Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[Legbiter]

I find this interesting on dealing with misinformation on social media. I've noticed a lot of it seems to be well intentioned, with people going "there's too much bad advice about Coronavirus being put out there by people who don't know what they're talking about, BUCKLE UP FOR SCIENCE-BASED FACT TIME" and then getting everything wrong

I will say I'm not as pessimistic as I was in the beginning when the initial statistics out of China indicated basically a Spanish Flu type of pandemic. Don't get me wrong a 1% mortality rate is still very bad but we are extremely fortunate that children under 10 seem to be spared for instance.

[Josquius]

The thing is with misinformation and corona is bad advice would largely be killing the brexit generation and damaging the future spread of misinformation. Hard to see a motive

[Sheilbh]

I am curious to see today's increase in the UK, if there's any. Staying around 40 would not be too bad for a country of 60 million I'd think.

51 in the UK.

[Tamas]

I am curious to see today's increase in the UK, if there's any. Staying around 40 would not be too bad for a country of 60 million I'd think.

51 in the UK.

WTF it was 39 yesterday.

[Legbiter]

If I ran the coronavirus response here in my neck of the woods the lowest hanging fruit I'd go for would be to shut down schools temporarily to reduce connectivity between people. Flu season begins and ends with the school year.

[Agelastus]

Odd, the thing everyone seems to be saying is corona somewhat stands out because it doesn't carry the usual sneezing and runny nose symptoms.

Isn't that how it's transmitted though? So if you cough or sneeze do it into a tissue and bin it?

I've seen online sources that give figures of between 5 and 30 percent as the proportion that develop wet coughs, sneezes, runny noses etc. Mostly it is a dry cough it seems.

[Habbaku]

Two cases confirmed in Metro ATL.

[celedhring]

We hit 152 infections today, 7 people in serious coundition. Thankfully no dead yet.

I promised myself the moment they catch a case in my town I'll stop going to the gym. Being around a shitload of sweaty people, all handling the same equipment, doesn't strike me as the most sanitary activity.

[Tamas]

We hit 152 infections today, 7 people in serious coundition. Thankfully no dead yet.

I promised myself the moment they catch a case in my town I'll stop going to the gym. Being around a shitload of sweaty people, all handling the same equipment, doesn't strike me as the most sanitary activity.

Just buy a couple of dumbbells and exercise at home for a few weeks

[Sheilbh]

I am curious to see today's increase in the UK, if there's any. Staying around 40 would not be too bad for a country of 60 million I'd think.

51 in the UK.

WTF it was 39 yesterday.

From the Chief Medical Officer:

Eight patients had recently travelled from Italy, one from Germany, one from Singapore, one from Japan and one from Iran. The patients are from London, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Bury, Wirral, Greater Manchester, Humberside and Kent. All are being investigated and contact tracing has begun.

The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 48 (one previously reported positive case was retested and found to be negative) and with each of the previously reported single cases in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, the total number of UK cases has reached 51.

[Tamas]

I am wondering, is it realistic that at this stage apart from a single GP we only have cases who caught it abroad? Or we are likely to see a big explosion in cases very soon?

[Sheilbh]

Interesting story on Guardian - which I'm pleased to see happen quickly. The Advertising Standards Agency have banned two companies' adverts which were appearing on Amazon and newspaper sites. The ads were for face masks that the companies falsely claimed could prevent the spread of coronavirus. The ASA said they were "misleading, irresponsible and likely to cause fear without justifiable reason", hopefully there'll be some more enforcement against them too.

Also NHS Trusts have been told to step up their plans - so far it's being managed through specialist sites but it's anticipated this won't be enough.

[crazy canuck]

@ Tamas

Some of the cases in Washington State appear to be communal transmission

[Tamas]

@ Tamas

Some of the cases in Washington State appear to be communal transmission

Yeah which sorta' reinforces my point, as IIRC the virus appeared in the UK first.

I am thinking, for example a colleague of mine has the flu. They are fairly certain it is not this virus, because the friend they likely caught it from already got tested and came back negative. Regardless, friend called the helpline and they were told what symptoms to look out for but otherwise they won't be tested for coronavirus.

Which is fine obviously, but also doesn't it mean that people who develop symptoms that are not serious enough for hospitalisation AND who did not travel recently, will not be tested?

[Sheilbh]

I am wondering, is it realistic that at this stage apart from a single GP we only have cases who caught it abroad? Or we are likely to see a big explosion in cases very soon?

I think we're likely to see an explosion. All the government briefing is that they're expecting a significant increase in cases and are warning for that.

Edit: But I think more widely they are expecting the "contain" stage of the response will fail/end.