Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[Sheilbh]

There are some proper idiots in this country:

UK residents have been told that "essential travel" does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks, whether for isolation purposes or holidays and that they should remain in their primary residence.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport updated its guidance to avoid non-essential travel in the UK, saying: "This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk."

The update follows a wave of people travelling to rural and remote areas to self-isolate. The trend has been condemned by Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who underlined that it meant "extra pressure on essential services and on health services that are already more distant from people". Similarly, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has said self-isolaters should be prohibited from travelling to rural parts of Wales during the crisis.

[Sheilbh]

Judging by Australia the heat doesn't seem to matter much. Though it's still early days and other variables could be at play (mostly testing).

Haven't read it - it looks like humidity might matter more? Heat and humidity, they think - based on data from 100 Chinese cities - affects transmission. So this is their projection on the impact it has:

[Josquius]

In more proud to be British news

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/holes-drilled-in-tyres-as-six-ambulances-attacked-224229/

[Admiral Yi]

In more proud to be British news

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/holes-drilled-in-tyres-as-six-ambulances-attacked-224229/

That's unbelievably sicko.

[Barrister]

In more proud to be British news

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/holes-drilled-in-tyres-as-six-ambulances-attacked-224229/

Wow.

[Sheilbh]

Some people are just utter bells

[Sheilbh]

In more positive news, France is launching European clinical trials
https://presse.inserm.fr/en/launch-of-a-european-clinical-trial-against-covid-19/38737/

Looking at a number of treatments with 3,200 patients from Belgium, France, Germany Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Hopefully something positive soon.

[Iormlund]

Judging by Australia the heat doesn't seem to matter much. Though it's still early days and other variables could be at play (mostly testing).

Haven't read it - it looks like humidity might matter more? Heat and humidity, they think - based on data from 100 Chinese cities - affects transmission. So this is their projection on the impact it has:

I was curious enough to read the paper. I'm not sure I'd want to put my name on it.

It relies greatly on numbers reported by countries with dubious testing protocols: in Asia, Africa, South America. Which is why I went with Australia.
It seems to talk about absolute numbers of cases when many of those countries are just probably behind in the contagion wave. I'd use growth instead for such a comparison, which eliminates that variable.

I hope they are correct, since the Spanish summer is really hot by June and it gets considerably warmer in May already. But I can't really put much faith in this study in particular.

[Josephus]

I think it will come to a point in some countries, possibly even the U.S., that the gov't will have to declare martial law and shoot or imprison people acting idiotically.

[Admiral Yi]

Can't remember where I saw the story, sorry if already mentioned here.  A hospital employee in Italy tested positive, told to self-quarantine, then went shopping for food.  He was fined 5,000 euros.

[crazy canuck]

There are some proper idiots in this country:

UK residents have been told that "essential travel" does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks, whether for isolation purposes or holidays and that they should remain in their primary residence.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport updated its guidance to avoid non-essential travel in the UK, saying: "This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk."

The update follows a wave of people travelling to rural and remote areas to self-isolate. The trend has been condemned by Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who underlined that it meant "extra pressure on essential services and on health services that are already more distant from people". Similarly, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has said self-isolaters should be prohibited from travelling to rural parts of Wales during the crisis.

Attention Dorsey, please read.

[crazy canuck]

I think it will come to a point in some countries, possibly even the U.S., that the gov't will have to declare martial law and shoot or imprison people acting idiotically.

Rita bit scary thinking about Trumpists being given the power to round people up.

[Fate]

In more positive news, France is launching European clinical trials
https://presse.inserm.fr/en/launch-of-a-european-clinical-trial-against-covid-19/38737/

Looking at a number of treatments with 3,200 patients from Belgium, France, Germany Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Hopefully something positive soon.

Looks like a well designed trial. Hopefully they have an interim report in a month or so showing positive results. The US is starting a major one in NYC on Tuesday.

[Josephus]

I think it will come to a point in some countries, possibly even the U.S., that the gov't will have to declare martial law and shoot or imprison people acting idiotically.

Rita bit scary thinking about Trumpists being given the power to round people up.

I said earlier I was scared.

[Monoriu]

Lots of HK students who were studying in the West came back to HK, and they were told to isolate themselves at home for 14 days.  They then immediately went outside to have their favourite food in HK, then post their exploits in Instagram.  Some public health professors saw their posts, and reported them to police