Coronavirus in the US

[doschicos]

@privatebanker

Let’s see how this play out. Government can’t solve all of our problems and bubble wrap the country. Covid was only named in January. 12 weeks ago.

We seem to want immediate solutions. I would as well it it’d not realistic. Lots of people will get this and very few as a percentage will die. Every death is sad but some of the reactions are going cause trickle down problems for years to come if we don’t slow down and calm down.

1. Time is of the essence with an epidemic/pandemic. 12 weeks is a long time. We've dropped the ball in numerous areas, mistakes that will cost us.
   

Personally, I’d rather lock things down a bit and slow things down than deal with spikes that will overwhelm our health care system, which struggles in the best of times, which will lead to many more deaths and greater economic pain dragging it out for 18 months of pain and death until a virus is found.

1. Even a few percent (and it could be higher when our systems can no longer handle the volume). You're a finance guy. You can do the math. Hundreds of thousands could die if not more.

[doschicos]

@mathKids

@doschicos

Even yesterday, there were no checks on arrivals from “hot spot” countries in at least some US airports. That might have been a good step to take. Kind of late now but better late than never. Borders could be tightened before completely shutting down.

And let’s face it, we are approaching the time when Europe should start testing those coming from US Sad, but true.

China is.

[suteiki77]

@doschicos

Redfield said that a test had been developed quickly but added:

We rapidly tried to expand that and scale it up with a contractor so each public health lab in this country would have that test. During that process of quality control we found that one of the reagents wasn’t working appropriately. And we had to modify that with the FDA, and that took several weeks to get that completed." (Guardian)

Did you see this video about a Seattle flu study in late January. They wanted to also study and test for Coronavirus. Were not allowed to test. Right when they were trying to get permission the CDC first tests were found to not work. All samples still had to be sent to CDC, definition of when to test kept narrow. Could have really changed the scope of things if they had gotten the go ahead because they likely would have found the Seattle community spread weeks earlier.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/health/us-coronavirus-cases-wednesday/index.html

[suteiki77]

@Qtinfo

Also Dr. Redfield, who is just passing the buck about tests.

I wonder if any of those who messed up feel any guilt or any responsibility for things going so badly now.

[doschicos]

More than 1,100 cases of coronavirus confirmed in US
From CNN

There are at least 1,162 cases of novel coronavirus in the US, according to state and local health agencies, governments and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the CDC, there are 70 cases from repatriated citizens. According to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through public health systems, there are 1,092 cases in 41 states and the District of Columbia, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 1,162.

Four more people in Washington state have passed away due to the coronavirus, bringing the US death toll to 37.

This includes presumptive positive cases that tested positive in a public health lab and are pending confirmation from the CDC, and confirmed cases that have received positive results from the CDC.

[suteiki77]

@Qtinfo

In the hearings Dr. Fauci said that he wanted “community surveillance” testing done (as well as individual testing when people had symptoms or exposure) so that public health officials could accurately determine what the situation is and respond appropriately and Dr. Redfield just ignored this. It was interesting.

So frustrating if true. I have to say, Dr. Fauci is very good at not ruffling feathers while pushing forward what he feels should be done.

[cptofthehouse]

It’s appears that most who gets it, don’t get more than usual cold symptoms and some even asymptomatic. However, there are some perfectly healthy young folks getting very sick from this. Grave illness is not only for the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

[privatebanker]

To keep discussions about mass quarantines, monetary responses , border closings and emergency procedures as possibilities is not unbelievable

it’s smart.

Leaks of discussions and planning that might not be vetted or needed could cause massive panic or market reactions.

They want to preserve order. It’s their job.

[Sue22]

I’ve started a master list of college COVID-19 / Coronavirus plans here. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/2177761-college-covid-19-coronavirus-plans-add-your-school-p1.html?new=1

[amsunshine]

@privatebanker

The payroll tax break was enthusiastically supported by the previous legislators and administration. It puts money in the packet of citizens directly and the millions of small businesses as well.

There’s lots of things that can be done. And some very sophisticated fiscal policy at the fed level (not monetary policy) that’s too long and complex to discuss here. But lots tools left in the kit.

I also think the emptied state colleges may offer a creative solution for non critical care and observation type hospitalization facilities. Nurses running the show.

Who are the “previous legislators” and “administration”?

Personally, I think a payroll tax break is a very bad idea given it disproportionately helps people who are relatively well-off, and it guts Social Security at the same time that retirement accounts are also being gutted. Also, I’d rather this administration focus on on heathcare issues directly related to the pandemic, rather than indirectly related economic fallout.

@suteiki77

@doschicos

Redfield said that a test had been developed quickly but added:

We rapidly tried to expand that and scale it up with a contractor so each public health lab in this country would have that test. During that process of quality control we found that one of the reagents wasn’t working appropriately. And we had to modify that with the FDA, and that took several weeks to get that completed." (Guardian)

Did you see this video about a Seattle flu study in late January. They wanted to also study and test for Coronavirus. Were not allowed to test. Right when they were trying to get permission the CDC first tests were found to not work. All samples still had to be sent to CDC, definition of when to test kept narrow. Could have really changed the scope of things if they had gotten the go ahead because they likely would have found the Seattle community spread weeks earlier.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/health/us-coronavirus-cases-wednesday/index.html

Yep, and they found a teenager’s supposed “flu” sample turned out positive for covid-19, which made them realize the virus had already circulating here, much earlier than they’d expected.

[suzyQ7]

@ucbalumnus

@suzyQ7

Note - there were discussions from Trump about helping the airlines and the cruise industry. The cruise industry does not pay $1 in federal taxes since they are legally incorporated in low/no tax countries. Royal Caribbean - Liberia. Carnival - Panama.

Carnival did pay some income taxes to various countries including the US, but https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/ddd975ba-cef0-43fe-9bf9-bb4c376ed914 indicates that the 2019 income taxes (to all countries) were $71 million on pre-tax income of $3.06 billion (or about 2.3% of pre-tax income).

The link you provided specificially calls out the exception for US Federal tax:

Application of Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code
In general, under Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code, certain non-U.S. corporations (such as our North American cruise ship businesses) are not subject to U.S. federal income tax or branch profits tax on U.S. source income derived from, or incidental to, the international operation of a ship or ships. Applicable U.S. Treasury regulations provide in general that a foreign corporation will qualify for the benefits of Section 883 if, in relevant part, (i) the foreign country in which the foreign corporation is organized grants an equivalent exemption to corporations organized in the U.S. in respect of each category of shipping income for which an exemption is being claimed under Section 883 (an “equivalent exemption jurisdiction”) and (ii) the foreign corporation meets a defined publicly-traded corporation stock ownership test (the “publicly-traded test”). Subsidiaries of foreign corporations that are organized in an equivalent exemption jurisdiction and meet the publicly-traded test also benefit from Section 883. ** We believe that Panama is an equivalent exemption jurisdiction and that Carnival Corporation currently satisfies the publicly-traded test under the regulations. Accordingly, substantially all of Carnival Corporation’s income is exempt from U.S. federal income and branch profit taxes. **

Anyway- don’t want to derail the thread. Many US companies are going to be hurt - especially small ones that will go out of business. We should prioritize helping US businesses that haven’t purposely been avoiding taxes by foreign setup schemes throughout their history (looking at you too - google).

[doschicos]

DC mayor declares state of emergency over coronavirus concerns
From CNN’s Raja Razek

Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a state of emergency, as well as a public health emergency, in Washington, DC, due to coronavirus.

At least four cases of coronavirus have been reported in DC.

Not sure if I posted this yet -

4 new coronavirus deaths reported in Washington state’s King County
From CNN

The health department of King County, Washington, says it has confirmed four more deaths due to the novel coronavirus today. The department is also reporting 44 additional positive test results.

Three of the four new deaths reported were residents of the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington. The fourth person was a patient at Redmond Care and Rehab. Three of the four people who died were in their 90s, according to the health department.

The new results raise the number of coronavirus cases in Washington state to 325. The statewide death toll is 28.

[ that’s more than most countries ]

[1NJParent]

@doschicos

Exclusive: White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations - sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, an unusual step that has restricted information and hampered the U.S. government’s response to the contagion, according to four Trump administration officials.

The officials said that dozens of classified discussions about such topics as the scope of infections, quarantines and travel restrictions have been held since mid-January in a high-security meeting room at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), a key player in the fight against the coronavirus.

Staffers without security clearances, including government experts, were excluded from the interagency meetings, which included video conference calls, the sources said.

“We had some very critical people who did not have security clearances who could not go,” one official said. “These should not be classified meetings. It was unnecessary.”
…
A fifth source familiar with the meetings said HHS staffers often weren’t informed about coronavirus developments because they didn’t have adequate clearance. He said he was told that the matters were classified “because it had to do with China.”

More info in the article.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-secrecy-exclusive/exclusive-white-house-told-federal-health-agency-to-classify-coronavirus-deliberations-sources-idUSKBN20Y2LM

I guess we don’t want China to find out that we’re so incompetent…

[ucbalumnus]

@amsunshine

Also, I’d rather this administration focus on on heathcare issues directly related to the pandemic, rather than indirectly related economic fallout.

If the economic fallout tips a lot of businesses and households into bankruptcy (note that business failures will impact employees of those businesses), then the increased poverty (lack of money and medical insurance) will make the public health problems worse. It is not like the economic fallout is a completely separate thing from the public health problem.

[privatebanker]

@amsunshine I didn’t want to wander into a political discussion. it’s prohibited here and I think this thread is devolving into that realm.

In the financial crisis, the payroll tax cut was a prominently supported policy of Obama Pelosi Schumer Biden etc. it put money into workers hands quickly. It provided a short term expense reduction for large and small business to hopefully offset revenue pressures and slow down the layoff cycle.

That’s the previous administration I was referring to , obliquely. I did so to stay firmly within “tos”guard rails.

It’s just one of many ideas. However to be so supported previously and so publicly and now many to reverse course for some reason seems suspiciously politically calculated.

[AsMother]

@mathKids

@doschicos

Exclusive: White House told federal health agency to classify coronavirus deliberations - sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, an unusual step that has restricted information and hampered the U.S. government’s response to the contagion, according to four Trump administration officials.

That’s really unbelievable.

Unfortunately, it’s really not.

[doschicos]

"Brazil’s confirmed coronavirus cases jumped from 34 on Tuesday to 52 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, as fears about its spread in South America’s biggest country grew.

São Paulo state has the largest number of cases, with 30, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 13. And 907 suspected cases are still being investigated. The president Jair Bolsonaro’s press secretary Fabio Wajngarten is one of them, according to the columnist Monica Bergamo. He was with Bolsonaro on last weekend’s US trip during which the Brazilian president dined with Donald Trump. Wajngarten denied the report in a tweet shortly after. " (Guardian)

[mamag2855]

My D, who is a senior at Temple U, was on spring break last week (she stayed local). Classes resumed as usual on Monday, with many students returning from traveling…

One of her roommates spent spring break in Spain…

D is supposed to start working in June after graduating in May.
I have not shared concerns with D about the possibility of her job being rescinded due to economic downturn/recession…

Another D works in Boston, has a history of asthma…

Elderly parents in 3 different states…

Trying to keep these thoughts out of my head…

[amsunshine]

@ucbalumnus

@amsunshine

Also, I’d rather this administration focus on on heathcare issues directly related to the pandemic, rather than indirectly related economic fallout.

If the economic fallout tips a lot of businesses and households into bankruptcy (note that business failures will impact employees of those businesses), then the increased poverty (lack of money and medical insurance) will make the public health problems worse. It is not like the economic fallout is a completely separate thing from the public health problem.

No, I get it. But there is little to no focus on the more immediate issues like, what about making sure that people who are uninsured, but are sick, are able to get tested without being charged a couple thousand dollars? Let’s deal with those more directly related and immediate issues first before we start talking about a payroll tax cut that is actually less beneficial than it sounds (and actually detrimental in the long run, imo).

eta: also, I think the more focused the administration is on getting a handle on issues directly related to the pandemic itself, the quicker the recovery from the indirectly related economic fallout can start.

[doschicos]

More on Italy:

"Here’s a little more detail on Conte’s comments, which mark a step unprecedented in peacetime. He has told Italians:

“All shops will be closed apart from those for basic necessities, such as pharmacies and supermarkets. Industries can stay open, but with strict measures in place, as well as essential services such as banks. Transport will be guaranteed.”

Conte warned Italy’s population not to “rush to the supermarkets” as shelves will be restocked as normal.

The latest restrictions come two days after the Conte introduced emergency measures across the whole of Italy and urged people to “stay at home” as the government strives to contain the spread of the virus.

As of Wednesday night, there were 10,590 current cases. Of that number, 5,763 are in Lombardy, with 560 of those in intensive care.

The latest restrictions come after schools, universities, cultural sites, museums, theatres, cinemas and ski resorts were closed, and crowd-drawing events such as concerts and sporting events banned.

“Just a few days ago I asked you to change your habits and stay at home, and you have responded in an extraordinary way. You are making enormous sacrifices, I know that’s not easy, but these [sacrifices] are making a great and precious contribution to the country. The whole world is watching us, especially watching the number of cases.”

Conte said the impact of the stringent measures would only be clear “in a few weeks”. “If we all respect these rules, the quicker we will overcome this.” (Guardian)