Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

As we "re-open" our economy by relaxing our social distancing it is interesting to look at the countries that surround Sweden.

Sweden and the Netherlands have not practiced any significant social distancing and are taking more of a herd immunity approach. They have 283 and 302 deaths per million residents.

Their nearest neighbors, who are more aggressively implementing social distancing practices, range from 19 to 87 deaths per million. If you are amongst those wondering why the model updates for the US have significantly increased the forecasted fatalities here at home, they are making adjustments to the model because more activity is going to create more spread which will lead to increased fatalities.

 

he's a stable genius, knows more than al the generals too. He wouldn't lose wars. how people continue to defend him is beyond reason. He has and a cult like status with some. Blind faith.

 

but I fear that the IC is being directed by the same politicians that gave us hydroxy as the next great thing. Uncertain as to how independent any branch of the executive arm is right now.

 

In the post I replied to, you mentioned CNN & Fox, but those are not the only MSM outlets. Even those partisan outlets are likely broadcasting some positive news. My pushback relates to your statements: "Why is all the good news, hidden deep?" and "But reporting news that could actually help us all stay healthy? I guess that does not sell."

Just last night, SanJay Gupta did a segment on making a face covering. There have been tutorials on hand-washing, etc. If you claimed there's too much Trump in the news, I'd agree with you. Unlike so many of our outrageously well-informed posters here, I actually watch CNN somewhat regularly but I often have to switch it off because I grow tired of Trump-this and Trump-that.

The news and yes, even the MSM is not devoid of optimistic reports. Hell, there's a recent report on Vitamin D on CNN:
Britons urged to take vitamin D while sheltering inside during the pandemic - CNN

The report is pretty balanced re: Benefits of the vitamin and caution about non-conclusive nature of its ability to ward off Covid-19. Fox News is also providing health tips:
Safety tips for doing laundry during the coronavirus pandemic

Again, I would agree that there's too much partisanship, Trumpism, etc. but I don't see the media, even the MSM devoid of healthful suggestions/reporting.

 

Is Florida really testing more? The other day you said this and you also said 50% of the tests were 2nd and 3rd test of someone that has tested positive already. So is that really testing more?

I'm just asking because I keep reading how FL isn't really testing as it should.

Total tests are 467,553 of a population of 21 million or 2.2%. If half are retests of someone that already tested positive then FL is really only tested 1.1% of the population.

 

I meant IC.... international community.

 

Where are you reading that? You can check the info for yourself if you would like (link below). I was tested this morning with absolutely no issues, didn't even need a referral so I am not sure how FL should be testing more, can't force somebody to get tested unless you are referring to employers testing employees. I know 4 companies locally that are. I just know this as I know the owners so I am sure there are more doing so. The % positive for first time persons tested was under 5% for the past 3 days. My brother in law was able to easily get an antibody test yesterday although he had to wait 2 hours for it.

https://floridadisaster.org/globala...id-19-data---daily-report-2020-05-04-0943.pdf

My county had 3 positive tests out of 843 yesterday, and the beaches have been open this whole time for those naysayers (not referring to you)

 

Some disheartening news coming out - A mutant coronavirus has emerged, even more contagious than the original, study says

 

Where are you getting exceeded 70,000 deaths.

From the CDC website....




Provisional Death Counts for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19):

Why does the CDC have such disparate data?

It appears the 39k are confirmed the rest are suspected? I guess if I die from Pneumonia right now its COVID until proven otherwise.

 

If the high risk stay home and we keep it out of nursing homes(Sweden dropped the ball there bigly) it will mitigate increased deaths.

If the at risk charge out in to the world then you are correct.

 

That's old news. That is likely the strain that ripped through NYC and the northeast.

 

I mentioned this the other day, that I thought we had a strand here that was more contagious than what they were dealing with in Asia. Of course, China could be lying, but if they've really slowed the new infection rate to single digits per day over there, they're not dealing with the Covid-19 we're dealing with here. No chance.

 

How is that old news when the report just came out? Unless you are saying last Thursday is old news

 

probably not such a good idea to point to the scoreboard in the middle of the 1st quarter

 

Davis, I am saying that you have to search to find it.
It isn't in their headlines or their main landing spots.

I mean I think most grown ups know how to wash our hands by now, but could we not stop taking shots at our competing news service and use that spot to discuss Vitamin D for example?

When I say MSM. I mean the big 3. Fox, CNN, MSNBC.
I understand there are other sources. I find them. You find them. But the average person just click it on while having breakfast and it is just the same sad song.

Maybe I am frustrated. Even though my life has remained quite normal during this crisis, I see many who can't say that. I miss sports. I miss sitting on the riverfront and having dinner with my wife, I miss walks on our beaches. I miss my little boys flag football games and my girls dance classes, I think this thing will end quicker and more positively if we all scoot past the words said 3 months ago, and just focus. Focus on things that help. Even if it is fresh air, sunshine and exercise.

I know I have been ranting here today, but man...some on this board are just mired in it too.
It should be against board rules to ever point out again that Trump said this was a dem hoax. I mean lets move forward for God's sake. LOL. He's an idiot. We all get that.
Ok Rant over.

 

Read the disclaimers on that page and it will tell you why the number is so much smaller.

 

At the bottom of that table:

A 1 to 8 week delay is an issue. This data includes the presumed cases but is not current. The current figures on the CDC website are 67,456 (which is still probably a day or two delayed and worldometer's data comes from local reports, so it isn't as delayed by the bureaucracy).

 

I didn't realize the states were relaxing our social distancing. In any event, keeping everything shut down for 2 or 3 months is not a feasible plan. You have to start somewhere. Businesses are only re-opening at a fraction of capacity. If it gets bad again, we can shut it down again. You have to try.

 

This was posted on a website for studies that have not been peer reviewed. (I just wanted to say that for once.)

 

They won't shut down unless we see issues with the hospitals, there will no doubt be rises in cases but for the one millionth time (not talking about you) eliminating the virus was NEVER the intent of the shutdown. The virus isn't going away, quarantine or not. Have to start living with it.