Coronavirus Outbreak

[tripplej]

As long as people do proper social distancing and wear masks along with washing hands when applicable, I think the virus can be contained to a great degree.

That is the key.. People have to do the right thing for this virus to go away ASAP.

 

[billrobbo]

I complained earlier that our government had not acted fast enough! However it seems it was alright.

We are still locked down, for most situations, and the gun range is closed for another four weeks.
My specialist has given me a letter to say I should work from home.
However, I find it disturbing that American sailors on a carrier contracted Covid a second time

Sailors on sidelined carrier get coronavirus for the second time

Five US sailors on an aircraft carrier sidelined in Guam due to a COVID-19 outbreak test positive for the virus for the second time and are taken off the ship, according to the US Navy.

www.abc.net.au

Here are today's NSW figures

 

[tripplej]

This is one persistent bug (virus) that is for sure.

 

[billrobbo]

Yeah, it all seems to be going fine.
We locked down early! 102 deaths for about 6 million people

 

[tripplej]

Well, as expected, once the U.S. re-opened, it was just a matter of time for the virus to come back..

Now, lot of states that re-opened have halted the re-open.

Cases are increasing dramatically now..

 

[tripplej]

 

[JBrax]

View attachment 32994

Here in KC we’re seeing 200 plus cases per day.

 

[tripplej]

Yeah, unfortunately, people misunderstood when various states opened and are now paying the price with their health.

 

[billrobbo]

We are seeing it here in Victoria as well where there are now new clusters of infection after the easing of restrictions. Last weekend saw 90 new cases and since then they are getting over 70 per day.
A lot of these are from family gatherings and from workplaces/factories.
Here in NSW they have eased restrictions further as we are getting cases in the single digits despite more testing. I will wait two or three weeks before I socialise with the general public as I am 63 this year and in the high risk category.

Stay safe everyone.

 

[tripplej]

Until there is a vaccine, best to be extra cautious. Wear masks and continue to wash hands/sanitize as much as possible.

This virus will continue to spread.

 

[billrobbo]

The pistol club has reopened as of this weekend. Each range can only be used in the odd numbered targets. 1,3,5 etc and a maximum of seven people per range.

 

[billrobbo]

And the rifle range is open next sunday.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Not that we don't need to be cautious, but in the case around where we are, the increase has been mainly the younger college crowd with very mild symptoms. They started back partying like normal at the bars, which is asking for it. I believe the Texas governor was saying something similar... quite a few tested that are asymptomatic and/or very mild cases. I think this was expected when the country decided to reopen. People mistake reopening with the thought that it's okay to do things like normal without any precaution... and the younger generation just don't care.

Today I learned of someone that I actually know fairly well that has it... otherwise, not the first family member or close friend that I know has had it... YET.

This guy worked at a car dealer, in the parts department. 3 of their employees have it. Now they are closing on Wednesday and spending $8,000 on a deep cleaning of the dealership... and no employee can return until they have been tested negative.

 

[billrobbo]

I cannot believe china's bullying tactics https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-07/dfat-changes-travel-advice-for-australians-in-china/12431134
This is because we backed the task force to identify where this virus came from.

 

[simplex]

I cannot believe china's bullying tactics ... This is because we backed the task force to identify where this virus came from.

I believe that a great deal of China's tactics is triggered by the recurring bullying they have to face from Mr. T. in the White House. Both sides will not win a prize for superb diplomacy these days.

And I do not think that we will ever know for sure how and when CoViD-19 made its way to humans. These days a scientific paper has been published by Italian researchers. They had reexamined a number of human blood samples taken in 2019, and the oldest samples carrying the new Corona virus dated back to September 2019. That virus began to spread globally long before we even knew it existed. That's only one price we're paying for globalization.

This desease is new to all of us, including doctors, scientists, and politicians. We all have to learn what each one of us can do personally to help stopping the pandemic or at least slowing it down, and not all of us are able or even willing to learn. And those who are have to carry a part of the load for the others. That's just a fact.

Here in Germany I only can watch in disbelief how Chancellor Merkel's science-focused approach to slow the pandemic down is permanently opposed by some regional Prime Ministers (similar to governors in the US) for whatever reasons they may have. Don't get me wrong: I'm not a Merkel fan, did not even vote for her party. But she does a pretty good job these days, given the circumstances.

After first vaccine doses are produced and deployed, it will most probably take several years to achieve the immunization of the greater part of our societies. So for the time being social distancing, wearing masks in public places, staying at home is the best we can do.

Stay safe!

 

[Todd Anderson]

Fingers crossed that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday doesn't add fuel to the fire. Hospital systems in many parts of the US are getting crushed. I live about 10 miles away from the US Navy Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. It was just designated as a hotspot. Luckily, our state hasn't been overwhelmed like others, but Baltimore city is taking it on the chin.

Stay safe everyone. I know the vaccine makers are rushing at a break-neck pace to help. Hopefully, everyone can hang on through the winter months.

 

[tripplej]

Unfortunately, I think the cases will just continue to rise due to failure of many states to institute mask wearing and social distancing.

Currently, U.S.A. has over 11.6M cases along with over 250K deaths.

From google,

 

[Asere]

Part of the problem is people don't understand or care about social distancing and wearing masks. Some people think that as long as you hang out with the same crowd you won't get it but that's the mistake quarantine means just you and your family from the same household and not hanging out with anyone else other then doing the necessity like doctor visit, work, grocery store. This holidays coming up people will fly to each others houses from different parts, friends and family will come over and in their mind it is perfectly fine because they feel ok and they took all the precautions. NOT, there is no better precaution then staying home within your household.

Here in Texas in Tarrant County were I live 85,759 confirmed cases. In all of Texas 1.13M

 

[tripplej]

yeah, I agree Asere. People are just not taking it seriously as they should..

Just sad and the numbers and deaths will go up..

 

[simplex]

Current EU situation.

Situation in Germany is concerning, but still much better than in most EU nations.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I'm afraid it's about to get crazy again... too much ignorance going on and it is putting too many people at risk.

I do not know the truth, and I do not know that we will ever know the truth, but it's the perfect conspiracy theory. The U.S. was having record economic growth and things were truly headed in the right direction. What better way than to release a virus that would cripple the economy. Not pointing any fingers, but it came from somewhere besides here.

 

[tripplej]

I agree Sonnie but now, we have to deal with the aftermath and sadly, people are not treating this virus properly.

How hard is it to wear a mask and keep social distancing?

I just don't understand how anybody can think this virus will just disappear into thin air. It is not going anywhere unless preventive measures such as mask wearing and social distancing is done.

Mask is at least an easy preventive tool everybody can use to help stop the spread...

Just sad..

 

[simplex]

How hard is it to wear a mask and keep social distancing?

Not hard at all, IMO. But then, political trench wars are joining the debate about rational solutions.

Take Germany: I can only watch in disbelief how some regional Prime Ministers (like state Governors in the U.S.) are permanently opposing against Chancellor Merkel's science-focused approach to face the pandemic. I'm not a Merkel fan (wrong party ...), but she's doing a pretty good job at the moment, given the circumstances.

Looking over the Atlantic, when watching presidential elections a few days ago, I found some very interesting statistics being published in the U.S. (don't remember the exact source, though): the higher the percentage of pro-Republican votes in the electoral districts, the higher - in average - the relative number of Corona infections and casualties. Pure coincidence? I don't think so. Both candidates just advertised a very different approach regarding personal precautions against CoViD.

Math won't lie, if used properly. A proven correlation is no proof for a causal relationship, but pure coincidence isn't probable either, especially if numbers (many millions of voters) are so high. I can only hope for all Americans that their new government will do better and succeed.

We all will need to be very patient and behave responsibly for many months to come.

 

[JStewart]

I also have no idea what the truth is, but it looks like the concensus here is folks are getting the virus because they're not wearing masks. I wonder if that's true. Has anyone seen a study of the effectiveness of masks? Seems there should at least be data after all these months showing some correlation between mask wearers vs not that have been infected.
What if the masks are not that effective?

 

[tripplej]

several studies show masks are effective. See link here.

Unfortunately, people due to whatever reasons will not wear a mask which unfortunately will often times lead them to the hospital or worse, death..

Mask is not the cure, just a mechanism to help stop spread the virus, that is all. It may not even be 100% but it is better than the alternative, which is nothing and the virus moves from person to person..