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

[Freida]

I don't believe that is the reason at all. My understanding is that it was started in China.

True - it started in china. And true, china could have announced it earlier. But when they did tell the whole world what was going on, that they had 55 million people in lock down, that they were facing a pandemic, no one wanted to hear it. Now that it has spread around the world suddenly they are the bad guys because no one anticipated how badly it could go. So we need someone to blame. The problem with calling it China Flu instead of covid 19 here in America is that anyone who looks Chinese is suddenly suspect. The racism this has released has been insane. We have people of any kind of Asian lineage suddenly being assaulted in the street, businesses boycotted, vandalism, you name it, just because they look Chinese. It frustrates me because American leaders knew that was a possibility because the same thing happened to anyone with brown skin after 9/11. They could have kept it professional - but chose to make it personal.

I don't think any country in the world has people alive with the experience to share for this type of event. Countries theorise this stuff, model it, predict it, come up with lovely plans -- then the reality hits. Long lines for unemployment. Next it may be food lines.

Knowing something is very different than living it.

There have been people warning this exact scenario is coming for decades. But no one would listen, which I agree is probably because they had no frame of reference. However, they had the basics set out. Don't get me wrong. Having to make a choice between saving people and saving economies? Ya, we won't know which was the right choice until it's written in the history books. But in the here and now it's just so frustrating to see that the politics of blame are more important than the practice of keeping the countries running. This is a worldwide problem. Let's focus our attention on getting thru this first --then we can work on who should be held responsible.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I'm guessing the cops are tied up with handling all the DV calls that are pouring in because people who don't get along are cooped up in the house with each other. Or they are responding to the usual - car wrecks, bank robberies, burglaries, fights, etc. Or they are already out sick, or their family member is or they are being quarantined because they came into contact with someone who had corona, which also means everyone who works with them has now been exposed. That scenario ends with entire precincts in isolation so there is no one to respond to the real 911 emergency calls. Oh ya - and three have been killed in the line of duty in the last 4 days - which always has an impact on cops all around the US.

As for those letters? My hubby got one also and it's driving our sheriff nuts. He has no intent of having his people stop anyone who is out and about. If they do come into contact with someone then it's going to be an education campaign, not an arrest. Same with all the local cities around here. Why? I'd guess they are choosing to keep their people safe. Y'know, those cops who have to interact with the public over and over with only a mask and a pair gloves as protective equipment? Every time they come into contact with someone it ups their chances of getting corona - and when they are trying to break up fights and end up wrestling on the ground with some drunken ass hat who just beat up his wife (or vice versa of course), or in a foot pursuit of a wanted person or are trying to get someone into custody who keeps spitting at them? Chances are high those masks get ripped right off their faces. There are even white supremacist groups who are sending out gang members they know have corona with insructions to get into a situation with a cop so they can rip off the officer's mask and spit at them -- hopefully infecting them and their families

So ya -- I'm guessing they are keeping a low profile and declining the role of being the world's babysitter. They need to stay alive because every department is short officers across the US and if they are risking corona every time they pull over a car to ask where you are going it ups their risk of dying. With all that on their minds I'd guess speeding tickets and why aren't you home tickets are at the bottom of their list of things to do.

I understand and agree with 100% of that. I guess I am addressing all of these parties and get togethers, more then on roadways. The State (or county) apparently saw a problem there. I said it days ago. They are now putting out a social distancing order, at least here in Seminole county. With a penality of $500. The county had to seen this as a problem. I am just wondering how that's going to be enforced given all the things you've listed. More of a question, really. Wondering and thinking outloud.

 

[Freida]

We started locking up our people here just yesterday that entered the country, 14 days forced isolation in hotels, monitored by police and military. 24hrs later, they're already complaining. These very same people are the ones spreading this thing. People are selfish. It is humanity.

Yes - yes they are!

I'm all for this idea- but our understaffed police departments can't do it on their own. Plus there are constitutional issues at play. In my perfect world the national guard takes this job and the cops take the regular work and when its all over the country will realize (finally!) that the public safety staffing crisis has been going on for years and needs to be addressed. But ya I know, - that's also just a case of Freida and her Silver Lining :laugh:

 

[joeylittle]

Stopping that travel needs to occur. That is going to spread it much faster.

Perhaps. But reducing the population of NYC, even by a fraction, could be helpful there. And if people are going to be sick in one place or another.. Florida likely has more available beds than NY. I'd assume they'll screen everyone coming into the state, test anyone displaying symptoms, and then...not sure. Florida is spiking, whether or not those people come in on those planes.

How do you create a lock down but not have cops out to enforce that? Even just a tad?

It's really not a lockdown - that term is getting thrown around a lot, but it's a stay-at-home order. Big difference. Hopefully, the social distancing law will deter or break up parties / give law enforcement a tool to work with.

How many Americans are going to want compensation after this? Tell me there won't be some class action against someone identified to blame in order to capitalise upon? Tell me countries aren't going to blame China for this because they held out on letting help in and the real numbers when this initially began?

I'm happy to be wrong. I hope I'm wrong.

I hope you're wrong too. But, knowing my country...it's really easy to imagine this scenario. The side of me that wants to believe in the good parts of humanity is hoping that something about this experience will change people for the better.

But, who can say.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Hopefully, the social distancing law will deter or break up parties.

I'm hoping as well!

 

[Tinyflame]

The facts though - it started in China from a believed mismanagement of selling exotic animals that contained the virus, for consumption amongst humans in China.

This is what the news has shown in Canada, and carried (?, or originating from?) bats in particular. Reporters were able to get footage where they used pressure washers on the animals and there was the animals' blood and guts flying everywhere, exotic and domestic all intercontaminated. I know from people familiar with the markets on any day they'll simply chop up whatever the person wants right there (sorry, struggling for words. :( ). Though too, I know a person who's relative made a fortune here selling such and so there's great demand for it. When I first read it I was skeptical; when I saw the documentary I was not. Sick to my stomach, but not skeptical.

I don't think any country in the world has people alive with the experience to share for this type of event.

I heard this ^^ is true, also. In so far as though pandemics occur on average 1-2 times per century, the last have been flu, which is entirely different.

I know from ebola that I had to study 25 years ago (but fortunately have never seen nor experienced), they said were that to become airborne nothing could stop it. And with it that gruesome, that's pretty unreal.

I do think this has exposed a lot of things, at least here: what many people go through who are living in the 3rd world, in 3rd world conditions, and the daily battles (on any given day) for the immuno-compromised; how poorly we treat the poor and homeless and disadvantaged; prejudice; the dependence on work; the inequalities and safety and health issues in workplaces, for workers and patrons alike; the isolation of those in DV, and how this worsens it; what can be taken for granted, including being above ground and plans; the fact all professions are essential; our interconnectedness as people; the impact our day to day lives affect the environment; how difficult it is for families to be one, and greater understanding what teachers and child care workers experience. And much else. But JMHO, for what it's worth (not much :laugh: ).

 

[Chris-duck]

We had police counting people going into supermarkets a couple of days back (50 max at one time last I heard). So our police (Scotland) are out n about. But yeah. I think DV calls trump counting shoppers ?

Hospital staff have NHS hour here (7-8am most places) n since alcohol can't be purchased between 2200 n 1000 in Scotland. NHS staff are petitioning for alcohol to be available in NHS hour too ? I doubt it'll happen n outta all the fights to have.. ? but hey ?

 

[scout86]

I agree is probably because they had no frame of reference

I think it's letting people off too easy to say they had no frame of reference. Depending on where you live, Ebola, AIDS, West Nile Virus? SARS, MERS? We've been lucky, so far. I don't think it takes much imagination to imagine what it might be like to have a disease that was as contagious as measles and as deadly as Ebola. Honestly, I think we're probably lucky again because this one doesn't look like it meets either of those criteria.

I finally lost my patience with people on Thur. I officially transitioned from "concerned" to "furious". Mostly at people I can't get at, mind you, but I made a couple speeches that started with the line "Actually, that's not true."

Part of the problem, if you want to call it that, was that our governor requested a 2 week "stay at home if you can" interlude, to try to give them time to line up enough resources to hand the wave, when it hits. Within hours, I had a bunch of phone calls, texts, and emails from people wanting to get their horse's feet trimmed. NOT an emergency, as far as I'm concerned. Some things are, and those I'll deal with, but otherwise, they'll have to wait the two weeks.

The other part of the problem is I've been hearing more about what this country has done, in the past, to "prepare" for this kind of thing. And how the White House gang should have had pretty good intel on this disease back in Dec, certainly in Jan. So, maybe THAT would have been a good time to start lining up ventilators? Just saying. I totally agree that blame isn't useful, at this point. At this point efforts should be aimed at getting as many people through this as we can. But, "accountability" is a thing too. When "preparing the country for disaster" is part of your job description, I think you're guilty of dereliction of duty when you fail to take warnings seriously.

On the other hand, I went to see my T today. (He said his kids might chain him to a chair, so he'd let me know about next week, when HE knows about next week.) That trip involved a 2 hour drive to the big city. Along the way, I saw very few cars. Even less than last week and we were under a much less restrictive order last week. I also saw a billboard promoting "social distancing". And another thanking people who work in grocery stores. On the way home, there were people out walking their dogs & riding their bikes, more than usual (especially considering it was a gray, damp day) but they were alone or with a partner. No crowds. All in all, it looked like most people were playing along. Good for them!

 

[Tinyflame]

As of monday @scout86 we're down to max 10, indoors or outdoors, with 6 foot spread. But it doesn't include workplaces. :confused:

 

[user27357]

Blaming china is just another tool being used to create another us and them mindset. Us as in "this group", not an abbreviated USA. As long as the us has a clearly defined them, the us will have a strong feeling of unity against the them.
I leave it to you to determine why anyone would want to create a stronger us against them mindset in a time when we need a worldwide feeling of us against the it (the virus).
I remain, as I hope you are, focused on the us and the it. The us and them BS gets less and less of my attention every single day.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I'd assume they'll screen everyone coming into the state, test anyone displaying symptoms, and then...not sure. Florida is spiking, whether or not those people come in on those planes

I didn't even think about testing everyone on the plane.

I know it will spread requardless and NY needs relief for sure. Just worried that New Yorkers coming here will spread it much faster. I could be totally off base too. Just where my thinking is.

 

[anthony]

Melbourne, here in Australia, looks like a ghost town. We just need to nail down a few more idiots who just aren't getting the new social distancing laws. If we can achieve that, we might just contain it for a couple of weeks.

The unemployment though is only getting worse. When you tell everyone to stay home, but have not forced a lockdown, businesses have to close their doors regardless, stand down staff, as no people outside equal no sales.

Our apartment building has a no visitor rule, period.