Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[crazy canuck]

Another article to calm alarmist Fears

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-canada-death-1.5491907

[Tamas]

Sixth UK death happened in the city I work in.

[merithyn]

Small girls don't panic more than small boys. Don't be more of a sexist asshole than you regularly are.

My prediction : 1/3 of the US population will have been infected in some forms by Dec. 31st 2020

I agree, but only around 10k wil have been tested. 

[Valmy]

Another article to calm alarmist Fears

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-canada-death-1.5491907

Huh.

The percentage of people who die from the illness is currently estimated at upwards of 3.4 per cent, according to the World Health Organization, which is significantly higher than the seasonal flu at less than one per cent.

It is so hard to get a good estimate at the lethality of this thing.

[The Minsky Moment]

Big girls don't cry.  I haven't seen the data on small girls - hypothesis remains open.

[Tamas]

Yesterday Hungary issued a couple of new policies to tackle this growing epidemic.

1. They stop testing health workers, "as this would only instill a false sense of security"
2. No Iranians will be let in the country


That ought to do it then!

[Sheilbh]

In Greece, calls are growing for the Greek Orthodox Church to listen to scientists on the issue of how best to deal with Covid-19 following its refusal to suspend ecclesiastical services and sacred rites such as Holy Communion.

Debate over the church's controversial stance intensified after its governing body debunked any suggestion that the novel virus could be transmitted when worshippers participate in shared rituals like Communion.

In a statement Monday, the Holy Synod announced "with a sense of responsibility" that it would continue to hold services and conduct the sacrament despite public health fears raised by the issue of shared chalices.

"For the members of the church, attendance of the Divine Eucharist and the shared Cup of Life, of course cannot be a cause of transmission of illness," the body of senior clerics said in the statement. "Believers of all ages know that attending communion, even in the midst of a pandemic, is both a practical affirmation of self-surrender to the Living God and a potent manifestation of love, which vanquishes every human and perhaps justified fear."

"Is there anything to be said for saying another mass?"

[The Minsky Moment]

On lethality there is no way to know for sure yet because we don't know the true number of infected people.  AR is assuming that the disease has spread far wider then the reporting case numbers and thus the reported mortality rates are too high.  I think he is correct about that.

One piece of hard evidence we have is the Diamond Princess - where we know there were about 700 case and 7 deaths.  i.e. around 1%.
It also appears that South Korea -which seems to be much more effective at tracking case numbers - has mortality rates around 0.6%.  That suggests case numbers elsewhere are too low and mortality estimates too high.

[The Minsky Moment]

Yesterday Hungary issued a couple of new policies to tackle this growing epidemic.

1. They stop testing health workers, "as this would only instill a false sense of security"
2. No Iranians will be let in the country


That ought to do it then!

Nothing about George Soros?  Things must really be improving!

[Valmy]

Nothing about George Soros?  Things must really be improving!

Hey now Tamas only posted the short version. Let's not start giving them credit for not being total wackjobs just yet.

[Tamas]

Yesterday Hungary issued a couple of new policies to tackle this growing epidemic.

1. They stop testing health workers, "as this would only instill a false sense of security"
2. No Iranians will be let in the country


That ought to do it then!

Nothing about George Soros?  Things must really be improving!

It's early days.

[Tamas]

Nothing about George Soros?  Things must really be improving!

Hey now Tamas only posted the short version. Let's not start giving them credit for not being total wackjobs just yet.

Actually I just checked and they are working up to it for sure. 

In official Facebook communication they highlight 2 things:

1. There are 12 confirmed cases: 8 Iranian, 1 British, 3 Hungarian
2. "Iranian citizens not cooperating with the authorities will be deported"

[celedhring]

All events gathering more than 1,000 people forbidden in areas with high incidence of Covid-19 in Spain. Smaller venues will still have to cut their capacity to 1/3 in order to comply with safe distance recommendations.

Requirements to get sick pay reduced for those with Covid-19 or quarantined. Essentially you'll get 75% of your wage from day #1.

[merithyn]

Requirements to get sick pay reduced for those with Covid-19 or quarantined. Essentially you'll get 75% of your wage from day #1.

Is this opposed to the usual 100%? Or opposed to nothing?

[Admiral Yi]

I'm confused too.  Is sick pay provided by the state in Spain?