Coronavirus 2019

[DraiAC]

@Menzo

Is this just semantics?

Semantics are important - the guy said just breathing air can spread it. That’s a very dangerous way to put it - he may mean breathing in air near someone who just expelled droplets via a cough or sneeze can spread it, but saying just breathing air can do it implies a completely different level of transmission risk.

And unless he has new data showing such, he really should adjust how he is talking about it. I get the guy might be well respected and apparently isn’t just a quack, but coming with that he should be really careful about what he’s saying. Because to my limited knowledge, no one is saying simple breathing can transfer the virus.

[Juan_Raigada]

@TurinTur

Jesus people are not taking things seriously here in Spain, and the weak measures done by the government doesn’t help. Meanwhile, looking at the numbers, we almost doubled the infected number in 24 hours. We more than triplied the daily new cases.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/spain/

???

Yesterday we had 555 new cases and today we are at 459 (shouldn’t go much higher till that counter resets). Granted, I think yesterday bump was due to more extensive testing and not real and that tomorrow day over day numbers will increase again.

Sporting events are cancelled nationwide, schools here in Madrid closed and every event with over 1000 people forbidden. Fallas are called off, Semana Santa will too… Short of locking down Madrid (which will happen in a couple weeks, I think) you can’t say the measures are actually weak. We are trailing Italy by about week, in cases and in measures.

[ShivaX]

He’s talking about droplets in the air if people are coughing or whatever in a closed space.

Basically he’s trying to layman something that he, imo, shouldn’t.

[Hal9000]

Billings via Denver. I wonder what protocols they have for that at resorts and amusement parks? At least they left, I guess, but really I don’t see any way to win that scenario if it were in fact coronoavirus. Now they’ll burn through the rest of vacation at home.

@TranquilityBase it’s like John Hodgman’s podcast, no free advertising for them. But really just because I always forget if it’s World/Land…they are both Disney freaks and always go there. I’ve never been.

[strummer]

@newbrof

There is something about right wings in western countries. They appear to be unified in their stupidity.

I think it is lack of compassion and/or empathy. If it is someone else’s problem, it is not their problem. If it is not their problem then everyone else is a whiny baby.

[Nesrie]

@ShivaX

He’s talking about droplets in the air if people are coughing or whatever in a closed space.

Basically he’s trying to layman something that he, imo, shouldn’t.

Yeah. He’s doing a shit job there and people are repeating now with the added bonus but hey this guy said so it must be true because he’s no quack.

It’s pretty awful. If we have enough people running around saying just breathing gets you sick, well… I guess people thrive on panic.

[Menzo]

@strummer

I think it is lack of compassion and/or empathy. If it is someone else’s problem, it is not their problem. If it is not their problem then everyone else is a whiny baby.

Meanwhile, by this time next year, everyone in the US will know someone who died from this. How does the ignorant right switch from “you guys are overexagerating this in order to bring Trump down” when 100k people are dead and the number is climbing?

[ShivaX]

@Menzo

Meanwhile, by this time next year, everyone in the US will know someone who died from this.

I’m waiting for the first death from CPAC. That might move the needle. But we’re talking about people with a lot of wealth and access to the best healthcare, so it’s pretty unlikely.

[espressojim]

It is not airborne. Breathing air is not what is happening. It’s breathing in droplets. That’s where the 6 feet comes into play.

This follows all information I have from scientists that I trust.

[rei]

[Nesrie]

Yes because if you go to a small house party, all presumably at the same house, where someone is touching the same door knob and eating the same food and using the same bathroom, because she didn’t visibly see someone cough she is a 100% certain no had any symptoms … except she can’t even be certain they all got it at the same house party to begin with.

We already know its fairly easily spread, but what she is saying refutes nothing. She doesn’t know if someone at the party never coughed into their hand, over the food or even someone who entered the house, touched a knob and didn’t even stay for the party.

Perhaps right now is not a good time to have a party.

[KevinC]

I think this is a thread in particular where we need to be careful about propagating anecdata from social media. Just my opinion (and I very much am including myself there), not asking anyone to change anything.

[Perky_Goth]

@Menzo

How does the ignorant right switch from “you guys are overexagerating this in order to bring Trump down” when 100k people are dead and the number is climbing?

With a Sino-Liberal conspiracy, of course. Funded by Soros, or something.

[ShivaX]

Radley Balko (radleybalko)

And there it is.

[scottagibson]

And Trump will say he was right to want to stop all immigration and wall off the country to keep these dirty people shithole country diseases away from America.

[pyrhic]

This appears to be the piece that supports what Osterholm was saying: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/study-highlights-ease-spread-covid-19-viruses

The findings confirm that COVID-19 is spread simply through breathing, even without coughing, he said. They also challenge the idea that contact with contaminated surfaces is a primary means of spread, Osterholm said.

“Don’t forget about hand washing, but at the same time we’ve got to get people to understand that if you don’t want to get infected, you can’t be in crowds,” he said. “Social distancing is the most effective tool we have right now.”

[KevinC]

Not refuting anything, just want to point out that CIDRAP is the organization Osterholm is part of, so it makes sense that their info supports what he was saying.

I have no idea about any of this, but the guy certainly isn’t a quack.

From 1975 to 1999, Osterholm served in various roles at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), including as state epidemiologist and Chief of the Acute Disease Epidemiology Section from 1984 to 1999. While at the MDH, Osterholm strengthened the departments role in infectious disease epidemiology, notably including numerous foodborne disease outbreaks, the association between tampons and toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and the transmission of hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in healthcare workers. Other work included studies regarding the epidemiology of infectious diseases in child-care settings, vaccine-preventable diseases (particularly Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B), Lyme disease, and other emerging and re-emerging infections.[3]

From 2001 through early 2005, Osterholm, in addition to his role at CIDRAP, served as a Special Advisor to then–HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on issues related to bioterrorism and public health preparedness. In April 2002, Osterholm was appointed to the interim management team to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), until the eventual appointment of Julie Gerberding as director on July 3, 2002. Osterholm was asked by Thompson to assist Gerberding on his behalf during the transition period. He filled that role through January 2003.[3]

Osterholm was appointed by Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to the National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity in 2005.[3]

[pyrhic]

ya, i know that - but i thought people might want to read the actual article to pick out nuances, details, etc.

[KevinC]

For sure. Thanks for posting it.

[Nesrie]

This article is still talking about sputum, which is basically… droplets. I mean you don’t have to cough or sneeze to spit when you talk, when I was a kid we referred to this as say it don’t spray it, or double dip in Ranch Dip or use your hand to wipe your mouth. It’s not really refuting what the others are saying, and to be clear, outside of the political business as usual, the general advice is yeah, don’t go to large gatherings, stay home if you can… I mean they’re not telling people to work from home if they can instead of bathing yourself in hand-sanitizer at the desk for no reason.

The washing hands isn’t just meant to avoid getting sick, it also helps prevent spreading it if you are sick and don’t say… know it.