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How many will die of Covid19 in the 2020s directly and indirectly

Less than 10,000
10 (14.7%)
10,000-100,000
9 (13.2%)
100,000-1,000,000
9 (13.2%)
One to ten million
13 (19.1%)
Ten to a hundred million
14 (20.6%)
Hundred million to one billion
9 (13.2%)
Over a billion
4 (5.9%)

Total Members Voted: 59

Voting closed: March 03, 2020, 12:39:52 AM

Author Topic: COVID-19  (Read 1691761 times)

wili

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #500 on: February 05, 2020, 06:18:41 PM »
Good point, Alex. The estimate of how many people got the flu in the 'bad year' of '17-'18 in the US was 45 million (including yours truly...twice! :/ ). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html

If the death rate is 2% for the Wuhan virus (could be optimistic or perhaps pessimistic), the deaths in a bad year from it would reach nearly a million (~900,000). That, plus the many hospitalizations, would be both tragic for the individual affected and more than disruptive for the functioning of society at large.

I suspect that we wouldn't see those large numbers till next flu season, that is, next winter.

Even if it miraculously stays mostly within China, effects on supply chains is really going to start to bite soon.
"A force de chercher de bonnes raisons, on en trouve; on les dit; et après on y tient, non pas tant parce qu'elles sont bonnes que pour ne pas se démentir." Choderlos de Laclos "You struggle to come up with some valid reasons, then cling to them, not because they're good, but just to not back down."

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #501 on: February 05, 2020, 06:55:50 PM »
How Does the New Coronavirus Compare With the Flu?
https://www.livescience.com/new-coronavirus-compare-with-flu.html

The CDC estimates that, on average, about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick with the flu each season.

... So far this flu season, about 0.05% of people who caught the flu have died from the virus in the U.S., according to CDC data.

The death rate for 2019-nCoV is still unclear, but it appears to be higher than that of the flu. Throughout the outbreak, the death rate for 2019-nCoV has been about 2%. Still, officials note that in the beginning of an outbreak, the initial cases that are identified "skew to the severe," which may make the mortality rate seem higher than it is, Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Homeland Security (HHS), said during a news briefing on Jan. 28. The mortality rate may drop as more mild cases are identified, Azar said.

Percentage of severe and critical cases are also higher than the flu.

... The measure scientists use to determine how easily a virus spreads is known as the "basic reproduction number," or R0 (pronounced R-nought). This is an estimate of the average number of people who catch the virus from a single infected person, Live science previously reported. The flu has an R0 value of about 1.3, according to The New York Times.

Researchers are still working to determine the R0 for 2019-nCoV. A study published Jan. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) estimated an R0 value for the new coronavirus to be 2.2, meaning each infected person has been spreading the virus to an average of 2.2 people.

... Unlike seasonal flu, for which there is a vaccine to protect against infection, there is no vaccine for 2019-nCoV.
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #502 on: February 05, 2020, 07:39:04 PM »
How Coronavirus is Affecting the Global Economy
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/05/coronavirus-global-economy

Supply chain

Airbus has stopped its production line in Tianjin as travel restrictions imposed by Beijing take their toll. The plant builds about six A320 aircrafts per month, so its closure will affect the manufacturer’s jet output. Other manufacturers to have halted production in China include Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen.

The impact on manufacturing output is not confined to China. The South Korean carmaker Hyundai has halted production lines because of disruption to the supply chain of parts that usually flow between the two countries.  Honda has three plants in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the epidemic.

GSK, one of Britain’s largest drugmakers, said its medicine packaging facility in Tianjin, which employs about 100 people, remained closed after the extended lunar new year holiday. The company has 3,000 employees across China, many of whom are working from home.

Apple, which has suppliers in Wuhan, said the reopening of some suppliers’ factories had been postponed from the end of January to mid-February. Its chief Chinese supplier, Foxconn, is reported to have halted almost all of its Chinese production.

Nike has closed about half its stores and is reducing hours in the remainder as shoppers desert the streets. China accounts for about 17% of its revenues in normal years. Adidas said it has closed a “considerable” number of its outlets, while H&M said store closures in China – about 45 – hurt sales in January. Gap and Hugo Boss have closed stores or shortened hours.

Disney has said operating income will be cut by $175m (£134m) after it was forced to close two theme parks that are usually busy over the new year period.

Ikea has closed all of its 30 stores in China, while McDonalds shut about 300 restaurants, 10% of its network in the country, and Starbucks has shut about half of its 4,100 cafes.

Tata Motors, is warning of a group-wide impact. According to JLR’s latest annual report, 17% of sales – nearly 100,000 vehicles – come from China.

Royal Caribbean has called off eight trips to China and stopped any passengers who have travelled through, from or to China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days from boarding. It said the restrictions would cost it $50m of revenue.

Cathay Pacific has cut flights to the country by 90%. The Hong Kong-based airline has asked 27,000 staff to take three weeks of unpaid leave to help see it through the crisis.

------------------------------------

Production Halts at China Factories Lead to Worldwide Shortages in Car Parts
https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3049118/coronavirus-outbreak-adds-salt-wounded-global-car-industry

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor became the first global carmaker to halt production outside China because of component shortages caused by stop-works and lockdowns to combat the coronavirus

General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota Motor are among companies that have closed their China plants at least through February 9

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, is one of the top auto-industry hubs in China, together with Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chanchun, where global manufacturers make both cars and components together with partners.

Hundreds of suppliers have factories in Hubei, including more than half of the Top 20 global parts makers, with Robert Bosch, Valeo and ZF Friedrichshafen among those producing components there, according to China Automotive Technology & Research Centre.

“Wuhan is the most cost competitive among China’s car-industry hubs, therefore many parts makers produce components there and supply their clients around the world.”

Tesla is among companies saying they’re monitoring potential supply-chain interruptions for cars built outside China as well.

The outbreak may reduce vehicle output by more than 1.7 million cars because of plant closings, according to IHS Markit.



Dongfeng Motor Corporation, which is based in Wuhan and is one of China’s biggest carmakers, said its factories remained shut and would only reopen depending “on the prevention and control of the epidemic”.

--------------------------------------

Coronavirus Weakens China’s Demand for Air Cargo Despite Drastic Freight Capacity Cuts on Passenger Planes
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3049114/coronavirus-weakens-chinas-demand-air-cargo-despite-drastic

Aviation data firm OAG said there would be more than 25,000 fewer flights operated to, from and within China this week compared with two weeks ago, with 30 airlines halting services.

About half of the air cargo carried globally is on passenger jets rather than in dedicated freighters, and the flight cuts have made the Chinese market more dependent on freight haulers.

...“If you’re ordering people to stay in their houses it’s difficult to keep factories running,” Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska said. “Many supply chains are essentially halted, so there’s nothing to transport.”

Air cargo represents less than 1 per cent of global trade by tonnage, but that amounts to around US$6 trillion worth of goods every year – more than 35 per cent of global trade by value, according to data from Boeing, the biggest manufacturer of freighters.

China’s aviation fuel sales were down a quarter during the last week of January as domestic and international flights fell sharply amid the spread of the coronavirus, a senior oil industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Aviation fuel sales between January 24 and 31 fell nearly 25 per cent from a year earlier to 555,000 tonnes, the source said on Wednesday.

----------------------------------

In Alibaba's Hometown, a Grim Message: 'Don't Go Out'
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-02-alibaba-hometown-grim-message-dont.html

A loudspeaker broadcast ominous instructions across the deserted streets of Hangzhou, the eastern Chinese city that is home to e-commerce giant Alibaba: "Please don't go out, don't go out, don't go out!"

Hangzhou is famous for being where tech tycoon Jack Ma founded his online shopping business in an apartment two decades ago, a one hour journey on a bullet train from Shanghai.

But as large parts of China come to a standstill in a bid to end the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, green fences and "no entry" signs blocked streets near the headquarters of one of the world's most valuable companies.

Alibaba's headquarters are inside one of three Hangzhou districts where some three million people were told this week that only one person per household would be allowed outside every two days, to buy necessities.

... Nobody was seen coming in or out, and a security guard told AFP that the company's parks across the country were closed.

Several roads in closed-off Yuhang district were sealed and manned by security personnel.


City of Hangzhou

------------------------------------

Hong Kong Retail Sector Takes a Battering as Sales Plunge 11.1%; Bank, Telecoms Company and Fashion Boutique Take Hit
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3048922/hong-kong-retail-sector-takes-battering-sales
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3049232/coronavirus-fears-spread-hong-kong-employees-bank

City sees sharpest decline in more than 20 years against backdrop of trade war and civil unrest

More uncertainty lies ahead with coronavirus claiming its first victim in the city

--------------------------------------

Coronavirus Bites Into Business On China’s Lockdown Fringe
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049127/coronavirus-bites-business-chinas-lockdown-fringe

Farmers and firms face grim prospects as crops go to waste and people stay home

... Li, 38, has 23 greenhouses covering about 6,000 square metres (1.5 acres), but his sales have plummeted, with customers staying at home to avoid contagion. Many of his now ripe strawberries might have to be thrown away, he said.

---------------------------------------

Coronavirus: Cathay Pacific Asks All 27,000 Employees to Take Turns on Three Weeks Unpaid Leave
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3049132/coronavirus-cathay-pacific-asks-all-27000-employees-take

Cathay Pacific is asking all of its 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave over the coming months, the company’s CEO told staff on Wednesday, as Hong Kong’s flagship carrier reels from the impact of the deadly coronavirus on air travel.

... On Tuesday, the airline unveiled massive cuts to flying schedules – 30 per cent worldwide for two months, including a 90 per cent cut in capacity to mainland China.

... Given the size of the capacity cuts reported, though, I’m not sure voluntary unpaid leave will be enough very soon.”
« Last Edit: February 05, 2020, 08:51:30 PM by vox_mundi »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #503 on: February 05, 2020, 08:08:16 PM »
FDA Takes Significant Step in Coronavirus Response Efforts, Issues Emergency Use Authorization for the First 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diagnostic
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-significant-step-coronavirus-response-efforts-issues-emergency-use-authorization-first

Today, the U.S Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to enable emergency use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel. To date, this test has been limited to use at CDC laboratories; today’s authorization allows the use of the test at any CDC-qualified lab across the country.

... Under this EUA, the use of 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel is authorized for patients who meet the CDC criteria for 2019-nCoV testing. Testing is limited to qualified laboratories designated by the CDC and, in the U.S., those certified to perform high complexity tests.

The diagnostic is a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that provides presumptive detection of 2019-nCoV from respiratory secretions, such as nasal or oral swabs. A positive test result indicates likely infection with 2019-nCoV and infected patients should work with their health care provider to manage their symptoms and determine how to best protect the people around them. Negative results do not preclude 2019-nCoV infection and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or other patient management decisions. Negative results must be combined with clinical observations, patient history and epidemiological information.

--------------------------------------

How Do We Test for Coronavirus, Anyway? (...excellent explanation of the testing science)
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/how-does-one-test-for-coronavirus-anyway/

If you're not familiar with the tools of molecular biology, the CDC's testing procedure might as well be written in another language. What follows is a description of how to go from an unknown virus to a diagnostic test in less than a month. ...

-----------------------------------



--------------------------------------

Coronavirus: Severe Cases Up But ‘Signs of Faster Diagnosis’ in China
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049231/coronavirus-severe-cases-signs-faster-diagnosis-china

China has reported a significant drop in new suspected cases and a rise in confirmed and severe cases of the deadly coronavirus since Tuesday, signs that diagnosis is speeding up, according to Chinese health experts.

Li Xingwang, chief infectious disease specialist at Beijing Ditan Hospital, said the rise in severe cases was in line with the increase in confirmed cases, and did not indicate that the virus had become deadlier.

He said the number of deaths and severe cases had increasing significantly in Hubei, but the figures for suspected cases in the province had also dropped significantly.

“It shows that Hubei has greatly sped up diagnosis,” Li said.

-------------------------------------

More Testing in Wuhan

Wuhan’s ability to diagnose the coronavirus has been boosted, mainland media reported. Hubei Daily reported on Wednesday that 31 institutions in Wuhan were equipped to carry out testing, and that their capacity had been increased from 200 tests a day to 4,000.

Tongji Hospital could now perform 1,000 tests a day, and had 27 staff – up from 12 – who were able to conduct them in a 24-hour operation, the report stated. “As the demand for tests is rising, we have deployed manpower from other departments,” Sun Zirong, a director of the hospital, said.


---------------------------------

In Wuhan’s Shadow, Smaller Coronavirus-Hit Chinese Cities Scramble for Medical supplies
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3048966/wuhans-shadow-smaller-coronavirus-hit-chinese-cities-scramble

Stockpiles of protective equipment are running low in places like Xiaogan and Huanggang, little-known cities with millions of people

Residents look for sources of disinfectant to clean their homes but lockdowns hamper influx of deliveries

-------------------------------------

Baby Tests Positive for Coronavirus Just 30 Hours After Birth
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-02-baby-positive-china-virus-hours.html

A baby in China's epidemic-hit Wuhan city has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus just 30 hours after being born, Chinese state media reported Wednesday.

CCTV quoted experts as saying it may be a case of "vertical transmission", referring to infections passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or immediately after.

The mother had tested positive for the virus before she gave birth.

The official Xinhua news agency reported Monday that a baby born last week to an infected mother had tested negative.

-------------------------------------

China Revives Output of Medical Supplies But Shortages Persist On Front Line
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3048803/coronavirus-production-boost-said-easing-shortage-medical

Ministry official says 60-70 per cent of factories that make needed items have resumed production after Lunar New Year break

Supply and demand are becoming ‘more stable and balanced’, he says

------------------------------------

Asymptomatic Transmitters
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049011/coronavirus-death-toll-jumps-65-479-chinas-hubei-province

Chinese health authorities have identified a number of patients who have become carriers and transmitters of the coronavirus despite showing no outward symptoms of the disease.

Li Xingwang, chief infectious diseases expert at Beijing Ditan Hospital, said most of the “dormant” carriers were related to and had caught the virus from patients with symptoms.

“These [carriers] have the virus and can transmit it. The amount of virus correlates to the severity of the illness, which means these patients carry less of the virus and their ability to transmit disease is weaker,” Li said.

-------------------------------

« Last Edit: February 05, 2020, 08:54:51 PM by vox_mundi »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #504 on: February 05, 2020, 08:37:59 PM »
Coronavirus in Wuhan: ‘We’d Rather Die At Home Than Go To Quarantine’
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51379088

Wenjun Wang is a resident of Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Ms Wang, a 33-year-old housewife, and her family have remained in the city since it was sealed off on 23 January.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, my uncle has already passed away, my father is critically ill and my mum and aunt have started showing some symptoms. The CT scans shows their lungs are infected. My brother is coughing too, and has some breathing difficulties.

My dad has a high fever. His temperature was 39.3C (102F) yesterday and he's constantly coughing and having breathing difficulties. We got him an oxygen machine at home and he relies on that machine twenty-four seven.

In Wuhan, there are many quarantine points to accommodate patients who have slight symptoms or are still in the incubation period. There are some simple and really basic facilities there. But for people who are critically ill like my father, there are no beds for them.

We thought the quarantine point my dad and uncle went to was a hospital at the beginning, but it turned out to be a hotel.

There was no nurse or doctor and there was no heater. They went in the afternoon and the staff there served them a cold dinner that evening. My uncle was very ill then, with severe respiratory symptoms and started losing consciousness.


No doctor came to treat him. He and my dad stayed in separate rooms and when dad went to see him at 06:30 in the morning, he had already passed away.

The new hospitals being built are for people who are already in other hospitals at the moment. They are going to be transferred to the new ones.

If we follow the government's guidelines, the only place we can go now is to those quarantine points. But if we went, what happened to my uncle would then happen to dad.

So we'd rather die at home.

There are many families like us around, all facing the same difficulties.



-------------------------------------

Voices of Coronavirus Patients: 'Wherever We Go, No One Cares'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/05/voices-of-coronavirus-patients-wherever-we-go-no-one-cares

Li Lun is desperate. On Tuesday her husband was confirmed to have the Wuhan coronavirus, after weeks of suffering with a fever. They have not been able to get him admitted to a hospital or find space for him to quarantine himself.

The family of six – Li, 39, her husband, her in-laws and the couple’s two children, both disabled – live in close quarters in a three-bedroom apartment in Wuhan. They sent the children to an aunt on Monday. Li and her mother-in law have developed symptoms and both have confirmed lung infections, which some doctors say should be reason enough to be quarantined. Li has been vomiting and had diarrhoea.

They have had no instructions from Wuhan’s centre for disease control, nor from the neighbourhood committee, which is in charge of communicating with health authorities and hospitals to arrange for treatment and follow-ups. Li posted on the microblog Weibo pleading for help, one of hundreds of posts in the last few days. “I’m afraid I will collapse. I have called almost every number, everywhere,” Li said. “Wherever we go, no one cares about us.”

... Infected residents and their relatives interviewed by the Guardian described a sense of helplessness and mounting outrage as they tried to get help for sick family members and shield healthy ones, often children.

One woman said she had taken her elderly parents to three hospitals searching for space for them. By the time they reached the last one, which had no free beds, her parents were so feverish they were unable to make the journey home. She put blankets on the floor outside the observation ward and they slept there.

... Experts have said too many infected patients are being sent home, causing a growing number of family clusters of the virus. Few regular citizens know how to effectively self-quarantine, according to Zhang Xiaochun, the chief physician in the imaging department of Wuhan University Zhongnan hospital.

-----------------------------------

Singapore Confirms Four New cCases, Including 6-Month-Old Boy, Taking Tally to 28
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3049234/coronavirus-singapore-confirms-four-new-cases-including-6

Three of the new cases are linked to a ‘cluster of local transmission’ while the fourth was a Chinese national who arrived from Wuhan last month

Four others from same cluster had been in contact with a group of tourists who visited Singapore from Guangxi province in China, health ministry says

-------------------------------------------

Coronavirus: 10 New Cases Confirmed, 30 More Suspected in Wuhan After Thousands Attend Lunar New Year Banquet
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049173/coronavirus-10-new-cases-confirmed-30-more-suspected-wuhan-after

57 buildings in residential community of 130,000 people get ‘fever’ tag after mass feast on January 19

In Fujian province, 4,000 people put in isolation after man infected with virus lies so he can attend banquet, wedding reception



The Thousands Households Banquet was held on January 19 in the city’s Baibuting neighbourhood, which is home to about 130,000 people, The Economic Observer reported on Wednesday.

Despite the coronavirus outbreak already being in full swing – and the first deaths reported – officials gave the go-ahead for tens of thousands to attend the annual feast, which is prepared by the families themselves, with each contributing and sharing dishes.

People began falling sick soon after attending the banquet and as a result 57 residential blocks within the community – each home to about 14 families – were subsequently designated “fever” buildings, business news outlet Caixin said on its website.

“The signs were posted without people being told what they meant or what they should do,” an unnamed resident was quoted as saying.

... A report by The Beijing News quoted one such officer as saying that the “fever” signs did not necessarily mean there was someone inside who had been infected.

“We posted the signs to remind residents not to visit each other. As of now, nobody has been confirmed as having the disease,” he said
... ? ? ? ? :o

... Meanwhile, in Jinjiang, southeast China’s Fujian province, 4,000 people have been put in isolation after coming into contact with a man from Wuhan who attended a Lunar New Year banquet and wedding reception in the city on Sunday, The Beijing News reported.

After he was diagnosed as being infected with the coronavirus, all of the guests who had been at the two events were told to go into isolation for two weeks, the report said.

---------------------------------------



--------------------------------------

Coronavirus cases in South Korea and Malaysia Linked to Singapore Meeting Spark WHO Investigation
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3049091/coronavirus-south-korea-confirms-two-new-cases-including-man

A Malaysian and South Korean were infected after going to a conference in Singapore, which included guests from China and Wuhan

The source of their infections has not been identified

--------------------------------------

No PLA takeover of Wuhan

State-run Hubei Daily has dismissed as rumours claims circulating online that the military will take over Wuhan on February 10 if the coronavirus cannot be contained by then.

It also dismissed speculation that the city’s supermarkets would be closed in three days, quoting Wuhan’s commerce bureau as saying it would be business as usual.

On Monday, the People’s Liberation Army said it was taking control of delivery of supplies in Wuhan.

------------------------------------

Unknowns of the New Virus Make Global Quarantines a Struggle
https://apnews.com/d72d7dcc04a692d32f6e35bc9d55ab12

-------------------------------------

Coronavirus: Race to Save Wuhan’s Starving Pets as Owners Unable to Return to Homes
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3049116/coronavirus-race-save-wuhans-starving-pets-owners-unable-return-homes

Thousands of pet owners prevented from returning to their homes following the Wuhan lockdown are appealing to animal rescue groups to help them

Volunteers have had to break down front doors and climb in windows, and say the task is getting harder as more housing estates block strangers from entering
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #505 on: February 05, 2020, 08:58:54 PM »
China's Jiangsu Develops Rapid Test Kit for Coronavirus
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-01/31/c_138745729.htm

Experts have developed a rapid nucleic test kit for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the city of Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The kit can detect the virus within eight to 15 minutes, according to the city bureau of science and technology.

The kit was the joint work of experts from the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention and a Wuxi-based high-tech company. The company received a notice to develop the kit on Jan. 20.

The kit is undergoing mass production. The company said it can produce kits for 4,000 people a day, and the city government is helping the company expand production.

------------------------

Detecting Coronavirus Cases as Outbreak Grows
https://www.genengnews.com/news/detecting-coronavirus-cases-as-outbreak-grows/

Coronaviruses have genomes encoded by RNA. Therefore, a standard PCR cannot be used to detect the presence of the virus. However, with the small addition of a reverse transcriptase step (which converts RNA to DNA) the viral genome can be detected. Indeed, this technique that has been around for decades, called RT-PCR, now lies squarely in the middle of the outbreak.

On January 26th, China’s regulatory agency, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced the approval of four new coronavirus detection products.

Included in those are real-time fluorescent RT-PCR kits made by the Chinese genome sequencing company BGI. ... BGI has now released a total of 40,000 test kits to hospitals and disease control centers around China. They noted that they can produce about 50,000 kits a day and have about 100,000 in stock.

(... there is an error in translation in regards to the word 'kit'  - it should read test ... i.e. tests/day)

The Chinese company Liferiver Biotech took just over 10 days to develop their coronavirus detection kit, according to reporting by CGTN, the official website for China Global Television Network. They noted that, since the genomic sequence of nCoV-2019 was published on January 10th, employees at the company have maintained an around the clock schedule to develop the kit that eliminates SARS 2003 and Bat SARS-like virus strains, making the detection of nCoV-2019 virus specific. Liferiver asserts that their kit can detect the presence of the virus in less than two hours, with 100% accuracy, and that their production capacity can test 200,000 people a day.

Hong Li, PhD, department head of reagent services, R&D department, at GenScript—a company with headquarters in both China and the United States—told GEN that their kit tests for the presence of four multiple nCoV-2019 genes: the O, R, N, and E gene. Typical of RNA viruses, coronaviruses mutate frequently. Detecting multiple genes simultaneously reduces the risk of missing detection that could occur with genomic variation. In addition, Li noted that they can detect the virus at a very early stage.

Eric Wang, VP of marketing at GenScript, explained to GEN that this kit is currently for research processes and is not designed for hospital use. But because of the shortage of the detection methods in China, Wang noted that they are currently seeking approval for clinical use which they expect will take weeks. In the meantime, the kit can be used for research purposes.

... In addition to their detection efforts, Genscript noted that they have received urgent requests from partners to synthesize the genes of nCoV-2019 as quickly as possible, so that companies, universities, and government agencies can get to work on the vaccine and therapeutic development.

... A team of researchers led by Leo L.M. Poon, DPhil, of the University of Hong Kong has developed two rapid tests for the coronavirus that could break this diagnostic bottleneck. Using a technology known as real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the tests detect two gene regions that are only found in the Wuhan coronavirus (officially known as 2019-novel-coronavirus) and in other closely related coronaviruses such as SARS. The two gene regions detected by the tests are known as ORF1b and N. Significantly, both tests also take only about 1 hour and 15 minutes to run. This fast turnaround time could enable Chinese labs to greatly increase patient access to coronavirus testing.
https://www.ptcommunity.com/wire/two-new-rapid-coronavirus-tests-could-play-key-role-efforts-contain-growing-epidemic
« Last Edit: February 05, 2020, 09:40:32 PM by vox_mundi »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

sark

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #506 on: February 05, 2020, 09:21:38 PM »

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #507 on: February 05, 2020, 09:35:51 PM »
Coronavirus Spreads to Wisconsin in 12th US Case

Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Wednesday, Feb. 5 confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the state.

The case is in Madison -- at UW Hospital. The patient was exposed while traveling to China within the past two weeks.

DHS officials said the patient showed up at UW Hospital's ER with flu-like symptoms -- but was never admitted to the hospital. The patient was placed on "home isolation" per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, with tests continuing.

The patient tested positive Wednesday and placed in isolation.
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

Archimid

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #508 on: February 05, 2020, 09:52:36 PM »
Superb job Vox.

I dared to follow sark's link, curious about the cases in China. It deserves a post.



whelp is right.
I am an energy reservoir seemingly intent on lowering entropy for self preservation.

Archimid

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #509 on: February 05, 2020, 10:10:49 PM »
3,700 on Dream Cruises ship undergoing testing after 3 confirmed coronavirus cases

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/02/05/coronavirus-1800-dream-cruises-passengers-quarantined-tested-after-three-cases/4665323002/

Quote
Edith Poon, spokesperson for Genting Hong Kong Limited, the holding company that owns Dream Cruises, confirmed that 30 crew members self-declared symptoms of the virus. "We are currently waiting for the results to come in," she told USA TODAY. "Upon availability of the results, we shall comply with the Department of Health's instruction on the next step forward. Until then, as advised by the Department of Health, all passengers of the cruise ship are to remain onboard."

Quite horrifying for those aboard. I hope they are all cleared soon. However, it could be useful to examine the rate of infection and the severity of those on board.
I am an energy reservoir seemingly intent on lowering entropy for self preservation.

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #510 on: February 05, 2020, 10:49:11 PM »
^ Related

“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #511 on: February 05, 2020, 10:56:12 PM »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

Tom_Mazanec

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #512 on: February 05, 2020, 10:56:43 PM »
How are we calculating this 2%? If it is just dividing deaths by cases, it seems doomed to be an underestimation in the early days of an exponentially growing epidemic. Since you don’t drop dead in mid step, there will be people who are sick who will die in a few days, who will be counted as cases when they really should be counted as fatalities. Are we counting those who got sick on a certain date and of those the ones who died? You are sick for quite awhile with this, and I started hearing 2% quite early in the epidemic.
This leaves aside the number of patients who survive only in hospitals which might be overwhelmed, the possibility of accidental and/or deliberate underestimated cases and/or deaths, etc.

Gray-Wolf

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #513 on: February 05, 2020, 11:15:33 PM »
Watch and make up your own minds as to the validity of the sentiment.....

KOYAANISQATSI

ko.yaa.nis.katsi (from the Hopi language), n. 1. crazy life. 2. life in turmoil. 3. life disintegrating. 4. life out of balance. 5. a state of life that calls for another way of living.
 
VIRESCIT VULNERE VIRTUS

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #514 on: February 05, 2020, 11:16:17 PM »
Tom, Yes, lots of uncertainties.

But on the other side, lots of non-lethal cases probably went unreported early on, people who didn't go to the hospital or for other reasons never got tested. Lots of the media are saying that because of this factor, %2 probably is an overestimation, overlooking your, in my view, valid points.
"A force de chercher de bonnes raisons, on en trouve; on les dit; et après on y tient, non pas tant parce qu'elles sont bonnes que pour ne pas se démentir." Choderlos de Laclos "You struggle to come up with some valid reasons, then cling to them, not because they're good, but just to not back down."

Tom_Mazanec

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #515 on: February 05, 2020, 11:33:38 PM »
When China's Supply Chains Break, so Will the Delusion the U.S. Economy Is Invulnerable
http://charleshughsmith.blogspot.com/2020/02/when-chinas-supply-chains-break-so-will.html
Quote
U.S. corporations that assume their supply chains will return to normal in a week or two are in for a big surprise: consequential chunks of their supply chains, likely chunks they never paid much attention to, will dry up and blow away. The factories will not re-open, and the workers won't return.
Any way they cut it, costs will rise whether Corporate America seeks suppliers outside China or alternative suppliers in China. With global wages stagnant for the past decade or two, raising prices is a non-starter. Net-net, corporate profits will fall even if sales remain robust, which is unlikely given the world's largest economy and manufacturing center is grinding to a halt.
Once the supply chain breakdown comes home to roost in Corporate America, the mass delusion that the U.S. economy is invulnerable will collapse in a heap. Was it ever plausible that China's economy could grind to a halt and there wouldn't be a domino-like collapse of all the weak links in its supply chains? No. Companies living on debt and speculation only needed the slightest push to careen off the cliff into insolvency. The coronavirus is that push.
Was it ever plausible that China's economy could grind to a halt and there wouldn't be any consequences for the U.S. economy? No. Alas, mass delusions always end badly.

be cause

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #516 on: February 05, 2020, 11:35:50 PM »
replies overtaken by deaths again .. Aljazeera reporting 549 deaths in Hubei alone tonight .. b.c.

 p.s. my concern at the fragility of the world economy seems increasingly justified .
« Last Edit: February 05, 2020, 11:44:51 PM by be cause »
Conflict is the root of all evil , for being blind it does not see whom it attacks . Yet it always attacks the Son Of God , and the Son of God is you .

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #517 on: February 06, 2020, 12:11:47 AM »
Global = 27,633
China = 27,434
Deaths = 564

https://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia

----------------------------------

Vietnam Setting Up Field Hospitals for Possible Virus Influx
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/china-coronavirus-outbreak-latest-updates-200204233943034.html

Vietnam is setting up field hospitals with thousands of beds to handle a potential influx of coronavirus cases, health officials said, as it prepares to receive its nationals from China.

In the southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh city, two existing facilities are being converted into field hospitals with a total capacity of 500 beds.

In Hanoi, two military facilities have been turned into quarantine centres for up to 1,500 people as the country prepares to receive 950 people from China to be isolated at the sites.

Two provinces in northern Vietnam near the China border have also set up beds for close to 3,000 patients. Central Vietnam has centres ready for as many as 3,700.

-----------------------------

Japan Prepares Ferry To Be Used As Quarantine Ship

Japan's military prepared a chartered ferry on Wednesday to use as a quarantine ship that could house hundreds of suspected coronavirus cases.

The Hakuo was docked at the Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo.

"Around 300 people could comfortably live on the ship and it has a maximum capacity for 500, although that would mean queues for the baths and other facilities," a Japan Self Defense Force official told Reuters.

Japan has not yet forcibly quarantined people who may carry the coronavirus, including Japanese returning on evacuation flights from Wuhan.

-----------------------------

Wuhan Carries Out City-Wide Sterilisation Campaign

Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, has started a city-wide sterilisation campaign in an effort to curb the spread of the infection.

A video posted on social media by the state-owned Global Times showed a truck spraying mist in one city block, and a motorised rickshaw making rounds and shooting thick white fumes in the air in a residential area in the city.

Video at link: https://mobile.twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1224929393664901120

------------------------------



-------------------------------

WHO Convening Experts on Drugs, Vaccines to Set Research Agenda
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/china-coronavirus-outbreak-latest-updates-200204233943034.html

Experts will meet in Geneva from February 11-12 to set research and development priorities for coronavirus drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to combat the outbreak, the WHO said.

WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a multinational WHO-led team would go to China "soon".

--------------------------

Putin Proposed Stripping Pharmacy Licenses for Raising Mask Prices

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed stripping pharmacies of their licenses if they raise prices for anti-virus masks.

Russia, which last week reported its first two cases of the virus, has restricted crossings along its 4,300km (2,670-mile) land border with China and flew home its first group of citizens from Wuhan on Wednesday.

----------------------------

WHO: 'No Known Effective' Treatments for New Coronavirus

The World Health Organization (WHO) played down media reports of "breakthrough" drugs being discovered to treat people infected with the new coronavirus.

A Chinese TV report said that a research team at Zhejiang University had found an effective drug for the virus, while British broadcaster Sky News said researchers had made a "significant breakthrough" in developing a vaccine.

------------------------------

Tokyo Olympics Chief Expresses Worry for This Year's Games

Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers expressed growing concerns about the effect of the coronavirus from China on this year's Games, which kick off in less than six months.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2020, 07:03:41 PM by vox_mundi »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

Sam

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #518 on: February 06, 2020, 01:14:27 AM »
截至 2020-02-05 16:04 全国数据统计
数据说明
较昨日+3698
28060 确诊
较昨日+5328
24702 疑似
较昨日+640
3859 重症
较昨日+72
563 死亡
较昨日+261
1153 治愈

As of 2020-02-05 16:04 National Statistics
Data description

28,060 Confirmed - add 3,698 since yesterday
24,702 Suspected - add 5,328 since yesterday
  3,859 Critical      - add   640 since yesterday
     563 Deaths     - add      72 since yesterday
  1,153 Cured       - add    261 since yesterday

John's Hopkins
Total Confirmed  27,636
Total Deaths           564
Total Recovered   1,124

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #519 on: February 06, 2020, 01:56:58 AM »
Ten More People Diagnosed On Cruise Ship in Japan – Reports
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/feb/06/coronavirus-live-updates-in-china-wuhan-coronaviruses-outbreak-death-toll-latest-update-news

We’re getting reports that another 10 people have tested positive for coronavirus onboard the cruise ship that is currently moored off Japan.

... The Japanese broadcaster NHK is citing the health ministry saying there are 10 new cases of coronavirus on the Diamond Princess, moored off Yokohama.

If the new infections are confirmed, that would bring the total number of coronavirus patients in Japan to 45, Reuters says.

The ship was caught up in the global coronavirus epidemic after an 80-year-old Hong Kong man tested positive for the virus after disembarking the ship late last month.

Passengers and their relatives took to social media to detail their predicament and conditions on the cruise ship.

Update: Health officials now have the results of 102 tests conducted on 273 passengers. A total of twenty were positive. He says the second group of patients found to have been infected will be taken to hospitals in Kanagawa prefecture, where Yokohama is located, according to the health ministry.

We are getting confirmation of the nationalities of the 10 new cases of coronavirus on the stricken cruise ship on Japan. The Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, Justin McCurry, says there are four Japanese, two each from the US and Canada, and one each from New Zealand and Taiwan.

------------------------------



------------------------------

EARTH ABIDES by George R. Stewart

... If a killing type of virus strain should suddenly arise by mutation ... it could, because of the rapid transportation in which we indulge nowadays, be carried to the far corners of the earth and cause the deaths of millions of people. ...

 -- W. M. Stanley, in *Chemical and Engineering News,* Dec. 22, 1947.

Chapter 4.

... Close to the shore of Governor's Island a large liner was beached. She must have been run aground at high tide, and now at low tide she loomed up far above the water, canted at a crazy angle. Secretly infected before leaving Europe, before long with passengers and crew alike dead and dying, that ship must have made desperately for port--for a port which itself had strangely ceased to send out signals.

No tugs came out to meet her. Perhaps a dying boatswain on the bridge lacked even the crew to drop an anchor, and with dimming eyes merely steered her toward the mudbank. There she would rest, and doubtless the waves would wash up mud against her obstructing bulk, and in a century she would be almost indistinguishable--the rust-covered center of a little island with trees growing up around her. ...


http://bamfordsworld.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/0/3/8703302/george_a._stewart_-_earth_abides.pdf
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 03:57:32 AM by vox_mundi »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #520 on: February 06, 2020, 02:48:32 AM »
--------------------------------

Why China Is In the Grips of a Facial Mask Shortage as Coronavirus Death Toll Grows

China is experiencing a severe shortage of facial masks used to contain the spread of coronavirus, as surging demand has emptied shelves across the country and led to shortages from Tokyo to Toronto.

In Shanghai, mask sales jumped from roughly 10,000 per day to 3 million during the Lunar New Year holiday, according to government media in the city.

China is capable of producing 20 million masks per day, with medical equipment producers running at about 60 per cent capacity at the moment, according to authorities. However, it can only make about 600,000 N95 masks per day, which were capable of preventing the inhalation of 95 per cent of particles.

Meanwhile, millions of “fake” masks purportedly built by Chinese medical hygiene manufacturer Henan Piaoan have also flooded the market. The masks, made of substandard materials, were sold across the country and have been condemned by the company.

China has halted exports of raw materials and equipment used to make masks, including to Korea and Vietnam, disrupting supply chains at a time when a growing number of virus cases were being reported across the globe.

Beijing has also been sourcing masks from overseas, importing 220 million masks between January 24 and February 2, including 50 million masks on Monday alone, China’s customs agency said.



-----------------------------

Coronavirus: Rice, Toilet Paper and Dried Goods Fly Off Shelves as Rumours Spark Panic Buying in Hong Kong
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3049237/coronavirus-rice-toilet-paper-and-dried-goods-fly

Hygiene products including tissues , wipes, hand soaps and disinfectants also among bestselling items in supermarkets

A major supermarket chain ­dismissed online claims of ­impending toilet paper shortages as ‘solid rumour’.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SCMPHongKong/status/1225214684715835393

----------------------------

Coronavirus: AI Firms Deploy Fever Surviellance Systems in Beijing
https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3049215/ai-firms-deploy-fever-detection-systems-beijing-help-fight-coronavirus

Beijing authorities are scrambling to deploy more advanced artificial intelligence-powered temperature screening systems at various locations to keep the new coronavirus from spreading, as millions of Chinese return to work after an extended Lunar New Year holiday.

National AI leaders Megvii and Baidu, which are both based in the nation’s capital, have introduced their systems in response to the call made last month by Zhongguancun Science City, the administrator of Beijing’s innovation parks, to improve temperature monitoring in the city.

Megvii said on Tuesday that pilot programmes for its remote fever detection system have been set up in the city’s Mudanyuan subway station and at a government administration building in the northwestern district of Haidian. That followed online search giant Baidu’s activation of infrared sensors at Qinghe station on Sunday.



Megvii’s remote fever detection system can measure a person’s temperature in a crowd at a distance of up to five metres. The system was designed to work through masks and hats worn by people, with a margin of error within 0.3 degrees Celsius, according to the company.

It said the system, which covers as many as 16 checkpoints at one station, can measure the temperature of up to 15 people per second, quickly locate a person in a group image and send fever alerts, while requiring just one staff on site, according to a Megvii representative.
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #521 on: February 06, 2020, 03:27:16 AM »
Large Testing Lab Opens in Wuhan to Find Cases (4:17 p.m. NY)
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-02-04/china-will-soon-find-out-if-mass-quarantine-worked-virus-update

The Chinese medical technology firm BGI Group said it has opened a lab in Wuhan, where the outbreak is centered, that can test 10,000 samples a day to diagnose the coronavirus there.

Reports from Wuhan portray a health-care system overrun by the virus, potentially leading to significant underdiagnosis of patients. The new 2,000-square-meter (21,528-square-foot) Huo-Yan, or “Fire Eye” laboratory, promises to greatly accelerate testing cases to eliminate or confirm suspected infections as soon as possible, the Shenzhen, China-based company said Thursday in a statement.

{...expect large jump in number of confirmed positive cases in coming days)

---------------------------

CDC Begins Shipping Virus Test Kits (1:25 p.m. NY)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started shipping new test kits that can detect the coronavirus on site to 200 laboratories in the U.S. and 200 others outside the country. Previously, samples had to be sent to the agency’s headquarters in Atlanta.

Each kit can process 700 to 800 samples, allowing for more than a quarter-million people to get their results and potentially relieving the burden on overwhelmed health systems, said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. It will take a few days before widespread use can begin, she said.

“By the start of next week, we expect there to be much enhanced capacity for laboratory testing closer to our patients,” Messonnier said on a briefing with reporters Wednesday.

----------------------------

China Seeks Patent for Gilead’s Experimental Drug (1:01 p.m. HK)

China has applied for a new patent on an experimental Gilead Sciences Inc. drug that its scientists believe might fight the coronavirus.

It has applied for a patent for the use of the drug, know as remdesivir, to treat the novel coronavirus. The move is a sign that China views Gilead’s therapy as one of the most promising candidates to fight the outbreak. A patent battle may affect Gilead’s control over the drug in China.
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

Insensible before the wave so soon released by callous fate. Affected most, they understand the least, and understanding, when it comes, invariably arrives too late

Tor Bejnar

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #522 on: February 06, 2020, 04:05:54 AM »
...
EARTH ABIDES by George R. Stewart
...
http://bamfordsworld.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/0/3/8703302/george_a._stewart_-_earth_abides.pdf
My brother 'made' me read this book when I was 12 or 13.  It has influenced my outlook on live ever since.  (I re-read it a decade ago after finding a copy in a library's 'we're getting rid of these old books' sale.  We're in a more dangerous world then the described world circa 1950.)
Arctic ice is healthy for children and other living things because "we cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice"

wdmn

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #523 on: February 06, 2020, 04:54:45 AM »
Since we're talking books, I highly recommend -- in times of sickness or health -- Albert Camus' The Plague.

Tom_Mazanec

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #524 on: February 06, 2020, 11:09:24 AM »
...
EARTH ABIDES by George R. Stewart
...
http://bamfordsworld.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/0/3/8703302/george_a._stewart_-_earth_abides.pdf
My brother 'made' me read this book when I was 12 or 13.  It has influenced my outlook on live ever since.  (I re-read it a decade ago after finding a copy in a library's 'we're getting rid of these old books' sale.  We're in a more dangerous world then the described world circa 1950.)
I donated that book to the Memory Of Mankind time capsule.

Tom_Mazanec

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #525 on: February 06, 2020, 01:10:43 PM »
I asked the Skeptoid website (which does  skeptical reviews of pop culture memes every Tuesday) to comment on the rumor that the coronovirus is a biowar product.
Here is the January 28 reply:
Quote
I don't cover current events on Skeptoid... episodes are designed to be evergreen, and 3 months from now nobody will even remember the Kung Flu.
Let's check back on April 28.

sark

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #526 on: February 06, 2020, 01:34:12 PM »
New graph of international cases via EU CDC.  This graph is really showing its weakness and I think I'll discontinue posting it daily.  There is better analytics out there by now.

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases

vox_mundi

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #527 on: February 06, 2020, 01:52:56 PM »
China Tightens Social Media Censorship Amid Outbreak
https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3049342/coronavirus-china-tightens-social-media-censorship-amid-outbreak

China’s internet watchdog is tightening controls on social media platforms after a brief period of tolerance, as it cracks down on content that may sow fear and confusion amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement released late on Wednesday that it has set up supervision on platforms that include those run by microblogging service provider Sina Weibo, short video and news apps operator ByteDance, and Tencent Holdings, which owns the ubiquitous multipurpose app WeChat.

The watchdog said it has also removed a social app called Pipi Gaoxiao from app stores for “posting harmful videos, and spreading fear and panic” about the coronavirus outbreak, as well as taken down some media and blogger accounts for fake news.

The social media clampdown followed a directive on Monday from President Xi Jinping, who said the government needed to step up propaganda and strengthen online media control to maintain social stability amid the coronavirus crisis, according to a report from state news agency Xinhua. ...

(... The War Will Not Be Televised)

-------------------------------

Coronavirus: Thousands More Cruise Passengers May Be Exposed to Deadly Infection
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3049318/coronavirus-thousands-more-cruise-passengers

Ship’s operator admits World Dream made three more trips than first revealed as thousands remain trapped on board

Cruise line returned to city after being denied entry into Kaohsiung, but that was its fourth trip after eight infected passengers had disembarked



A British man who is among 3,700 people under a coronavirus quarantine on a cruise ship in Japan has voiced concerns over ongoing monitoring for the disease on board.

.... “What health checks have we had in the last three or four days, or since the health check when the quarantine officers came on board? None whatsoever,” Abel said

... "There has been no health check, so we do not know whether there are people on board still who have got symptoms that may have the virus. We do not know."

"So I am now getting a fraction concerned about the health checks that I believe should be taking place, because if there are more infected people on board they should be taken off."

---------------------------

Taiwan Bans All International Cruise Ships From Docking

Taiwan’s health authority banned all international cruise ships from docking at the island from Thursday amid increasing threat of the coronavirus outbreak, after 10 more people were tested positive for the virus on a quarantined cruise liner in Japan, Reuters is reporting.

Taiwan has also said it will suspend entry for all Chinese citizens who live in mainland China from Thursday.

------------------------------

China's Nanchang City to Limit Access to Villages, Compounds to Prevent Virus Spread

The Chinese city of Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province, which neighbours Hubei, will strictly monitor the entry and exit of residents from villages and residential compounds as it steps up its efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The city, which has a population of 5 million people, said on its official Weibo social media account that each family should assign one member to go out once every two days, and that people running fevers must go to a medical facility.

Jiangxi province is separated from Hubei by the Yangtze river



----------------------------

Shanghai neighbour Zhejiang imposes draconian quarantine
 
In the Chinese coastal province of Zhejiang, some 560km (350 miles) east of where the new coronavirus originated, at least four cities have introduced measures that mirror the draconian rules established by Hubei province – epicentre of the outbreak – to keep the virus from spreading.

In the Zhejiang cities of Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Taizhou – which have a combined population of more than 30 million – each household is being issued a “passport”, usually a piece of paper that carries one’s name, home address and an official stamp. Only one person per household is permitted to leave their home every two days.

Authorities in Zhejiang, which neighbours the port city of Shanghai, have closed “unessential” public venues, banned funerals and weddings, limited the number of times people can go out and quarantined families at home, sometimes by locking them in.

---------------------------

Coronavirus: Community Outbreak Declared in Hong Kong
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3049297/coronavirus-community-outbreak-declared-hong-kong

A top microbiologist has declared a community outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in Hong Kong as a government adviser revealed mainland Chinese entering the city could be quarantined in hotels or public facilities under compulsory restrictions taking effect on Saturday.

The dreaded confirmation of a local spread came a day after the government said all travellers from the mainland, including Hong Kong residents, would be placed on a mandatory 14-day quarantine as part of its escalated response to the contagion.

----------------------------

Hong Kong Police, Fire Services to Form Contingency Teams to Provide Support in Battle Against Coronavirus

Sources say the exact job nature of the units is still being discussed, while force sends internal memo to officers inviting colleagues to join

Firefighters will offer similar teams for quick response to emergencies near quarantine zones

------------------------------

Coronavirus: South Korea On Lookout for Infected Patients Who Do Not Show Symptoms

Authorities have called for a closer eye on asymptomatic patients after a woman tested positive for the virus after initially testing negative

---------------------------

Number of Quarantine Citizens in US Approaches 400

In the United States, another 350 American evacuees from Wuhan have been placed under quarantine at two military bases in California, Reuters reports.

It brings to nearly 400 the number of people subject to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s first public health quarantine in 50 years.

“We are in a critical time period in the international spread of the virus, and this action is necessary to try to prevent the spread here,” said Dr Christopher Braden, deputy director of the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.

------------------------------

Korean Air flight Diverted to Los Angeles for Virus Screening

A Korean Air flight headed to Las Vegas from the South Korean capital, was diverted to Los Angeles on Wednesday over concerns that some of the passengers might have been exposed to a new virus, the airline said.

The flight was diverted after it was determined that the three passengers had been in China within 14 days of their departure from Incheon International Airport in Seoul.

The three passengers, all US passport holders, were allowed back on the flight after showing no symptoms during a screening at Los Angeles International Airport, the airline said in statement.

---------------------------

S&P says German carmaker Volkswagen stands to take the biggest hit from factory shutdowns in Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, because it makes almost 40% of its cars and components in China.

--------------------------------

David Heyman, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene, said:

... "The full potential of this virus is not yet known. Will this virus become a virus which is endemic in humans and continue to transmit in the coming years?

We don’t understand the spectrum of the disease. We don’t know how many infections are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms like cold, so it is impossible to identify all cases."

...“It’s becoming increasingly clear that containment is very unlikely,” Frieden said. “It probably isn’t worth giving up, but trying to contain Wuhan coronavirus like Sars and Mers is very unlikely, just because of the number of cases and the number of [Chinese] provinces and the ease with which it is easily spreading in families.”

--------------------------



-------------------------------

China is not prepared for the scale of the coronavirus outbreak it is facing, but has mobilised the entire country to tackle the epidemic, Beijing’s ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, has said.

Answering questions from the media this morning, Liu said:

.... "I can’t say China is prepared for this outbreak, we don’t have enough beds or hospitals. That’s why we have built two emergency hospitals in just ten days."

He added that the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, had held a meeting yesterday in which he had instructed medical personnel to work “around the clock” to treat patients.
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 02:08:01 PM by vox_mundi »
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #528 on: February 06, 2020, 02:11:06 PM »
**thoughts before reading latest Vox update**

I thought this would be contained by now. The data from yesterday leads me to believe that it is not contained in China, but it may be contained in the rest of the world.

 The severity of the disease is worse in China than in international cases, but this may be due to sample size and better personalized care. One thing is for sure, the severity of the disease will increase if health services and supply lines are overwhelmed.

I still have not seen any good evidence indicating widespread of asymptomatic carriers.  Asymptomatic patients are much less likely to shed and/or aerosolize virus than people with symptoms. No doubt there is a large number of uncounted cases but not orders of magnitude higher.
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #529 on: February 06, 2020, 02:13:59 PM »



So, the light grey areas. How well do we think they are testing for nCoronavirus?
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #530 on: February 06, 2020, 02:32:51 PM »
Agreed Archimid.

I think this will be our 'Year of Living Dangerously'

--------------------------

Wuhan Told To Round Up Infected Residents for New Mass Quarantine Camps.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/world/asia/coronavirus-china.html

A senior Chinese official has ordered the authorities in the city of Wuhan to immediately round up all residents in the city who have been infected with the coronavirus and place them in isolation, quarantine, or in designated hospitals.

Sun Chunlan, a vice premier
tasked with leading the central government’s response to the outbreak, said city investigators should go to each home to check the temperatures of every resident and interview infected patients’ close contacts.

“Set up a 24-hour duty system. During these wartime conditions, there must be no deserters, or they will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame forever,” Ms. Sun said.

The city’s authorities have raced to meet these instructions by setting up makeshift mass quarantine shelters this week. But concerns are growing about whether the centers, which will house thousands of people in large spaces, will be able to provide even basic care to patients and protect against the risk of further infection.

A lockdown across the city and much of its surrounding province has exacerbated a shortage of medical supplies, testing kits and hospital beds for those sickened by the coronavirus. Many residents, unwell and desperate for care, have been forced to go from hospital to hospital on foot, only to be turned away from even being tested for the virus, let alone treated. They have had to resort to quarantines at home, risking the spread of the virus within families and neighborhoods.

The city has set up makeshift shelters in a sports stadium, an exhibition center and a building complex.

... When Ms. Sun inspected one of the shelters, set up in Hongshan Stadium on Tuesday, she emphasized that anyone who should be admitted must be rounded up, according to a Chinese news outlet, Modern Express. “It must be cut off from the source!” she said of the virus. “You must keep a close eye! Don’t miss it!


... A widely shared post on Weibo, a popular social media site, said on Thursday that “conditions were very poor” at an exhibition center that had been converted into a quarantine facility. There were power failures and electric blankets could not be turned on, the user wrote, citing a relative who had been taken there, saying that people had to “shiver in their sleep.”

There was also a staff shortage, the post said, where “doctors and nurses were not seen to be taking note of symptoms and distributing medicine,” and oxygen devices were “seriously lacking.”

Some comments on Chinese social media compared the scenes of rows of cots to those from the Spanish flu in 1918.


Quarentine Hospital - Spanish Flu - 1918

---------------------------------

Coronavirus: U.S. Strategy for Now Isn’t to Stop It, But to Slow It

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to find more coronavirus cases in the United States, and more cases involving person-to-person transmission. Still, it says, the risk to the American public is low.

"It's important to know that this strategy is not meant to catch every single traveler returning from China with novel coronavirus," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said at a press briefing Monday. "Given the nature of this virus and how it's spreading, that would be impossible. But working together, we can catch the majority of them."

The goal instead is "to slow the entry of this virus into the United States," she said.
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 03:23:51 PM by vox_mundi »
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #531 on: February 06, 2020, 02:34:10 PM »
Professor Neil Ferguson on the current 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak:



Plus "Third coronavirus case confirmed in UK":

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51398039
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #532 on: February 06, 2020, 02:39:00 PM »
Did I hear that screening & surveillance is picking up 10% or less in China, currently maybe 25% internationally?  This doesn't state what the detection rate could be in the wealthy nations.

disease course is amazingly well adapted to global spread.  in storytelling, this virus is magnificent.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #533 on: February 06, 2020, 02:58:49 PM »
Quote
But concerns are growing about whether the centers, which will house thousands of people in large spaces, will be able to provide even basic care to patients and protect against the risk of further infection.

The severity rate is lower outside China where individuals are getting the combined resources of nations, the best physicians, pristine isolation rooms. Inside china, people are getting mass casualty level care. In one of these camps ... well they will get camp level care.

I'm trying to process this. This is a nightmare scenario. As an agnostic person, I find myself praying for these people.

SO.

Quote
Sun Chunlan, a vice premier tasked with leading the central government’s response to the outbreak, said city investigators should go to each home to check the temperatures of every resident and interview infected patients’ close contacts.


Wrong wrong wrong. If a patient is already febrile and coughing, the people surrounding them must be assumed infected too. Families should stay together, even if isolated in their own homes. I 100% guarantee you that a quarantined family will fare better than in tents. I also guarantee you that a large number of parents will break quarantine if their family nucleus is threatened to be separated. I know I wouldn't let the government take a loved one that I know I can care better for than in a tent.
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #534 on: February 06, 2020, 03:19:28 PM »

Contagion - "We just need to make sure that nobody knows, until everybody knows."

---------------------------

All UK hospitals have been told to prepare secure coronavirus zones to “avoid a surge” in emergency departments, a leaked NHS letter has shown.

The letter, dated 31 January, tells hospitals to set up “coronavirus priority assessment pods”, which can be decontaminated after each use.

All chief executives and medical directors are instructed to have the pods up and running by Friday 7 February.

Prof Keith Willett, who is leading the NHS’s response to coronavirus, told NHS bosses in the letter: “Plans have been developed to avoid a surge in emergency departments due to coronavirus.

Quote
... Although the risk level in this country remains moderate (... up from low), and so far there have been only two confirmed cases, the NHS is putting in place appropriate measures to ensure business as usual services remain unaffected by any further cases or tests of coronavirus.

Trusts are being asked to organise a coronavirus priority assessment pod, which will mean people with symptoms indicative of infection will get quick assessment, while other patients also continue to get appropriate care.

----------------------------

China May Delay Its Annual Meeting of Parliament Due to the Coronavirus
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-congress/china-may-delay-annual-meeting-of-parliament-due-to-virus-outbreak-sources-idUKKBN2000E6

China is considering delaying the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, made up of around 3,000 delegates, in March, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The meeting that is scheduled for Mar. 5 is used to pass laws and unveil China's economic targets for the year.

... “A delay is one of those options,” the official said. “It should come as no surprise given that we are in a very difficult time.”

-------------------------------

China Confirms 19 Foreign Nationals Have Been Infected

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that data from a "competent authority" confirmed, as of noon Thursday, 19 foreign nationals have contracted the new coronavirus. Two of them had been cured and discharged from the hospital while 17 are undergoing treatment in isolation, the ministry said.

... Hua did not specify the nationalities of the infected foreign nationals.

----------------------------

Two more coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 30.

-----------------------------

Philippine Central Bank Cuts Rates, Warns Coronavirus Could Have an 'Adverse Impact' On Economic Activity

The Philippine central bank said Thursday that it had lowered the rate on its overnight reverse repurchase facility by 25 basis points to 3.75%, adding it was prepared to trim rates further if necessary to protect economic growth.

... In a statement published Thursday, the central bank said the spread of the coronavirus "could have an adverse impact on economic activity and market sentiment in the coming months."

----------------------------

Tesla Temporarily Closes China Stores Amid Coronavirus Fears

Tesla has temporarily closed its stores in mainland China as of Sunday, Feb. 2, according to an online post from a company sales employee on that date.

------------------------------
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #535 on: February 06, 2020, 03:47:11 PM »
Epidemiologist Warns Lawmakers: US Can't Keep Coronavirus 'Out of Our Border'
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/epidemiologist-warns-lawmakers-us-cant-keep-coronavirus-out-of-our-border.html

U.S. travel restrictions implemented in recent days to keep a fast-moving virus that has crippled much of China from spreading across America won't work, a top epidemiologist told U.S. lawmakers.

... "I have never seen instances where that has worked when we are talking about a virus at this scale," epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Health Security, testified before the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

... Somewhere in between, infected people are going to be missed, she said.

“For that, and other reasons, I do not believe we’re going to be able to keep the virus out of our border,” she said, adding that a bigger concern is that the travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines are diverting resources away from fighting the virus. One public health department has 31 health-care workers monitoring two quarantined patients 24 hours a day, she said. “As this epidemic grows, that’s not likely to scale,” she said.

----------------------

Australia PM: Economic Impact is Going To Be ‘Very Significant’
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/06/coronavirus-latest-updates-china-hubei.html

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Sydney’s 2GB radio on Thursday that he expects the economic impact from the new coronavirus to be “very significant,” owing to the country’s increased exposure to China, in terms of the number of Chinese visitors and students it receives.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner.

“We can’t pretend there’s no impact to a global virus like this, and we can’t pretend that we can make it like the day it was before the virus struck,” Morrison said, pointing out in previous instances of viral outbreaks, tourism in Australia dented in one quarter before bouncing back in the next.

-----------------------

Beijing City Bans Group Meals

The city of Beijing said on Wednesday that caterers and individuals are not allowed to organize group gatherings, and that previous arrangement should be canceled or postponed. Rural collectives are also prohibited from organizing banquets, whether for festivals, birthdays or school promotions.

As of Sunday night, Beijing had more than 200 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, with more than half due to group gatherings, according to state media. Hotels and catering services contributed 11.11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) to Beijing’s GDP in the first quarter of 2019, or 20% of the total for the year, according to official data accessed through Wind Information.

-------------------------

Millions of Chickens in China Could Be Wiped Out

Hundreds of millions of chickens in China are at risk of being wiped out as the shutdowns have hit supply chains. Transport restrictions are preventing much-needed animal feed such as soybean meal from getting delivered to poultry farms, according to analysts and Chinese state media.

There are over 300 million chickens in the virus epicenter of Hubei alone putting farmers in a dire situation, a local poultry association said.

(... During the 1918 Spanish Flu food was local. ... Not anymore)

------------------------

New York City Tests 5 People for Potential Coronavirus

The New York City Department of Health said it now has five “patients under investigation” for the virus and is awaiting test results on four of them from the CDC.

-------------------------

Chinese Doctor Who Tried to Warn Others About Coronavirus Dies

https://mobile.twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1225428566931718144

Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, one of the eight whistleblowers who tried to warn other medics of the #coronavirus outbreak but were reprimanded by local police, dies of coronavirus on Thursday in Wuhan, the Global Times has learned.

... Dr Li was summoned by police when he tried to warn others about the virus back in December.

He sent a message to fellow medics in a group chat on 30 December, and days later was summoned to the Public Security Bureau to sign a letter in which he was accused of making “false comments”.

Dr Li was one of eight people being investigated by police for “rumour-mongering”.


RIP

Update:

Hospital denies that Li Wenliang, doctor who alerted authorities to the outbreak, has died

“In the fight against the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, our hospital's ophthalmologist Li Wenliang was unfortunately infected. He is currently in critical condition and we are trying our best to resuscitate him," it said in its official Weibo account.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2020, 07:06:01 PM by vox_mundi »
“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ― anonymous

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Tom_Mazanec

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #536 on: February 06, 2020, 04:14:27 PM »
I hear late spring will break this killer cold. If so, will it disappear like SARS or will it come back every winter like the cold?

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #537 on: February 06, 2020, 04:45:56 PM »
EDIT: see also
https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,256.msg248142.html#msg248142

Quote
Primary solar manufacturers in China told PV Magazine (remaining anonymous) that coronavirus has caused significant strain on their factories. They noted that they will be operating at ‘very low rates’ and will not return to a ‘normal production [rate] in the immediate future’.
____________________________________
Economic ripples of n-Coronavirus continue to spread.
All depends how long economic activity in China etc is locked down.

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/020620-chinas-cnooc-declares-force-majeure-on-lng-contracts-amid-coronavirus-outbreak
China's CNOOC declares force majeure on LNG contracts amid coronavirus outbreak
HIGHLIGHTS
Shell, Tangguh hit by CNOOC's force majeure: sources

Buyer has more than 20 mil mt/year in LNG SPAs

Other Chinese LNG importers mulling force majeure option

Platts JKM plunges to historic low of $3.15/MMBtu Wednesday
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 05:26:35 PM by gerontocrat »
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #538 on: February 06, 2020, 04:55:32 PM »
I hear late spring will break this killer cold. If so, will it disappear like SARS or will it come back every winter like the cold?

I don't know who told you that but as Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan and HK has the most cases other than China (and Japan) I would not think that warm weather will kill this virus

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #540 on: February 06, 2020, 05:14:18 PM »
I hear late spring will break this killer cold. If so, will it disappear like SARS or will it come back every winter like the cold?

I don't know who told you that but as Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan and HK has the most cases other than China (and Japan) I would not think that warm weather will kill this virus

Indeed.  Rate of spread may slow a bit in warmer months, but probably not stop.  What halted SARS wasn't weather, more that victims of SARS didn't seem to shed much virus until they were quite symptomatic.  Vigilance in dealing with symptomatic cases probably had the most effect, but that seems less likely to apply for this new virus.

My own guess is that this Wuhan virus will ultimately continue circulating in future years.  But the young seem resilient and far less likely to have severe complications.  Once all adults have been exposed, the young will be the only ones susceptible.  This is how Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) behaves.  People *do* get RSV more than once, but subsequent bouts are far less severe.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #541 on: February 06, 2020, 05:24:15 PM »

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #542 on: February 06, 2020, 05:35:15 PM »
Lets hope they are lucky. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/10000-recent-arrivals-from-china-not-in-home-isolation/articleshow/73945900.cms

^ Based on that I give India 3 weeks before Kolkata becomes the next Wuhan

From the article:

... Times of India spoke to multiple passengers who reached Kolkata from China and Hong Kong over the past four days and all of them said that neither the airport health officers nor anyone at the immigration had asked them to stay in home isolation for the next fortnight.

A student of Shangdong First Medical University who took a China Eastern flight back from Kunming on January 31 said she visited multiple hot spots in Kolkata and stayed at a friend’s house in Odisha before travelling to her home town in Haryana. All the while she used public transport.

“At Kolkata airport I was not asked to undergo any tests apart from the thermal scan and was asked to fill up a form that had questions like my name, address and the cities I have visited in China and whether I had been to Wuhan in Hubei province in the last 14 days. It also asked if I had any symptoms of fever, cough or cold. I cleared the test and thought I was safe and didn’t need to stay indoors,” she said.
...

---------------------------

Quote from: gerontocrat
... China's CNOOC declares force majeure on LNG contracts amid coronavirus outbreak ...

They won't take it lying down ...

Total Rejects 'Force Majeure' Notice from Chinese Buyer
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/china-coronavirus-outbreak-latest-updates-200206001100173.html

A Total executive said the French energy giant rejected a force majeure notice from a buyer of liquefied natural gas in China

"Some Chinese customers, at least one, is trying to use the coronavirus to say I have force majeure," said Philippe Sauquet, head of Total's gas, renewables and power division, said as the company presented its annual results.

-------------------------

Chinese City Accused of Stealing Virus Masks from Hard-Hit Neighbour

A Chinese city with only eight confirmed cases of a new coronavirus has been accused of intercepting a shipment of surgical masks bound for a municipality with 400 cases, prompting outrage on social media.

The government of Dali city, in the southwestern province of Yunnan, was accused this week of making an "emergency requisition" of a shipment of masks bound for the hard-hit municipality of Chongqing, state media reported.

---------------------------

New Coronavirus Incident in Malaysia First Known Person to Person Case in Country

The sister of a 41-year-old Malaysian man who attended a meeting in Singapore last month has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the first known person-to-person transmission in the country, authorities in Malaysia said.

--------------------------



----------------------------

Toyota Hunts for Alternative Auto Parts Suppliers
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/06/coronavirus-latest-updates.html

Toyota Motor is looking at alternatives for the production of auto parts made in China because of the coronavirus. The company has halted production at its China plants through Sunday, but may extend the deadline if the situation worsens.

------------------------

US Couple Quarantined on Ship in Japan: 'Trump, save us'
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/02/06/cruise-ship-coronavirus-japan-diamond-princess-couple-trapped-honeymoon-hancocks-pkg-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn

Good luck with that ...
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 08:14:18 PM by vox_mundi »
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #543 on: February 06, 2020, 06:12:11 PM »
This is why transparency, whether in the medical field, the economic field, the political field, etc. is so important.   When people try to hide things .... it’s usually for BAD REASONS .... like MBS and Trump.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #544 on: February 06, 2020, 07:34:23 PM »
Lets hope they are lucky. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/10000-recent-arrivals-from-china-not-in-home-isolation/articleshow/73945900.cms
If the Wuhan virus gets a foot hold in the Indian sub-continent, the situation will get really ugly.
They do not have the social structure to impose quarantines.
Wearing masks is not normal behaviour as it is with Chinese.
Health care facilities are far less adequate compared to China.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #545 on: February 06, 2020, 07:46:10 PM »
And those 10 000 people, that's just one airport. Normaly there are more people arriving from China in other airports i would think. And if they just do a temperature check. Hospitals will be overrun fast if it can spread. That would be a disaster.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #546 on: February 06, 2020, 08:23:32 PM »
I'm pretty sure this virus has already slipped containment. Don't just look at the countries reporting confirmed cases, look at the countries that haven't. Indonesia. Laos. Myanmar. Pakistan. Mongolia. North Korea.  Every country in Africa and South America.

China's economic growth means that the whole world has lots of transport links with it. Many of the icountries I've picked out have particularly strong economic links and two-way traffic, but no confirmed cases. I expect, personally, that this is more from a lack of monitoring than a lack of actual cases, given the non-specific symptoms and the hundreds of cases already seen in other, higher surveillance countries. Unlke its antecedants SARS and MERS, I very much expect this virus is going global.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #547 on: February 06, 2020, 08:35:03 PM »
Bright side.
There is always one.
I expect the virus is already widespread in India and other places without the infrastructure or political landscape to cope.
We are looking at a global recession as china's dominance of widget manufacturing and just in time bites.
The USA and its present economic setting "borrow and hope" leaves them no room to move and they will get hit hard.
The good bit.
If the economy crashes Trump is unlikely to get reelected.
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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #548 on: February 06, 2020, 08:53:45 PM »
I'm pretty sure this virus has already slipped containment. Don't just look at the countries reporting confirmed cases, look at the countries that haven't. Indonesia. Laos. Myanmar. Pakistan. Mongolia. North Korea.  Every country in Africa and South America.

China's economic growth means that the whole world has lots of transport links with it. Many of the icountries I've picked out have particularly strong economic links and two-way traffic, but no confirmed cases. I expect, personally, that this is more from a lack of monitoring than a lack of actual cases, given the non-specific symptoms and the hundreds of cases already seen in other, higher surveillance countries. Unlke its antecedants SARS and MERS, I very much expect this virus is going global.

And become endemic, joining the four other known coronaviruses that cause 25% of all common colds.

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Re: COVID-19
« Reply #549 on: February 06, 2020, 09:28:47 PM »
If the economy crashes Trump is unlikely to get reelected.

Not necessarily. People often elect reactionaries when times are tough.