

    One member of the CERN staff tested positive a few days ago. They were onsite for only one day after returning from outside the area, and did not visit any high-traffic areas like the cafeteria.

    Dave (1bb933)

  99. @95 The math doesn’t support this. This is not the normal flu since it has an R0 at least 2x and that’s a compounding number. Respected epidemiologists have models that show 40-70% of all people will get the virus.

    frosty (f27e97)

  100. The R0 and mortality numbers for covid19 are more serious than H1N1.

    R0 based on high-density China, and mortality numbers given unknown and untested mild cases, isn’t really meaningful yet. It may not be as bad as all that. Or it could be worse due to some other factor (e.g. obesity).

    We will know FAR more a month from now. We know enough right now to stock the pantry and avoid what can be avoided.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  101. Prediction: China’s handling of this will turn out to have been irresponsible, and attitudes towards them will harden.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  102. MSU has moved to online classes.

    Time123 (b87ded)

  103. The white house is classifying meetings about Covid-19

    Given the president’s difficulty in inspiring loyalty this makes sense. Probably causes people to assume the actual information is very bad, which may not be what they’re trying to accomplish.

    Time123 (b87ded)

  104. On Tuesday, I said: Now that we have fairly honest medical establishments doing widespread testing we will find out a LOT in the next few weeks. I’m pretty sure that the 2-3% number is wildly high. I wonder how long it will take them to fess up on that.

    Now, it’s Thursday, and Dr Fauci answers my question: 2 days.

    The flu has a mortality rate of about 0.1 percent, so, when considering the likelihood that there are many asymptomatic or very mild cases that have gone undiagnosed, Fauci places the new coronavirus’ lethality rate at somewhere around 1 percent.

    https://theweek.com/speedreads/901470/coronavirus-10-times-more-lethal-than-seasonal-flu-trumps-task-force-immunologist-says

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  105. your hands will quickly destroy the virus

    92. Make America Ordered Again

    How the heck do you figure?

    External skin temperature will kill the virus in short order, if it is like the flu.

    https://www.insider.com/when-is-flu-season

    ….[There is] a protective gel-like coating that surrounds the flu virus while it’s in the air….In colder temperatures, that capsule, which is made of fats and oils called lipids, hardens into a shell around the virus. This protects the virus and keeps it alive long enough to spread between victims…when it’s warm outside ..the lipid coating degrades, exposing the virus to the environment where it can easily get destroyed before finding a host.

    Once the virus is inside you, your body temperature degrades the coating, releasing the virus.

    Now what place in the environment is warmer than your own skin? Your hands, for instance.

    They should normally be about 91 degrees Fahrenheit.

    https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/AbantyFarzana.shtml

    Q.E.D.

    Of course it might be lower in really cold weather, or on gloves if you are wearing gloves.

    Now, if you put your hands in your mouth to keep them warm, right after they’ve been coughed on, then maybe you might get the virus that way – but in such a case washing your hands with water, let alone soap, is not usually an option.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  106. Kevin M (ab1c11) — 3/11/2020 @ 12:30 pm That 1% rate is still too high. Yhey haven;t tested everybody in the community

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  107. The white house is classifying meetings about Covid-19

    Not is classifying, has been classifying meeting since mid-January. In a situation where its important to disseminate important information about the virus, the White House went the other way and engaged in a cover-up.

    Paul Montagu (d6528e)

  108. “The white house is classifying meetings about Covid-19”
    Time123 (b87ded) — 3/11/2020 @ 12:16 pm

    It’s called the Vindman Effect, or He-Who-Shan’t-Be-Named Effect.

    Congratulations.

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  109. There seem to be special circumstances under which this corona virus can spread to many people from one person, and it is important to find out what they are. And not repeating this non-evidence based conventional wisdom about disinfecting surfaces and washing hands.

    Some people maybe are just super spreaders, or it could be that this can happen if the environmental conditions are just right, and the time it lasts long enough.

    Sammy Finkelman (9570ad)

  110. R0 at least 2x

    In China. Where they live cheek-by-jowl and cleanliness isn’t job one.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  111. In a situation where its important to disseminate important information about the virus, the White House went the other way and engaged in a cover-up.

    It’s more like they want people to be able to speak freely without risk of scaring people. If a guy says “This could kill millions if it gets really bad” that isn’t something you want to hand to CNN.

    Now, if the consensus of the meeting is not relayed to the media, that’s a problem. No one at the CDC is saying that is happenning though.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  112. It’s more like they want people to be able to speak freely without risk of scaring people. If a guy says “This could kill millions if it gets really bad” that isn’t something you want to hand to CNN.

    Yes, I agree. I’ll actually grant the Trump Administration some understanding in not wanting internal deliberations to leak out, knowing that they will almost certainly be spun in a way that reflects poorly on the Administration. That is what you get when you have an Administration that isn’t always forthcoming or accurate in their information, but it’s also what happens when so many of the major news organizations make it their mission to oppose everything the Administration does.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  113. It’s called the Vindman Effect

    No, it’s called the malignant narcissist who’s afraid his fly is always open and he looks stupid and might get caught AGAIN effect.

    Congratulations.

    Congress BETTER have some things to say about this spit.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  114. One thing you can do to protect yourself from infection is to eat a high-cholesterol, i.e., meat-based, diet. Ideally, you should also eliminate all plant foods and beverages from your diet, too.

    Make America Ordered Again (23f793)

  115. From the London Times Sunday March 01 2020, 12.01am

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-scientists-destroyed-proof-of-virus-in-december-rz055qjnj

    Chinese laboratories identified a mystery virus as a highly infectious new pathogen by late December last year, but they were ordered to stop tests, destroy samples and suppress the news, a Chinese media outlet has revealed.

    A regional health official in Wuhan, centre of the outbreak, demanded the destruction of the lab samples that established the cause of unexplained viral pneumonia on January 1. China did not acknowledge there was human-to-human transmission until more than three weeks later.

    [I read a date of Jan 5. However I also read that they concealed the fact of human-to-human transmission from CDC people who visited Wuhan about Jan 6. So I would guess they told different people at different times. -SF]

    The detailed revelations by Caixin Global, a respected independent publication, provide the clearest evidence yet of the scale of the cover-up in the crucial early weeks when the opportunity was lost to control the outbreak.

    Censors have been rapidly deleting the report from the Chinese internet.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  116. It’s more like they want people to be able to speak freely without risk of scaring people.

    Your problem with that theory is that they NEED people who know wtf it is that OTHERS with clearances DON’T know. They NEED the scary experts, or they’re just a bunch of mokes with security clearances jerking the circle.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  117. Of course the United States federal government wasn’t all that much better, for different reasons (issues if informed consent, and not being certified as clinical laboratory)

    New York times, Wednesday, March 11, 2020 front page article:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/coronavirus-testing-delays.html

    As luck would have it, Dr. Chu had a way to monitor the region. For months, as part of a research project into the flu, she and a team of researchers had been collecting nasal swabs from residents experiencing symptoms throughout the Puget Sound region.

    To repurpose the tests for monitoring the coronavirus, they would need the support of state and federal officials. But nearly everywhere Dr. Chu turned, officials repeatedly rejected the idea, interviews and emails show, even as weeks crawled by and outbreaks emerged in countries outside of China, where the infection began….

    …Federal and state officials said the flu study could not be repurposed because it did not have explicit permission from research subjects; the labs were also not certified for clinical work. While acknowledging the ethical questions, Dr. Chu and others argued there should be more flexibility in an emergency during which so many lives could be lost. On Monday night, state regulators told them to stop testing altogether.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  118. And the test was not approved by the Food and drug administration . They could use it for research purposes, but not to inform any patients or health authorities.

    The flu project primarily used research laboratories, not clinical ones, and its coronavirus test was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. And so the group was not certified to provide test results to anyone outside of their own investigators. ..

    …Later, Dr. Lindquist, the state epidemiologist in Washington, wrote an email to Dr. Alicia Fry, the chief of the C.D.C.’s epidemiology and prevention branch, requesting the study be used to test for the coronavirus.

    C.D.C. officials repeatedly said it would not be possible. “If you want to use your test as a screening tool, you would have to check with F.D.A.,” Gayle Langley, an officer at the C.D.C.’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, wrote back in an email on Feb. 16. But the F.D.A. could not offer the approval because the lab was not certified as a clinical laboratory under regulations established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a process that could take months.

    It would take an Act of Congress to cut through oall of that, but who in politics is willing to say the scientists are wrong?

    You know, one test that they did approve, didn’t work.

    Dr. Helen Y. Chu finally decided to break the law, figuring maybe that it is easier to get forgivemness than permission.

    By Feb. 25, Dr. Chu and her colleagues could not bear to wait any longer. They began performing coronavirus tests, without government approval.

    What came back confirmed their worst fear. They quickly had a positive test from a local teenager with no recent travel history. The coronavirus had already established itself on American soil without anybody realizing it.

    Then, of course, state health officials overreacted.

    The case was a teenager, in the same county where the first coronavirus case had surfaced, who had a flu swab just a few days before but had no travel history and no link to any known case.

    The state laboratory, finally able to begin testing, confirmed the result the next morning. The teenager, who had recovered from his illness, was located and informed just after he entered his school building. He was sent home and the school was later closed as a precaution.

    Now, look at this: He was already recovered, and they sent him into soem kind f quarantine, and they closed the school.

    In some ways the United sates is also a loony bin. Or its medical establishment is.

    They made sure this would never happen again:

    Later that day, the investigators and Seattle health officials gathered with representatives of the C.D.C. and the F.D.A. to discuss what happened. The message from the federal government was blunt. “What they said on that phone call very clearly was cease and desist to Helen Chu,” Dr. Lindquist remembered. “Stop testing.”

    …On a phone call the day after the C.D.C. and F.D.A. had told Dr. Chu to stop, officials relented, but only partially, the researchers recalled. They would allow the study’s laboratories to test cases and report the results only in future samples. They would need to use a new consent form that explicitly mentioned that results of the coronavirus tests might be shared with the local health department.

    They were not to test the thousands of samples that had already been collected.

    The ethics people at the University said that was OK, though.

    On March 2, the Seattle Flu Study’s institutional review board at the University of Washington determined that it would be unethical for the researchers not to test and report the results in a public health emergency, Dr. Starita said. Since then, her laboratory has found and reported numerous additional cases, all of which have been confirmed….

    But on Monday night, state regulators, enforcing Medicare rules, stepped in and again told them to stop until they could finish getting certified as a clinical laboratory, a process that could take many weeks.

    But we have this disinformation circulating about there not being enough test kits and even trying to blame Donald Trump for that.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  119. Trump’s now considering putting all of Europe on a restrictive travel list.

    https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2020-03-11/exclusive-white-house-to-discuss-new-travel-restrictions-on-europe-sources

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration is set to discuss new travel restrictions on European countries at a meeting on Wednesday in response to the coronavirus pandemic, sources familiar with the discussions said.

    The plan could mirror a ban on travel to the United States placed on foreigners who visited China in the prior two weeks, which was later extended to Iran, three of the sources said.

    If Rush Limbaugh wants to criticize this he’s going to have to criticize Trump, too.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  120. 90. 92. 106.

    re: virus getting destroying by your hands

    It occurs to me that if the virus is traveling on a particle, not all of it might get warmed up to 90 degrees. So maybe a person should rub his hands together and twist fingers around each other to make sure all virus particles get heated up to 90 degrees.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  121. 115. Whats the reason for the meat based diet?

    Incidentally. they should hand out anti-HIV antivirals almost like candy.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  122. 116 [I read a date of Jan 5. However I also read that they concealed the fact of human-to-human transmission from CDC people who visited Wuhan about Jan 6. So I would guess they told different people at different times. -SF]

    And of course this ignores the distinction between the local despots, who have a lot of independent authority, and the central government.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  123. I think one out of every 60 people, or one out of every 30 people (it’s hard to estimate) I see on the subway or bus are wearing mouth coverings made of cloth, or a scarf. More women than men, and more likely to be Chinese than average.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  124. One thing: Perhaps this might put an end to the rule of Xi Jinping in China (if he can’t get the corona sanctions lifted) and to that of the Mullahs in Iran.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  125. Article in he Harvard Business Review that seems to think Covid-19 is an extremely serious disease and calls for more testing and isolation ( I don’t see what other treatment they have in mind) before the hospitals get overwhelmed.

    https://hbr.org/2020/03/what-the-u-s-needs-to-do-right-now-to-fight-coronavirus

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  126. They have nearly twice as many deaths as the U.S., as of today. Unless you think deaths are unrelated to the actual number of cases, South Korea has significantly more cases than the U.S., despite it being much smaller in population.

    Munroe (dd6b64) — 3/11/2020 @ 8:57 am

    Explain how the US statistics could show accurate coronavirus deaths if we aren’t testing for it? If someone dies after suffering from the flu, bronchitis or pneumonia, it won’t be shown as a coronavirus death.

    DRJ (15874d)

  127. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074131/coronavirus-highly-sensitive-high-temperatures-dont-bank-summer

    Pathogen appears to spread fastest at 8.72 degrees Celsius, so countries in colder climes should ‘adopt the strictest control measures’, according to researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong province.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  128. DRJ, are you approving your comments?

    Dana (4fb37f)

  129. I approved 127 and two comments yesterday, although I am not sure which ones yesterday. I also approved several of Sammy’s comments today and some by other people that I noticed yesterday.

    DRJ (15874d)

  130. Oh, okay. I couldn’t understand how yours were showing up, and no one else’s were… I have gone through and caught up today’s comments but there is an inordinate amount of spam by the same handles as yesterday.

    Dana (4fb37f)

  131. There is a lot of spam.

    DRJ (15874d)

  132. In the midst of all the doom and gloom, at least there is an occasional “feel-good” story:

    Harvey Weinstein Hospitalized With Chest Pains Hours After Getting 23-Year Sentence

    He seems to like the hospital a lot more than Riker’s Island, for some reason.

    Dave (1bb933)

  133. 8.72 degrees Celsius

    The ridiculous precision is hilarious.

    Doesn’t it make you feel better that they know the optimum temperature to within 0.01 degrees?

    Dave (1bb933)

  134. By the looks of this, it’s no wonder so many viruses begin in China…

    https://youtu.be/9n40jIqY1IY

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  135. I approved 127 and two comments yesterday, although I am not sure which ones yesterday. I also approved several of Sammy’s comments today and some by other people that I noticed yesterday.

    Thanks so much, DRJ. The help is greatly appreciated. I’ve been trying to do approvals every hour or so, but it’s hard to keep up. And I’ll probably be gone for a big chunk of the remainder of the afternoon and early evening.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  136. 132.There is a lot of spam.

    You made me laugh just when a lauh was needed 😀 —

    Check this out, DRJ:

    Spam stems from Monty Python sketch – YouTube

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLih-WQwBSc

    Ever wonder why we use the term “spam” when referring to unwanted junk e-mail? We may be able to look to Monty Python and their sketch, “Spam.” – BI

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  137. I am happy to help if you want it, JVW. I have lots of time but I don’t want to cause problems or step on any toes.

    DRJ (15874d)

  138. I am happy to help if you want it, JVW. I have lots of time but I don’t want to cause problems or step on any toes.

    No, I think at this point it’s good to have as many admins as possible checking and approving comments. It can help keep the discussions flowing along. We really appreciate your help.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  139. I go to Coachella every year, and have more or less done so since 2005.

    A lot of us were watching quite closely after UMF cancelled in Florida last week, and we kind of knew that this was inevitable but were trying to deny it.

    The fact that they rescheduled (getting enough of their 155 bands on board to make it worthwhile, and getting approval from the city for un-permit-ted dates) was amazing as a logistical matter and we’re all pretty happy with them.

    aphrael (971fba)

  140. World 🌎 Media: where unspeakable monsters roam, and overreaction is the order of the day.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  141. IIRC someone here once asked me not to respond to everyone’s comments in one comment, but i’m doing it right now anyway to reduce load on the comment-approvers.

    Kevin M, at 83, i’m broadly in agreement with you, and since i’m currently laid off and looking for work i have a lot of the benefit of the ability to stay at home, albeit it’s combined with anxiety about people slwoing down hiring.

    Make America Ordered Again, at 89 — yes. we can no longer stop transmission but we can slow it down and if we slow it to the point where R0 is < 1, then it will burn itself out.

    That's … our best hope right now.

    Ragspierre, at 96: there's an article out today in axios which says the congress' house doctor told congressional staff that he expects 70-150M infections in the US.

    aphrael (971fba)

  142. CH wrote: World 🌎 Media: where unspeakable monsters roam, and overreaction is the order of the day.

    Meanwhile in Italy:

    Italy’s government has ordered all shops, bars and restaurants across the country to close after the country’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose by 31% in the space of 24 hours to a total of 827.

    For those that aren’t good at math that means they added 196 dead to corona virus yesterday.

    Time123 (dba73f)

  143. O.M.G.

    Trump does Oval ‘hostage tape’ address.

    Suspends travel from Europe as of Friday, so all you sickos over there, book your flights now to gt over here– plenty of seats available.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  144. “CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9 million – 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 – 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 – 61,000 deaths annually since 2010.”

    “According to a study, 68,000 deaths attributable to flu epidemics in the winter months between 2013 and 2014, and 2016 and 2017 respectively. This is likely due to the fact that Italy has aging population (Italy has the oldest population in Europe, with about 23% of residents 65 or older) and the elderly are the most impacted.

    People – especially the elderly, folks with respiratory problems and/or compromised immune systems need to take common sense precautions with this corona virus.

    And we need to continue decoupling as much as possible from China, IMHO.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  145. Travel from Europe…with the exception of the UK.

    Dana (4fb37f)

  146. What about U.S. military personnel rotating home and or/returning on military tranport/aircraft or by ship?

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  147. During that tense Monday meeting in the Oval Office, Trump fumed that Powell never should have been appointed and is damaging the nation and his presidency.

    He then told Mnuchin, who had encouraged Trump to nominate Powell in 2017, to engage with the chair and ask him to take more-dramatic steps to arrest the stock market’s plummet, according to three White House officials and a senior Republican. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal the exchange.

    Mnuchin has not commented publicly on this meeting, but he has said recently that he is in daily contact with Powell during the coronavirus crisis. Trump initially tried to brush aside concerns about the coronavirus’s impact on the economy, saying it would be short-lived, but the Oval Office meeting struck some of his advisers because it showed how furious he had become…

    Trump’s push to prod Powell came during an Oval Office meeting where he also suggested to other officials that they should call the Fed chair and ask him to consider further interest rate cuts, the officials said.

    Poor Duh Donald. Everything is against him (pbuh). It’s just all so wrong…

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  148. Trump’s decision to exempt UK from the European travel was overtly political. There are currently 459 confirmed cases in the UK, more than a majority of the other EU states.

    Paul Montagu (d6528e)

  149. “Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have announced that they have tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus), the first celebrities to go public with a diagnosis.”

    All bets are off… if it can hit Hollywood, this virus has no shame.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  150. This may hit any European country that has unsanitary conditions and third world healthcare system. After Italy, Greece may be next.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  151. How does the Europe ban work? Can Americans in Europe fly home, or could they fly from other European countries to the UK and then fly back to the US?

    DRJ (15874d)

  152. It could be disproportionately hitting countries (like Italy), or areas within countries (like the Seattle area cases), with older and vulnerable populations.

    DRJ (15874d)

  153. @151. And just “plane” stupid.

    So, Eurosickos, fly to London and then directly to the good ‘ol U.S. of A.

    Coronavirus is ‘pur’ell,’ eh, Mr. Trump?!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  154. Now the NBA is suspending the season… WTF

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  155. Poor stupid Seaneene Hannity is getting a licking from Dr. Fauchi on the deadliness of CV19.

    Ragspierre (d9bec9)

  156. Guess Brexit means the UK isn’t ‘Europe’ anymore — for this decade, anyway.

    _________

    Breaking- NBA suspends their season.

    Deep pockets affords that luxury.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  157. Is someone releasing comments?

    There is a new post up re Trump’s address tonight re coronavirus.

    Dana (4fb37f)

  158. If you’re looking at this from a political perspective, either pro or anti-Trump, and there seems to be a bit of both here, you’re looking at it wrong. The amount of pure propaganda on Hannity right now is negligent.

    frosty (f27e97)

  159. I am releasing comments. JVW said it was ok since he can’t be here.

    DRJ (15874d)

  160. The st Patrick’s Day parade in New York was finally cancelled last night (although they said postponed) when Governor Andrew Cuomo talked to the organizers. It broke a 259 year or so record (according to them this went on even during the British occupation of New York)

    They could probably hold a perfunctory one and keep their streak going.

    Sammy Finkelman (a738e8)

  161. Dana (4fb37f) — 3/12/2020 @ 10:18 am

    My kids are trying to get a flight out of London to come home. They have been there for work. They cancelled a pre-planned trip to Paris. And although American citizens can return stateside, today there is a rush on flights out to the US. Concerns that the UK might go on lockdown.

    This is like the stat of World War I, except a bit slower..

    Sammy Finkelman (a738e8)

  162. This whole thing is so extreme, it’s like something out of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharoah’s dreams. Like that, in the end not too many people will be hurt.

    Sammy Finkelman (a738e8)

  163. I think the national political conventions will most likely be turned into virtual conventions.

    Sammy Finkelman (a738e8)

  164. @165 4700 people (over the past 90 days) and their extended families might disagree with you.

    The problem is all of these people dying, or becoming seriously ill (a number that isn’t really showing up anywhere), is not part of the normal statistics. So, when people say 10x people die from X or Y vs this small number from covid19 they are doing a couple of things.

    (a) only counting the deaths and ignoring the impact to the seriously ill
    (b) these numbers are in addition too all of those other numbers and they aren’t expected
    (e) ignoring the fact that this thing might be able to kill %1 of a very large number of people and
    (d) seemingly oblivious to the fact that these numbers compound.
    We’ve developed an ability to deal with the impact of car accidents, cancer, and the usual flu because they occur with a known frequency with an understood variability. There is no hockey stick graph for car accidents, cancer, etc.

    frosty (f27e97)

  165. Serbian president was coughing uncontrollably as a journalist asks him a question about coronovirus.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)


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