Some people think this thread is too alarmist. Is it? Or are we collectively too dismissive of the threat? The virus is at our doorstep. We know we haven’t tested enough people to know the true extent of the spread. We also know viruses spread exponentially without external intervention. General hygiene helps but won’t be sufficient to stop the spread. If we don’t stop it today, we would be looking at a much bigger problem in a short period of time. We would run out hospital beds, medical staff, medical equipment, etc., just like in northern Italy. We might even face lockdowns of large areas, like Italy. However distastefully that mechanism is to Americans, CDC does have that emergency power, even though that’s clearly the last resort. It’s really irresponsible and shocking that, for example, cruise ships are still sailing (although CDC just stopped another Princess cruise from its sailing from LA today).
I don’t know the “chances”…but I can guarantee the schools will figure out a time for students to retrieve their belongings.
They did it in Ohio in May 1970. They did it after Hurricane Katrina at the schools that closed then.
I know your kid is taking a road trip…but he should be taking his computer with him…just in case he needs to work remotely.
Princess Cruises cancels LA journey after no-sail order
"Princess Cruises has cancelled its Royal Princess cruise out of Los Angeles, after the CDC issued a “no-sail order” until one of the ship’s crew members has been tested for Novel Coronavirus, according to a Tweet from Princess Cruises.
According to the cruise line, one of the crew members, who previously served on Grand Princess, was transferred to Royal Princess 15 days ago…
After Princess Cruises shared the information about the transferred crew member with the CDC, the CDC initially approved clearance for the Royal Princess to sail on Saturday, with no restrictions placed on the vessel.
However, late Saturday afternoon, the CDC informed the cruise line of their decision to issue a “no-sail order” until the crew member was tested for Novel Coronavirus, Princess Cruises said.
According to the cruise line, they were unable to obtain a test for the crew member, and “due to the unknown timing of obtaining the test and results or anticipated response,” the cruise was cancelled." (CNN)
IRAN - 743 new cases totaling 6,566 and 49 new deaths totaling 194
"A 100-year-old man has recovered from the novel coronavirus and was discharged from hospital on Saturday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported Sunday.
According to Xinhua, the centenarian is the oldest known patient to recover from the virus to date…
He was admitted to the hospital on February 24 due to a coronavirus infection, with underlying health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension and heart failure.
Due to his complicated conditions, medical professionals from the military held multiple consultations, according to Xinhua. A variety of methods, including antiviral treatment, traditional Chinese medicine and convalescent plasma therapy were used during the treatment." (CNN)
Washington state nursing home at center of US outbreak gets more testing kits
"A nursing home at the center of the coronavirus outbreak in the US state of Washington said it has received additional testing kits from the Washington State Department of Health.
The Life Care Center of Kirkland said it is now able to test all residents in the facility.
Fourteen of 16 deaths in the state are associated with the Life Care Center, and families of residents there are seeking more answers on the conditions of their loved ones, including residents who they claim have died without being tested for the coronavirus. 70 employees at the center have shown symptoms of the disease." (CNN)
The cruise ship is scheduled to dock in the port of Oakland on Monday, and the 34 Georgia passengers are being flown to Dobbins AFB.
@thumper1, the difference in the cases of Katrina and Ohio and this situation is that kids were allowed back after the danger abated. I don’t see this virus just going away in the next few weeks or even months. Retrieving this kid’s belongings (including a car) would involve either a plane ride and public transportation to campus or a multi-day drive, thus the “what’s the best way to do this?” question.
Definitely good advice, and highlights the reason I’m finding threads like this helpful. On the prep school thread there were reports of kids being asked to bring home anything essential when they left for March break so we’d already given that counsel to our kid.
Staff member at a Washington care home tests positive
"A member of staff at Aegis Living Marymoor in Redmond, Washington has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The staff member was ill when they left to go home on February 28 and did not return to the facility, the facility told CNN in a statement. It also noted that the staff member has not worked in any other Aegis Living communities.
Redmond is a short distance from Kirkland, the center of the US coronavirus outbreak.
After learning about the diagnosis, Aegis Living said: “We immediately initiated our company protocol for managing the coronavirus and began a community-wide isolation at Aegis Living Marymoor.”
The statement goes on to say: “All residents and staff were evaluated today (Saturday) and continue to be closely watched. At this time, we have no other confirmed cases at Aegis Living Marymoor or any other communities.” (CNN)
How about testing?
Grand Princess cruise ship to dock in Oakland on Monday
"The Grand Princess cruise ship, with at least 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus onboard, will dock in the Port of Oakland on Monday, according to a tweet from the Princess Cruises.
The ship has been waiting to learn its fate while remaining 50 miles off the coast of San Francisco due to concerns over the coronavirus.
In the message, the company says it will begin disembarking guests who require acute medical treatment and hospitalization at this time. Those guests will be transported to medical facilities in California, but the exact timing for when this will happen is still being determined." (CNN)
Self-isolate or get paid? That’s the choice for gig workers in a virus outbreak
Analysis by Luke McGee, CNN
"Governments are announcing policies to stop the spread and soften the financial impact on companies and workers. But there is one group of people who have so far been ignored: gig workers.
Isolate or get paid: People who work in the gig economy seldom enjoy the workplace benefits of those who work in more traditional salaried jobs. Many of these gig workers may soon have to make a choice: self-isolate to stop the spread and not be paid, or ignore public health warnings and carry on working even if they have symptoms of the virus.
Financial compensation: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that anyone with symptoms should “self-isolate.” He said “nobody should be penalized for doing the right thing,” and that workers would be financially compensated in full for the time they take off work.
The problem: However, trade union groups have pointed out that this plan doesn’t support people working in the gig economy, which is responsible for a significant chunk of the UK’s jobs growth over the past decade.
1 in 10: As many as one in 10 working-age adults had participated in “platform work” – a term used to describe gig work found via apps, or platforms in the UK, a study last year revealed."
"The US Army has decided to restrict travel to and from Italy and South Korea due to coronavirus outbreaks, and will also prohibit foreign troops from participating in US exercises, exchanges and visits in the most affected nations.
The decision, described to Reuters by an Army spokeswoman, follows the confirmation on Saturday that two additional US service personnel have tested positive for the virus: a sailor in Italy and a Marine at Fort Belvoir, Virginia - an important military base in a Washington DC suburb." (Guardian)
"It is only a matter of time until more European countries adopt the kind of aggressive steps that Italy is taking to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has said.
Italy, Austria’s southern neighbour, imposed a virtual lockdown across a swathe of its wealthy north on Sunday including the financial capital Milan, in a drastic new attempt to try to contain a rapidly growing outbreak.
Kurz told broadcaster ORF the situation in Austria - where health authorities have reported 104 confirmed coronavirus cases so far - was under control and the measures it has adopted were proper, although probably not the final steps required." (Guardian)
Saudia Arabia has announced a temporary lockdown on the Qatif region, the kingdom’s state news agency reports.
Virginia has its second case, not tied to the first at all:
As an aside, the Google employees in SV I know said they are being “allowed” (but not told/required) to work from home , and at least as of Friday the food service and other ancillary employees were still working.
"Police and officials have been waiting at southern Italian transport hubs people who have been travelling south from Lombardy, the region which is due to become subject to a lockdown, according to the Guardian’s Lorenzo Tondo.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper has footage of officials in Hazmat suits testing people near buses. However, there do not appear to be any checks on people moving by car and the police checks were apparently not in force this morning." (Guardian)
Lockdowns only work if a) people are compliant and b) there is some muscle behind the lockdown if people aren’t compliant. Big difference between China and Italy in that regard - and IMO most countries are more like Italy. I hope it works.
Americans test positive on Nile cruise
"A group of American citizens has been quarantined after testing positive for coronavirus on an Egyptian Nile boat, the cruise company said.
The number of Americans infected on the cruise is unknown but a total of 19 foreigners were aboard the boat traveling from Aswan to Luxor, Extension Group said.
A total of 45 people tested positive for coronavirus on the Nile cruise, Egyptian state media said on Saturday." (CNN)
Not sure if this thread is the place to discuss it. If left alone, it will infect 60% of population according to experts’ estimate. If 1% of the infected dies, they estimate a huge number up there with Spanish flu. We may not contain it, but if we can slow down it will be easier to deal with. Hospitals seeing 100 a day for a year is better than being flooded with 1200 a day for a month.
Political row breaks out as Italians move south from Lombardy
"A major political row is breaking out in Italy, where the authorities fear people fleeing from Lombardy, formally locked down by decree but still not subject to a full enforcement, may spread the virus further.
The Governor of Puglia, Michele Emiliano, has signed an order today, which obliges all inhabitants of Puglia, arriving from Lombardy in the coming hours, to quarantine.
‘’Get off at the first train station, don’t take planes to Bari and Brindisi, go back by car, get off the bus at the next stop,’’ wrote Emiliano on Facebook, addressing Apulians, living in Lombardy. “Do not bring the Lombard, Venetian and Emilian epidemic to your Puglia. You are carrying the virus into the lungs of your brothers and sisters, your grandparents, uncles, cousins and parents.”
Thousands of people are literally at risk of getting stuck in northern cities.
‘’My brother went to Brescia to look for work, a month ago,’’ says Primo Giarratano, a 32-year-old Sicilian. “We lived together. We rented a house in Brescia. I then returned to Sicily because I had finished my job, but he remained there, alone. And now he can’t come back. We don’t know what to do”" (Guardian)
Checkpoints expected as Italian lockdown decree officially approved
"The decree imposing a lockdown for more than a quarter of Italy’s population has now been officially approved by the government and checkpoints are expected to appear at toll booths, stations and other points of entry to Lombardy.
It also provides for measures for all of Italy. Weddings and funerals are suspended throughout the country
Movement in and out of Lombardy and 14 other central and northern provinces is prohibited. People will be allowed in and out for serious reasons, including work reasons, upon the authorisation of local authorities. The decree also puts a ban on all public events, the closure of cinemas, theatres and gyms.
However, the effects of the decree on flights and trains are still not yet clear. Under the new general guidelines, local judicial authorities could decide whether to suspend flights.
At the moment, it is still possible to travel by train and plane to Lombardy but, in the next few hours, checkpoints should be placed at toll booths, stations and airports. Public transport within the cities will instead remain guaranteed." (Guardian)
"All public events with more than 1,000 participants should be called off, Germany’s Health Minister, Jens Spahn, has said. Adding that up until now organisers had been too reluctant to do this, he told news agency DPA: “Given how fast things are developing, that should change quickly.”
Under Germany’s federal system, the health minister does not have the power to call off individual events, but a strong lead from the federal government typically encourages federal states to follow suit.
Spahn also called for European collaboration on a bulked up centre for research into the identification, surveillance and prevention of infectious diseases, similar to Germany’s Robert Koch Institute. Spain has also called for a similar EU initiative."
I don’t think they are even trying to contain it now. It’s just mitigation at this point.
@Iglooo so why are the experts not telling everyone to huddle in place? In most states, they are telling people to wash their hands and stay home if they are sick. All of the other stuff (cancelling trips, panic buying) is self imposed. And the library books? I’m sorry but LOL. I have probably 20 here and always have a rotation going.
"Authorities have banned activities in Romania involving more than 1,000 people, according to Romanian media reports.
The restrictions come into force today and are valid until March 31, when a new assessment will be made. The number of confirmed cases in the country is 13.
Raed Arafat, Romania’s secretary of state, reiterated a call to Romanians in Italy not to come home for a holiday period if they are in risk areas." (Guardian)
"Indonesia confirmed on Sunday that two more people had tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the total of confirmed cases in the country to six.
One of the Indonesians is a 36-year-old male, a crew member on the Japan-docked Diamond Princess cruise ship where he contracted the virus, Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto told a news briefing, according to Reuters.
The other Indonesian, a 55-year-old male, contracted the virus locally in Jakarta, Yurianto said.
“Both of them are in stable condition. They do not have fever, don’t need intravenous drip, oxygen, are not coughing, and don’t have a cold,” he said." (Guardian)
"Countries responding to a coronavirus outbreak should be prioritising support for their health workers, a World Health Organisation (WHO) doctor has said.
Dr Margaret Harris told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “They should be your number one priority. All your health staff, your nursing staff, your allied professionals, the people cleaning the wards.
“I’m a doctor myself, but it’s not just the doctors who need special treatment, special consideration.
“They need all the protective equipment, they also need training, they also need access, to know how to do the swab, when to do the swab, where the testing comes from.
“And they need back-up, they need other people to come and do the shifts. If they’re working massively, they are tremendously at risk.” " (Guardian)
"Flights appear to be operating as normal from Milan’s Linate Airport, the third international airport of the city.
Ben Roeves, who is travelling back to the UK today from Italy and cleared security a little earlier at the airport, was able to change his British Airways flight in order to come back to the UK earlier than his scheduled flight later this evening after seeing the news this morning about the lockdown of Lombardy.
He told me he had seen more airport staff, security and military than passengers although the numbers on the security front were no more than normal in comparison to other trips.
Another reader, a retired teacher, 69, living in Milan with his wife, 68, has got in touch to say that their niece travelled to her family home in Naples yesterday and said that the train was so crowded that people were sitting and lying in the corridors.
“Panic in Milan does not seem to be widespread, however. While relatively few people can be seen on the streets, probably due to the fact that cinemas, theatres and museums, doctors’s surgeries, even churches, are all closed, while cafés and restaurants have limited opening hours, other signs of general panic (hoarding in supermarkets, etc) seem to have abated, thanks also to well-organised home delivery offered by several food chains, who are not suffering from any shortages.”
He was more concerned about the preoccupation with the risk of damage to the economy, rather than fear of the virus, which appears to be really dangerous mainly for elderly people with other health complications." (Guardian)
Iran has stopped all flights to Europe, Iran’s IRNA news agency reports.
No funerals in Italy? What’s their proposed alternative - becchini touring the cities with carts, calling “bring out your dead!”?
Regarding clusters (referred to in post #4399 with an article link) there’s a cluster of 60 in Spain (total reported cases in Spain 589 and 17 deaths) traced to a funeral. Police are locking down entire blocks of the affected neighborhood from the funeral cluster.
You can bury/cremate someone without a gathering of people. 
But you made me laugh and reminded me of this Monty Python bit.
Talking Heads on Sunday Morning
US surgeon general says 75,000 coronavirus tests are available right now for the public
"Currently, there are about 75,000 coronavirus tests available for the American public, US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CNN’s Jake Tapper on "State of the Union” today.
“By early next week – tomorrow – we should have over 2 million tests available. By the end of the week, through partnerships with private industry, over 4 million tests available,” Adams said. “But the most important number to the American people is one. They want to know if I go in, can I get a test? And the one thing that I’ve heard – I’ve been to Georgia, I’ve been to Georgia, I’ve been to Connecticut in the past week – is that no public health doctor who was asked for a test has not been able to get a test. So people should talk to their healthcare providers.”
Yet when Tapper asked how many people have been tested, Adams said, “The numbers are tough because they’re changing minute by minute.”
Tapper responded, “Just the rough numbers?”
Adams later said, “I would refer you to the CDC for that because, again, the numbers change so rapidly.” " (CNN)