COVID-19/Coronavirus Information and Support Thread (see OP for useful links)

[baldgye]

There's enough wealth in the USA for them to ride it out without needing to risk people by opening up businesses and schools four months too early.

Ha! That isn't how successful capitalist nations work!

 

[ryzno]

A stainless steel table surface is like 7 days

Don't tell me that!
------
From what I heard on the news, Atlanta is pretty much shut down as of yesterday and Kemp(our Governor) is pretty much shutting down GA this weekend.
They also cancelled the rest of the school year. Ain't my son lucky lol!

 

[01GTP]

USA might want to do the census next year or whenever the virus runs its course for the year. There's going to be less people for sure by then.
If it weren't for our Governors stepping in with the shutdowns we'd really be up sh creek. And thanks must go to Dr. Brix and Fauci and the team, even somewhat Pence. Without them Trump would be damned along with the rest of us. Trump believes nobody including the virus team, obviously. How could a President think people would be stealing masks? C'mon man WTF? Find your own facts (weed thru the mess) and don't rely on others for the truth, most others have their own agenda/spin, that's life. Help those in the health care field helping us if you can. #StayhomeStaysafe

As of yesterday..........
There are several ways people can file their census data: by phone, mail, or for the first time this year, online. But the bureau has suspended all in-person census surveys until further notice, and has stalled field operations until at least April 15. And those parts of the process, like in-person enumerating, are a key part of accounting for communities in group living situations — such as nursing homes or prisons — or with hard to reach populations, such as the homeless, those without a stable address and immigrants who may fear how the data they share will be used by the government.

 

[baldgye]

 

[baldgye]

US unemployment claims hit record high

A record 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, official figures show.
It surpasses the previous week's record high of nearly 3.3 million.
For context, the previous record of 695,000 was set in 1982.
It comes as officials in states across the country have closed restaurants, bars, cinemas, hotels and gyms in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

 

[88GTA]

The New York State unemployment office typically gets 50,000 calls a week. Last week, it got almost 8 million.

 

[Danoff]

The last time I checked, it was reported that 66 Italian doctors have died so far due to the novel coronavirus. I am assuming that this is a major change. In addition, there have been many more health care professionals who have become seriously sick but have survived.

Lengthy article on BBC website explaining - or trying to - the reason for widely differing mortality rates:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200401-coronavirus-why-death-and-mortality-rates-differ

Doctors have been dying to care for people since doctors were a thing. And lots of professions risk their lives. It's wonderful and great that they exist, and I'm inspired by the human heart, and it's not unique to healthcare.

Well... businesses aren't people, and protecting people is the key reason for these temporary rules. There's enough wealth in the USA for them to ride it out without needing to risk people by opening up businesses and schools four months too early. Any other course of action looks like it's putting business wealth ahead of personal well-being, that's not a good situation.

See below. This can cause more deaths than COVID-19, and can do it globally as well.

US unemployment claims hit record high

A record 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, official figures show.
It surpasses the previous week's record high of nearly 3.3 million.
For context, the previous record of 695,000 was set in 1982.
It comes as officials in states across the country have closed restaurants, bars, cinemas, hotels and gyms in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Edit:

Also, to be clear, I'm complaining about the "kick the can down the road" process here. Not specifically any measures, but they way they're being rolled out.

 

[twitcher]

Doctors have been dying to care for people since doctors were a thing. And lots of professions risk their lives. It's wonderful and great that they exist, and I'm inspired by the human heart, and it's not unique to healthcare.



See below. This can cause more deaths than COVID-19, and can do it globally as well.



Edit:

Also, to be clear, I'm complaining about the "kick the can down the road" process here. Not specifically any measures, but they way they're being rolled out.

I’m not sure governments had any other option than the “kick the can down the road approach”. Imagine if they would have come out of the gate and said, “folks, we are going to issues a 3 month Stay at Home measure, enforceable by law.” I think people would have lost their minds, and society would have crumbled.

I don’t like the “kick the can” approach, and yes it leaves officials open to criticism, but I honestly don’t think there was another option.

 

[DesertPenguin]

I’m not sure governments had any other option than the “kick the can down the road approach”. Imagine if they would have come out of the gate and said, “folks, we are going to issues a 3 month Stay at Home measure, enforceable by law.” I think people would have lost their minds, and society would have crumbled.

I don’t like the “kick the can” approach, and yes it leaves officials open to criticism, but I honestly don’t think there was another option.

Or they could have given a three month stay at home order and the world could just grow up a little, but that's asking too much right?

 

[twitcher]

Or they could have given a three month stay at home order and the world could just grow up a little, but that's asking too much right?

Are you familiar with the world we live in?

Try to imagine Donald J Trump, fresh off an impeachment inquiry, issuing a 3 month mandatory Stay at Home order. The accusations of “Hitler-Nazi-dictator-Putin-puppet” would know no bounds.

Some counties may have tolerated that kind of order being issued by their government, but I highly, highly doubt the US would have.

If a democratic president were to issue that order, there would be cries of “socialist revolution, they want to take my guns!!!” If a republican president were to issue that order, there would be cries of “white nationalist dictator!!!”.

I blame the media and the government itself for creating a hyper partisan atmosphere in the US. I’m not sure exactly how they pull out of it.

 

[Danoff]

I’m not sure governments had any other option than the “kick the can down the road approach”. Imagine if they would have come out of the gate and said, “folks, we are going to issues a 3 month Stay at Home measure, enforceable by law.” I think people would have lost their minds, and society would have crumbled.

I don’t like the “kick the can” approach, and yes it leaves officials open to criticism, but I honestly don’t think there was another option.

I think there was, and I think there is, and I think this is not an excuse for them.

My schools, my city, my state, told me they were shut for 2 weeks, resuming in March... then they moved it to April 17, now it's April 30. So what confidence do I have in this number?

How about make a real estimate... say April 20. Or even say June whatever. And then announce "we'll lift it sooner if it goes well". Even that tiny bit would be a huge improvement. It would focus planning, reduce panic, reduce malinvestment...

If you tell me "look we're shut till June", I'd already have hired someone and have them working in my house, and I'd be back to full time, not losing vacation, not stringing along my job, and I'd spend the money (and employ someone). The kick the can thing is awful.

 

[Joey D]

There's enough wealth in the USA for them to ride it out without needing to risk people by opening up businesses and schools four months too early.

There is, but short of forcibly taking the money from them, most of which isn't liquid, there's not really much the government can do. There are plenty of billionaires stepping up to help out, but billionaire are still people and a certain percentage of them are just going to be stubborn, greedy, asshats with no compassion for their fellow humans.

And speaking of billionaires, if Trump is as rich as he claims to be and owns so much real estate, how come he's not helping out? That would clearly win points for him, especially in an election year. Actually, where are any of the ultra-rich politicians at besides being mostly useless at their jobs and complaining on Twitter?

 

[Danoff]

There is, but short of forcibly taking the money from them, most of which isn't liquid, there's not really much the government can do.

And also, the most recent bailout was what... $2T? So if we round up 2,000 billionaires and take $1B from each of them (and it exists... not having been destroyed in the market), causing them to fire sale stocks (like Amazon) and causing companies to get bought in hostile stock takeovers (like Amazon getting bought by Apple), and take that $2T and give it to everyone....

How long is that going to last?

 

[Joey D]

And also, the most recent bailout was what... $2T? So if we round up 2,000 billionaires and take $1B from each of them (and it exists... not having been destroyed in the market), causing them to fire sale stocks (like Amazon) and causing companies to get bought in hostile stock takeovers (like Amazon getting bought by Apple), and take that $2T and give it to everyone....

How long is that going to last?

It'd probably look something like this to the people who want forced wealth redistribution:

 

[Danoff]

It'd probably look something like this to the people who want forced wealth redistribution:

BTW I just looked it up, there aren't even 1000 billionaires in the US.

 

[twitcher]

I think there was, and I think there is, and I think this is not an excuse for them.

My schools, my city, my state, told me they were shut for 2 weeks, resuming in March... then they moved it to April 17, now it's April 30. So what confidence do I have in this number?

How about make a real estimate... say April 20. Or even say June whatever. And then announce "we'll lift it sooner if it goes well". Even that tiny bit would be a huge improvement. It would focus planning, reduce panic, reduce malinvestment...

If you tell me "look we're shut till June", I'd already have hired someone and have them working in my house, and I'd be back to full time, not losing vacation, not stringing along my job, and I'd spend the money (and employ someone). The kick the can thing is awful.

I agree with you, but I still believe that the US as a whole would not have tolerated a 3 month shut down announced at the beginning of March. It would have required police and/or military force to enforce (we may still get to that point), and I think it would have caused the US to devolve into a state of civil unrest, possibly even open conflict.

Governments announced a 2 week shutdown, and people have had a hard enough time accepting that. 3 months out of the gate would have sent people over be edge.

 

[Dotini]

I agree with you, but I still believe that the US as a whole would not have tolerated a 3 month shut down announced at the beginning of March. It would have required police and/or military force to enforce (we may still get to that point), and I think it would have caused the US to devolve into a state of civil unrest, possibly even open conflict.

Governments announced a 2 week shutdown, and people have had a hard enough time accepting that. 3 months out of the gate would have sent people over be edge.

Yes. Sour, harsh medicines are administered in the smallest possible quantities!

 

[DesertPenguin]

Sometimes the thing that needs to be done is awful and it sucks, but it is necessary.

For example: World War I

 

[Joey D]

I'm curious if any polls like this have been taking in other states and how they compare:

Utahns trust state government more than the feds to deal with coronavirus pandemic

Utahns, and more specifically Mormons, are notoriously anti-federal government since they went to war with Utah in the 1800s. So, it doesn't surprise me that the state government is getting more props for handling the situation than the federal government. But it would be interesting to see how other states were polling. My guess is that for the most part, people would trust their local government over the feds, but I have no idea.

 

[ULTRAVIOLENZZ]

Gravitas: Wuhan Coronavirus: Italians seek 'war damages' from China.

 

[DesertPenguin]

I'm curious if any polls like this have been taking in other states and how they compare:

Utahns trust state government more than the feds to deal with coronavirus pandemic

Utahns, and more specifically Mormons, are notoriously anti-federal government since they went to war with Utah in the 1800s. So, it doesn't surprise me that the state government is getting more props for handling the situation than the federal government. But it would be interesting to see how other states were polling. My guess is that for the most part, people would trust their local government over the feds, but I have no idea.

Personally I don't care so long as someone does something.

 

[DK]

Gravitas: Wuhan Coronavirus: Italians seek 'war damages' from China.

Good luck getting that from a country where History class is mostly about the "Century of Humiliation".

 

[FoRiZon]

Check the video if you have time:


Not to say other countries didn't have the problem but I found the US to be the most egregious.

 

[baldgye]

It'd probably look something like this to the people who want forced wealth redistribution:

Yeah it’s ruining the uk at the moment... our biggest worry tbh.......

 

[McLaren]

Reminds me of the news that Lady Gaga’s father is asking for $50k in donations to keep their restaurant employees paid for the next month, even though she’s part-owner and could easily cut that check.

 

[twitcher]

So, the largest Covid-19 outbreak in the province of B.C. has happened in my town. Yay.

https://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelowna/296028/75-Bylands-workers-isolating

Seventy-five employees of West Kelowna's Bylands Nursery are self isolating, after 14 of them recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the 75 people who are now self isolating, 63 are temporary foreign workers while 12 are local employees.

Interior Health says the positive cases "may be linked to a group of workers who arrived in Kelowna from outside of Canada on March 12."

 

[DG_Silva]

Reminds me of the news that Lady Gaga’s father is asking for $50k in donations to keep their restaurant employees paid for the next month, even though she’s part-owner and could easily cut that check.

How much are they paying their waiters?

 

[Danoff]

I agree with you, but I still believe that the US as a whole would not have tolerated a 3 month shut down announced at the beginning of March. It would have required police and/or military force to enforce (we may still get to that point), and I think it would have caused the US to devolve into a state of civil unrest, possibly even open conflict.

Governments announced a 2 week shutdown, and people have had a hard enough time accepting that. 3 months out of the gate would have sent people over be edge.

You have a very small opinion of people. And I think you underestimate how much damage this causes, and just how much of a failure of leadership it is.

 

[twitcher]

You have a very small opinion of people. And I think you underestimate how much damage this causes, and just how much of a failure of leadership it is.

Again, I don’t disagree that it’s a failure of leadership (but I’d argue no more a failure than what’s happening in Canada). But I do feel they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I also don’t think it’s that I have a small opinion of people, it’s just that I think large potions of the American population don’t like listening to their government....especially when it comes to listening to orders given by Trump.

I’m trying to imagine Trump issuing a somewhat preemptive/preventative nation wide lockdown, say March 1 through May 31 (hot on the heals of his impeachment). What do you think the reaction of the likes of Rachel Maddow, Brian Stelter, AOC, Rashida “impeach the mother-🤬” Talib, etc would be? Do you think they would have had nothing to say? Do you think they would support Trump? Keep in mind that many democrats (eg de Blasio) were down playing this virus well into March.

Even if Trump had acted like a leader, I don’t think those who oppose him would have afforded him the opportunity to lead. If that makes me cynical, so be it.

I can tell you from the vibes I get in western Canada, if Trudeau had tried to issue a multi-month, nation wide lock down, enforceable by law (hot on the heals of failing to enforce the rule of law regarding pipeline protests), I think there would be many in western Canada who would not comply, simply because of who issued the order.

 

[killerjimbag]

Again, I don’t disagree that it’s a failure of leadership (but I’d argue no more a failure than what’s happening in Canada). But I do feel they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I also don’t think it’s that I have a small opinion of people, it’s just that I think large potions of the American population don’t like listening to their government....especially when it comes to listening to orders given by Trump.

I’m trying to imagine Trump issuing a somewhat preemptive/preventative nation wide lockdown, say March 1 through May 31 (hot on the heals of his impeachment). What do you think the reaction of the likes of Rachel Maddow, Brian Stelter, AOC, Rashida “impeach the mother-🤬” Talib, etc would be? Do you think they would have had nothing to say? Do you think they would support Trump? Keep in mind that many democrats (eg de Blasio) were down playing this virus well into March.

Even if Trump had acted like a leader, I don’t think those who oppose him would have afforded him the opportunity to lead. If that makes me cynical, so be it.

I can tell you from the vibes I get in western Canada, if Trudeau had tried to issue a multi-month, nation wide lock down, enforceable by law (hot on the heals of failing to enforce the rule of law regarding pipeline protests), I think there would be many in western Canada who would not comply, simply because of who issued the order.

Really,do you think Westerners are stupid ? Yeah they had protests in "Ontario" that shut down the whole country. It was a Western problem? Alberta spent almost 4 billion on oil sands. How's that working out. How many jobs did that 4 billion make? Zero. Notta, Zilch. I can't stand the jackass Trudumb either but to think Westerners wouldn't comply. Make some common sense man.