Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[The Brain]

I'm more concerned about the Jesi no longer walking across southern Man.

[garbon]

Well in that case much of the USA is effectively independent as most our country is not a vacation destination. Why that would be a statement of political independence I have no idea.

It is an interesting illustration of the lack of travel connection.  Which probably also explains a lot of differences within the US.

I'd think lack of time to travel might be a bigger issue.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lealane/2019/05/02/percentage-of-americans-who-never-traveled-beyond-the-state-where-they-were-born-a-surprise/?sh=34f847092898

Research of 2,000 Americans across the country (a good statistical sample) in a new study conducted by market researchers OnePoll, and commissioned by travel luggage provider Victorinox, explored the nation's travel experiences and the things that seem to stop people from exploring more.

The results are pretty amazing, and perhaps explain the gaps of knowledge many Americans seem to have of the world:

--  Eleven percent of survey respondents have never traveled outside of the state where they were born.

-- Over half of those surveyed (54 percent) say they've visited 10 states or fewer.

-- As many as 13 percent say they have never flown in an airplane.

-- Forty percent of those questioned said they've never left the country.

-- Over half of respondents have never owned a passport. (For years U.S. citizens did not need one to travel to Mexico, Canada and on many cruises, which may clarify the previous stat.)

But this lack of travel is not always because people don't want to. Most of those surveyed expressed a desire to travel, with 85 percent saying they like to experience new things, and nearly 60 percent saying they have a list of places in mind they'd like to see.

In fact, survey results showed 76 percent of the respondents wanted to travel more than they do currently. The reasons they gave for why they don't are what you would expect: mainly due to a lack of finances or just feeling unprepared and ill-equipped to venture forth into unknown territory.

More specifically, 63 percent of Americans who have never left the country said an international trip would be out of their price range.

And work situations and priorities are involved as well: Twenty-five percent said they just can't find the time to travel, but three-fourths of respondents said they would definitely like to travel more than they do.

...

[Sheilbh]

The Northern Irish Death Star fucks Liverpool up.

Yeah that blew my mind. I would have guessed there'd be as much if not more from Holyhead or Clydeside

Also Betweeness is a wonderful word.

Yes! And describes so many places as well.

Weird on Scotland. Would have thought they'd have just as much with the North East as we do with the south (except maybe York). How did they measure this? Whats it based off? As really weird they've got that Cumbria coast bit down to Lancashire but not much between Cumbria and the NE. I've always maintained under a devolved system in England Cumbria will be with the North East rather than Lancashire.

Thread is here:
https://twitter.com/rozeggo/status/1326934402149085185?s=20

Not sure. Cumbria's North-West. Tebay Services is on the North-South road not an East-West one and it is the Rivendell of Cumbria

[Syt]

According to the Austrian statistics office, October deaths in Austria were 25% over average. It will probably higher than that in November, because case numbers were high, but a lot lower than now.

[Syt]

In countries with more than 1M inhabitants, it seems Austria has taken the lead in the category new cases/population.



Looks like the next few weeks will be pretty harsh for the health system. Several states have their hospitals focus on emergencies and Covid only at this point, with several reports of medical personnel being overworked.

[Syt]

Nominally, gatherings are limited already to 6 people, and a (very soft) curfew at night. My impression is that people didn't care. They flocked into shopping malls and stores (despite a supposed limit of 1 per 10 square meters), barely left room for each other in the streets, many companies don't allow working from home (something the government recommends bnut doesn't enforce), schools, churches, etc. stay open. Before bars and restaurants closed, people frequented them as during normal times, meaning crowded places with little ventilation and maintaining distance.

New restrictions are currently being announced. We'll see if they'll do any good.

[Duque de Bragança]

Well in that case much of the USA is effectively independent as most our country is not a vacation destination. Why that would be a statement of political independence I have no idea.

I just think it's fascinating the lack of connections from England to Scotland - it's not a serious point.

Blame the Romans and their Hadrian Wall!
Alternatively, blame Septimus Severus for not finishing off the Caledonians by dying too early. 

[Agelastus]

Well in that case much of the USA is effectively independent as most our country is not a vacation destination. Why that would be a statement of political independence I have no idea.

I just think it's fascinating the lack of connections from England to Scotland - it's not a serious point.

Blame the Romans and their Hadrian Wall!
Alternatively, blame Septimus Severus for not finishing off the Caledonians by dying too early. 

In that case I blame Domitian.

[Syt]

And apparently people are flooding supermarkets, drug stores etc. to stock up on supplies ... which makes no sense, because those shops are going to stay open, anyways.

This is in front of the Vienna Nespresso store:



Masks? Distance? Pssh!

[Syt]

Meanwhile, in front of a shoe store:

[Syt]

Queue in front of a clothes store. Multiple stores offer rebates for the last pre-lockdown shopping.

[Syt]

New measures as per draft policy by government, coming into effect Tuesday at midnight:
- shops etc. are closed, except supermarkets, banks, post offices, gas stations, drug stores, pharmacies, tobacconists, and a few other "important" businesses
- schools switch to remote learning, though parents can bring their kids to school if they wish
- curfew is expanded to the whole day. Reasons to leave the house are: getting exercise/fresh air, going to work, meeting close relatives or friends (only one at a time if the latter), walking the dog, shopping for necessities, going to the doctor and the likes
- demonstrations remain permitted but must observe distancing rules and wear masks (we saw how well that worked in recent weekes ...)
- WFH is recommended but is left to employers/employees to agree on
- child daycares remain open
- church services remain (with distancing, masks), funerals are limited to 50 persons attending

[Zoupa]

I know I'm late to the vaccine discussion, but typically vaccines are 50-60% effective. 90% is an extremely effective number.

[Sheilbh]

The ECDC maps are kind of useless now because basically everywhere is red. So the Irish Times did some analysis and produced this inforgraphic, which is more helpful on the situation in Europe. I've said before % of positive tests seems like a key indicator and the figures in CEE are really alarming:


Edit: And worth flagging - I think Ireland was the first country in Europe to go into a second lockdown and it seems to have worked.

[mongers]

And apparently people are flooding supermarkets, drug stores etc. to stock up on supplies ... which makes no sense, because those shops are going to stay open, anyways.

This is in front of the Vienna Nespresso store:



Masks? Distance? Pssh!

But they were dying for a coffee.