2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

Forums › Health and fitness › 2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2439959 17-Mar-2020 13:31

dogstar001:

I disagree, I think at 50,000 we might as well at least partially give up. The best we can do at that point is ring fence the most venerable. Schools & Work places can't stay closed indefinitely,
These would have to be re-opened eventually. I understand not allowing mass gatherings, like sports events, church services etc. But you can't just shut up shop indefinitely.
How long you can lock up the elderly for anyway, it gets to a point where I am sure many of them would rather run the gauntlet & enjoy life. Play golf then have a beer, meet friends, go to yoga classes etc. Than
be prisoners in their own home.

I think that we have the benefit of time working in our favour. Making a decision now to do anything like "giving up" at some defined future infection rate would be a very stupid thing to do when we'll soon have evidence of what's working and what's not overseas - where they're several weeks ahead of us (and much more in China) with attempts at pandemic control.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#2439961 17-Mar-2020 13:40

kingdragonfly: Mediaite: Fox & Friends Churns Out Misinformation on Coronavirus

I used to regularly fly between The Netherlands and NZ. The most luxurious flight I ever had was right after 9/11. Super service. Empty plane. Rows of seats to myself to make a bed on. Not bad for economy.

The people at Fox are idiots. Everyone knows that. Except the people at Fox. They are probably thinking of the 9/11 phenomenon and as usual haven't bothered to check their facts. This time is very different. The airlines are cutting flights and cramming as many people as possible into bigger planes. Anyone expecting a flight to themselves ought to look at those pictures of O'Hare. They are going to be very surprised, not to mention infected with every flu, cold and corona virus going around.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2439970 17-Mar-2020 13:56

WHO have said that ALL countries now need to TEST TEST TEST

However NZ seems to have a low number of tests compared to other countries, and apparently we aren't reaching capacity. Is this because they have a maximum number of test they can do in total, and don't want to run out? If not, what would the reason to not test to capacity at this early stage, to minimise the risk of community transmissions occurring. They have already said after closing NZ off from other countries and requiring self isolation for all inbound people, that it would be unrealistic to expect NZ not to go through this without other cases. However if noone else is coming into NZ with the illness, (except possibly those that are self isolating) that would mean it would be transmitting locally. We want to stop any risk of local transmission occurring to prevent any community outbreaks, which the only way appears is to test. 8 doesn't sound like a realistic number of cases IMO , and sounds too low.

sen8or

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#2439972 17-Mar-2020 13:58

But can't you only test if you are symptomatic?

Testing for testings sake is a waste of resources, both monetary and human.

msukiwi

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#2439975 17-Mar-2020 14:03

Another casualty (To be expected):

In light of the rapidly developing COVID-19 situation, it is with great disappointment that the Food Show Christchurch will not take place as scheduled on 3-5 April 2020 at the Horncastle Arena. The Food Show Christchurch will return in 2021.

tdgeek

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#2439984 17-Mar-2020 14:07

mattwnz:

WHO have said that ALL countries now need to TEST TEST TEST

However NZ seems to have a low number of tests compared to other countries, and apparently we aren't reaching capacity. Is this because they have a maximum number of test they can do in total, and don't want to run out? If not, what would the reason to not test to capacity at this early stage, to minimise the risk of community transmissions occurring. They have already said after closing NZ off from other countries and requiring self isolation for all inbound people, that it would be unrealistic to expect NZ not to go through this without other cases. However if noone else is coming into NZ with the illness, (except possibly those that are self isolating) that would mean it would be transmitting locally. We want to stop any risk of local transmission occurring to prevent any community outbreaks, which the only way appears is to test. 8 doesn't sound like a realistic number of cases IMO , and sounds too low.

We only test symptoms I think. How many test kits do we have? Testing people with no symptoms seems wasteful, you might test me today, but next week I catch it.

I agree re our numbers. But we aren't seeing extra numbers reach the ED's. Thats possibly one metric that adds "some" potential accuracy of the 8 cases, or more importantly that its not yet bleeding exponentially on the community. I havent seen any doctors lately but Id wager they are head down bum up

frankv

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#2439985 17-Mar-2020 14:11

kingdragonfly:
“Someone said...? I don’t know. But it really is something strange going on.”

Very Trump-esque. Say something that is outrageous and absolutely untrue, but that you want people to believe. Then lie again "I don't know." to deflect accusations about the first lie. And then a zero-information statement (there's always "something strange going on", particularly in the heads of conspiracy theorists and paranoids) inviting people to re-consider the first lie.

Someone said the Chinese have taken over GeekZone. I don’t know. But it really is something strange going on.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2439986 17-Mar-2020 14:15

sen8or:

But can't you only test if you are symptomatic?

Who said that? I don't believe so. The guy who flew into Wellington who tested positive for it, said he didn't ever have any symptoms at all. He only got tested in Oz because he had arrived from Canada, and they recommended he get tested in Oz. That is why he traveled to NZ, because he was never sick, and he was amazed that he had it. So it appears in Oz they are also testing people who are not showing symptoms.

But according to some stories I have read for people who have the symptoms, they have not been tested either, because apparently they didn't fit the criteria. One story was about someone who was ill, but didn't fit the criteria, even though the story said that they had possibly been in contact from someone who had returned from China recently. Whether they had it, I don't know, and probably not.

Once it is widespread however, doesn't the usefulness of testing become somewhat pointless anyway?

sen8or:

Testing for testings sake is a waste of resources, both monetary and human.

They would still need to follow common sense. But increasing testing up to the level recommended by WHO IMO needs to be done. They are telling countries to TEST TEST TEST. IMO the more tests of a sample size, the bigger picture of the situation you will get. But unless we know how many test kits they have, rather that just daily capacity, it is difficult to know due to lack of information. But in the US they are increasing testing and using a new provider where they can get results far more quickly.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2439987 17-Mar-2020 14:17

tdgeek:

We only test symptoms I think. How many test kits do we have?

Yes that is the issue. Is it a case that we only have a limited number of test kits? There isn't much info out there.

frankv

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#2439988 17-Mar-2020 14:17

sen8or:

But can't you only test if you are symptomatic?

Testing for testings sake is a waste of resources, both monetary and human.

That depends on the danger posed by asymptomatic spreaders. It does appear that such a thing exists. If you only test symptomatic people, asymptomatic spreaders will wreak havoc.

Think in terms of the police setting up checkpoints... they test all drivers, including those who are driving safely, to catch the 0.03% of drivers who are drunk.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2439993 17-Mar-2020 14:24

frankv:

sen8or:

But can't you only test if you are symptomatic?

Testing for testings sake is a waste of resources, both monetary and human.

That depends on the danger posed by asymptomatic spreaders. It does appear that such a thing exists. If you only test symptomatic people, asymptomatic spreaders will wreak havoc.

Think in terms of the police setting up checkpoints... they test all drivers, including those who are driving safely, to catch the 0.03% of drivers who are drunk.

They can't do spot checking of people who may have a temperature, because they may not have the virus, so it will be a false positive. That is the MOHs reasoning for not doing this at the border. They could however check tourist passports to see if they are self isolating or not. But self isolating does still allow you to drive, so it is tricky.

tdgeek

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#2439994 17-Mar-2020 14:24

msukiwi:

Another casualty (To be expected):

In light of the rapidly developing COVID-19 situation, it is with great disappointment that the Food Show Christchurch will not take place as scheduled on 3-5 April 2020 at the Horncastle Arena. The Food Show Christchurch will return in 2021.

Bugger. IMO if you see any list of shows still on, I'd get the red pen out.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2439995 17-Mar-2020 14:24

Half a billion dollars announced to combat this so far.

frankv

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#2439996 17-Mar-2020 14:25

Am I the only person wondering whether recovery from COVID-19 would be a valuable attribute? Whilst there are suggestions that it does not guarantee immunity, it would surely provide immunity against the strain that did infect you.

And, to it's (il)logical conclusion... would it not be a good idea to send a few young, low-risk-of-death-and-complications doctors and nurses to (say) Wuhan or Milan to get infected, stay there until they are no longer infectious, then come back to NZ in time for the expected wave of hospital admissions? We'd at least have small cohort of clinicians who could (generally) be relied on to treat coronavirus patients, probably without the need for PPE.

tdgeek

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#2440000 17-Mar-2020 14:28

mattwnz:

Half a billion dollars announced to combat this

Add "so far" Robertson stated that if more is needed there will be more. This isn't the one off package. If it has to be there will be more

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