News Worldwide impact of the novel coronavirus (covid-19)

[joeylittle]

I wonder if anyone, even, read the article I put up. Sometimes I think loads of people are just addicted to drama and bad news (cough ...watching msm news) and good news just doesn't compute with their mindset.

Not trying to pick a fight, and also not telling you this isn't true. I think you're right, it's really easy to fall into a trap of following the panicking herd. I don't know how many people on this forum specifically are doing that - I think everyone's doing a decent job of being self-aware of their own potentially harmful behaviors, and that members are pointing them out to each other when they observe them.

I'd not make an assumption about people reading this thread ignoring your post because it isn't mainstream media, and that's all the people on this thread are listening to. I for one read what you posted, and then did some digging around to see if I could source it myself. I'm slow, others were quicker on the draw. FDA press release main page (link to all press announcements for FDA, pretty good site to bookmark if you're in the US), which I'm glad I had reason to look for. Wouldn't have looked if you'd not posted what you did, and now I know more than I did an hour ago.

Specific quote from the FDA press release addressing Chloroquine:

The FDA has been working closely with other government agencies and academic centers that are investigating the use of the drug chloroquine, which is already approved for treating malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, to determine whether it can be used to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms, as well as viral shedding, which can help prevent the spread of disease. Studies are underway to determine the efficacy in using chloroquine to treat COVID-19.

I'm not a 100% fan of the FDA, how it does what it does, and why. But - for better or worse, they are the gatekeeper on most of what the American population can use to address health concerns. It can be notoriously slow, and insanely biased towards the pharma companies. That being said - they appear to be acting swiftly and in the public interest, looking at how they're addressing other issues. At least, for now.

That all adds up to - thanks for posting the link. I, for one, appreciated it.

 

[Justmehere]

We have a curfew now from 11pm to 5am every night until further notice! Why! f*cking why? ...Like, I wanna get gas when there are less people out but NOOOO! Central Florida has to make a f*cking curfew!

We don't have a curfew per se here, but that's because nothing around here is open anymore past 8 pm and no one is supposed to go anywhere but essential travel to work, grocery, pharmacy, and a few limited things 24-7. Not just 11 pm to 5 am, but all the time. Most stores that were open until 11pm, midnight, or even 24 hours are now only open 8am to 8pm or even fewer hours. FL is headed that direction to shut down like here. When more and more is shut down there, this temp curfew will seem not just pointless, but moot. Here, I have gone out mid-day to walk my dog, and there's very few people anywhere in places like gas stations and the like... when a week ago, it used to be *very packed* with all the panic buyers. People are in parks and walking but not driving and buying. If you want to get gas, food, anything, you are unlikely to face the crowds that are there now if you simply wait a week. Here, giant stores are nearly empty at hours there used to be lines out the door. Many people are getting deliveries instead of going anywhere and few drive at all. The demand is quite less than usual. I'd suggest waiting a week, and things may be easier to navigate with greater safety and less people. That is the whole point of all the shutdowns in the first place: to get to a place of greater safety and less people out and about.

 

[blackemerald1]

Oh well done public! Now authorities are warning against panic buying of pet food. ..sigh...

 

[Justmehere]

This is a fascinating discussion about if we are doing more harm than good. I don't agree with a lot of it, but it's another perspective.

Another perspective that I heard recently is to not worry too much the economy over the long haul. After the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu, despite millions dying, the roaring 20s came. Many think the economy will light back up again in the US when we beat the virus.

 

[Mach123]

Today the swings were more drastic, high to low, tense to calm. I didn’t see any evidence of the panic rumors I heard from my friends. The one this morning was so dire a thing I would have heard.
So I started the day thinking, I could hear some really bad stuff today.

I didn't though, the news was up beat in general, not "the news", I won't watch it, just what got through to me. The panicked pharmacists were kind of a low point. The warm weather and all the people out and around and everyone busy all seemed so normal (even though everyone who have been at work).

The rest was, "this isn't bad and that's not bad, and that might be pretty good."

People are snippy and short, which I don't blame anyone, it's to be expected. I trying to stay on my extra best behavior.

Who knows what to think now? If no one I know got sick, it wouldn't surprise me at all. If I get up Tomorrow and it's all real bad news? Same.

 

[siniang]

Another perspective that I heard recently is to not worry too much the economy over the long haul. After the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu, despite millions dying, the roaring 20s came.

Yeah. The roaring 20s and then the Great Depression followed by WWII. I love me when people (not you, those who come up with such claims) kind of forget parts of the story

 

[Justmehere]

There are many factors that lead to the Great Depression that don't exist today and many new problems we have today that didn't exist then. The only link I was making was that 50 million dying of the Spanish flu didn't crash the economy during the flu with zero recovery. It did recover for a time. The Spanish flu also didn't cause the Great Depression or WWII, other things did.

 

[Justmehere]

Well. Crap. New CDC data is showing the virus is more deadly in the US than China. In fact, as the article below describes, if the US did nothing, more than 10 million would likely die. (Which explains why most of the country is going on lockdown sooner or later.) But this article goes deeper into the data about what happens if we act - and good news - it's very hopeful. (It also contains links to the new CDC data.) Coronavirus: The Hammer and the Dance

 

[siniang]

New CDC data is showing the virus is more deadly in the US than China.

Which is probably for very similar reasons as Italy, I presume. Mainly a crappy health care system + slow initial response. I'm happy to see very drastic measures being implemented pretty much nationwide, currently, even if maybe a little late in some areas.

We here here in Hawaii are in practical lockdown and as of today have had 37 confirmed cases. All incoming folks, tourists and residents returning, are required to mandatory 14-day- quarantine with hefty fines. While it's an island-to-island thing, some have already curfew, others have practical limitations with many closed businesses that aren't essential and vehicular traffic reduced to commutes to work, grocery store and medical appointments.

Let's hope we won't get to Italy levels of severity. I remain hopeful that in many places we have acted drastically but fast enough (look at California - good job, too!). I'm happy to see that local state governments are more capable of dealing with this than the inept federal government.

 

[Sideways]

@Justmehere - mum just called with news of the first death in the family (in his 60s with asthma and heart disease), and I've been fighting it so hard, but I'm really starting to feel your frustration at the 'relaxed' attitude.

Bans on gatherings, curfews and lockdowns will only be necessary here because people are failing to heed basic advice. Bondi Beach and others have now been closed because people have ignored social distancing guidelines.

People apparently need saving from their own selfishness. The number of deaths is devastating. In Northern Italy, they've fundamentally just lost their entire older generation, which is such a tragedy.

 

[Justmehere]

@Sideways - I'm so sorry for the loss. I hear you. Soon a lot of people will wake up and realize... but by then, it will be too late for so many. Denial is a tough one. Many are still in it here too. I keep thinking this time is like the start to war times... there is always some who are in denial for a time at the beginning of major wars. But in those situations, they really only put their own lives at risk. In the case of this virus, the foolish denial puts EVERYONE at risk and in harms way.

Oh well done public! Now authorities are warning against panic buying of pet food. ..sigh...

Same is happening here in the US too.

I might just pull out my old sewing machine and join the fight. Operation: We Can Sew It

 

[Friday]

We have a curfew now from 11pm to 5am every night until further notice! Why! f*cking why? Like, I get curfews after a hurricane

Same reason.

Police are busy, so petty crime by idiots -and by bored kids outta school- is ramping up.

An increase of petty crime will also see an increase in violent crime / violent self defense as the idiots&kids are surprised by the home owner/business owner/passersby and people are getting into physical and armed altercations. Which also means an increase in emergency medical calls, right when EMS is already stretched to the hilt. Which will see an increase in preventable deaths, as EMS can’t be everywhere.