6053

My father is kind of terrified about dying from this. Over and over, about every 5 minutes, he repeats “I only have 50% lung capacity” “as you know, I’ve only got 50% of my capacity” “I was told i’m very suspectible to respiratory infections” What’s he talking about? Basically history, and a warning about uncontrolled genetic testing.

My aunt died because of complications she developed A1AD, alpha-1-antitrypsin disorder, at around the age of 50. Effectively progressive emphysema, and she died due to complications during lung transplant. My father later was tested and learned he was a carrier, with one allele.

Apparently this sort of scarred him.

Despite it being true that I believe he probably is a bit more susceptible and probably does have weaker lungs… it’s not exactly 50%. It doesn’t really work that way, as he does have some proper protein expression. Something like 19 million American carry one allele, and they’re not dropping dead from lung related illnesses. He doesn’t seem to really understand the difference between being a carrier and developing the disease - he thinks of himself as just having 50% of the disease.

So for an hour every day he runs around in circles trying to be upbeat on the phone but clearly in a state of constant, low panic, and he assumes if he develops COVID that he’s going to die.

6054

Tell him if he really only had 50% lung function he’d be huffing and puffing just walking in the grocery store and be about to collapse when he left. Realistically he’s around 80% or better.

@Enidigm ask if if he has the S or Z allele mutation. That makes a big difference.

6055

He should be worried/cautious, but not to the point of dysfunction. He should be at home, watching TV, playing games with family, talking on the phone, etc. Make the most of shelter in place orders.

6056
6057
6058

They just needs places to wash, eat, idle and sleep. As long as they got that, they can keep going. The semis can’t get food that easily with the truck stops closed. I realize none of us can get things that easily, but it’s just a slightly different hardship here for something that can’t park just anywhere.

There’s stock and then there is 20 out of 100 people need a bed stock.

It was mentioned above… somwhere but we have more ICUs in this country than some other countries, and it’s not as if Italy’s UHC is doing them much good.

Try to keep in mind those healthcare workers, they’re still going to work without supplies, they’re getting sick trying to fight for us and the people who support them are doing the best we can knowing that that virus has a very good chance of running through the ranks in that very system.

We had a chance to prepare for this when China got hit. It was squandered by piss poor leadership.

6059

A bit more information:

If he’s MS diagnosed then he has nothing to worry about, he’s normal. If he’s MZ, then he has a slightly increased chance of issues, but still they won’t end up like your Aunt. The only thing that can change that is if he’s a smoker. The more he smokes the greater risk of COPD. If he’s a non smoker he really has nothing to worry about, and if he has not been diagnosed with COPD then he’s perfectly fine. That can change of course as time goes on, but unless he has chronic bronchitis, gets winded super easily, or has COPD he can put his fears to rest.

6060

And remember: Andy Beshear beat Matt Bevin by just 5,000 votes out of 1.4 million cast.

Think about what Kentucky would be like right now with Matt Bevin running things in this crisis.

6061

Slightly tangential question - should we generally be reading the # of folks tested as unique people or are there likely significant subgroups (e.g. medical care providers) who are getting tested every few days that skews the data between infected vs tested?

6062

Medical care providers are only tested if they show symptoms. I don’t know the process for those caring for Coronavirus patients.

6063

That’s great info and advice, i’ll try to work that in gently the next time we speak. Thanks jpinard!

6064

Today’s stealing credit and laying blame session has begun.

Started right off deflecting by talking about how it’s in 148 counties. “Can you believe that, 148 countries?”

6065

I wonder how big the difference will be between Red vs Blue leadership at the state and local level. I’m pretty pleased that back in your old hometown, our county executive is not only a Democrat, but also an anesthesiologist. Better yet, all the local leaders (STL City, STL County, St Charles County, JeffCo) are coordinating pretty damn well.

We expect a full lockdown on everything Monday,but just locally. The governor has stated multiple times that he will do nothing – “It’s a virus. Government can’t help you.”

6066

And of course, there it is, “The Chinese virus”. This guy.

6067

This is excellent. Thanks for posting it.

6068

Trump is on… I think its live or from an hour ago I can’t tell.

Ah I see some of you are watching! :D

6069

It usually takes about 10+ days to see the effects of changing social distancing in tested infection rates. I’m not sure how one explains the differences 4-5 days in as coming from difference in how they acted. More likely, there was a difference in testing/ascertainment, which is exasperated by small numbers.

[edit : don’t make me post the wuhan plot again.]

6070

He started clearly reading a script, now he’s starting to ad lib a little. The weird bit about walmart doing great business was weird.

Edit: Carson looks like he’s trying blink out a Morse Code message.

6071

Walmart family are hard core republicans

6072

China is now at 3 days without new cases except imported cases.

And they are quarantining everybody who comes in into major cities for 14 days. Which is probably going to stay in place for a long while. There’s hope we can supress this, but air travel companies are fucked.