COVID-19 Opinions?

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JBfortunecookie1

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Personally, I believe the US may be overreacting to the virus a bit. I also believe the mainstream media may be causing unnecessary hysteria throughout the country to the point where people have stockpiled essential goods, causing others to be left without said goods (toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, etc). Quite of few medical scientists (not brought in by the media funny enough) seem to share the opinion that basic hygiene may be our best bet at minimizing damage. Almost everyone who has unfortunately passed away in the US has been 40 years or older, and had a pre-existing immune system compromise. I guess I'm just wondering what others feel about the current situation. I'd love to hear your opinions.
 
JBfortunecookie1 said:
Personally, I believe the US may be overreacting to the virus a bit. I also believe the mainstream media may be causing unnecessary hysteria throughout the country to the point where people have stockpiled essential goods, causing others to be left without said goods (toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, etc). Quite of few medical scientists (not brought in by the media funny enough) seem to share the opinion that basic hygiene may be our best bet at minimizing damage. Almost everyone who has unfortunately passed away in the US has been 40 years or older, and had a pre-existing immune system compromise. I guess I'm just wondering what others feel about the current situation. I'd love to hear your opinions.
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a) It's officially a Pandemic
b) Nowhere is the "media" ignoring that basic hygiene is the best prevention. In fact, it's noted everywhere.
c.) While those over 60+ with compromised immune system are most at risk, the fact is that absolutely no one is immune. NO ONE
d.) Hysteria, yes..warranted or not.
e.) It's a new infectious disease about which so much is still unknown
f.) Be skeptical of implausible conspiracy theories or claims of “fake news” that dismiss recommendations from public health officials.
g.) Addressing the concerns surrounding Covid-19 requires accessible, reliable, and frequently updated information
h.) The best we can do is to look to the experts whose mission it is to protect public health.
 
How about, a LOT.

Media is pushing this as a "crisis, failure of government, etc...etc..."

I did some research (so I'm ready to speak with my students next week when we return from break) about "pandemics" of recent times. Remember H1N1? That hit the USA in 2009-2010...and for several months, nobody said anything and the government took no action. When they did, from what I could find online, it was almost six months into the problem. In the end...there were between 42 and 84 Million cases in the USA, with over 300,000 of them requiring hospitalization, and if I recall correctly, over 15,000 died.

Compare that to now...

I agree, the actions being taken are the correct ones and I applaud our civilian leaders for taking the actions they have. I just wish the media would back down a bit.

Steve
 
flieger83 said:
Media is pushing this as a "crisis, failure of government, etc...etc..."
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That's no accident, and it basically boils down to the current administration being universally reviled by the media war machine. I wondered how long it was going to take for Trump to get blamed for this, and the media and half of congress didn't disappoint. They were unable to remove him through impeachment, slander, investigation, or election, so they are now essentially celebrating the fact that the economy tanked within a single trading day with the hope that we will ultimately end up in a recession which theoretically hurts his chances for re-election.
 
Social distancing is a buzz word that if implemented will help burn this thing out. Universities have shut doors and will deliver content online. Some governors have closed all state public schools. Others are leaving it up to the local jurisdictions.

And I just whoop-whooped because the local news just reported my district is closed today.

We were originally going to have a teacher work day Monday to be directed on delivering instruction online. My daughter and I were texting late last night and she has has been hyper-vigilant and hyper-worried. She kept my five year old grandson out of school Thursday and will today as well. She has been on the social media circuit where districts that haven’t closed are getting slaughtered.

Like Steve above, I’ve been covering this outbreak with my medical sciences and biotechnology students. I usually say nothing beats a good outbreak. As far as observing that is and usually from afar. We’re right in the middle of this one though and along with the excitement I feel during times like these, I also feel a bit of anxiety for a couple reasons. As Sydney C. above said, this is a novel virus and we still don’t know what it’s capable of. I’m not sure the experts have a handle on the mortality or reproductive rate which is important, but not as important as people not becoming part of those measurables.

The media. I’m a rabid consumer of information and have decades of medical, public health, and global knowledge and experience which helps me to ignore some things and take onboard other recommendations that fit my situation. Another buzz phrase is “flattening the curve.” In order to keep the number of patients to a level that doesn’t overwhelm the medical capabilities, we need to shut things down for awhile.

Smart people will do smart things.
 
flieger83 said:
How about, a LOT.

Media is pushing this as a "crisis, failure of government, etc...etc..."

I did some research (so I'm ready to speak with my students next week when we return from break) about "pandemics" of recent times. Remember H1N1? That hit the USA in 2009-2010...and for several months, nobody said anything and the government took no action. When they did, from what I could find online, it was almost six months into the problem. In the end...there were between 42 and 84 Million cases in the USA, with over 300,000 of them requiring hospitalization, and if I recall correctly, over 15,000 died.

Compare that to now...

I agree, the actions being taken are the correct ones and I applaud our civilian leaders for taking the actions they have. I just wish the media would back down a bit.

Steve
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Think it's about trying to prevent that kind of spread, your H1N1 stats had a death rate of less than 1%. Based on current reported numbers(agree with them or don't), the rate of death is around 4%. We want to avoid 60.8 million cases with a death rate of 4%.
 
FtWorth dd Dad said:
Think it's about trying to prevent that kind of spread, your H1N1 stats had a death rate of less than 1%. Based on current reported numbers(agree with them or don't), the rate of death is around 4%. We want to avoid 60.8 million cases with a death rate of 4%.
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We have no idea what the mortality rate of this disease is because so few have actually it/ will be diagnosed with it, international numbers are completely unreliable (are we going to trust the Chinese who now claim US soldiers initiated this virus in China?) so few will ever be tested for it, and a large number of people will get it and barely know it because their symptoms are so mild. Don't feed the hysteria with nonsense numbers like 4% mortality rate - it's irresponsible.
 
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Yup - the goal for most people these days is just slow the roll. Do what you can to avoid large groups, touching others, staying home when sick, and all the rest. And not necessarily for your own health, but think of the more vulnerable people you may come into contact with. Just do what you can to slow the larger spread of the disease until health systems are better able to handle it. Also do what you can to slow the spread of misinformation about the disease until clear and fully baked research emerges. That all takes time, so do your part: set an example, don't repeat unrealistic sounding stories, keep a level head. It'll all spin up and back down eventually.
 
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My two cents, for what it's worth...

I believe there are hundreds, if not thousands, of US persons who have already had or have the illness, but because it was/is so mild, they did/do not know it. The numbers infected would then drastically increase, which would reduce the mortality rate percentage.
 
Korab said:
We have no idea what the mortality rate of this disease is because so few have actually it/ will be diagnosed with it, international numbers are completely unreliable (are we going to trust the Chinese who now claim US soldiers initiated this virus in China?) so few will ever be tested for it, and a large number of people will get it and barely know it because their symptoms are so mild. Don't feed the hysteria with nonsense numbers like 4% mortality rate - it's irresponsible.
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What's irresponsible about my reply? I stated that the numbers were the "reported numbers" then I allowed for you to "agree with them or not". Don't know where you felt I was being irresponsible. The point of my reply was to say we don't want it to spread like H1N1. Maybe you believe it's irresponsible for me to have that opinion. Take China out of the numbers the death rate is 3.3%. I feel much safer now.
 
FtWorth dd Dad said:
What's irresponsible about my reply? I stated that the numbers were the "reported numbers" then I allowed for you to "agree with them or not". Don't know where you felt I was being irresponsible. The point of my reply was to say we don't want it to spread like H1N1. Maybe you believe it's irresponsible for me to have that opinion. Take China out of the numbers the death rate is 3.3%. I feel much safer now.
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There are no official mortality numbers - that's what is irresponsible. Propagating "statistics" gleaned from memes as if they are official is irresponsible, especially when those statistics would make the Wuhan virus one of the most deadly in the past 100 years.
 
Korab said:
There are no official mortality numbers - that's what is irresponsible. Propagating "statistics" gleaned from memes as if they are official is irresponsible, especially when those statistics would make the Wuhan virus one of the most deadly in the past 100 years.
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I don't get the gist of your post here. The mortality rate quoted by FtWorth dd Dad is from WHO and their scientists, not off of memes. Also, there are more than 120,000 reported cases of the virus. WHO inspectors and others are also in China so can affirm their rates.
Here's a good article on it: https://www.vox.com/2020/3/5/21165973/coronavirus-death-rate-explained
 
unkown1961 said:
I don't get the gist of your post here. The mortality rate quoted by FtWorth dd Dad is from WHO and their scientists, not off of memes. Also, there are more than 120,000 reported cases of the virus. WHO inspectors and others are also in China so can affirm their rates.
Here's a good article on it: https://www.vox.com/2020/3/5/21165973/coronavirus-death-rate-explained
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Did you actually read the article you posted? It explains exactly what I did - that the scientific community has no idea what the actual mortality rate is, they couldn't even reliably test for it until recently, and we wont truly know what the mortality rate is for a long time, if ever, but their best estimates are way lower than 4%..

Thanks for proving my point.
 
Korab said:
Did you actually read the article you posted? It explains exactly what I did - that the scientific community has no idea what the actual mortality rate is, they couldn't even reliably test for it until recently, and we wont truly know what the mortality rate is for a long time, if ever, but their best estimates are way lower than 4%..

Thanks for proving my point.
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I have read that as testing occurs it will drop below the flu. Time will tell.

How many have it with no symptoms?
 
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Korab said:
Did you actually read the article you posted? It explains exactly what I did - that the scientific community has no idea what the actual mortality rate is, they couldn't even reliably test for it until recently, and we wont truly know what the mortality rate is for a long time, if ever, but their best estimates are way lower than 4%..

Thanks for proving my point.
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I was commenting on your claim that the numbers were based on "memes" - the reported figures actually come from legit sources such as WHO and the scientific community. The rate was already established as "reported" in FtWorth dd Dad's post.
 
unkown1961 said:
I was commenting on your claim that the numbers were based on "memes" - the reported figures actually come from legit sources such as WHO and the scientific community. The rate was already established as "reported" in FtWorth dd Dad's post.
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Again, read the article you posted. The WHO didn't say 4%, they said 3.4%, based on their "snapshot" at the time, which was early March. The article you posted debunks that claim, explaining why it's actually far lower..
 
Tex232 said:
That's no accident, and it basically boils down to the current administration being universally reviled by the media war machine. I wondered how long it was going to take for Trump to get blamed for this, and the media and half of congress didn't disappoint.
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I know, it's all a conspiracy. What, if any blame, is being directed to the administration is the complete "improvisational" reaction to all of this that seems to be their MO. Countering misinformation, conspiracy theories, rumor mongering, and discriminatory behavior against people believed to be disease spreaders requires thoughtful communication from leadership at the highest levels of government. None is in evidence from this POTUS.

Want someone to praise for our response then it would be some of our government agencies working closely with public health agencies and the WHO. The administration is a sideshow.
 
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