I needed that, thanks.
We’ve been singing that for the past few days, lol, because we were happy to hear that our doggie was safe.
@TheBigChef , only 80,000 multiplied by probably ten times that many people, at least, who didn’t get diagnosed.
Even if 800,000 people in China contracted the virus, that’s a little more than one half of one percent of the population of China. Yesterday there were only 11 new cases in China, and most of those were imported. China has shown that its possible to stop the spread before it gets anywhere near 60% of the population.
“U.S. will suspend all travel from U.K and Ireland”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/14/coronavirus-latest-news/
I guess DS won’t be traveling home from the UK any time soon.
On a lighter note,
I envision a certain golf course in the UK will not do so well financially …
This does not apply to US Citizens.
So if companies over 500 are excluded then most employees still won’t qualify including mr r.
Disgusting.
And yet That is indeed what the bill says.
What about people who are already unemployed? I know a young person (friend of one of my kids) who is unemployed, was actively looking for work and has used up unemployment benefits, surviving on the occasional gig job. I’m sure there are others like this. It will be impossible to find work now and of the supports I’ve heard of, these people will fall through the cracks.
When it goes to the Senate, they have the power to change it I suppose, but is that likely?
the guy hoarding hand sanitizer feels like a metaphor…
@amsunshine the senate changing something republicans demanded? Extremely unlikely.
There will be huge backlash once this makes the rounds though. I see it picking up steam on twitter right now.
Google says it’s not publishing a national-scale coronavirus site anytime soon
From CNN’s Brian Fung
Google will not be publishing a national-scale website for coronavirus testing anytime soon, contrary to claims made by President Trump during a Friday news conference.
Instead, a health-focused subsidiary owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, intends to launch a small-scale website next week to begin to triage California-based patients. The website will aim to serve a broader population only “over time” — not “very quickly,” as Trump said.
“What we’re building is a triage tool that will live on ProjectBaseline.com, and we plan to pilot it in California next week,” said Carolyn Wang, a spokesperson for the Alphabet subsidiary, Verily.
Wang added: “Our aspiration is for the triage tool to be used much more broadly over time. Initially, we’re linking it with several sites in the Bay Area to test and iterate, and collaborating closely with organizations like Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp who are also working on additional approaches to making testing more accessible and expedient in other areas.”
Officials in the state of California were stunned Friday to see the White House present a graphic for a modest pilot program that California’s been developing with Alphabet as if it were a Trump administration program that was a nationwide initiative and ready to go, according to a knowledgeable source.
Still, a White House official, in reaction to Google’s response, doubled down Saturday, telling CNN that “the Trump administration is working with Google to develop a website Americans can go to determine whether a test is needed and, if so, facilitate testing at a nearby location. We expect to have more details in the days ahead.”
Some context: Verily’s statement sharply contrasts with Trump’s remarks Friday in the White House Rose Garden when the President said Google “is helping to develop a website. It’s going to be very quickly done, unlike websites of the past, to determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby convenient location.”
[ I find this all very frustrating. Look, I WANT our government to succeed. Many, many lives are at stake. The economy and people’s lives are at stake - food on people’s table, too. I want all the government’s promises to be true and successful but I get sad and frustrated by the string of false promises. How does one not become cynical about our leadership? And the problem is we are still focusing on steps that should have been addressed 2-4 weeks ago and now we aren’t addressing issues that should be addressed now like ramping up health care bandwidth for this virus. ]
Louisiana governor anticipates healthcare in the state will be “overwhelmed” by coronavirus
From CNN’s Melissa Alonso
Louisiana’s ability to deliver services “will be overwhelmed with a lower number of cases” compared to other states, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a press briefing this afternoon about the coronavirus.
Edwards has been in communication with Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health and Human Services regarding resources and to possibly set-up a drive-thru testing site in the state.
Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the state will be limiting crowds to no more than 250 people, according to Edwards.
Church service, however, will not be limited.
“I am a man of faith” and science, Edwards said.
As of Saturday afternoon, Louisiana has 67 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through public health systems.
[ Given that many clusters worldwide can be directly traced to religious services and events, that’s a bad call IMO. ]
I’m disappointed in everyone who misrepresented this. And just this morning, in the press conference, Americans were encouraged to stay home if they are sick and told not to worry because they will be getting paid. It sounds like, with this exemption, combined with the lack of testing, many may not.
How coronavirus is impacting the Supreme Court
From CNN’s Ariane de Vogue
The Supreme Court has closed its doors to the public until “further notice” as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic ripples across the country, raising questions about how the justices will handle the next set of oral arguments scheduled to begin March 23.
The pandemic could mean changes not just to public access but to how the justices interact with each other as they enter the last few months of a term that includes an unprecedented number of consequential and controversial cases.
The session includes a blockbuster case at the end of the month concerning President Trump’s bid to shield his financial documents from disclosure.
What the justices are doing in the meantime: The justices are mostly lying low and taking advantage of a brief recess from arguments. Scheduled speaking events for Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas have all been recently cancelled. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, however, traveled to Kentucky Friday for the ceremonial swearing in of a lower court judge.
But this Sunday, the court’s oldest member Ruth Bader Ginsburg turns 87 years old — and while she often wears lace gloves in public, as a survivor of 4 bouts of cancer is in a high risk group for almost any illness.
A majority of her colleagues also qualify as “older adults” at higher risk of getting sick, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Besides Ginsburg, Breyer is 81, Thomas, 71, Samuel Alito 69 and Chief Justice John Roberts and Sotomayor are 65.
That fact alone raises questions of how the court should handle upcoming arguments in a chamber that holds about 500 people and it highlights the fact that the court does not allow same day audio much less cameras in the court room.
[ Sending healthy vibes to all. Live long and prosper, RBG! ]
US coronavirus cases exceed 2,400
From CNN’s Shawn Nottingham
There are at least 2,430 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the 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 2,430 cases in 49 states, Washington, DC, and US territories.
In total, 50 people in the US have died.
West Virginia is the only state yet to report a case of coronavirus.
The proposed legislation reportedly bolsters unemployment insurance.
I’m trying to figure out exactly what the rules are for the new sick leave. It’s difficult to discover this information.
Archdiocese of New York cancels mass over coronavirus concerns
From CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian
All masses in the Archdiocese of New York will be canceled beginning this weekend due to concerns surrounding coronavirus, according to a statement released by the Catholic diocese.
Churches will remain open for private prayer, the statement reads.
“This development follows upon today’s decision of Duchess County to prohibit gatherings of more than 20 people,” the statement said.
The decision affects the 10 counties that comprise the Archdiocese of New York: Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Dutchess.
Italy introduces new emergency measures to control coronavirus
From CNN’s Helena de Moura in Atlanta
The Italian government is introducing a series of emergency measures countrywide to address the coronavirus, including the ”protocol for workplace safety” which aims to protect healthcare workers and other types of professionals from contracting the virus and alleviating the economic and physical toll the pandemic has taken on society.
“After 18 hours of long and deep discussions, we have finally signed a protocol between trade unions and trade associations. It’s for the good of the country and the safety of our health workers,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted on Saturday.
“Italy will not stop,” Conte said.
Dubbed the “super-decree,” the measures include financial support for working families across the country in addition to mandatory workplace safety improvements to help avoid contracting the virus.
“The continuation of production activities can only take place if there are conditions that ensure that people working are adequately protected,” according to the official protocol.
Other measures include incentives to protect Italians economically.
There will be a pause on mortgages and bill reductions for workers, which includes suspension of home loan installments for people who rely on social safety programs.
I did hear that but was uncertain if it only applies to those currently collecting or those who already maxed out. I guess we’ll have to wait for details. I think it will be a long recovery for those who are unemployed and looking for work.
Norway will temporarily shut all its airports from Monday in a move to curb the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Saturday.
The government is ready to do all what is needed to secure the country’s economy, hit by business shutdowns due to the virus outbreak, and would seek to import medical equipment from China, she told a news conference.
Colombia overnight closed its border with Venezuela in order to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the South American nation, a move that is likely to have lasting ramifications given the scale of Venezuela’s migration crisis.
About 4.5million people have fled Venezuela which, despite boasting the planet’s largest proven oil reserves, remains mired in years-long economic and social turmoil. Hyperinflation is rampant, with shortages in basic foodstuffs and medical supplies already a daily reality. Around 1.4million of those that have left have arrived to Colombia, which shares a 1,378 mile border with Venezuela.
Authorities estimate as many as 40,000 people cross the border every day, the majority of which buy supplies - medicines and food staples - and return home.
The move to shut the border came overnight, after Venezuela on Friday morning confirmed its first two cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The two countries broke diplomatic relations when Colombia ceased to recognise its embattled leader, Nicolás Maduro, as the country’s legitimate president in early 2019, as part of an ongoing US-led coalition to oust Maduro from office. Analysts say that will hamper coordination to contain a virus that does not respect borders.
Others worry that the closure will force desperate Venezuelans to cross informally, putting them at risk of armed groups operating along the border.
“Colombia’s overnight decision to “close” its porous border with Venezuela won’t stop the flow of people,” tweeted Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America. “But it will force them to rely more on informal crossings where they’ll be more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.”
Colombia currently has 22 confirmed cases of Covid-19, but its government appears to view Venezuela - with fewer cases - as a possible epicenter of an outbreak in Latin America. Ivan Duque, Colombia’s president, described the closure in a statement as “a measure of protection ahead of the situation unfolding in [Venezuela].”
Duque also overnight announced a ban on travellers who have been in Europe or Asia in the last 14 days, with the exceptions of Colombian citizens and residents.
All measures are expected to last until May 30.
Guardian
Answering the earlier posed question- Why new tests need to be developed? There are different molecular diagnostics platforms used by various labs (think Apple v Google and more - a monopoly here would be a bad thing). Some use reagents like the Qiagen NA isolation kits prior to performing PCR. Others, like the platform called Genexpert, have the sample prep incorporated into the test, reducing the labor and time to result. It takes time to optimize conditions to make sure the test is not missing positives etc. and then ramp up test production. BTW, Genexpert respiratory tests are being used widely to test for flu, and the company announced that they are close to finalizing a Covid test that will not need the RNA extraction step.