Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

My wife recently pointed out that her facebook friends who are arguing that we are taking too drastic of measures to save a few lives, or that the risk to the economy outweighs saving people ... are also the typical "pro-lifers".

Looking at Swamp Gas, I think she's on to something.

 

a five year old somewhere is offended by that

 

Because of one or two guys?

 

A lot of people aren't pro life, they are pro baby. Once you're out of the womb you're on your own.

 

Ironically it was the southern Italians living up north that fled for the most part. Also they do the kiss each cheek thing when they greet and depart which doesn't help.

 

Well put; spot on!

 

So at the current rate of increase in the number of reported cases in the US, which is 7.72X increase over last week:

By April 3: 1m cases
By April 10: 7.3m cases
By April 17: 59.7m cases
By April 24: The entire population

Think about this folks, even if we fall way short of the absolute worst case scenario, we could still be in big trouble.

Bend the mfer

 

Even some early lockdown proponents are finally seeing the light. Yesterday morning a doctor said an answer to the question was about 550 in the whole U.S. that were admitted inpatients and in the hospital at this time for this.

 

I'd put it like this, basing the projections only on confirmed cases is scary af enough, at least for me it is. We are looking like Italy.

But to your point (I think), it could be far worse right now if the true number is far greater than the known number.

Edit: I need to look for what the CDC has for an R0 for coronavirus in the US. The numbers I used were only based on what we know and projected off of the current rate. Basically a back of the envelope calculation, not my plugging numbers into any complex stat model.

 

I would have to think that the social distancing and hopefully other precautions people are taking will slow the rate of infection way down.

Knock on wood.

It is also a great sign that well known malaria drugs appear very effective in treatment of the virus.

Ramp up production and get it distributed.

 

Wouldn't be happening if obama was potus, no way.

 

Obama took H1N1 seriously and acted accordingly. Actually listened to the experts. Novel approach apparently.

So you are more than likely correct that Obama (and likely every other POTUS prior to this one) would have taken this seriously, and would not be getting reamed for delayed action and calling this a hoax... while he and his buddies sold off stock to beat the market crash he knew was coming.

 

Knock like hell on wood.

We need to bend that curve. I hope upon hope that these efforts will achieve it. Far more South Korea than Italy.

I remain somewhat skeptical of chloroquine's effectiveness, which I wrote to on that thread. All for giving it a try, however.

 

Was streaming "Dirty Money" on Netflix last night. There was a segment on the drug company Valeant that bought out another drug company that manufactured a drug for Wilson's disease. Without this drug people with the disease die. When Valiant acquired the company the cost went from ~ $30/month to ~ $289,000/year. Fewer people took the drug but revenue shot up and they were the darlings of Wall Street.

edit: they got their comeuppance when short sellers drove their share price from $270 to $8.

 

Either do I, though I completely expect it from the usual suspects. POTUS did what he was going to do and this is the result. It was predictable. Even now, after changing tune, he reverts to invective and exaggeration. And he has a legion of supporters who are the most ill-informed among us and and full of contempt toward science and expertise. It's a sad state of affairs that has been long in the making.

 

I have heard some rumblings that there are not a large number of people in hospitals over this relatively speaking.

Has anyone seen any numbers?

 

It's exactly what we're trying to prevent from happening in the next month.