The trepidation in the reporter’s voice throughout this update from Hong Kong is probably the most unsettling thing about it:
Coronavirus Declared A Global Health Emergency By World Health Organization
https://one.npr.org/i/801496477:801496478
He is a US National Public Radio global health correspondent and I believe he is quoting Chinese authorities directly (likely from their NHC, backed by the WHO), as most outlets are currently.Not sure on there credentials to back up the quote
"15k suspected cases on top of the 9.5k confirmed and nearly 100k under observation for contamination"
In the very same situation — I am now in an at-risk category, my and the missus family is strewn about creation (though, mostly in the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland), with some also at-risk.I'm in an at risk category but what worries me is that my children live all round the Europe and the UK, I hate to think that if something happens I can't get to them.
Safer in the pub than at home. That's what I'm telling the missus anyway.so is it still OK to go to the pub tonight?
Underlying illnesses such as respiratory diseases and compromised immune systems, mainly. I'd say if you get offered a free flu jab from the doctor you probably classify as 'at-risk' (like me) but I think I look after myself better because of my illness (sleep more, drink less alcohol, exercise etc) so probably less at-risk than some that are not "at-risk".What is being meant by "an at risk category"?
What is being meant by "an at risk category"?
Underlying illnesses such as respiratory diseases and compromised immune systems, mainly.
This, as well as the very young and older people, which often have impaired immune systems and/or other interacting illnesses.Underlying illnesses such as respiratory diseases and compromised immune systems, mainly.
I’m off to stock up on wine.
Heart attack sufferer
Pregnant
Asthmatic
Diabetic
COPD
OLD
Very young
I might be missing some here and I don't know how high each ranks on the list no doubt someone will know here.
Yes, their immune systems struggle in the young because it hasn't learnt how to defend properly and the elderly because it's so f**king busy.This, as well as the very young and older people, which often have impaired immune systems.
I don’t know what the projections are for this virus but with the exponential growth, would it not be millions infected in a matter of weeks? The reporter in the link above said it’s reached this number of infected people 4 times faster than SARS did. This will explode over the next few weeks.Thanks.
A more important statistic is "how many died as a percentage of infected" (and also how many of them were frail?), and whether they can identify what prevents spread.
The WHO are saying 2% at the moment, if the figures are right. That's high, but can be quarantined to some extent. It's not millions of infected at the moment.
I'd taken old/very young/pregnant as read, as they're true of any virus.
I was wondering what syndromes were being considered, and @TheRemainsOfTheDave answered.
I don’t know what the projections are for this virus but with the exponential growth, would it not be millions infected in a matter of weeks? The reporter in the link above said it’s reached this number of infected people 4 times faster than SARS did. This will explode over the next few weeks.
Yes mate.so is it still OK to go to the pub tonight?
That and a few other metrics like rate of incapacitation by qualitative severity and timeframe (which is also very impactful on society as an outbreak ramps up) would be very helpful to gaining a better understanding of how serious this novel coronavirus should be taken (beyond the base sensible amount, of course), but those usually take some time to develop in to a useful data point (as they by nature require a statistically significant universe to be determined meaningfully) and, even when they are determined, until an outbreak has been contained, they are usually guarded to prevent potential increased panic (in the case of the bad news).Thanks.
A more important statistic is "how many died as a percentage of infected" (and also how many of them were frail?), and whether they can identify what prevents spread.
The WHO are saying 2% at the moment, if the figures are right. That's high, but can be quarantined to some extent. It's not millions of infected at the moment.