3054

It is also still peak seasonal flu season in the United States. It’s normal to have a couple of million cases of flu nationally in March. By March, it’s normal to have had 150,000 cumulative hospitalizations due to seasonal flu nationwide.

It is still far more likely that a sick person has seasonal flu than COVID-19.

3055

‘Sorry Mr. Trump, we didn’t actually say that’

3056

Please, this is a gaming forum. The only correct solution comes from the Legend of Grimrock, where condemned criminals are thrown down into a seemingly endless subterranean maze of traps and monsters.

3057

We invented gibbets for a reason, people.
image

3058

BTW, and this probably goes without saying, but if you’ve been hanging in this forum all day off and on…get out into the real world for a bit. Maintain that social distance, but even if its just to walk around your neighborhood for a while, do it.

It’s therapeutic.

The world continues to spin. And there’s some comfort in that, weird as it sounds.

3059

To follow up on what CNN was saying about masks:

The point was made that surgical masks are really for preventing you from infecting others, not the other way around. So hording surgical masks isn’t helpful.

Gupta pointed out that the n95 masks need to be fitted right and the seal tested and they are hardly for everyday wear.

From my own experience wearing a mask for sanding and staining, and knowing most people don’t read instructions, I’m sure lots of those who are hoarding n95 masks aren’t even aware of how to test to see if you have a good seal. There are sure to be people with full beards wearing a mask over them thinking they are protected.

3060

Asians: We’ve forgotten to go after them.

3061

BTW a local distillery which used some of its waste product to make hand sanitizer also put out a list of other songs that work. “Raspberry Beret” through the line “I Think I Love Her” works, as does the chorus of “Heaven is a Place on Earth” or a verse of Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man.” :-)

3062
3063

Well, way up the thread I suggested that because we couldn’t bomb coronavirus the only thing Republicans could think of would be tax cuts.

Turns out Tom Cotton is more creative than I thought. He’s full on righteous anger about what China has unleashed on the world.

I would imagine he’ll suggest next that the Chinese people will greet us as liberators.

3064
3065

I’ll tell you what, the Koreans almost killed me tonight.

With delicious Bi Bim Bop.

Oh, also, this:

And finally… Anyone thinking it’s weird that all these famous world leaders and actors and crap are testing positive for coronavirus?

It’s because they’re the only ones being tested. The number of infected is likely immense.

3066

Yep I am thinking 1% of the US has it already. And who really knows, we have almost zero testing capability.

I kid everyone not, I stopped at 3 grocery stores on the way home, no toilet paper, napkins, paper plates, most were out of water, no pasta, no rice, no peanut butter, shelves of all snack products had to be easily 75% empty.

Oh also sandwich bags are gone. Probably to hold all the snacks.

3067

Pretty eventful day in Canada.

40% increase in cases in Ontario, schools closing for 2 weeks after March break.
BC & Alberta shutting down large gatherings & requiring all incoming travelers to self-isolate.
PM’s wife has the virus.
PM was apparently self-isolated with her.
TP shortage everywhere!

3068

Infection rate in Italy is currently 0.025%

3069

Yep.

A million infected is 0.3% of the population. I’m pretty sure we’re well over 0.3%.

3070

My (poor layman) understanding of it…

In the briefing the UK medical officers explained that they will take social isolation measures - just not yet. This is because they are working under 4 assumptions (or known variables?).

  1. The UK is approx 4 weeks behind Italy
  2. The NHS has much greater capacity in the summer than in the winter months due to seasonal “normal” flu
  3. Severe “lock-down” isolation methods become less effective the longer they go on due to fatigue (unless you declare martial law or something)
  4. Some infection of the population is desirable because it increases immunity

So they will delay extreme social isolation measures because they are trying to:

  1. Time the first peak so that it occurs during the summer months (when the NHS has the most capacity)
  2. They can apply social isolation at a point in the logistic curve where it will be most effective (too early and people get fatigued of the measures before the peak)
  3. So that some infection of the population occurs because it increases immunity (and this may help to blunt a second wave)

I guess there are many variables involved that will be different for each country - this stuff is complicated.

Here is the relevant section of the briefing:

3071

As I mentioned in the other thread. There’s a coronavirus patient a wing away from me at U of Michigan hospital. Thankfully, as I’ve talked to many nurses and respiratory therapists here, they are exceptionally prepared… primarily because they have done their own thing and ignored the federal CDC guidelines where necessary. Unfortunately, this has severely affected response times. I needed help earlier today and it took my nurse 2 hours to get to me. Not fun when you’re writhing in pain, but I understand the challenges they have to deal with as they shift resources and have to implement their evolving protocols.

3072

True, but people could have it and also have allergies, right?

3073