SpankyMcFarland

Glorious leader Putin singlehandedly defeat virus in cage match. The Russian strategy - run your country so badly nobody wants to visit.

Not being part of the Eurasian landmass has given us some time. Let’s use it wisely.

Our health system is like an aircraft carrier; it can change course but only slowly. Novel infections are unusual because of the acute strain they can place on health care, the economy and society. It’s the rate of change that’s the big challenge. The fatality rate of C-19 is at the very least 7 times that of seasonal flu, a nontrivial difference. If a significant proportion of the population becomes infected, we just don’t have enough slack to accommodate such an abrupt rise in demand for ICU beds, and doctors may have to decide who gets the ventilators. The news from Italy this week has been truly frightening. Two months ago I was planning to spend April there; now Bergamo is like a war zone, and many more young people are ending up in hospital than I expected. Countries that acted early and decisively to C-19, like Taiwan and Singapore, have performed relatively well. It’s no coincidence they have had previous experience of similar disasters. Panic is never a good thing but fear can be highly useful.

I see more young people are being seriously affected in Italy, as you noted: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-italy-update-young-people-hospital-luca-lorini-bergamo-a9402531.html

Public health officials go through a baptism of fire on these occasions. A low stress job becomes an extremely high one where every word is scrutinized.

At the press conference this afternoon with Freeland and Co., this question was repeatedly asked. Obviously, essential workers have to be allowed across, e.g. truck drivers, but why others? I wonder whether the US govt didn’t like the potential optics of their people being stopped at the border as potential biohazards.

That’s a high number. I’ve heard something more in the region of 0.1%. Our hospitals are stretched already. A flu-like illness that brings 10-20 times as many patients to the ICU could easily overwhelm the system and compromise care for everybody.

At the press conference, the ministers are really being pressed on why American tourists and other non-essential persons are still being allowed in.

There’s a lot of debate among experts in Britain about the wisdom of their new policy. I have never seen the term herd immunity used in the early phase of a novel viral pandemic before. At the very least, the UK govt could have explained their position better: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/

The virus does tend to affect older people more severely and would be a major additional challenge for them (and a geezer in training like me) to face in the winter months if it becomes a regular thing.

The UK, having done well so far, seems to be going off on its own track on battling the pandemic. Many of its own experts are concerned: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/coronavirus-health-experts-fear-epidemic-will-let-rip-through-uk

Nobody yet.

More bad news for the geezer class:

I don’t think it means that at all.

PM Harper was tough on China when he started. He got more flexible as time went on.

Interesting US relaxation on the rules for physicians practicing telehealth in other states. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/politics/telehealth-us-federal-response-coronavirus/index.html

A recession is inevitable.

Did I say anything about the Angel of Death? That was Rue.

My hunch is that this is going to cause serious disruption to the great economies of the world. If the Chinese lift restrictions to supply us with our goodies, the rumbling fire will break out again over there. The Americans are rushing through two new private company viral tests based on the WHO methodology that should have been approved in January, but better late than never. Given that this plague targets the elderly, Iran’s leadership could see a generational change at the least. Research from Germany suggests that people with mild or no symptoms can shed a lot of virus. On a brighter note, our toilet paper reserves are robust. I see Seattle has banned evictions: https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/seattle-to-issue-emergency-moratorium-on-evictions-due-to-covid-19

The testing process would still take many months.

Converting hotels to hospitals may become a trend:

My guess would be yes. So many sectors of the economy are being seriously affected.

As the pressure on hospitals grows, we may to have to look at other places to keep older sick people who can’t take care of themselves at home. https://www.newstalk.com/news/hotels-used-covid-19-isolation-units-coveney-982303 Bolsonaro’s initial test has apparently come back positive and a second confirmatory test is awaited. If he is positive, what is Trump going to do, given that he met Bolsonaro and a COVID positive aide recently?

His remarks on COVID-19 have been terribly ill-informed. If you knew anything about the subject you would agree with me.

Trump has made false statements on testing repeatedly, even yesterday in his meeting with Varadkar. His surly, error-laden speech last night produced another stock market collapse. The worst thing you can do in a crisis is tell people things are better than people can see they are. There is a world of difference between optimism and denial. Try telling the Donald.