Althouse: "To lessen the risk to our community as much as possible, UW-Madison will suspend Spring Semester face-to-face instruction effective Monday, March 23..."

March 11, 2020

"To lessen the risk to our community as much as possible, UW-Madison will suspend Spring Semester face-to-face instruction effective Monday, March 23..."

"... the date that classes would typically resume after next week’s Spring Break. Alternate delivery of classes will begin on March 23 and continue at least through Friday, April 10.... Residents [of dorms] are being asked to take essential belongings, academic materials, laptops and medications with them for Spring Break and not return to residence halls following Spring Break through at least April 10. We hope that students will return to their permanent residence and complete their coursework remotely.... We recognize that some students may be unable to return to their permanent residence for various reasons and will need to stay in their residence halls.... Residence halls will remain available to these students where necessary, but we expect the majority of dorm residents to return home, leaving the residence halls much emptier and making it easier for remaining students to maintain social distance."

The University of Wisconsin announces this morning.

305 comments:

«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 305 of 305

Mark said...: Mark, I have been posting under this name here for just under a decade.

Get over yourself.; 3/11/20, 6:26 PM
Inga said...: “I guess Johns Hopkins is stupid.

Fact 1: Flu deaths in the US - 61,000/year

Fact 2: Coronavirus deaths in the US - 29”

I guess BAG is stupid.

First, Covid19 was first seen in China in December 2019, a full year has not happened yet, yet you compare it to a full year of seasonal flu.

Second, you’re citing a FULL year of seasonal flu deaths that are not mitigated by forced quarantines or even self isolation.

Third, Covid 19 is at the LEAST 10x deadlier than seasonal flu per Dr. Fauci.; 3/11/20, 6:27 PM
Jim at said...: Well, if we're going to cut-n-paste a bunch of worst-case scenarios in hopes of creating panic with wihch to score political points, I suppose I can provide a rebuttal from a place a little closer to home:

----

Much of news regarding coronavirus is all doom and gloom, but much progress is being made with the virus. Dr. Gordon Cohen, a general surgery specialist in Tacoma, recently joined Seattle’s Morning News to discuss the other side that he and his colleagues are witnessing.

“One of the intensive care unit doctors that I worked with made a comment that sort of struck me, which is: ‘Where all the patients?’ What we’re seeing on the television and the media is creating this widespread panic and fear, but here we are in the hospitals and the intensive care units are not filling up with patients,” he said.

Dr. Cohen provided us with a short list of things that are not terrible about this virus outbreak so far. None of this is meant to suggest that you shouldn’t wash your hands thoroughly or use hand sanitizer disinfecting wipes, or that you should ease up on your social distancing. All of that should still be taken seriously. But Dr. Cohen wanted to suggest that not everything about this virus is pointing towards the end of the world. We have, for example, the numbers in China.

“It appears that the situation is improving in China. The strong control isolation measures imposed by the Chinese government are actually starting to pay off,” he said. “For several weeks now the number of cases diagnosed every day is decreasing. It really looks like it’s plateaued for the most part.”

We also have a virus that can be killed, which is not always the case, and we attacked the coronavirus rather quickly.

“We can actually wipe the virus clean. A lot of times we can’t do that. But this virus could be effectively inactivated from surfaces with either alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% bleach in just one minute,” he said.

“If we compare, for example, to the first cases of AIDS, which were described in 1981, it took nearly two years to actually identify the virus HIV, which caused that disease. Whereas with COVID-19, the first cases of severe pneumonia were reported in China on December 31 2019, and by January 7 in just one week the virus had been identified and the actual genome of that virus was available on Day 10.”

Along with quick identification, there has been, for the most part, global cooperation across the board.

“The scientific community worldwide has jumped all over this. There’s tremendous international science cooperation. And after just one month, there’s about 164 peer-reviewed articles that can be accessed by scientists around the world. That’s huge,” he said. “Whereas with SARS in 2003 it took more than a year to reach less than half that number of articles. So the science community is really acting very, very rapidly.”

Dr. Cohen says that it also should be reassuring that we have a low number of severe cases.

“The disease really causes no symptoms or is mild in 81% of cases, and of course that means in 14% it can cause severe pneumonia, and in 5% it can become critical or even fatal. It’s still unclear what the death rate may be, but I think it’s likely it’s going to be much lower than what the estimates are so far.”

“People are recovering. Much of the reported data relates to the increase in the number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths. But most infected people are actually cured, and there’s 13 times more cured cases than deaths, and that proportion is increasing because we’re making more and more and more diagnoses.”

----

Now, go ahead and choose which opinion fits your agenda.; 3/11/20, 6:31 PM
mockturtle said...: A better source for updates on US [& Canadian] cases is here. It includes links for every data point and every county. Unlike the Johns Hopkins site, it is specific and also is updated more frequently. Coronavirus Current Data; 3/11/20, 6:31 PM
madAsHell said...: At some point, people have to realize that college is just a really expensive Tinder.; 3/11/20, 6:32 PM
Inga said...: “It appears that the situation is improving in China. The strong control isolation measures imposed by the Chinese government are actually starting to pay off,” he said. “For several weeks now the number of cases diagnosed every day is decreasing. It really looks like it’s plateaued for the most part.”

EXACTLY, dummy. That is the mitigation that has been discussed here and elsewhere. How do you think this proves your point?; 3/11/20, 6:33 PM
Jim at said...: Way to ignore the rest of it, Ingacile. Keep up with your gloom and doom.

Come to think of it, that piece would be most useful to you if you printed it off on a piece of paper, rolled it into a tight ball and shoved it up your ass.; 3/11/20, 6:37 PM
Inga said...: “Way to ignore the rest of it, Ingacile. Keep up with your gloom and doom.”

Nothing in your article proves what you’ve been saying, you very stupid man.; 3/11/20, 6:38 PM
Browndog said...: Third, Covid 19 is at the LEAST 10x deadlier than seasonal flu per Dr. Fauci.

Yes, and he cited data from among others, China.

Anyone that cites data from China has no credibility to me.; 3/11/20, 6:39 PM
Inga said...: I suggest you Covid19 deniers go lick some door handles and prove that it’s no different than the flu.; 3/11/20, 6:42 PM
Lincolntf said...: What is the advantage that people see in not taking preventative measures, like canceling sporting events, concerts, etc.? How will holding those events help? You know that all of those attendees will return to their homes, schools, neighborhoods, etc. and if even one person in attendance was contagious, the risk pool grows larger with every person they interact wirh. Who wants that, and why?; 3/11/20, 6:42 PM
stevew said...: This house sho' gone crazy!

Not to mention irrational. It's not a question of whether holding the events will help, it is whether holding them as planned will hurt. The latter condition has yet to be proved.; 3/11/20, 6:46 PM
Inga said...: “Not to mention irrational. It's not a question of whether holding the events will help, it is whether holding them as planned will hurt. The latter condition has yet to be proved.”

It’s been proven in China. With the forced quarantines and self isolation the new cases have been dropping. Do you think they’d be dropping without these measures? Look at Iran.; 3/11/20, 6:51 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: Let me try a different approach, a very simple approach, a view from 30,000 feet, as they say, without rancor or argument. These are CDC numbers.

1. The US Population is 330 Million.
2. About 2.8 Million die each year in the US.

That's our big picture baseline. No controversy, right? Just numbers.

3. Of the 2.8 Million yearly deaths, the leading killers are:

Heart disease: 647,457
Cancer: 599,108
Accidents: 169,936
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 160,201
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 146,383
Alzheimer’s disease: 121,404
Diabetes: 83,564
Influenza and Pneumonia: 55,672
Nephritis: 50,633
Suicide: 47,173

Let's assume these numbers are roughly true. No argument, no controversy.

So, this "new" virus has killed 29 Americans as of March 11.

Of course, it may get much worse from March 12 - December 31, I don't have a crystal ball.

But based on these numbers alone, without commentary, without editorializing, without emotion, without political agenda, how likely is it that the 'new" strain of old common cold viruses, will break, say, 1,000 deaths by year's end?; 3/11/20, 6:51 PM
Lincolntf said...: stevew, it's been "proved" enough in my view, based on my own experience, for me to recognize the inevitable. It will spread unless, and maybe despite, mass gatherings/close-quarters contact are severely limited. It's just how viruses work.; 3/11/20, 6:51 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: "I suggest you Covid19 deniers go lick some door handles and prove that it’s no different than the flu"

Heh - I didn't see this before I wrote my measured response! Darn.; 3/11/20, 6:54 PM
brylun said...: U.S. Population 330 million.

70% infection rate = 231 million.

1% death rate of 231 million = 2.31 million deaths.

2.8 million die every year + 2.31 million more deaths, means almost double the number of deaths.; 3/11/20, 6:55 PM
Browndog said...: For the life of me I cannot understand how people can be talking death rates without knowing the infection rate, and knowing the infection rate without comprehensive national testing.

Yes, you can glean some data points with what we do know, but we don't know much at all.; 3/11/20, 6:58 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: @brylun,

2.8 million die every year + 2.31 million more deaths, means almost double the number of deaths

You would stake your professional reputation on the prediction that we're gonna get 2.31 Million additional deaths in the US due to Covid-19 pandemic in the US, when there is only 29 to date?

Oy vey.; 3/11/20, 6:58 PM
walter said...: Paul Sperry Retweeted
Paul Sperry
@paulsperry_
·
Mar 9
BREAKTHROUGH: Chloroquine phosphate -- an old anti-malaria drug -- has shown apparent efficacy in treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in clinical studies. Chloroquine provides both anti-viral and anti-inflammatory benefits to patients; 3/11/20, 6:58 PM
Francisco D said...: The thread seems to be turning into the Bedpan Commando calling everyone stupid.

You have shown that you know absolutely nothing about neurology on a previous thread. Now you are cutting and pasting to show us you know absolutely nothing about infectious disease control.

We actually have posters who provide us with their own thoughts and expertise rather than magazine or newspaper articles.

When we need to know about enemas and bed pans we will ask you, Inga.; 3/11/20, 7:01 PM
brylun said...: @ Bay Area Guy: No, I wouldn't stake my professional reputation on these numbers. I expect we will do everything possible, including quarantine, travel limits, development of new medicines, etc. to reduce this potential.; 3/11/20, 7:02 PM
J. Farmer said...: @Bay Area Guy:

But based on these numbers alone, without commentary, without editorializing, without emotion, without political agenda, how likely is it that the 'new" strain of old common cold viruses, will break, say, 1,000 deaths by year's end?

The virus does not have to kill a huge amount of people to cause serious problems. In Italy, Covid-19 has killed 827 people. Yet, look at the havoc it is wreaking on Italy's healthcare system.; 3/11/20, 7:03 PM
Inga said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/11/20, 7:05 PM
stevew said...: Lincolntf, you are free to do as you see fit based on your assessment of the risk. My objection is to your imposition of your choices on me. I don't see evidence of the severe risk that you and others fear. My business has me on and off planes and in big public places every week (was in PA and NJ the last two days). I am meeting with people, customers and prospective customers, nearly every day. The overwhelming POV on COVID-19 among these folks is that the fear and panic are ginned up and overblown relative to the risk. See Bay Area Guy's post above. The numbers simply don't justify the panicked behavior.

Heard today that following the news of the cancellation of the Boston St. Patrick's Day parade a sizable group plan to party as usual in Southie Sunday morning. :-)

I'm running in a charity fundraiser 5k Saturday in Portland, ME. In my Celtic kilt. Life goes on.; 3/11/20, 7:05 PM
Inga said...: “When we need to know about enemas and bed pans we will ask you, Inga.”

Ha! And now we hear from Dr. Lecter who a while back while drunk as a skunk said he wanted to eat my vagina and Ritmo’s brain. The self described psychologist who desperately needs psychotherapy, or at the very least Alcoholic Anonymous.; 3/11/20, 7:06 PM
brylun said...: @ Bay Area Guy: We're up to 38 deaths as of now. Look at this graph:

Total Coronavirus Cases in the United States

and tell me where you think this is going.; 3/11/20, 7:07 PM
stevew said...: "The virus does not have to kill a huge amount of people to cause serious problems. In Italy, Covid-19 has killed 827 people. Yet, look at the havoc it is wreaking on Italy's healthcare system."

Self-imposed havoc.; 3/11/20, 7:07 PM
J. Farmer said...: BREAKTHROUGH: Chloroquine phosphate -- an old anti-malaria drug -- has shown apparent efficacy in treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in clinical studies. Chloroquine provides both anti-viral and anti-inflammatory benefits to patients

That's actually from a letter published in BioScience Trends by two Chinese pharmacologists. You can read the whole thing here if you wish.; 3/11/20, 7:09 PM
Browndog said...: I think the problem is people want "other people" to stay home and go broke and starve to reduce their risk of coming in contact with the Wuhan flu.; 3/11/20, 7:09 PM
brylun said...: @ Bay Area Guy: After drastic quarantine measures taken in Italy, please look at this graph:

Total Coronavirus Cases in Italy; 3/11/20, 7:09 PM
Lincolntf said...: I never imposed any of my choices on you, stevew. You made that up. I simply stated my position that sponsors of large gatherings are acting responsibly, even though those restrictions have had a direct negative impact on me and my family. Again, I ask, what less should organizers/insurers/agencies do?; 3/11/20, 7:11 PM
J. Farmer said...: @stevew:

Large amounts of people requiring critical care showing up in a short period of time is "self-imposed?"; 3/11/20, 7:11 PM
Inga said...: “Self-imposed havoc.”

Meh, those sick old geezers should just stay at home and die, eh?; 3/11/20, 7:13 PM
J. Farmer said...: @Browndog:

I think the problem is people want "other people" to stay home and go broke and starve to reduce their risk of coming in contact with the Wuhan flu.

Well if personal motivation adds any substance to the argument, I advise people to practice social distancing, and I am myself. My father has been working for the past few weeks moving barges between Brooklyn and New Jersey. Although his company provides air travel home, I am renting a car, driving to Newark, picking him up, and driving home.; 3/11/20, 7:15 PM
Inga said...: “Although his company provides air travel home, I am renting a car, driving to Newark, picking him up, and driving home.”

You’re a good son.; 3/11/20, 7:17 PM
brylun said...: @ Bay Area Guy: As the CDC says, if you are 60 or older you should avoid gatherings and stockpile food.

Check out this:

COVID-19 Fatality Rate by AGE

How about if you are 70-79? If you catch Covid-19 you have an 8% chance of dying.; 3/11/20, 7:20 PM
Inga said...: I’m worried about my granddaughter flying home from Florida tomorrow, but she is 19 and in good health. If she does get infected she will survive. My son in law flew home early from a business trip Arkansas because he was worried that he’d end up getting stuck there.; 3/11/20, 7:20 PM
Browndog said...: How is "social distancing" different from "sheltering in place"?

Is there some sort of Orwellian nuance in these Orwellian terms?

The way some of these State governors are going they might as well send the "Nobody move!" alert to our phones right now.; 3/11/20, 7:22 PM
stevew said...: Come on, that's not what I said Inga.

I find all this to be hyperbolic, chicken little fear mongering. And the people I see and meet with every day, every week, for the last few weeks see it the same way. If you are concerned about your health and well-being then do whatever it is you think appropriate.

Mrs. stevew volunteers her time with the local Council on Aging. Annually they sponsor a St. Patrick's Day gathering for lunch and music from a local Celtic band. The average age of the attendees is >70 years. The event has been cancelled for this year due to concerns over COVID-19. This was a very responsible and sensible thing to do.; 3/11/20, 7:25 PM
Inga said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/11/20, 7:26 PM
Michael K said...: EXACTLY, dummy. That is the mitigation that has been discussed here and elsewhere. How do you think this proves your point?

Inga, this is why nobody pays attention to you.; 3/11/20, 7:26 PM
J. Farmer said...: @Browndog:

How is "social distancing" different from "sheltering in place"?

Different strategies for different threats. Sheltering in place basically means get into a small room and stay put to avoid exposure to some kind of environmental threat. Social distancing means avoiding large groups of people.; 3/11/20, 7:28 PM
Inga said...: “Inga, this is why nobody pays attention to you.”

Michael K seems to think that it’s of utmost importance that people pay attention to him. I’m here to express my opinion asshole, not to get your attention.; 3/11/20, 7:29 PM
J. Farmer said...: @stevew:

I find all this to be hyperbolic, chicken little fear mongering.

If I may ask, what is the "all this" that you find "to be hyperbolic, chicken little fear mongering"?; 3/11/20, 7:29 PM
FullMoon said...: Navy is running out of soap and toilet paper.; 3/11/20, 7:32 PM
Inga said...: “If I may ask, what is the "all this" that you find "to be hyperbolic, chicken little fear mongering"?”

Good question. People are quoting the experts in the field, tracking sites with good reputations, doing the math and relaying accounts by healthcare professionals who were and still are in the thick of this crisis. I see no fear mongering. I do however see a lot of denial.; 3/11/20, 7:35 PM
stevew said...: Round the clock news coverage, commenters here advocating for the shutdown of schools and public events, the closing of buildings and facilities to visitors, forcing people to work from home, social distancing, and so forth.

All in response to 29 deaths and a bit more than 1,000 confirmed infections, in a nation of 320 million people.; 3/11/20, 7:35 PM
J. Farmer said...: @stevew:

All in response to 29 deaths and a bit more than 1,000 confirmed infections, in a nation of 320 million people.

If there was a small fire in your home, the prudent thing to do would be to quickly extinguish. Small fires are dangerous because they have a tendency to become large fires rather quickly.

But let me ask, how many cases would need to be identified before you did think taking those measures was a good idea?; 3/11/20, 7:38 PM
Lincolntf said...: stevew, Ahh, there is where your tragic logical flaw emerges. We are not responding only to the thousands of people already dead. we are looking ahead to what will happen without basic precautions. Are you an anti-Vaxxer by any chance?; 3/11/20, 7:39 PM
Browndog said...: Daily Mail Online
‏Verified account @MailOnline

Italian coronavirus death toll climbs by 196 to 827 in 24 hours as country's top doctors say intensive care units should stop treating the elderly; 3/11/20, 7:40 PM
Inga said...: “we are looking ahead to what will happen without basic precautions.”

It’s impossible to look ahead when one’s head is buried in the sand.; 3/11/20, 7:41 PM
n.n said...: "social distancing" different from "sheltering in place"

Profiling vs general avoidance.; 3/11/20, 7:47 PM
Chick said...: How is Covid-19 more threatening than Covid-1 through Covid-18 ?; 3/11/20, 7:47 PM
ken in tx said...: I think it is too late for any US university to do anything to slow the spread of this virus. Any university that has Chinese students has been exposed. The Chinese gov delayed reporting this outbreak and nobody here knows for how long. I think it has been here for months and I think I have already had it. My family is part of the University of Texas community in Austin. I had all of the symptoms except pneumonia and dying. However, I had a painful cough for about 3 weeks after the main illness, which was probably walking pneumonia. It felt like I was coughing up razor blades. If I had it, I hope it confers immunity. I don't want to have anything like that again.; 3/11/20, 7:47 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: The NCAA just decreed no fans at March Madness games! And NBA may follow suit? Are French Surrender Monkeys now in charge at all these big orgs?; 3/11/20, 7:49 PM
stevew said...: Yes, J. Farmer, were I to find a small fire in my home the prudent thing to do would be to extinguish it, asap. I just don't see the evidence that this COVID-19 is your metaphoric small fire.

What we do know is that people >70 years old, maybe >60 years old, are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms and, possibly, succumbing to the virus. So it is prudent for those folks to stay home, avoid big public gatherings, etc., etc. Likewise those with compromised health and respiratory systems.

For the rest of us it seems business as usual is appropriate. None other than crazy fools like me are advocating this sort of thing.; 3/11/20, 7:50 PM
chickelit said...: Italian coronavirus death toll climbs by 196 to 827 in 24 hours as country's top doctors say intensive care units should stop treating the elderly

Is it possible that by concentrating the already infected, those people will reinfect each other with new and more virulent strains? In other words, sequestering and gathering the infected together accelerates viral mutations?; 3/11/20, 7:50 PM
brylun said...: @Splanky: The "19" in Covid-19 stands for 2019, the year the virus appeared.; 3/11/20, 7:50 PM
Lincolntf said...: Fortunately for the rest of us, stevew, wiser heads than yours are prevailing.; 3/11/20, 7:51 PM
chickelit said...: The NCAA just decreed no fans at March Madness games! And NBA may follow suit? Are French Surrender Monkeys now in charge at all these big orgs?

Next, the election will be cancelled. It will be mail in only.; 3/11/20, 7:51 PM
FullMoon said...: Pneumonia primer; 3/11/20, 7:52 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I just heard an alleged scientist from Univ of North Georgia claim, on sports talk radio call in show in Philly, that the mortality rate is 3%. I'm pretty sure that scientist was wrong.; 3/11/20, 7:53 PM
J. Farmer said...: @stevew:

For the rest of us it seems business as usual is appropriate. None other than crazy fools like me are advocating this sort of thing.

What about people not at high risk for fatality but who may require an extended period of time in an ICU and potentially on a ventilator? Do you think the potential stress a mass outbreak could put on the US healthcare system is a cause for concern?; 3/11/20, 7:55 PM
brylun said...: @I'm Full of Soup: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mortality Rate; 3/11/20, 7:55 PM
Lincolntf said...: Full of Soup, it's higher than that in Lombardy (or it was the last time I checked). Around five percent mortality, mainly the elderly, but still a big number.; 3/11/20, 7:57 PM
stevew said...: "Fortunately for the rest of us, stevew, wiser heads than yours are prevailing."

Wiser is yet to be determined.

Do what you will, just don't impose it on me. I've got a life to lead and a living to earn.; 3/11/20, 7:57 PM
Lincolntf said...: Nobody is imposing anything on you stevew.; 3/11/20, 7:59 PM
brylun said...: Something else to think about:

97 percent of all antibiotics in the United States came from China

China threat to halt US antibiotics supply; 3/11/20, 8:00 PM
Mark said...: I asked about the three words and you not only can't tell them to me, you respond with hostility.

Mm-hmm.; 3/11/20, 8:01 PM
stevew said...: "potential stress of a mass outbreak"

Yeah, that would be wicked bad. Sounds like hyperbole to me sir. The facts, to date, do not support the argument.

I mean this commentary respectfully, truly I do.; 3/11/20, 8:01 PM
ALP said...: Instead of closing why couldn't schools just mist kids with a sanitizing spray as the leave the building? Seems easier than trying to set up all this distance learning.; 3/11/20, 8:02 PM
stevew said...: But Lincolntf, you are when you want to shut down travel, impose "social distancing", and cancel public events.; 3/11/20, 8:03 PM
Lincolntf said...: No, another fundamental misunderstanding by you, Stevew. I have been the "victim" of travel-slow downs and the cancellation of public gatherings. And I grudgingly accept those affronts to the ordinary because I understand my responsibility to not serve as a vector for the virus.; 3/11/20, 8:08 PM
J. Farmer said...: @stevew:

Yeah, that would be wicked bad. Sounds like hyperbole to me sir. The facts, to date, do not support the argument.

Is there a reason you think the stress placed on Lombardy's hospitals cannot happen here?; 3/11/20, 8:08 PM
FullMoon said...: Went to viet restaurant around 4 today. Nobody there but us. May have been the timing..
San Jose airport pick-up unusually devoid of traffic also.Local NBC news trucks there but not much else. Again, may have been timing..

Peripheral working at medical facility where pre-screening outside building started. Fever, cough, etc. goes in separate entrance. Getting security guards because people do not want to follow the procedure and will enter building claiming to have been pre-screened. Gonna have to adjust the way things are done.; 3/11/20, 8:08 PM
brylun said...: Excellent Trump speech!; 3/11/20, 8:11 PM
Lincolntf said...: Very good statement by Trump.; 3/11/20, 8:12 PM
brylun said...: 3 TSA officers at San Jose airport test positive for coronavirus; 42 agents now on leave; 3/11/20, 8:13 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: why are we allowing ANY travel from China?; 3/11/20, 8:21 PM
FullMoon said...: 3 TSA officers at San Jose airport test positive for coronavirus; 42 agents now on leave

Guess that explains the NBC news trucks at the airport today..; 3/11/20, 8:21 PM
stevew said...: To date, ~1000 confirmed cases, 29 deaths.; 3/11/20, 8:22 PM
brylun said...: @stevew: 38 deaths, not 29. You are a day behind. There are footnotes here if you care about the details. That's an increase of 31% in one day!; 3/11/20, 8:26 PM
FullMoon said...: Medical peripheral says patient today says they were near someone who had been exposed. Facility tells patient to wait in car ,park in designated area. Then, assistant in haz mat brings them from car to another designated area. Doctor came outside of facility to outdoor area to see patient.; 3/11/20, 8:27 PM
Francisco D said...: Ha! And now we hear from Dr. Lecter who a while back while drunk as a skunk said he wanted to eat my vagina and Ritmo’s brain. The self described psychologist who desperately needs psychotherapy, or at the very least Alcoholic Anonymous.

Get help Inga. Your fantasy life has overtaken you.; 3/11/20, 8:27 PM
brylun said...: @stevew: Also, an increase of 311 new cases in one day, from just under 1000 to 1305 total USA cases. That's an increase of 24% in total cases in just one day!; 3/11/20, 8:29 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: "Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson Test Positive for Coronavirus"; 3/11/20, 8:31 PM
Inga said...: “Get help Inga. Your fantasy life has overtaken you.”

I don’t blame you for denying it. It was a pretty damn weird thing to say, even blackout drunk as you were/are (or nuts). Hmmm maybe that’s why you don’t remember what you said.; 3/11/20, 8:37 PM
brylun said...: The NBA has just suspended their season, as one of the members of the Utah Jazz has tested positive for the coronavirus.; 3/11/20, 8:40 PM
Ken B said...: SPANKED BY INGA
Browndog said of Fauci “ Anyone that cites data from China has no credibility to me.”
This is stupider than Inga has ever come close to being. Fauci cited data from all over. He has credibility due to 40 years of sterling reliability.; 3/11/20, 8:56 PM
MayBee said...: The world has gone crazy. Fear is a pandemic.; 3/11/20, 9:09 PM
MayBee said...: Tom and Rita are in Australia. They had coughs and low fevers and got tested for corona virus and they have it.

Under most circumstances, would you call your doctor for cough and low fever?; 3/11/20, 9:15 PM
MayBee said...: Is there a reason you think the stress placed on Lombardy's hospitals cannot happen here?

Anything can happen or not happen. Being willing or unwilling to take measures to try to stave off what may or may not happen isn't the measure of wisdom or goodness. None of us knows what will happen, and there are downsides to canceling everything just as there may be downsides to canceling nothing.; 3/11/20, 9:18 PM
Anonymous said...: BAG: Of course, it may get much worse from March 12 - December 31, I don't have a crystal ball.

Nobody does. That's the point.

But based on these numbers alone...

But these decisions aren't based "on these numbers alone" as has been explained to you many times over. You could, say, be interesting and make a case for why those other factors don't matter, instead of re-posting your relative mortality rate numbers on every thread. Because WE GET IT that you've decided that those numbers are all the information any one needs to make informed public health decisions about any infectious disease.; 3/11/20, 9:23 PM
Rosalyn C. said...: I'm surprised Farmer hasn't mentioned this fact since he is so focused on the Lombardy region -- both Italy and Germany have the highest percentage of seniors (over 20% of their populations are over 65) and we know that the most vulnerable populations to COVID-19 are seniors and those with serious medical conditions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing_of_Europe

No one knows why the virus has that effect of most seriously targeting seniors but not surprising that areas with highest percentages of seniors will end up with the greatest number of fatalities. Farmer kept asking why the health system of Lombardy has been overwhelmed as if it is some kind of deep mystery.; 3/11/20, 9:28 PM
Drago said...: Inga: "I suggest you Covid19 deniers go lick some door handles and prove that it’s no different than the flu."

So, you insist that individuals must engage in new and novel behaviors to "prove" that a current circumstance is equivalent to a previous circumstance? The former negates the baseline.

Tsk tsk. Another in a long line of Inga Logic Fails.; 3/11/20, 9:36 PM
Drago said...: Inga: "I don’t blame you for denying it. It was a pretty damn weird thing to say, even blackout drunk as you were/are (or nuts). Hmmm maybe that’s why you don’t remember what you said."

It will be interesting to see if the link you provide will back up your assertion.; 3/11/20, 9:37 PM
mockturtle said...: both Italy and Germany have the highest percentage of seniors

Actually, I think Japan has the highest percentage of seniors [after Monaco, which isn't really a country].; 3/11/20, 9:52 PM
Jon Burack said...: "Coronavirus infections in Qatar rise 1,000% in ONE DAY as cases go from 24 to 262

Qatar is about as warm as you can get...

This really does not prove anything. Many early Qatar cases may have come from Iran. In fact there seems to be a substantial difference between this virus in the Northern Hemisphere and regions in the tropical zones. India has 62 cases the last I looked, as compared with China's 80,000 plus. All of sub-Sahara Africa has even less. South America has a few more than 130, even including its more temperate southern zone.; 3/11/20, 10:12 PM
FullMoon said...: Daily Mail Online
‏Verified account @MailOnline

Italian coronavirus death toll climbs by 196 to 827 in 24 hours as country's top doctors say intensive care units should stop treating the elderly

3/11/20, 7:40 PM

Yeah, thought had crossed my mind but didn't want to say it-human sacrifice. Worked for the Aztecs. Should probably wait until after Trump re elected, then clean house..; 3/11/20, 10:22 PM
techsan said...: Why do I keep coming back to Kipling? COVID-19 is a disruptive element. We're not gods...we're subject to reality. And reality is inconvenient and messy. Deal with it. Or don't. It's up to you.; 3/11/20, 10:55 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: Big thing is the overwhelming of the health care system. People can't get care because the virus cases bury the hospitals' ability to treat. That means their normal patients don't get care, either. We are going to lose our hospitals for an undetermined amount of time because of this.

This isn't hard math to understand, and yeah, it's serious. It's happened in China, it's happening in Italy. It's dumb to deny the problem at this point. This is fact.

If you don't believe it's a problem, wait two weeks. Then go to an ER and try to get anyone to help you.; 3/12/20, 12:57 AM
MadisonMan said...: Under most circumstances, would you call your doctor for cough and low fever?
I would not, but I would take to bed and over-hydrate. The less you're around people when you're sick, the better. I don't think I've ever gone to the doctor when I was sick.
(Knocks on wood); 3/12/20, 1:11 AM
MayBee said...: People can't get care because the virus cases bury the hospitals' ability to treat. That means their normal patients don't get care, either. We are going to lose our hospitals for an undetermined amount of time because of this.

This isn't hard math to understand, and yeah, it's serious. It's happened in China, it's happening in Italy. It's dumb to deny the problem at this point. This is fact.

John Lynch, it is a fact that it happened in Wuhan and is happening in Lombardy. It isn't a fact that it will happen here or anywhere else. It is a possibility. One that we have to prepare for, but it isn't a fact yet.; 3/12/20, 8:27 AM
Calypso Facto said...: bananarepublic2020 said...
"trump on tv tonight. Presumably to tell us there are only 15 cases and that number will soon be zero....What a fucking moron."

Waiting for banana to return and apologize ...

A close friend told me today he'll probably lose his restaurant to bankruptcy because of this panic. People claiming that there's no harm in taking any and all precautions against potential illness fail to consider the guaranteed damage of overreaction.; 3/12/20, 8:37 AM