COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[BosnianBlue]

officially pandemic.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Looking like Spain’s going to be like Italy within a week. It would seem logical to block flights from there to buy us some time.

that's my Madrid Marathon out the window :(

 

[kaz7]

Just out of interest, what difference does it really make if it's declared a pandemic or not?

This is the first ever coronavirus pandemic,they say they have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,the reports of positives are nowhere near the true story,it has to make countries take the proper actions NOW

 

[SebastianBlue]

that's my Madrid Marathon out the window :(

You are lucky to be on the end of such little impact. ;-)

 

[idahoblues]

If this thing explodes in USA and it's a matter of time probably, there's going to be some fire. Their health system is awful, they are barely doing any tests, sht gonna hit the fan there big time.

I would disagree that the health system is awful, it's just insanely expensive. A lot of middle American Trumpers will be getting a shock, that's for sure

 

[PragueBlue]

For anyone still wondering if the “Summer Heat” will help, Qatar had 238 new cases today (up from 24 in total yesterday).

The temperature is a steady 28 degrees today and 21 now at 7pm.

I have noticed that in hotter countries the growth has certainly been lower. Singapore was once near the top of the list but is now below most European countries. Thailand a week or two ago had about the same number as the UK but hasn't grown at anything like the same rate. There aren't many countries with presently high temperatures near the top of the table, so it may well help reduce the rate of transmission.

 

[cibaman]

why so fixated on Cheltenham ?

there will be hundreds of thousands in and out of shopping centres today
hundreds of thousand on and off trains/tubes ...

Just thought it might be possible to identify a statistically significant sample of people who had been in the same environment for a few days. Might provide useful information

 

[SebastianBlue]

I would disagree that the health system is awful, it's just insanely expensive. A lot of middle American Trumpers will be getting a shock, that's for sure

The US healthcare system itself is one of the best in the world.

As you allude to, it’s the access to healthcare in the US (which is just as, if not more important), that is a shambles. And from what I had read, seen, and heard while living here, the access system (private insurance specifically) is degrading the healthcare system itself due to operating losses and hospital mergers/closures.

 

[BigBluey]

An expert in the USA mentioned it could be a lot worse in the USA than China due the amount of obesity and other underlying health issues such as high blood pressure affecting the population.

He mentioned that smokers in China - predominantly male and elderly accounted for 2% of deaths whilst women of a similar age was 0.2%

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Better a month late than never.

The official declaration will make available pooled funding for response, as well as certain collective protocols and options for action.

I understand there was likely pressure from various governments not to declare the pandemic to avoid panic and economic impact, but I think they really should have done this as soon as the generally accepted criteria for pandemic conditions was met, rather than waiting.

What’s done is done, though.

I don't know about that. It seemed like a thinly veiled attack on certain governments to me.