And to read up on the fact that it’s total return that matters, not dividends. (not to mention taxes on dividends vs. cap gains)
Four Americans released from national quarantine unit
"Four Americans who were being monitored in the National Quarantine Unit at the UNMC/Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha were released from the quarantine unit, according to a release from the institution.
Two of the people previously tested positive for coronavirus, while two others tested negative throughout the quarantine process, the release said.
The two people who previously tested positive for the disease were released from quarantine yesterday afternoon, having tested negative for the virus in three separate tests, 24 hours apart, according to UNMC health officials. The two people who tested negative left the quarantine unit this morning.
These four Americans met all UNMC/Nebraska Medicine qualifications for release, which exceeded CDC qualifications." (CNN)
"British Airways, one of the largest airlines in Europe, has announced that it will be canceling several flights to “match reduced demand due to the continuing coronavirus issue,” it said in a statement today.
The cancelations will impact flights between March 16 and March 28 and include:
Cancelling 12 roundtrips from London Heathrow to New York JFK
Cancelling 171 short-haul roundtrip flights from London Heathrow to countries including Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland
Cancelling 7 short-haul roundtrip flights from Gatwick to Italy, France and Albania
Cancelling 26 short-haul roundtrip flights from London City to Germany and Italy
“We will be contacting customers on cancelled flights so we can discuss their travel options, including rebooking onto other carriers where possible, full refunds or booking with BA for a later date of travel,” the statement added. " (CNN)
RyanAir is also cutting short-haul flights.
My H’s employer just banned all international travel. They are also asking staff not to leave the country for pleasure. We were now definitely holding off on booking our vacation. Urgh.
Friend’s daughter who was doing study abroad in Italy just returned and CDC requested 14 day home quarantine even though she’s not symptomatic and wasn’t in a hot spot.
DS is supposed to fly from England to San Diego in late March for a college friend’s wedding. Looks like that might not happen.
Bummer…
A friend is a scientist at NIH. They’ve been informally told to prepare for the possible shutting down of NIH and a possible shutting down of the government. Emphasis on informal and “possible.” Essentially the same drill as they had when trump shut down the government last year.
Couple of useful realtime maps. The first one looks like what you’d see in a pandemic movie (which I guess we’re living through now) and kinda freaks me out when viewed full screen on a large monitor. I expect a flood of red in the US as testing gets up to speed.
From Johns Hopkins: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
Not sure who runs this one: https://infographics.channelnewsasia.com/covid-19/map.html
ITALY - 335 new cases for a total of 2,036. 11 new deaths for a total of 52.
Among the 1,835 active cases, 908 (49%) are hospitalized, 166 (9% ) are in intensive care. Among the 201 closed cases, 149 (74%) have recovered, 52 (26%) have died.
LATVIA - 1st confirmed case
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/02/wealthy-private-jets-escape-coronavirus-outbreak
Wealthy turning to private jets to escape coronavirus outbreak
Firm reports rise in rich families and multinationals booking flights to lower risks
From the WP
"About 2 percent of reported cases have been fatal, but many experts say the death rate could be lower. That’s because early in an outbreak, mild illnesses may not be reported. If only people with severe illness — who are more likely to die — seek care, the virus will appear much more deadly than it really is because of all the uncounted people with milder symptoms.
Early in the outbreak, one expert estimated that although 2,000 cases had been reported, 100,000 people probably were sick. Under counting cases can artificially increase the infection’s mortality rate."
In other words, this virus is very likely to be nothing worse than a case of the flu for the vast majority of people who get it. Most won’t be able to tell the difference between it and the flu, which happens every year, and is especially bad this year.
This is another reason for us to stop panicking.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/02/28/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus/?arc404=true
@menloparkmom , there is one daily nonstop British Air flight between Heathrow and San Diego. Are you concerned your son’s flight might be cancelled? So far (big caveat), the only confirmed cases in San Diego County were quarantined travelers, none out in the community. Of course that may well change.
Who’s panicking? We have a right to be informed - and tested. Of the people tested, the current statistics are a 2% mortality. Of the people tested for flu, .1% mortality. Higher in both cases for those over 65. That may change, but each person should be able to analyze accurate and complete information from our health system.
Illinois health officials report new case in Cook County
"Illinois health officials said they confirmed a new case in Cook County, a woman in her 70s who is married to another coronavirus patient. The CDC still needs to confirm Illinois’ test results, according to the Illinois and Cook County health departments. The patient and her husband are reportedly in good condition, health officials said. " (CNBC)
Well, the numbers from Italy show that it is much worse than the flu, with high rates of complications requiring ICU care. That is in a country with extensive testing of over 30k residents and accessible free medical care.
Also, the flu disproportionately affects those under 2 and over 70. This virus seems to affect many between 40-70 years of age.
There is also no immunity to this disease in our population (unlike the flu, which has a vaccine). The mortality rate is likely lower than 2%, but if a high percentage of the population gets sick, the sheer numbers of severe cases will be very high and will overwhelm our medical system (which could negatively impact outcomes). So no, it is not time to panic, but being informed is a good thing.
Fighting this virus is a bridge for peace
"The WHO has sent a mission to Iran to support the country in its fight against the virus. As well as sending health specialists the organisation has sent enough protective equipment for 15,000 health workers and testing kits to diagnose 100,000 people.
Dr Tedros praised the United States for sending a message of support to Iran and he added: “We have a common enemy … and fighting this virus is a bridge for peace.”" (Telegraph)
Personally, I’m most concerned for the must vulnerable—folks >80 years old (my mom is 90), folks with respiratory/COPD, cancer, etc. Have read it could have 15-20% fatality rates in those populations, depending on who’s stats you look at. I work with many in the COPD community and there is considerable apprehension but no panic.
@katliamom
Thanks for the heads up about that. I wonder if it’ll disrupt research funding. My entire phd has more or less been funded by NIH, including current funding. Normally we get a heads up but since we also don’t work at NIH, we’re the last to know within the NIH structure.
I think the
So funding/budget related not virus related?
People spit on the street in New York too. And I see gum on sidewalks in every American city.
While we were in China/Hong Kong in 2019, I remember reading that they were doing their best to discourage the practice. I might have seen one or two people spitting. No one blew their noses without tissue.
3 more patients have died in Washington. They were from the care home and in critical condition.