What on Earth is going on in the world today? It's gone mad

[Moxie]

A month of travel ban from Europe is insane !

Asking seriously...why do you think that's insane?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Asking seriously...why do you think that's insane?

Do I have to explain really? Every year at least 30 thousand people die from regular flu. This virus is not even particularly deadly. Average age of people it kills is 80, and even those are people that have other conditions. This ban is going to screw the economy up big time. Overreaction.

 

[Moxie]

Do I have to explain really? Every year at least 30 thousand people die from regular flu. This virus is not even particularly deadly. Average age of people it kills is 80, and even those are people that have other conditions. This ban is going to screw the economy up big time. Overreaction.

I appreciate your illuminating beyond a one word freak-out. We all know that flu is deadly, as many of us have been saying for years. (Did you get your flu shot?) But many doctors and experts have said this COVID-19 is NOT just a flu. The WHO has declared it officially a pandemic. You might try reading this for the difference: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...-compare-coronavirus-flu-200309145951552.html

A big point they make is that the new corona virus is new. They don't know enough about it, it's spreading worldwide, and there is no cure or innoculation, so far. And according to the above, it's killing at a higher rate than the flu. All we can do is try to make reasonable adjustments. Maybe a 30-day travel ban to Europe is too much. Maybe it can be lifted before that. But to call anything an "overreaction" at this point seems short-sighted. To me.

 

[britbox]

Do I have to explain really? Every year at least 30 thousand people die from regular flu. This virus is not even particularly deadly. Average age of people it kills is 80, and even those are people that have other conditions. This ban is going to screw the economy up big time. Overreaction.

Mate, In a world where money seems to rule much of the decision-making, I think it's safe to say that world governments think this is a very dangerous virus.

Actions speak louder than words, and some of the actions that are being taken are unprecedented. Are we to really believe that all of the nations are unilaterally having a massive overreaction? Or do you suspect they know some stuff about this virus that maybe the wider populace don't?

Given the precarious state of the Italian Economy before the virus even hit, don't you think it would be a massive shot of self-sabotage for them to be acting this way just as an "overreaction" to a bit of flu?

The stuff I'm reading is indicating that the contagion rate of this virus is probably the worst since the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 100 years ago, which killed 50 million people...and the death rate is significantly higher than flu.

Don't trust Government figures on the contagion numbers buddy. The American test numbers are dismal... and most other countries not much better. People around the globe are being refused tests...even if they have symptoms, as governments are first prioritizing people returning from localities with infections.

The numbers are probably way, way higher than confirmed official numbers. If you can't get a test, then you haven't officially "got it" even if you do have it.

I'm not trusting government figures to draw conclusions, rather I'm monitoring government actions to feed into my concern. And so far, government actions are telling me that this is significantly more dangerous and disruptive than a bit of flu.

 

[britbox]

NBA season just suspended.

 

[Moxie]

Mate, In a world where money seems to rule much of the decision-making, I think it's safe to say that world governments think this is a very dangerous virus.

Actions speak louder than words, and some of the actions that are being taken are unprecedented. Are we to really believe that all of the nations are unilaterally having a massive overreaction? Or do you suspect they know some stuff about this virus that maybe the wider populace don't?

Given the precarious state of the Italian Economy before the virus even hit, don't you think it would be a massive shot of self-sabotage for them to be acting this way just as an "overreaction" to a bit of flu?

The stuff I'm reading is indicating that the contagion rate of this virus is probably the worst since the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 100 years ago, which killed 50 million people...and the death rate is significantly higher than flu.

Don't trust Government figures on the contagion numbers buddy. The American test numbers are dismal... and most other countries not much better. People around the globe are being refused tests...even if they have symptoms, as governments are first prioritizing people returning from localities with infections.

The numbers are probably way, way higher than confirmed official numbers. If you can't get a test, then you haven't officially "got it" even if you do have it.

I'm not trusting government figures to draw conclusions, rather I'm monitoring government actions to feed into my concern. And so far, government actions are telling me that this is significantly more dangerous and disruptive than a bit of flu.

This is just anecdotal, but today, in one of my call-in shows that I like, a person from a quarantined zone north of Manhattan called in to say that a person in their family, who was not old, but was demonstrating symptoms was told that they didn't qualify to be tested. How is this possible? They're in a hot zone, and they have the symptoms. This is why I'm sure that the US numbers are surely underreported.

 

[britbox]

This is just anecdotal, but today, in one of my call-in shows that I like, a person from a quarantined zone north of Manhattan called in to say that a person in their family, who was not old, but was demonstrating symptoms was told that they didn't qualify to be tested. How is this possible? They're in a hot zone, and they have the symptoms. This is why I'm sure that the US numbers are surely underreported.

Probably massively underreported. I've heard exactly the same situation of refused tests from a number of different sources in different countries. I do understand that they need to prioritize testing but your contact would seem to be a prime candidate for a test.
I found Merkel's comments yesterday that up to 70% of Germans could become infected quite disturbing.

 

[Jelenafan]

Probably massively underreported. I've heard exactly the same situation of refused tests from a number of different sources in different countries. I do understand that they need to prioritize testing but your contact would seem to be a prime candidate for a test.
I found Merkel's comments yesterday that up to 70% of Germans could become infected quite disturbing.

Say what you will about Merkel , but I doubt she’s an alarmist by nature.

As far as the NBA , apparently a Utah Jazz player tested positive. The mind reels thinking of all the possible contacts he had with others and multiplied by their contacts..

NBA suspends season due to coronavirus outbreak; owners preparing for no games until June, per report

On Sunday, the CDC recommended to avoid gatherings of 50 or more people for eight weeks

www.cbssports.com

 

[Moxie]

Say what you will about Merkel , but I doubt she’s an alarmist by nature.

As far as the NBA , apparently a Utah Jazz player tested positive. The mind reels thinking of all the possible contacts he had with others and multiplied by their contacts..

NBA suspends season due to coronavirus outbreak; owners preparing for no games until June, per report

On Sunday, the CDC recommended to avoid gatherings of 50 or more people for eight weeks

www.cbssports.com

The last thing you'd call Merkel is an alarmist. I suspect she's the one being sanguine and realistic, and that is scary. While that NBA player tested positive, and any number of us might get it, I know that most of us won't die from it. The only thing is that lots of people likely WILL die from it. And if you listen to what Italy is saying right now, some people will die from lack of adequate ICU space for other things. If this were a regular flu year, we wouldn't be suffering lack of ICU space in the same way.

 

[Jelenafan]

Forest Gump and wife tested positive.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson diagnosed with coronavirus | CNN

Actor Tom Hanks says he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have been diagnosed with coronavirus.

www.cnn.com

 

[britbox]

Forest Gump and wife tested positive.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson diagnosed with coronavirus | CNN

Actor Tom Hanks says he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have been diagnosed with coronavirus.

www.cnn.com

In Australia too. It just so happens that 2 of the 120 confirmed tests in Australia are American celebrities. I'd hazard a guess that the real numbers of infections are many times higher.

 

[Moxie]

In Australia too. It just so happens that 2 of the 120 confirmed tests in Australia are American celebrities. I'd hazard a guess that the real numbers of infections are many times higher.

Also, what are the chances they got it in Australia? They probably brought it from California. Australia is cautious about letting random fruits and vegetables in. They might be more cautious about celebrities.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Do I have to explain really? Every year at least 30 thousand people die from regular flu. This virus is not even particularly deadly. Average age of people it kills is 80, and even those are people that have other conditions. This ban is going to screw the economy up big time. Overreaction.

You REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLY need to read up more on the topics you seem to feel so strongly about. It's becoming a theme. This is not like the regular flu. Please conduct some research. This is borderline irresponsible.

 

[britbox]

Also, what are the chances they got it in Australia? They probably brought it from California. Australia is cautious about letting random fruits and vegetables in. They might be more cautious about celebrities.

They are in my home town. He's been here a while making a movie with Baz Luhrmann.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

They are in my home town. He's been here a while making a movie with Baz Luhrmann.

Apparently after visiting Bondi Beach a few days ago,,Hanks and his wife started getting aches and pain,then flew to Gold Coast where they were tested for the virus in hospital which proved positive.Hank's wife Rita was in a concert at the Opera House,last Saturday night,Tom was with her from what the media is saying today.

 

[Federberg]

"Our team is the very best in the world"??? WTF.... has he seen what the South Koreans have done. They have an app for fks sake, as soon as you enter the country. You load it on your phone and away you go. They are testing over 10,000 people per day. The US hasn't tested 10,000 total. What colour is the sky in his world?...

 

[Federberg]

All EPL matches to be played in empty stadiums. We are now in Thunderdome territory folks....

By the way, the S&P 500 is now trading close to its 200 week average. I know that probably doesn't mean much, but this is a level that's held since the global financial crisis. If we don't hold above that then the whole market dynamic changes from a "buy on dip" mentality to "sell the rallies". I can't stress strongly enough how important the market close this Friday is becoming

 

[britbox]

"Our team is the very best in the world"??? WTF.... has he seen what the South Koreans have done. They have an app for fks sake, as soon as you enter the country. You load it on your phone and away you go. They are testing over 10,000 people per day. The US hasn't tested 10,000 total. What colour is the sky in his world?...

 

[Federberg]

COVID-19 map: Tracking the coronavirus outbreak worldwide

How many COVID-19 cases are there in the United States, Brazil, India, Europe, the Middle East or China? This map tracks the novel coronavirus outbreak in each country worldwide.

infographics.channelnewsasia.com

 

[El Dude]

I'm fairly certain this is already FAR more widespread than the numbers are saying. It has been stateside for as long as several months, and I know several people across the country who have dealt with a higher number of winter illnesses then normal. I wouldn't be surprised if some of that is COVID-19.

Meaning, many thousands--even millions--could have already had it in the States, but didn't even know it because for most it isn't that severe, and thus haven't been tested. Even if it isn't as prevalent as I suspect, if you're relatively healthy and under 70ish, you should be OK.

This isn't to downplay the risk and number of lives that will be lost. "Only" 1% mortality rate (and it might be even lower) is still over 3 million Americans, and almost 800 million worldwide. But the vast majority of that 1% will be people over 70-80ish and those with compromised immune systems. All of this can be ameliorated with proper self-care, hand-washing, etc, which reduces the "curve" of exposure and spread.

Oh yeah, get sleep, drink liquids, try not to stress too much and...minimize the booze.