I definitely see (and align with) the bad side of it all - esp for those on the economic edge. Today’s experience had me wondering if I’m going to need to be prepared to combat the positive or if it’s an anecdote. I combat the “positives” of Global Warming often. Some of it is true (pros and cons to everything), but overall, it’s not a good scenario IMO.
The 20-somethings may have been thinking of the effect of the virus on air travel, which had been increasing exponentially along with attendant CO2 emissions.
I was shocked when I saw statistics on how many more people travel globally now than during the SARS epidemic of 2002! Less air travel would be good for the planet, and good for pandemic prevention.
@milee30 I am actually quite worried about the human suffering and our older and/or sicker loved ones right now. But in thinking about preventing the next pandemic, while also considering global warming, I can’t help but wonder whether so many people really need to fly so much.
The quote you linked from @doschicos was made when there was so little data about the new virus that it would be reasonable to assume we’re all pretty much at the same risk. It’s one thing to talk about the advantages of something horrible if you are as likely as the next person to die from it; it’s fatalistic but not horrifically inappropriate since everybody’s in the same boat so to speak. It’s quite another - after we know young, healthy people aren’t at much risk here - for people who aren’t at risk to speak callously of thinning the herd. A herd they aren’t part of.
I’m definitely someone who would muse about that with my friends. Yes, it could be good for the planet and probably would be. So would a plague.
That doesn’t mean I’m numb or indifferent to the human toll. There’s a huge difference between discussing things and advocating for releasing a plague.
Since it is our reality, why not discuss it?
Meanwhile, trump announced possible closure of the southern border to contain the disease. Y’know because of all those cases coming in from Mexico. I’ll leave the link and let you make of it what you will.
ETA: I also have a morbid sense of humor. That I get from my grandma who also jokes about her death. That doesn’t mean I’m actively hoping for her death. It’s just how we are.
It’s also about knowing your audience and strangers in a restaurant weren’t the audience.
Or more like selfish. Hey, it won’t affect me, and now I can inherit granny’s 401 K, so bonus.
Except the “underlying conditions” supposedly affect over 100 million people, so perhaps more people are at risk than they realize. And the potential health care costs and economic stagnation could be immense. For many of these youngsters, it’s more like their granny won’t die (or if she does, her estate will be zero), and they will lose their job and mobility for awhile as everyone shelters in place.
This ^^^
I am still seeing contrasting accounts between what was said at the press conference “a woman in her late 50s” and what the local officials in Washington State are saying “a Man in his late 50s has died”. Does anyone know the truth?
For the same reasons you got emotional and stopped participating in the thread on Denver and the pitbull situation or might react to someone starting a thread on how people with disabilities unfairly burden the healthcare system so shouldn’t have children or receive further treatment - because it’s personal and feels like the other people are devaluing something that is important. Those 20 somethings sitting at a table publicly talking about how good this pandemic is for the planet are likely to be sitting right next to someone who can’t visit their family in China or have already lost a loved one or who have an 89 year old grandma with diabetes or who have a lung disease, etc. It’s insensitive.
Like I said, I combat it often… I’m conjuring up plans now to combat the idea that this virus is “beneficial” should I hear that one returning to school this coming week. There are little sections where something might appear “right,” then there is the overall picture.
I just watched the local press conference, and it included a person from the hospital where the man died. I would bet that the local folks have more correct info than the federal folks.
I’m operating under the assumption that 3 hours of constant exposure without a mask has significantly higher odds of getting sick, vs 2 minutes of exposure followed by 2.9 hours with a mask.
Maybe hand the mask to the coughing person and save everybody. 
For those thinking about masks. Read the directions carefully about how to put them on and wear them…and also how to take them off without touching the front where the offending germs might linger.
Actually…before you take that 3 plus hour trip thinking you will wear a mask…try wearing one around your house for three hours. They take some getting used to.
@milee30
See my edit about knowing your audience. Have you seen anyone on here talking about those things? No. Because it’s not appropriate.
And if my friends didn’t want to talk about it, we’d stop. Just like I left the pit bull thread.
Our local paper now has updates in the front page:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/coronavirus-death-seattle-washington-state/
@romanigypsyeyes - saw your edit and I agree. We also have a morbid sense of humor in our family. It’s something I have worked with my boys to be careful about and be sensitive to other people. One gets it, the other, not so much.
Ocean stock (fish, oysters, lobsters) will probably get a little time to recover as demand in China has plummeted. It’s unfortunate for those whose livelihoods depend on it, but once the crisis is over they’ll have an increased harvest too.
So, from reading this, it seems like 3 additional people who haven’t been mentioned at all yet - the man not woman who died and 2 more from the LTC facility, all different from the 2 presumptively confirmed WA cases from last night - do I have that right?
That seems right. Confirmation of new cases also seems to take longer now. Perhaps because more people are being tested, with the revised CDC guidelines? I wouldn’t be surprised to see new confirmed cases multiply quickly.
The n95 and n99 masks with valves only filter air on the way in, not on the exhale. So they protect the wearer from others, not other people from the wearer.
Surgical masks filter on the exhale, but have dubious protection on the inhale (due to the loose fit).