2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2449838 30-Mar-2020 07:35

Im over maskss lol. I can read that they are a waste of time or that they are great, so I wont bother reading any more about them. I'll wear one to protect myself a little, protect others a little, wear gloves and follow the usual measures

sqishy

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#2449839 30-Mar-2020 07:38

Just saw a news article on India - not really a lock down, looks like they will accelerate worst as there is no testing, likely and unfortunately 100,000's could die or even millions.

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#2449840 30-Mar-2020 07:48

New York Times: Covid-19 Brings Out All the Usual Zombies

Why virus denial resembles climate denial.

Let me summarize the Trump administration/right-wing media view on the coronavirus: It’s a hoax, or anyway no big deal. Besides, trying to do anything about it would destroy the economy. And it’s China’s fault, which is why we should call it the “Chinese virus.”

Oh, and epidemiologists who have been modeling the virus’s future spread have come under sustained attack, accused of being part of a “deep state” plot against Donald Trump, or maybe free markets.

Does all this give you a sense of déjà vu? It should. After all, it’s very similar to the Trump/right-wing line on climate change.
...
I recently published a book about the prevalence in our politics of “zombie ideas” — ideas that have been proved wrong by overwhelming evidence and should be dead, but somehow keep shambling along, eating people’s brains. The most prevalent zombie in U.S. politics is the insistence that tax cuts for the rich produce economic miracles, indeed pay for themselves, but the most consequential zombie, the one that poses an existential threat, is climate change denial. And Covid-19 has brought out all the usual zombies.
...

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#2449853 30-Mar-2020 08:28

Australia is a good example of how to cock up a lockdown response to the crisis - not helped by their very inefficient federal/state government setup. Their PM is 'urging' and 'recommending' the people how to behave rather than ruling outright how it works. For example, initially you could go for a haircut so long as it didn't take more than 30 minutes. There was outrage so they caved and deleted the time limit. They're incapable of understanding that if you're within 30 cm of a hairdresser you can infect one way or the other in 30 secs.

I guess they want to look good for that open casket moment - which won't actually be allowed right now.

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freitasm

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#2449855 30-Mar-2020 08:31

Folks, it's good to discuss things -but please help by clicking the ANSWER button if it's something important so people can see the answers filtered out.

@DS248 I have marked your posts.

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#2449861 30-Mar-2020 08:38

This article may have been already posted, but I did a quick search and couldn't find it.

New York Times: "Germany Has Relatively Few Deaths From Coronavirus. Why?"

...Very few Germans seem to be dying. As of Saturday, of the 56,202 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, just 403 patients have died. That’s a fatality rate of 0.72 percent. By contrast, the current rate in Italy — where over 10,000 people have died — is 10.8 percent. In Spain, it’s 8 percent. Over twice as many people have died in Britain, where there are around three times fewer cases, than in Germany.

The startling numbers are something of an enigma. Some have hailed the country for breaking the spell of catastrophe; others have been far more guarded. What is going on here? And what can we learn from it?

First and foremost: Early and persistent testing helps. And so does tracking people.

Take the country’s first recorded case. On Jan. 28, a man in Bavaria who works for a car parts company that has two plants in Wuhan, China, was confirmed to have the virus. Within two days, the authorities identified the person who had infected the patient, tracked his contacts and quarantined them. The company stopped travel to China and shut down its plant in Bavaria. The outbreak — several other employees tested positive — was effectively contained. Across the country, the pattern was repeated. Local health departments and federal authorities worked together to test, track and quarantine exposed citizens.

Germany has also been better at protecting its older residents, who are at much greater risk. States banned visits to the elderly, and policymakers issued urgent warnings to limit contact with older people. Many seem to have quarantined themselves. The results are clear: Patients over the age of 80 make up around 3 percent of the infected, though they account for 7 percent of the population. The median age for those infected is estimated to be 46; in Italy, it’s 63.
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#2449869 30-Mar-2020 09:07

This update from the US Department of state seems to be oriented toward Americans trying to get "the heck out of Dodge"

Health Alert: COVID-19 Update -- U.S Consulate General Auckland (March 29, 2020)

We understand many of you have flights back to the United States coming up in the next few days. As most of you are aware, New Zealand has implemented a domestic transit ban on all but essential personnel working to fight COVID-19. The United States government continues to advocate for the immediate easing of restrictions on transit in order to allow for the timely passage of our citizens to their international flights. We are working at the highest levels of government in order to implement this change while still allowing for you all to travel safely and within the rules set forth by the New Zealand government.

New Zealand is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which includes shutting down the movement of people -- in airports, on buses, everywhere. New Zealand believes that sheltering in place is the best option for foreign nationals right now, though they are working with us to develop an orderly framework to manage the safe exit of our U.S. citizens. This process may take some time.

Though there are many rumors circulating about ways for foreign nationals to board domestic flights, these means are not authorized by the New Zealand government and will not guarantee boarding. Rest assured that we are exhausting every available method to gain legal passage for you on these flights and we will continue to advocate for U.S. citizens at the very highest levels of government. Though we cannot guarantee a timeframe, we hope to have an update in the next few days.

In the meantime, please contact your airlines for assistance with travel reservations; the United States government cannot assist you with changes to your commercial flights. If you are in need of accommodation to self-isolate, you can visit https://temporaryaccommodation.mbie.govt.nz/. If you are in need of other consular services, you can e-mail us at AucklandACS@state.gov.

If you have immediate travel plans affected by the domestic transit ban, we encourage you to fill out our Travel Assistance Request Form so that we know your location and can get in touch quickly should regional airports become an option.

Please continue to be kind to your country hosts and follow the measures set up by the New Zealand government related to Alert Level 4. We are doing our best to help you get home.

US URL's

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

https://www.coronavirus.gov/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html

https://www.dhs.gov/news-releases/press-releases

NZ URL's

https://covid19.govt.nz/

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#2449870 30-Mar-2020 09:15

Perhaps we could split posts primarily and consistently about other countries into a separate thread? Perhaps NZ and Everywhere else?

networkn

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#2449924 30-Mar-2020 10:48

Good to see Foodstuffs is working to boost pay for it's lowest paid and most vulnerable workers. I wonder how much pressure was applied by the Government and whether they were incentivised?

freitasm

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#2449928 30-Mar-2020 10:49

Press release:

The Government has fast-tracked up to $1 million to help Air New Zealand move urgent freight to and from New Zealand, with the first flight to Shanghai leaving tonight, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today.

Phil Twyford says it’s crucial that trade in vital goods such as medical supplies and food continues to flow freely during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“Our Government has moved quickly to ensure New Zealand has the supplies it needs and to back our exporters.

“We are stepping in to make sure our exporters can get their goods to market so they can continue to support jobs and the economy,” he says.

This fast-tracked funding is part of the Government’s $600 million aviation support package to help New Zealand exporters and importers, and minimise the impacts of COVID-19 on the aviation sector.

Phil Twyford says tonight’s Air NZ flight will be loaded with time-sensitive New Zealand exports and will return carrying essential goods and equipment.

“We are focusing on maintaining good stocks of all essential medicines, equipment and critical products. By supporting the aviation sector, our Government is keeping open key air channels to international markets.

“There is huge demand right now for air freight from both our importers and exporters. In normal times Air NZ relies on a mix of passenger and air freight revenue to maintain its operations. However COVID-19 has almost completely eliminated revenue from passenger services for airlines worldwide.

“That’s why we agreed to provide variable top-up funding for international air freight movements to make sure the flights are financially viable.

“This is one of a number of funding arrangements we’re rolling out to support New Zealand’s aviation system and I will be making further announcements shortly,” Phil Twyford says.

The day-to-day arrangements with Air NZ are being managed by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, who are also working with exporters and government agencies to ensure the right capacity is available at the right times.

Exporters can find out more details about the air freight service at https://covid19.nzte.govt.nz/page/air-freight-option-for-immediate-export.

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#2449929 30-Mar-2020 10:50

And this is why the lock down will be longer than 4 weeks.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12320744

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#2449938 30-Mar-2020 10:58

Here's a couple of practical questions that a few elderly friends of mine are discussing.

Should elderly people leave home and go to the doctor's surgery for the purpose of getting a flu injection? I know this has been recommended, but if we are all self-isolating, I guess there's not much chance of catching the flu.

The overall message of stay home is being adhered to very strictly by all my elderly friends, so is it really worth the risk to venture out and get a flu injection?

A similar question arises with regard to picking up prescriptions from the chemist. I know doctors will send prescription requests to pharmacies, but will all pharmacies courier prescriptions to elderly patients? Do you think elderly patients should avoid going out to pharmacies if at all possible?

Paul1977

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#2449939 30-Mar-2020 11:07

Zepanda66:

And this is why the lock down will be longer than 4 weeks.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12320744

Some people are just a**holes. It pisses me off even more because, being a backpackers, I assume a good number of these idiots are guests in our country.

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#2449941 30-Mar-2020 11:13

tdgeek:

Im over maskss lol. I can read that they are a waste of time or that they are great, so I wont bother reading any more about them. I'll wear one to protect myself a little, protect others a little, wear gloves and follow the usual measures

Unite Against COVID-19

Ministry of Health

Facemasks
For most people facemasks are not recommended. Facemasks play an important role in clinical settings, such as hospitals. For people with symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, there may be benefit in wearing a facemask to reduce the spread of infection to other people.

Guidance for wearing protective equipment

And from the World Health Organisation:

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

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#2449951 30-Mar-2020 11:26

Zepanda66:

And this is why the lock down will be longer than 4 weeks.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12320744

Ship them home.

I am pretty sure the Government models have catered for a reasonable percentage of people who were too stupid to comply.

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