This will have huge impacts including the election. Better get your absentee ballots.
9
The dependency upon China for drugs, drug components, medical equipment and other manufactured goods is a weakness that is now clearly revealed.
That dependence is more threatening than any virus.
19
How long before we see Nancy Messonnier replaced by another Fox News Trump supporter? She dared to contradict our leader who has informed us that the virus will dissipate in the April sunshine. No worries.
14
What assurances can the NY Times provide to readers that the CDC reports and advisories on the Coronavirus 19 are complete and unbiased respecting the cautions and protective actions we need to take?
How do we know we are getting all the information and cautions undistorted I need to protect my family?
How do you know the reports can be trusted and are complete to protect your family?
EPA Administrator Wittman told NYC residents that the air surrounding the destruction of World Trade Towers 1 and 2 was safe to breathe.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/03/nyregion/public-misled-on-air-quality-after-911-attack-judge-says.html These folks will lie and justify the lies to themselves to be for the good of the country.
In articles using CDC reports and advisories can the NY Times provide either a disclaimer of a description of the vetting used to insure the report is trustworthy?
3
Do we have to wait until Trump is infected to start preparing? But as he expertly assured us, “Everything will be just fine!” He, of course, is invincible so he has nothing to fear. Thanks Doc Trump. Off to hide under my covers...
4
This is where the Base finally comes to the realization the TV show host doesn’t really know how to lead, in crisis or any other time. If he ignorantly holds another Munich-style rally it’ll get all the sycophants sick. It is quite disappointing to hear most commentators & the President worry only of the damage to production, the economy, GDP and trade. People are sick and some even dying from this illness, let them rest, show some compassion people. The new cars and massive profits can wait while we recover our health. We have no idea of the actual # of coronavirus cases in North America because our public health system is failing to do the important testing, testing that is being performed, at least to some extent, in Singapore, China, Korea and Japan.
53
Trump and the Republicans have cut the CDC budget by about 40% since the Coup, including the entire chain of command that handles Pandemics (like this one).
But, Trump tweets that they are on it, and every single Trump voters actually believes him. Every single day, Trump, this administration, and their voters sink our country further into authoritarianism and stupidity.
16
We don't have a czar, we have Azar.
8
Rumor has it that the coronavirus is the "extra" in Corona Extra beer.
1
The question should not be "Are Americans prepared?"- but is the Trump administration competent.
Trump eliminated key protectors & oversight by defunding CDC pandemic team and firing the NSC global health expert established by Obama to successfully contain Ebola.
The Trump cronies spout empty reassurances, minimizing what the CDC clearly says is needed. That Kudlow & Minuchin echo Trump's trivializing of this future pandemic is a gross betyrayal of the national interest.
15
If infected let us descend upon Washington DC. and cough on Trump.
10
Fear-mongering has never solved anything. The biggest question that will come to bear is, "How do we treat the 300 or so probable cases out of our 333,000,000 population?" The sky is not falling, just the stock market . . . based upon fear.
1
So the CDC is saying the novel corona virus will likely spread in the US. Although I realize there is a lot of uncertainty about the numbers, I've read in various sources (including in several articles in the New York Times) that the case fatality rate is estimated to be around 2%, perhaps less than a whole percentage point higher.
There are about 300,000,000 Americans. Two percent of that number is 6,000,000, or six million people in the US who could die from the corona virus. That's three times the total population of the state in which I live.
Can someone please find a problem with my calculations, as they are scaring the bejeezus out of me? A CDC website states the annual mortality rate of seasonal flu since 2010 has fluctuated from 12,000 to 61,000. So the novel corona virus is a much more frightening monster.
11
It’s two percent of those who are diagnosed with the virus. It is unlikely that everyone in the USA would be diagnosed.
5
Has 3M been authorized to increase production of the N95 mask? Have other companies been included to scale up and make these masks as well?
11
I make a prediction: In his announced press conference, President Trump will say (what he said about generals) that he knows more than all these doctors and that nothing is happening, nothing to worry and talk about.
19
Since the highly contagious new coronavirus spreads through “invisible channels” ahead of the test kits and clinical symptoms—
There is no way it won’t have its day in the United States.
Besides the usual personal hygiene measures, the best advice to people is to limit your travel, stay at home, and avoid large gatherings.
A physician MD
508
I'm worried because as a teacher married to a teacher, we can't avoid being in large groups... unless schools are closed, and I fear that will only happen once things get out of hand.
67
@Zbella Yes I am a teacher as well with large classes of 34 students packed in a very small room with less than 6 inches between each student... These students and I will almost certainly get the virus unless schools are closed quickly. There is not room in our building for distancing...
40
@srwdm
How do you do that when you live in nyc with 8 million others?
And work in a school?
26
How many of the throngs that greeted Trump in India are carriers of the Corona virus? Could our president have been exposed?
26
@bnc
even a virus wouldn't want to live in that host....
7
I want to share a very important issue with you. As you may know, Coronavirus has an outbreak in IRan. There are many people (citizens, permanent residents, students) living in USA who are coming back from IRan. I have heard from multiple sources that these persons do not placed in a quarantine upon entering United States. I believe this is a critical issue for health of all people living in US. Travelers who are returning from Iran should be placed in quarantine just like travelers coming from China.
18
@A citizen : "I have heard from multiple sources . . ."
"Many people are saying", right? No thanks. I reject your anti-Iran propaganda.
16
Yes and Italy!
13
HELLO, MY AMERICAN BROes .As long as you're keeping your mask on and restrain from party or gathering ,there are nothing too worry about it for now. Remember ,no XOXO .If getting worse, you should be starting to think of hoarding ,such specially as condoms,a nice book,some porn magzines. Seriously, once getting into stage of quarantine, Sises and Broes , you should take real responsibility for your family,it's easy to say than to do as stay at home,for not to sneak out for socializing. It could put your whole family in danger,specially your beloved granddad and granny ,even your father and mum. Because they are aged ,very vulnerable to Covid-19.
24
great comment!
5
The smarter thing would have been to seal China off from the world - no one in or out without a 30-day quarantine at their expense.
3
Everything is Trump’s fault. Even things that haven’t happened yet.
If we had a real President there would be no global pandemics.
5
@Chris
no, the virus is not Trump's fault, but how the US is prepared to respond to it certainly will be....
4
Ah, what do the scientists know? Do they think they know everything? In my opinion, we can just go on as usual. There's no threat. The Democrats made up this coronavirus scam. It's a total witch hunt. A lot of people are saying we'll waste a lot of time and money worrying about this . Believe me.
23
@Jenny W.
The voice of reason!
;-)
13
I respond to you in a respectful way, albeit disagreeing with everything you write. But honestly it seems like either you’re just trying to get a rise out of the us never trumpets, or you one of those Russians we’ve been warned about simply hoping to pit American against American.
7
I’m going with suggestion no. 2.
5
The top items in the "need to know" should be:
EXACTLY what effective hand washing is
EXPLICIT description of the limits of "hand sanitizer" along with "read the label" advice
BEST PRACTICES guidelines as to when face masks will help,
DESCRIPTIONS as to how will the sickness usually start,
GUIDELINES regarding medically accepted ways to self-care a respiratory virus illness.
1068
@Eric Francis Coppolino
thanks for putting meat on the bones!
i wanted to get my concerns up quickly and am truly grateful you took the time to spell it out !
I hope this information will be widely shared.
I sat down in a sardine seat on an aircraft two weeks ago and watched a woman open a package of "sanitary wipes" and clean off her tray.
When she offered me one, I bit my tongue and said "no thanks."
12
@robin - I make this presentation once every time I see a public bottle. Lately, people (such as the Woodstock librarian) tell me it's there for people's psychological edification. They need to feel like they are doing something.
I understand this. Every time I wash or rinse and then towel dry my hands, I definitely feel like I'm doing something. And I don't have to change guitar strings as often as the other guy :-)
11
@robin 20 seconds soap and hot water [everywhere in the news]- FREQUENTLY is key.
Agree w/ Eric re: sanitizer
Also in the news: wear a mask if you are sick. They are meant to protect others from catching your illness.
Agree- what are early symptoms? Have not read specifics about that. Probably malaise like the flu. Be good to know what to look for!
Self care info would also be useful. I imagine would be the same as the flu. Never get the flu but when I am ill it's fluids including bone broth, sleep, isolation.
19
...next up...the Wuhan virus visits Israel.
"South Korea’s Center for Disease Control said Wednesday local time that a female flight attendant who serviced a flight Feb. 15 from Tel Aviv to Seoul had tested positive for the virus.
"On board the flight was a church group returning from a pilgrimage to Israel; 30 other infections have been connected to the group so far, according to local authorities.
"The South Korean media outlets reported that the same flight attendant had serviced flights KE017 and KE012 on Feb. 19 and 20 to and from Los Angeles International."
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-25/south-korean-flight-attendant-diagnosed-with-coronavirus-might-have-serviced-trips-between-seoul-and-los-angeles
3
Well today in India, according to our gangster-president this country is totally "under control" when it comes to the Coronavirus. What's REALLY sick is that while we're at great risk of having our own epidemic here in the United States, our "leader" only cares about tweets and watching TV. This country really has to suffer the consequences of having elected Trump in order for us to truly understand the gravity of the error that was made in putting an egomaniac in the Oval Office. The country could burn itself down and our version of Nero would try to embellish his fake tan while using the flames as bronzer.
8
Trump says the virus is under control. Health officials say it is not. Who do you believe?
2
Trump gutted funding for programs that are supposed to keep us prepared for pandemics. Inadequate, incompetent, insufficient response. Sadly, we not ready and there doesn’t seem to be a cohesive plans.
1
I think that in the next couple of days Trump will draw some sort of map with his little Sharpie to help assure us that we have nothing to worry about regarding a health crisis.
7
The CDC is asking the American public to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak.
Actually, HOW are we supposed to do this?
HOW will our public school systems handle this crisis? Our hospitals?
Our healthcare workers will be at risk and what if they fall ill? They have families to care for, too.
Mr. Trump, what are your answers? You're such a genius. You better get some answers and smart plans in operation because your head is on the block and we expect you to do the impossible right now.
You've been saying all along that you know more than anyone about everything...well, you better start proving it. Right now, today.
7
This is the worst time to have a callous and woefully ignorant “president “ (and Republican Party) — one who has defunded all of the gov’t. organizations that would be working to control this. Criminally irresponsible.
I’m sure it’s part of their plan to “winnow down” that portion of the population who would vote against them. And no, that’s not hyperbole.
3
Only 2 paragraphs about cases in US. Which states are the cases in? Not much info to help us prevent spread here in US!
RE: Hawaii: Currently nationwide all testing must be done by the CDC at its mainland facility. As of today the state of Hawaii still has not submitted any samples, while 43 other states and territories have sent in a total 479 for testing. The CDC says 14 tested positive, 412 tested negative, and 53 are still pending results.
We asked the state how it handled the samples provided with the 8 PUI forms. The DOH spokesperson told us: “The forms were sent to our state lab with specimens and the specimens were not tested because the samples did not meet the criteria. The samples were discarded.”
Congratulations Hawaii. You currently have no confirmed of cases COVID-19 because you haven't tested for any cases. Brilliant! You must be following the CDC guidelines which as stated in the previous post are the following:
Currently, health officials recommend testing only for people who have respiratory symptoms and have recently traveled to China, or those who have been in close contact with someone who was infected.
I guess those 8 people didn't travel from China. S. Korea perhaps, but not China.
I feel much better now don't you? Imagine Apple coming to you touting their new cool new iPhone...4? That is the CDC right now. They expect us to use an iPhone 4 during an iPhone 11 Pro crisis.
The POTUS has not appointed people in key positions in our government and has de-funded the CDC and EPA. Voting for this incompetent POTUS and current GOP senate is like voting to die.
8
How long before Trump starts attacking scientist at the CDC and screaming "fake news?"
5
How many planes arrive from Milan each day?
3
The flu kills 60,000 people a year in the United States and fix a half 1 million. The coronavirus has only infected 77,000 and killed a couple of thousand people. This is extremely irresponsible journalism, it’s fear mongering and it’s catering to a population already worked up by a president who thrives on fear and anger. A question a Doctor Who will tell her very own children that their life might be dramatically altered by a virus. Again, this is fear mongering and it needs to stop. The New York Times is becoming nothing more than a liberal version of Fox News.
6
Trump is freaking out. Just think of those Trump rallies and all the hand shaking...
2
Why Worry? Your genius President has already announced that warm spring temperatures will kill the virus by the beginning of April. With such brilliant leadership like that; Americans have nothing to worry about...RIGHT?! I just watched an expert in the U.S. health care system late last night speaking on just how pathetically unprepared your nation is. Not because there is not a plan. Experts have predicted this kind of outbreak for some time now. No; it is because Trump in another mindless act of stupidity has cut funding for just such an occasion because of sheer utter blind ignorance...AGAIN. So when this virus does start infecting Americans soon; one wonders if his base will even have the temerity to ask how come it did not disappear by April; when Trump promised it would.Of course by then his genius staff will be somehow blaming the Democrats. The blind leading the blind to the end.
4
Why is Trump having a press conference today to talk about the coronavirus when the HHS and the C.D.C. had one yesterday to explain what the Administration was doing about it and that clusters of infection in our country are inevitable in the near future?
Because it's not his fault, it's a hoax, a witch hunt, fake news, a liberal plot, have I forgot any of them?? Oh yeah, Hillary's and Barack Hussein's fault..
6
So while those of us that do actual work across America are told to stay home, Nero declares all is well because “the stock market”. Yeah, trump bases everything on money. So all of us told to stay home lose our paychecks we rely on to pay mortgages, food, water, medicines.
So we stay home and the dominos fall everywhere since we stop spending money because we are not going out, think trump, think! Restaurants have no customers, Home Depot and Lowes have no customers, grocery stores have no customers, no policemen and women, no firemen and women, no healthcare workers, no garbage men and women, no snowplow drivers to clear roads, no disaster cleanup people to clean up you muddy flooded homes, no one to give you mannies and pedis, no doctors and nurses to fix broken bones and do your surgeries, and on and on.
And what did trump do to “save” money? Two years ago he got rid of the scientists at the CDC who are in charge of pandemics like the one soon to be in everyones cities. Getting rid of the world’s scientists is a very disasterous and stupid thing to do.
Did you vote for the stable genius trump? I ask you why? The know it all trump has never worked a real job in his life and knows nothing except the stock market, money laundering, luxury hotels, porn stars and of course golf.
11
We have to prepare because the Republican administration, aside from it's criminal corruption, is also hopelessly incompetent.
They slashed funding for pandemic response and eliminated the division of the CDC that was in place to deal with crisis' like these.
The biggest threat to the country is not the virus, it is the party who have deliberately destroyed so much of our national government and filled the rest with cretinous fools whose only "qualifications" are a cult-like fealty to The Impeached One
10
Fear not, my people. The answer is April. Warm weather will reward loyalty. But, as a backup in case that Chinese hoax doesn’t work for you, hang a red hat over your lentil and it will come to pass that this, whatever it is, will passover, yes, Passover your dwelling and save all those who worship me. Then come November I will, because I saved you and you demonstrated your gratitude by voting for me, protect you for four more years. Thus is it written for somebody else to read.
3
Dr Nancy’s gonna get fired!!
1
Relax. Trump says it's under control, and has put an unqualified political hack, Ken Cuccinelli, in charge to prove it.
2
Of the 57 confirmed cases 36 were flown in from the Princess diamond ship by Trump and the State department. Plus an unknown number of carriers on those chartered planes.
This is Trump's way of making America great again, by infecting it with coronavirus.
thank you Donald! You stable genius!
Is Azar a physician? I have looked to Wiki and other similar sources, and I can’t anything definitive.
If he is NOT a doctor, why was he appointed? Thanks, in advance, for the help.
1
Can't help but wonder about the "$1.25 billion taken from other programs." From the Defense budget? Nope. From the Oil and Gas subsidies? Nope. From programs designed to ease the pain of the sick and suffering. Mais, bien sûr.
6
We can keep the number of confirmed cases down by not testing.
2
If we all close our eyes, it’s nighttime, right?
Well, the CDC finally confirmed the obvious. If you have a virus which can be spread before symptoms appear, you cannot contain the virus. If you have a virus that can be spread by completely asymptomatic people you cannot contain the virus. If China, a totalitarian state couldn't, why does anyone think the US could? Our public health services are full of brilliant scientists and they tell the truth.
3
Bannon’s “deconstruction of the Republic” is about to take a toll on the health of US citizen’s since dismantling of important entire units of CDC and HHS will literally leave us defenseless.
4
Just like flu avoidance, wash your hands frequently and try to avoid touching your face. Based on the experience with the patients brought into the US from China and the cruise ships, well nourished people with good medical care appear to be getting through this without serious sequela.
Actually having confirmed cases to observe in the setting of high-quality medical surveillance and care in an open country that shares medical outcome data should help clarify the actual morbidity / mortality risk once infected with this novel virus.
Marginally nourished tightly packed people in developing countries with limited advanced medical care may have a completely different experience. Some of the early chest CT data from China does show a viral pneumonia type pattern in some patients. Prompt diagnosis and respiratory support where needed should prevent unnecessary death.
To avoid unnecessary panic and for perspective, there is significant risk from the yearly flu outbreaks. The same rules apply. Try to practice scrupulous personal hygiene and be mindful, not fearful of your surroundings.
-Subspecialty Neuroradiologist in the Midwest
51
So many hospital have closed during the past few years, this does not bold well. They could easily be overwhelmed if this virus hits us hard. A two week incubation time for this illness spells trouble.
1
@Mitchel Volk, Meterlogist -
Our entire medical system (if you dare call it that) is designed to penalize the weakest among us while enriching the strongest. I’m not talking about medical doctors, but the private investor class that invests in medical practices and public city ambulance services to sell us water by the glass and bill us triple or quintuple what it cost them, or more.
5
My French Post Office put up a sign this week announcing that all service with China has been cut. LIDL, the German supermarket, announced it cannot assure replacement parts for my kitchen mixer until the mail service with China reopens. I was also told that mail service with Italy would probably be stopped this week due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Lombardy. Just waiting for the health services to take action/inform us and, optimistically, hoping our beloved French universal health coverage will provide masks or whatever when needed to stem the spread.
2
@Borderless American -
I’m sure as daylight strikes my cold winter’s forehead that they will have medically adequate masks but ours will not.
The French being the French.
Of course, it isn’t August, when they all take vacations, so...
Several drugs including from Gilead Science are in field testing stages in couple Wuhan hospitals where the most severe patients were treated there.
Dr. Bruce Aylward of WHO also mentioned in his press conference after a 9-day trip to China that some measures by the Chinese government is effective.
We should take notice and also advantages of what China is going through. Don't make mistakes that China did, and take precaution as necessary unless we can accept the draconian measure of cities or counties lockdown.
1
Consider this: In New Zealand, Australia and countless other countries people will go to a hospital if they have symptoms - why wouldn't you when the cost is a few hundreds dollars - at best.
Here in the USA, even with health insurance if you go to an Emergency Ward and they decide you don't deserve to be admitted, you are up for sometimes thousands of dollars for the service - and if you are admitted it can be more money than one can imagine. 2-4 weeks in hospital, even with insurance, well, you might as well sell your house and cash in your IRA. i have insurance and am still paying off copious amounts of money for a bad year I had.
So I imagine many will not go and get checked because the cost is too high. So I expect the virus to spread because it will be too costly to suffer the consequence of a positive result. If you are a middle class person, the cost of a positive result will be 2-4 weeks quarantine, soaring insurance costs and a maximum deduction, and in all probability a positive result for one of your family members means at least another, so we are talking the maximum deduction for a family.
We may have "the best" health system, which is to say NY has "the best" residences - if you can afford it. One might say South Africans have access to the most diamonds also...
But rest assured, if I made less and didn't try, it would be all free and I'd get other things checked out more often.
14
@Aaron saxton -
They will suck you dry as dirt, then toss you aside.
While the threat of infection is serious, it does not appear as likely as getting caught in some kind of preventative measure. For example, as hysteria sets in, it would seem possible that inbound flights could be prevented from landing regardless of the uninfected American citizens on board. Moreover, being locked down in a foreign hotel is seemingly becoming more likely by the day. Logic would suggest that this kind of reasoning will have a dramatically chilling affect of economic activity as future travelers ask themselves, why take the risk?
1
@Jess -
This isn’t a rational situation, but a heavily emotional one. We’re acutely conscious of our incredible vulnerability here.
Avoid traveling and avoid crowds like movie and concerts.
My grandfather told me a story about the Spanish flu that decimated many communities when he was young. He said neighbors left food on the doorstep of families that had the flu. If you have the room and the finances, prepare for this as if for any long lasting emergency like an earthquake. Buy non-perishable food and other staples to last a month so you don't have to go out. Pretend you live in the Alaskan bush with no grocery stores.
6
I’m home sick today, with a fever and a cough and cold symptoms. Is it Covid-19? Probably not. But there’s no way to tell, is there? My state has no way to test for coronavirus, and the CDC is only testing people with a travel history to China or contact with a confirmed infected person. If community transmission has begun in the U.S., how will we know? Even people hospitalized with acute respiratory distress can’t be tested in most areas unless they meet the CDC’s overly narrow criteria. And yet public officials and the media are blithely assuring the public that there’s no community transmission here and no deaths caused by coronavirus. Interesting to note that one of the Italian patients was hospitalized for 10 days before he was tested, and shortly afterward testing in the community showed an outbreak. We need to expand the criteria for testing in the U.S. so we understand the scope of the problem we’re facing.
15
This is a novel virus. It doesn't have a brain and is unpredictable at this point. It doesn't care about borders, political affiliations, what you ate last night, how moral you are, or not. Once the health care professionals get sick and die from this (they are first in line, along with their families) and resources for care are no longer available everyone is on a level playing field. No amount of money will save your life or the life of those you love or think more worthy. So what do you do? You have some spare water and food, you wash your hands, you avoid people who are sick and don't go out when you are sick. You appreciate today, because novel virus or not, that is all that is guaranteed anyway. If you want to know what this can do, go to a cemetery, go to the area of all that are buried in 1917 - 1920 - the spanish flu, which killed more people than WW1. Entire families gone, survival based on luck. And then live. Control is an illusion. It always has been.
15
At a time when we need a solid, calming and truthful leader in the White House who believes in science, we have a spoiled man-child who cannot think of anyone but himself.
18
With the secretary of health, a friend of Epstein, no medical training of any kind, what could possibly go wrong?
15
I suspect that any money Mr Trump ask congress for, in behalf of combating covid 19 will be diverted to building his wall.
5
As usual the anti-science anti intellectual Trump is just living in his own bubble. It is just appalling that whatever he says on any topic is not based on any deep thinking and reflection of sometimes very complicated issues. You just know that it would be impossible for senior health officials to do an in depth analysis of this issue with Trump. The US better hope that it is not hit by a pandemic because your leader would be incapable of leading at that time. Rallies with his sycophantic followers is not leading. MGA will not cut it in the real world. In a previous life he would have made a great captain of the Titanic. Best of luck America...I think that you will need it.
7
people have to go grocery shopping and go to work. there is no such thing as self-quarantine at home. the world can not afford to have outbreaks like this.
2
Maybe it’s time for healthcare workers to stop wearing scrubs to and from work? Aren’t they designed to prevent the transmission of bacteria?
8
We need to create a societal norm that says when you are sick and go out, you wear a mask. (Masks work when you put them on the sick.) Right now, I see people hacking and coughing all over the place.
(And, such precautions will also work against the flu.)
As for distributing masks, they should be available free at pharmacies, along with free flu and pneumonia shots.
Socialized medicine you say? Baloney, it's good public health. The reason anyone would be willing to pay for such a program is that such a program helps prevent 'that same anyone' from catching COV/FLU.
(Here in Nice, France, the have public vending machines for condoms, which we could do as it cuts down on STD transmissions. But, alas, the US is too priggish about such matters.)
11
We will never know the truth again if Trump keeps purging people and replacing them with his "loyalists." They will lie and cheat for him no matter what.
13
Corporate Medicine has been shutting down hospitals in rural America. Turn this virus into a partisan issue, which you are already doing. Or provide health care for undocumented immigrants BEFORE you reopen those rural hospitals and no Dem will have a chance in 2020.
1
@R.B.
Health care for immigrants helps American citizens.
Even if it weren't an issue of humanity (I know not everyone agrees it is), preventing immigrants from spreading (&/or creating more contagious mutations due to living spaces/conditions such as exist in our "detention centers") nasty viruses to American citizens is absolutely 1. a national security issue & 2. actually putting American citizens first.
The issue of rural hospitals is about greed & control & has nothing to do with immigrants. But it will & does cause rural Americans to die.
It is shameful.
You should look up who owns/runs/closes our hospitals.
3
Geez, if we only used more CDC funding $'s and built a bigger wall and sooner - we for sure could have kept coronavirus out...
3
We landed a man on the moon. Why can’t we ramp-up production of N95 masks?
5
The personal protective equipment used by medical personnel, as well as some widely used medications, are manufactured in China where most of the factories are either closed or just beginning to reopen. Totally illogical that we have to depend on another country for our own survival planning and medical treatment. This is a serious issue that should be addressed at the federal level by a united Congress. Even if we do have stockpiles of certain items at this point in time, there is no way of knowing what will be needed in the near future. Right now, a plan is for controlling potential outbreaks is necessary and we cannot allow fear to cloud our judgement or influence our behavior towards those that are quarantined or ill. Finger pointing and biased online trolling serves no purpose- science with compassion will work.
3
Addendum - Faith and prayer helps, too (a lot).
The Coronavirus should be a wake up call for America. All those who say, they are healthy so do bother to have Health Insurance! Also the work ethic in America, makes sick people still come to work. I remember when I had the flu some years ago. I was told, "come in and work, or kiss you job goodbye" I was working in the service industry. The result, half of my co-workers, including the boss who ordered me to come to work, got infected. This happens way too much in the USA. Here in Europe with Socialized Medicine, people who are sick, have 14 days guaranteed pay, in case of illness. So people stay home when they are ill. That simply does not happen in the USA! If the virus comes, and it will. Things in the USA are going to get very scary. Americans simply do not believe in self isolation!
12
What worries me more than this virus is Americans ability to panic. I feel like our country is on a hair trigger for this reaction fueled by how our media covers this type of event. Can you picture a cooperative population when asked to stay home? Add to this mix a type of love affair with apocalyptic views of the world. We are not Chinese.
2
The problem I see with this in the States is that everyone runs to the hospital for everything and demands instant treatment. I saw it with the complaining of the cruise ship passengers who then were wrongly flown to the U.S. when they should have stayed put. The slightest wiff of a serious outbreak will bring hysteria thanks to the 24 hour news cycle.
3
Just a minute. Hold on. Trump said not to worry because the coronavirus epidemic would be over by April 1st.
Why is everyone panicking?
3
Next plan from trump.. A wall to stop the virus..
Our money shouldn't be spent on Space Force when we cannot even be made safe here on earth.
While he is hurting healthcare and trying to destroy ACA, we will find out the hard way just how few resources are available for this impending health disaster. People will be flooding emergency rooms.
3
Trump once rang Mike Flynn at 3am to ask if a strong dollar was good or bad for the US economy. Flynn said he didn't know and suggested he ask an economist as he was the National Security Advisor. So Trump may be asking the Department of Housing for advice about Covid-19
8
Now we will learn how important our federal agencies are and that dismantling them was a terrible idea. Think of the institutional knowledge lost by the thousands of loyal scientists and experienced employees now gone. Rebuilding will take decades. This is why I will never vote republican ever- there is no plan, just tax breaks.
Leadership and executive experience are really important - Bloomberg was made for this time.
5
I feel safer knowing Trump is galavanting around India holding photo-op rallies on the American dime. Maybe while he's away Congress can listen to scientists instead of putting them to party-loyalty tests and allocate the money required to protect Americans as much as possible from a pandemic. Money will also be needed to work on a vaccine.
13
CDC’s interim guidance on coronavirus testing only recommends testing for known contacts of coronavirus cases and people with a febrile illness who traveled to China (loosely paraphrasing). When is that guidance going to broaden? It’s no wonder the US has logged so few cases — no one is looking for it.
8
Right, an attorney for Big Pharma will be leading the way for a United States Health epidemic.
That’s Azar by the way.
10
The words coming out of the mouths of officials at the federal and state level do not match their actions. It is unbelievable to me that at this point I can ride a NYC subway and am NOT hearing PSAs over the intercom about how to minimize the risk of infection. Years ago, I don’t remember for which health scare, there were PSAs everywhere on how to cough and wash hands to minimize spreading germs. Where are they now? Even something as basic as this would be helpful.
Additionally, unlike other countries where hospital stays will be largely paid for by public health systems, the average American who contracts the virus will be unable to pay the probable million dollar (or more?) hospital bill. Thoughts and prayers.
9
I taught Social Problems at a community college for many years. We spent much time discussing the nature of various risks, their distribution and the range of possible resposes.
One of the most important topics was the potential for the emergece of moral panics.
Public spaces become not only dangerous those in public spaces are suspects. We do not share, friends will turn on friend, family on family. The illusion of safety is shattered. We blame different groups as causative agents and attack them. There will be shortages of supposed protective measures, specifically facemasks. The hording has begun. The terror is upon us. Our collectivemoral character will be revealed.
4
While we are rightly advised to prepare, one question I cannot seem to get an answer for is reusing N95 masks. The ones I have are for one time uses. It's challenging to get more and frankly the medical profession needs priority. But I wish I knew if there was any way to clean a "one time use mask" since it appears we will not easily be able to obtain more in the near future. It would be great to see some advice on this.
6
I am planning to reuse my masks by cycling them. The virus is estimated to live on surfaces up to 9 days, but I’m going to add 1-2 days to that to be safe and label my 10 masks Day 1-10. After taking the mask off using proper decon procedure, I will be very carefully placing it in a sealed ziplock bag where it’ll be left until it’s respective day rolls around again. By that time, any virus on the mask should no longer be viable, and the structural integrity of the mask will be maintained. Heating the mask, drying it in the sun, or spraying with disinfectant will destroy its ability to filter properly. Since there is a shortage, I would recommend salvaging any part of the mask as they wear out. For example, if the mask is damaged, save the straps for reuse. If the straps are damaged, save the mask and fashion makeshift straps using rubber bands or sturdy string.
**its
The problem is the daughters, the variants. The mutations.
One creates imperfect copies of itself. Some are more lethal; others less; some more transmissible; others less. And to them and what they do to your preexisting medical conditions stress. It complicates treatment. The victims who die mainly die of those.
The virus itself may add physical respiratory stress to the overall equation.
4
“I think that you ought to know the answer,” stated by a policymaker.
As if everything is knowable and understandable ALL of the time?
And what might his response, and those of other elected and selected policymakers be, at all levels, to : I think that you ought to be personally accountable?
We should all be vigilant and disciplined: wash hands all the time, never touch face when in public spaces, build up immune system (take Vitamin C ).
Travels should be curbed. We should remember that young children and seniors are most vulnerable. If the outbreak happens, we should protect the vulnerable population, limit their exposure to others.
6
Try finding a N95 Mask on Amazon or anyplace else for less than $3.00 each. The price will only get higher and I am sure there will be a lot of knockoffs. Maybe the CDC or WHO could give advice on what to look for to insure they are viable when purchasing these items.
9
@Charlie
Now even trying to get N95 on Amazon is impossible.
I wonder if the mask could be made in US?
Stores, pharmacies, do not have them, and do not expect to get them.
6
No mask will save nor prevent this virus. It is an illusory balm to calm the masses.
The advice is to wash your hands. Masks mostly unproven as single measure.
2
If the mortality rate is 3%, then the survival rate is 97%. Which means the survivors gain an immunity. Can any of those antibodies be harvested?
6
@JUHallCLU there is a treatment in China now where they collect the antibody from the patient who has recovered and uses it for treating people.
The stable genius may be facing a crisis that he cannot insult or tweet away. This Corinavirus is not afraid of him.
People will remember how this is handled come November.
No.. I do not think the US is ready. We had better at least follow the CDC preparations to be as safe as possible.
If it is true that Trump did not want the 14 infected US citizens allowed entry to the US from overseas, we are in for a rough time.
I would bet that necessary agencies have been purged of qualified experts and professionals and replaced with unqualified loyalists.. and people who know people,who know people.. No qualifications.
Flawed testing kits?
Scary.
34
To avoid airports and planes, the wife and I are canceling a trip to Los Cabos, MX. in April. Instead, we are driving to Palm Springs. At $500/night it comes out to about the same without the risks . We are 79 and 83 year old and have pre-existing medical condition common for our age. We expect coronavirus to hit the US and Mexico.
25
Hey Don Juan maybe you should use those defense emergency funds for another wall to keep out the virus!
15
Trump? Unprepared? Fake news!!
Just fire whoever contradicted his disengaged, uninformed responses about the outbreak, and problem solved.
20
Now that it is spreading in S.Korea, the U.S needs to bar flights from South Korea (and China).
5
And what about military personnel in Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi, Bahrain, Katar? Not a peep,except I saw one report in the Chosun Ilbo that a base in Taegu, Korea has had at least one case.
4
At a time we really need a real leader, we have Trump.
17
CDC warns of coronavirus and Trump plays golf just like Nero played the fiddle while Rome was burning.
19
Felt completely confident with Ebola and Obama at the helm. And that was super deadly. Sure don’t feel secure with Trump at the wheel for a flu like contagion. So ironic that it is germ based from China. Two of Trump’s nemesis’s.
16
Oh, so Donald Trump thinks we’ll be just fine. How reassuring, coming from the big man himself. If he’s so sure of this, let’s see him mingle with the masses and shake hands with all his supporters. Don’t be afraid of a few germs, Donald. It’s all under control, right??
And, on another note the government should be doing something to stop the outrageous price gouging on N95 masks. $120.00 to ship a package of 10 masks? Unethical business practices that reflect the greed of some people as they profit from life and death matters.
18
When you are looking for a hospital bed remember that Bloomberg refused to save St. Vincent's Hospital and gave it to his real estate friend to turn into condos.
28
And this illustrates how cutting funding for CDC, hollowing out the professional human capital at the government level by Trump and his administration (and Republican enablers) is making America "great again" and "how much greater" it has the potential to get soon....
23
Unless the impending recession messes up Trump's famous economic miracle (see stock market today), the coronavirus news cycle is the best thing that's happened to him since the Senate acquitted him. Talk about diversion, if I didn't know better, I might think that he dreamt up the whole coronavirus thing himself. What a genius. Sure took my mind off Roger Stone, Harvey Weinstein, the Democratic debate, and all the other daily good news.
6
The stock market is crashing because investors don’t have confidence that trump and his administration can handle an epidemic properly. And, there is very good reason for this.
Trump has proposed a 16% cut to the CDC.
Trump lied, and said they were very close to developing a vaccine for COVID - this is not true, and is irresponsible to suggest
Trump lied again, and said the COVID was “miraculously” going away, despite the CDC saying the virus is going to spread in the USA. Once again, an irresponsible and possible harmful lie.
Trump has not appointed competent people to deal with these serious issues, and people have little confidence in this administration to deal with major issues like this
27
The coronavirus numbers are likely severely underreported. Many people are carriers but don’t have symptoms, yet they infect many, some of which will have symptoms and a few may die. There is no way of stopping asymptomatic people from coming and going, and infecting others.
11
@BWCA
If there are a lot of infected but asymptomatic people, and it does seem that a lot of people never have any symptoms, that implies to me that the death rate is actually much lower than reported.
7
There are already 200 Oregonians being watched for coming into contact with the coronavirus.
I'm in my 60's and semi retired. I've had pneumonia twice. I've been living with a couple of auto-immune diseases for 30 years. My doctor tells me to not get pneumonia a third time, so I cross my fingers and sign up for the flu shot every winter.
My wife works fulltime as a manager in a call center staffed mostly by young folks. Many of her team members have kids. Children are disease vectors. Her parttime job is Uber. She does a lot of airport runs. Her passengers travel EVERYWHERE.
Our next door neighbors are first generation Chinese Americans. They spent a month over there visiting their extended family after Xmas.
Now the CDC says get ready for the pandemic's USA tour. But tRump and his minions have been busily gutting the agency for two years. Meanwhile, this kakkistocracy malAdministration's talking heads and their propaganda network lackeys lie to us, and say "Don't worry about the Covfefe virus, it's just a cold!"
I feel like I should start wearing a mask all the time NOW.
33
I am in a financial position to buy and stock food and other basic necessities. But what about the numerous people who live paycheck to paycheck? Worse, what about the kids for whom food distributions had to be organized during last year’s polar vortex?
13
Is anyone considering the possibility that Trump “welcomes” this as it could very possibly increase his powers to quarantine and prevent primaries from occurring? And as the virus spreads throughout the country, this could extend beyond 2020.
We must demand more of our government NOW!
20
China looks to have contained the virus. Will the US be able to do the same? The world is watching.
6
America has been fooled all along into believing that universal health care is communism, yet every civilized nation has it except us. Because people don’t hesitate to go to a hospital when they feel ill, those countries have a better chance of containing an epidemic. We will pay a high price for our irrational stubbornness when the coronavirus gains a firm foothold here. Sick folk without health insurance will wait too long to go to a hospital, in the meanwhile infecting many of those crossing their path irrespective of age, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or disbelief, wealth, occupation, and political leaning -- all of us. Lack of universal health care is the most pressing national security threat that we face.
51
Only a matter of time before Trump declares that he likes people who don’t succumb to pandemics.
25
Mr. Trump is the president and a politician, he is not a medical
advisor nor can he be blamed if the USA medical community is not prepared for the coronavirus.
2
@Some
He absolutely can be blamed if he 1) cut funding to the CDC and other health agencies
2) fired the people whose job it is to watch and plan for possible epidemics and coordinate a response
3) put in place policies that made people lose their health insurance.
Trump did all of these things.
He is not an economist either - do you think that he can't be credited for the economy.
57
@engaged observer Trump once rang Mike Flynn at 3am to ask if a strong dollar was good or bad for the US economy. Flynn said he didn't know and suggested he ask an economist as he was the National Security Advisor. So Trump may be asking the Department of Housing for advise about Covid-19
He can be blamed for cutting public health spending and giving the money to his billionaire friends. As for anyone affected, do you think Trump cares?
2
Meanwhile people refuse the flu vaccine. The flu has been killing thousands weekly all year.
15
It's so comforting to know that our coronavirus response is being handled by having Grifter Don and Rapture Mike overrule the CDC experts on quarantines, and sending Larry "What Market Drop?" Kudlow out to give us his latest medical expertise.
24
I could see some variation of this scenario playing out: Coronavirus hits the US and gets increasingly widespread the closer we get to the November election. With all the cuts to our critical agencies such as the CDC, NIH, with all the people who can't afford health insurance, tremendous pressures build on our institutions, medical organizations, etc. The democratic nominee starts to look like they'll win. Trump calls a national emergency and suspends the election. The coup is complete.
18
@Way2
Elections in the US are all run locally. Trump doesn't have the power to halt them.
The real test is whether corporate "persons" and their political functionaries will overcome the needs of actual persons in a widespread crisis. Will the pressures to keep the work going and the revenue coming in supercede the scientific protocols for protecting public health through quarantine? Or is it "when?" How will our democracy "for the people" perform? And further, how long can governments support our check-to-check fellow citizens while no one works, no revenue comes in? Perhaps this is an opportunity to re-order our priorities in the "public interest." How we tax and spend might need to change all of the sudden.
10
So many people saying to wear a mask. It’s nearly impossible to find them in stores and buying online means paying at least 10x what they should cost. Even if they were more readily available what stock there is should be reserved for health care workers since we won’t be getting more shipments from China anytime soon.
13
It is absolutely infuriating as a Hillary Clinton supporter to know I could have been spared this tyrannical reign had voters read the early signs of trouble.
Clinton would now be fending off some milquetoast GOP assault on the office and preparing for four more years, and I would neither be frightened for my life tonight nor despairing about the grim future. Dopes.
58
Yes. Your statement brought tears to my eyes.
14
@HotGumption
What does Hillary Clinton have to do with the impossible task of stopping a virus against which we have no vaccine from spreading?
3
10,000 recommends.
18
It's really pathetic that CDC just tells us an outbreak is imminent then throw their arms up as if there's nothing they can do about it. Yes there is and the time to act is now:
Shut down *all* international flights coming in and out of the US for the next 30 days.
The only reason we are not doing this is because of the fear of the hit to the economy. But if we end up with a major outbreak, the hit to our economy is going to be much, much worse than the temporary losses incurred by the airlines and travel industry. This country is run by people who care only about short term profits and can't see beyond the next quarter's profits. This is extremely short-sighted, and penny wise pound foolish.
Trump needs to step up now, show some leadership and courage, stop all international flights coming in and out of the US for the next 30 days while there's still an opportunity to stop this.
31
@Listen
"...leadership and courage..."
from Trump?
13
@Listen
Another reason is that it would cause tens of thousands of American citizens to be stranded outside of the country. It’s a big deal to deny a citizen of the United States entry into their own country.
3
I'm sure Donald Trump has everything under control.
13
We need quick, reliable tests for coronavirus. If Trump was any kind of normal, remotely competent leader, he would be making that happen. Instead he went off to India to visit the Taj Mahal. We are in big trouble if we do not get reliable test kits soon.
25
@Rick We seem to be the only developed country with this issue...I don’t get it.
Why aren’t we hearing from the media that this is a viral pneumonia? This information would give people some perspective.
11
“Some doubted the administration was prepared.” For goodness sake, NYT, not everything is political! This administration is no more or less prepared than any other administration. Federal response has actually been quite good. If anything, the preparedness problem is in the lack of hospital capacity and underfunded state and local public health systems. You can’t pin that on the Trump administration.
1
@Daniel
Where have you been? This administration has hollowed out the government! There is literally nobody home!
27
Come on people you are all readers of the NYT. You don’t really need the CDC to give you a list of how to prepare in case of an outbreak of Covid-19, do you? You can all figure out what you would need if you had to stay home for 2-3 weeks: non-perishable food items, paper goods (tissues, toilet paper, paper towels), pet food and cat litter, make sure you have enough of your prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol and Aleve. Think about what you would need if you couldn’t go to the grocery store, drugstore, restaurants or order from Amazon for a few weeks and make a list and go get those items. If you want to know about first symptoms and other details of the disease, there have been several articles in this newspaper with that information. Let’s show some self-reliance. We know the current administration isn’t capable, we’ve got to take care of ourselves and each other.
50
So how do we prepare? Stock up on can foods. Try to get masks. Anything else?
4
Please avoid air travel, cruises and airports.
17
Here's sone information on how parents can prepare for the impacts of coronavirus in their community. Although children are the least likely to become severely ill with COVID-19, there will be impacts for families, particularly if schools, preschools, and daycares close; and if supply chains are disrupted, which is already happening for some items. https://littldata.com/2020/02/25/how-families-can-prepare-for-the-coronavirus/
2
@Lian, I wonder what the millions of people with no insurance/who can't get medical treatment are going to do when they go to an ER and the line runs down the block and around two corners. Somebody needs to give instructions on how to best treat the illness at home with no antibiotics, no medical care. Would an old style vaporizer help? Over-the-counter flu medicines? Aspirin, Tylenol, Pedialite?
9
@Hector
It’s a virus, antibiotics won’t help. For mild cases things like cough syrup and the like would help although severe cases will still need treatment and if masks are sold out everywhere cough and cold medicine could become scarce.
3
I wish the NYT listed what the CDC asked us to do. (Couldn't bring myself to wade through the questions from congresspeople)
5
What will Trump circle or outline with his big Fat Sharpie when he is making odd claims about the Coronavirus spread?
8
Here is the most useful, accurate information available. Well, except for trump and Kudlow.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
5
Let's please unite again.
6
Trump has trashed health preparedness in the United States. And, like a blithering idiot, he claims that the situation is under control. It is not. We are facing a dire situation, and we are less prepared than we ever have been, and we also have 87 million people without health insurance, thanks to Trump's attacks on the ACA. Where will they get treatment when they contract this virus.
Trump and the Republicans know he is guilty. That is why they are trying to get ahead of the inevitable attacks that will be directed against him for his incompetence. Rush Limbaugh had the gall to say that the press was "weaponizing" the Coronavirus as an attack on Trump. No one needed to "weaponize" this matter. Trump did it to himself. It was disastrous administration by an egotistical fool who will never admit his mistakes even when thousands are dying at his feet;
23
Lets see if Trump can fix this with a sharpie.
12
Iraj Harirchi, Iran's deputy health minister, went on TV yesterday (left) to insist the Iranian government was getting the #coronavirus outbreak under control.
Today it was announced Harirchi himself has the virus. pic.twitter.com/dO0RgLyydk
9
And all because of superstitious bat-eating...
You’d think the CCP would have cracked down on these types of dangerous and unethical food superstitions at the sort of heavy-handed level they have with the human rights abuses they perpetrate on their citizens practicing certain religions, or falun gong... but no.
8
It increasingly looks like Covid-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future, and more likely than not, include the US.
Not the end of the world, preliminary data suggests about 80% of cases are mild, with most of the 20% severe cases in the elderly and weakened, and a 2-3% mortality.
So - worse than the Flu, - but not by much. The Flu regularly kills about 10-20000 people yearly in the US alone, and doesn't have people freaking out - it's even an uphill battle against anti-vaxxer idiots to keep immunizations at reasonable levels.
Note also that about 30% of our usual Flu-like illnesses are actually due to Coronaviruses - same type of virus as the one causing Covid-19.
Hopefully, the interest in controlling this virus will last long enough this time (compared to say - the SARS epidemic, which had much higher mortality) to allow the completion and clinical testing of a vaccine. If that succeeds, it will simply be folded into the yearly Flu vaccine preparations. But as Fauci said today, the vaccine is still over a year away from clinical deployment, even if the development of the prototype has been massively accelerated over e.g., efforts for the SARS virus - weeks for processes that took months-years in the past.
5
@cbum 2–3% mortality would be 20–30 times greater than influenza.
5
@cbum
none of your alleged facts are supported by any reliable reporting.
1
The sub headline is false. No where in the article does it mention that “clusters of infection are in American communities”
1
Kudlow is a fool, anyone listening to him is as well.
14
Why would anyone think that our colossal idiot of a president couldn't handle what may turn out to be the most deadly pandemic in a generation? His well thought out, multi-layered response to this national crises will become clearer and clearer as he holes up for week after week at one of his garish golf course resorts, while simultaneously using his illegal immigrant workers as human shields.
16
Everyone just chill out. Our dear leader just said COVID-19 is “very well under control in our country”. We need to have faith in our very stable genius (*sic)!
5
My plan: to avoid the germs just going to hold my breath starting....now.
Unfortunately this demonstrates the reality of what will happen if/when a serious disaster occurs: you are on your own.
US Government's job is to protect the institution of the government, not individuals. ** US Government's job is to do what it can to ensure there is full faith and trust in: the government. US Government's job is to ensure it is running and operating every day.
** - This is not a slap at or on the US Government; it is an explanation of the reality that many do not realize exists.
2
I sincerely hope that those who always believe this President will use more common sense in this instance.
It is cannot be true that "we are close to a vaccine" for a virus that still has health officials around the world perplexed over its aspects like incubation time, and symptoms to name only two.
It's a lie that feeds into a blase attitude at a time when the CDC and the WHO are warning us about the threat of a pandemic.
For your families sake, any further remarks that dismiss this virus should be viewed as completely disengenuous.
10
From earlier today:
https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-vaccine-be-prepared
From a decade ago:
Using century-old tissue samples from 1918 H1N1 flu victims, the same Dr. Fauci and several others determined the fatal pathway. As it turned out, the virus damaged the capabilities of the trachea and bronchi to flush the airway of harmful bacteria – which would become lethal, if they could reach the lungs and entrench there:
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/bacterial-pneumonia-caused-most-deaths-1918-influenza-pandemic
It’d be very helpful to the public to understand what pathways and vectors are considered most likely for COVID-19 – especially for the more severe cases, with high mortality rates...
5
@W in the Middle
pathways and vectors are not known...just as all the other pertinent facts of Covad-19 are not known.
we are so inured to instant gratification and immediate responses to all our google queries we are not equipped to cope with the "not knowing" of the current reality.
3
@W in the Middle
Is part of the solution to get all the pneumonia vaccinations you can get?
@Simon
Once you know whether you need to vaccinate against the virus - or a bacteria it may have let into the lungs...
PS
Look at the efficacy %'s for any viral vaccine - you may find them unsettling, at the least...
Keep in mind the “average American” has maybe 14 vacation/sick days. Most use just 10 as they fear they’ll lose their jobs. (Just today I read about Bloomberg’s views on pregnant employees; it’s an understandable fear, and likely why very few fathers take parental leave.)
We can absolutely count on many millions of Americans going to work while sick. Add in the fact that this virus appears to spread before many people have symptoms, and you’d better stock the pantry, sign up for Amazon Prime and prescription delivery if needed.
Stock up on hand soap/sanitizer and USE IT before touching your deliveries and mail. Keep some sanitizer wipes in your car and use them the moment you’re back in your vehicle on the door handles, steering wheel, etc. If you use public transit carry wipes/sanitizer and wear a well-fitting mask. Prepare to wipe down all your office surfaces daily as we don’t know yet how long this virus can survive on your desk/keyboard/etc. Remove your shoes the moment you get home, and yes, wipe them down—the doorknobs too. Then immediately wash your hands for 20-30 seconds. Same when you get to work. Obviously if you can, arrange to work from home.
That night shift of underpaid, contracted cleaning staff that has no paid sick time or vacation days? They’re gonna be going to work.
18
Apparently hollowed-out “governing” by temps & covering up criminal activity isn’t a workable plan for the US. Who knew. What I know for sure: A Hilary Clinton Administration would have been be on top of this.
11
Ah yes. It is finally here. The Real zombie apocalypse.
7
I heard earlier: "We have contained this. I won’t say [it’s] air-tight, but it’s pretty close to air-tight,” Kudlow told CNBC’s Kelly Evans” ... This is brilliant 'non absolutism' ...
Trump says it's 'under control' ....
When does this become 'criminal neglect' ?
12
What do you bet Trump tries to fire the head of the CDC?
14
Anyone with the most basic information about contagious disease knew immediately that putting 14 sick Americans on a plane with those who are not sick was against the most basic kinds of sickness prevention. This President was furious that they were allowed back in the country and then he took credit as “the right thing to do.”
Senate Republicans are responsible for allowing the continuation of this incompetent President whose distrust of science is actually threatening the lives of all Americans because he ( and they) cut money from the CDC and then have the military or the state department override the advice of doctors! Could they be dumber? It would serve these people right to contract this virus themselves!
10
Since Trump has eliminated all the Obama era protections for coordinating emergency responses for virus controls, the government is woefully unprepared for this outbreak.
Knowing that Trump and his toadies are in charge, I feel confident we're all going to die.
13
Anybody remember the infamous Swine Flu "Pandemic"? This all seems vaguely familiar. Wanna make a little ching? Follow the money. Who's gonna profit off all this hype? I'd bet there's a MANDATED vaccine coming down the pike
2
Before panicking look at your risk stratification by age and compare to the same statistics for the flu.
I'm not too worried for myself. My concerns are more that the economy is going to take a hit and older people are more vulnerable.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
2
Ugh! This sounds like the perfect opportunity to decimate those areas of society that pose a threat to 45, or that 45 has always wanted to abolish. Should you be a member of the “undesirables,” get ready to be quarantined, exposed to the virus, or simply turn up missing in the shuffle.
Every single person who travels internationally, especially for tourism, is directly contributing to the spread of this virus. The thousand people stuck in the resort in Spain are just the latest. Soon they will start crying to be rescued by their governments.
All governments including the US should publicly declare that they will not be evacuating any tourists from anywhere, for any reason. If you want to go on a vacation in the middle of an epidemic, you are responsible for the consequences.
14
I think the US govt (State Dept) has already more or less said that -- though was in context of an advisory on cruising in Asia. They said people need to start thinking about assuming some risk, as the State Dept cannot be relied on to continue chartering planes to pluck people out of plague zones.
1
So here we are - the chickens have come home to roost. The President and his White House lie daily on every imaginable topic. How can we trust a word they say in the face of a potentially global crisis? We can’t. We’re on our own.
9
and now for something completely different.
Bring out your dead.
Humor is a time worn coping method in the medical professions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU0d8kpybVg
2
Oh no, Trump will just have to forego entertaining his rich wannabe sycophants at Mar a Lago and take their deposits directly into his bank accounts overseas.
If you want him, the xenophobic germaphobe will be hiding in the East Wing, under his bed, with TV remote in his little hand.
8
I say block international air travel NOW! Trump is still overseas in India #winning
19
Anthony Fauci, head of NIH, is the one person we can assume is telling the truth. Based on the quote he gave to The Times, this is a good time to buy stock.
2
I am flying to Seattle in September and then cruising to Alaska. This virus better be gone by then!!!
“I’m all for committees and task forces, but you’re the secretary,” Mr. Kennedy responded. “I think you ought to know that answer.”....That's just stupid. how could he possibly know if Covid 19 will magically disappear like influenza does a every spring or whether it will just keep rolling along through spring and summer?
I continue to be amazed that coronavirus tests have to be sent to Atlanta and take days to turn around.
Yesterday, in this newspaper, I read that Austria stopped a train en route from Italy and tested all the passengers, then finding them negative let the train proceed. If Austria can do test a train full of passengers, why can’t localities in the US do their own testing, and quickly?
24
The CDC sent out thousands of defective test kits, then recalled them and said they would be replaced, but I have heard nothing of replacements yet. I too am amazed when I hear of European countries getting test results in hours.
4
Anna Vitale has asked a great question: Why is the U.S. without the capacity to test for this virus?
I would take a hard look at the CDC if they fail to respond to this virus. Surely, we don't need to expend tax dollars on the CDC if its role is simply to alarm citizens of an emerging virus. We expect the CDC to be ready and able to mobilize whatever resources are necessary to protect the country. And, if they can't, I'd replace them with a Center that can.
12
Best additional advice. Stop reading about virus. it serves no purpose to read each day's totals of those afflicted or dead. It creates anxiety, for some people, a sense of terror. LIttle is accomplished except for extreme stress that for some people diminishes their resistance to disease. Do you ever wonder why a calm, sensible, informative approach is not taken in daily media?
9
Kudlow is multitasking.
He's not just an economic Nit-Wit, but a medical one as well.
6
The GOP Congress was elected specifically to do nothing in any case. This is to save taxes. Why can't liberals understand the Red States, the Electoral Majority in this country, do not want any CDC interference at all in Trump's America?
5
I have Zero confidence that the trump administration could handle an epidemic.
Not only that, but I would fully expect trump to lie about the extent of an outbreak, and attempt to silence people who distribute information about the extent of an outbreak in the virus.
We need better leadership than this
11
What does Azar mean by "unprecedented"? Is he trying to cover his tail, or is there something they're not telling us?
Another worrisome thing: why in the post-911-DHS world are there only enough masks for 1:10 americans? They don't take much space and they're cheap!
Oh, and what do they mean "preparations have begun"? Has this thing not been out there for over a month?!
3
look up azar's qualifications, those are as scary as coronavirus
4
Great now pay for the medical expenses going through the roof !! doctors, drug companies, and insurance companies are waiting to make big money.
3
Our country has voted for the GOP again and again just so organizations like the CDC will not exist. Only liberals care for such organizations. Shrink government until CDC is just gone.
Vote GOP for real freedom.
4
Iran has has reported 15 deaths and 95 confirmed cases so far.
That is closing in on a 20 percent mortality rate.
A number epidemiologist's modeling argue is the real mortality rate in China.
2
@Mary Elizabeth Lease Or Iran doesn't have a realistic count on the infected people. That's scary as well, more sick people are walking around, possibly asymptomatic and spreading the virus.
5
@VD
China has yet to report a realistic count.
Epidemiologists at the University of Lancaster in England two weeks ago reported by SKY news that China's numbers are under reported by a factor of between 10 and 20 based on algorithmic computer modeling developed during the SARS and MERS outbreaks.
6
for those who missed it in Junior High, now would be a great time to read Poe's "Masque of The Red Death".
7
Trump underfunded the CDC so good luck Americans.
7
And where will all the homeless people of this great country quarantine themselves if they suspect, as some of them probably will , that they have contracted the virus? I don't think there is a homeless problem in many of the other countries that are dealing with the virus. But I know there is a large population in the city I live in.
6
@kat
"I don't think there is a homeless problem in many of the other countries that are dealing with the virus."
are you serious?
3
Homelessness in China is a significant problem, like so many contemporary nations with stark wealth inequality.
5
It is important that our sources of information be health and scientific organizations. Politicians and their aides should confine themselves to referring persons to those sources of information as well as providing the resources needed to protect the population.
5
Trump has greatly reduced the number of health insured people in our country.
Trump is reducing funding for the CDC
We'll see where this goes, but I certainly am not confident that the trump administration is capable of dealing with a epidemic of this coronavirus in the USA
19
While the CDC worries about a coronavirus outbreak in the US, the IMPOTUS worries about the stock market. And MAGA voters still think he has our country’s best interests at heart. You can’t be any poorer than dead.
32
Trump's insistence on—and glorification in—thousands being jammed into a stadium in India as he struts around on a platform—
Is exactly the opposite of what is needed as the coronavirus spreads.
22
NYT: Please describe the typical experience for non-fatal cases. Is this a severe flu-like illness which typically lasts 2 to 3 weeks? Something else? Does one develop immunity after recovery? Such information is surprisingly difficult to find... or I should say, impossible to find!
70
Don’t you love how Republican Senators can act like intelligent reasonable people until they get the message from Trump on what Propaganda to recite.
13
Starting the countdown on when trump denies any issue and insults the nation's health officials and doctors because this news disrupts the stock market.
25
@Jonathan Hutter
It is already happening.
Trump’s Plea for U.S. to Shrug Off Virus Fear Ignored by Markets
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-25/trump-plea-for-u-s-to-shrug-off-virus-fears-ignored-by-markets
2
One thing we can be sure of: the Trump administration will botch this.
28
Trump has decimated and belittled the CDC.
With the Coronavirus at our doorstep, we are going to reap the decisions and ignorance of the current administration.
14
You need to read this as "Get ready to be quarantined". The CDC is good at what it does. They will launch a military operation wherever this virus pops up and lock it down. For a time, it won't be business as usual.
8
There is a vaccine for Ebola and there hasn’t been a case in the US beyond the eleven that occurred prior to 2016. Democrats however, complain that Trump wants to use 500 million dollars that is earmarked for research to perfect an Ebola vaccine to instead research a Coronavirus vaccine.
2
@Rock Winchester He wants to take money spent on Ebola prevention/containment efforts globally. Not just the vaccine manufacturing...
Will the Trump administration try to cancel the presidential election in November as a “social distancing measure” if there’s an outbreak?
I have no faith in our faithless liar, uh, leader, at this point—or in his administration or the Republican toadies in the Senate or House of Representatives.
20
I vote by mail
Just tell the red states they don't need big government telling 'em how to prevent infection with newfangled science or anything else. Self-reliance is the way to go.
23
Don’t know why everyone is in such a panic over corona virus.
The stable genius n the WH assured us that everything is under control and the virus will go away on its own when he warm weather comes in April.
Seriously- he said that.
14
@marian he should visit china, nobody will want to bring him back.
3
Coronavirus is God’s way of letting Trump know, he is in fact, not the chosen one.
15
When there is a global outbreak of an unknown virus, I think it is important to have a CDC alert us and a president that has the decency to not allow Fox News and Rush Limbaugh tell us what we need to know.
10
It's a Chinese Hoax.
It's the corrupt Democrats.
It's fake news.
It's not real.
OK, it's real but it's not dangerous.
OK, it's dangerous but lack of national preparedness is the fault of the "do nothing Democrats."
OK, it's my fault but as dictator I have a right to gut funding for the CDC.
Jared will take care of it.
Repeat.
24
Well said.
1
Trump doesn’t care.
He has decimated the CDC.
7
According to Trump, I take it we should wait until the summer heatwave to kill the Corona virus or move to Hawaii?
Don’t listen to Larry Kudlow, either.
Our America, Our America! SAD!
8
Buhner a very well known herbalist mainly in the field of Lyme, forecasted pandemic a number of years ago. We should have been on high alert from SARS. I do not think we are prepared for this in the United States. Our government should have been prepping for this weeks ago. Think Walking Dead is a tv show now it’s a reality.
2
@Oh My
Yes, two weeks ago I was wondering "what's our plan?"
2
@Oh My Obama had many agencies in place for dealing with just this type of thing. Naturally, Trump got rid of all of them.
4
not to worry Larry Kudlow assures us it is contained.
so the guy who graduated from a third tier university with a BA in English is now pretending to be an epidemiologist.
I'll sleep easy now.
13
Simply put - Americans can’t trust this administration!
Larry Kudlow and the impeached one both claim there’s no problem.
Meanwhile, and nearly simultaneously, the CDC is warning of a pending dynamic change in lifestyle.
The human toll is real and there will be major suffering.
This is not the way a real government operates.
Then again, there’s no reason to expect professionalism when dealing with the impeached one...just more of the same nonsensical nonsense.
4
Amy Klobuchar gave good advice during the debate, go to cdc.gov. They are the best source of information on what’s happening and what to do.
11
Larry Kudlow was in my med school class, thus I trust his medical judgment.
1
Surely you jest.
3
@F William
I do believe your Larry Kudlow is not the Larry Kudlow being discussed.
Kudlow has Bachelor's degree in English from Rochester Univ. and dropped out of Princeton after one year with no degree.
2
The federal government is the enemy — until you need it to help you.
Don’t expect the federal government to be there when you need it if you’re not willing to pay taxes to fund it properly. Republicans: are you listening?
11
*Elephant in the Room Alert*... trump will quash any pertinent or relevant information about the epidemic coming forth, if it hurts his election chances. Most Americans realize that trump would put his election and personal gain above the health, and above the life, and death of the people in this country.
15
Mr. President, to believe or not to believe in Science is not an option anymore. Science will help find cure for this virus, thoughts and prayers unfortunately, not so much.
5
Time to put up the classic four stages govt response in a time of crisis again -
In stage one we say nothing is going to happen.
Stage two, we say something may be about to happen, but we should do nothing about it.
In stage three, we say that maybe we should do something about it, but there’s nothing we *can* do.
Stage four, we say maybe there was something we could have done, but it’s too late now
From “Yes Minister” quote from Sir Humphrey Appleby, never gets old
7
San Francisco has declared a state of emergency. Panic has set in and I am reminded of the words of president FDR.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself. We have a case of fear mongering all around. How many persons with Corona have died in the entire country? What percent of the people infected in Wuhan died of COVID-19? About 2-3%. compare that to Ebola, more than 50%.
I see what is happening here. Politicians are trying to get bigger budgets and exploiting the situation. Ban Ki Moon during the Ebola peak was asking for 1 billion for Ebola to do what? Chill out either we are not being told the truth about where the infected people in the USA are or that there is a big hype by people who want to exploit the situation.
1
@Girish Kotwal
Not panic. Declaring a formal state of emergency sets funding and initiatives into play. It's practical implementation for first responders, hospitals, relevant government offices. This is a welcome measure. Expect to see more of it. I just hope the efforts are effective when tested real time.
15
@Name Emergencies are normally declared after the event not before. Of course we have to be fully prepared but attempts to exploit the situation is concerning. That said, I would not be going to the China Town or crowded places in San Francisco when I am in that region next month. I would like real facts to know on how many people have been diagnosed with COVID infection in San Francisco?
2
@Girish Kotwal
There's something very wrong with the fact that we don't have widescale testing in place. We just don't have the information we need. There should be rapid ELISA kit in wide use already on top of the PCR kits that CDC is trying to get into place. I believe China is now using rapid ELISA and it's basically like what is used to test for strep, quick and easily scaled up to all levels of healthcare providers. Why are we not using these also? I don't know. Maybe PCR is the gold standard, but nothing is golden if it's not available when needed.
I echo your frustration about a lack of facts that should be outfront information if the response was rolling out properly, without errors and scrambling as officials try to recover from the years of defunding and dismantling of our epidemic response capacity. $2.5 billion now is still playing catchup with what response efficacy has been lost because agencies were underfunded too long. I hope your trip is safe and uneventful.
3
Will Trump declare Martial law or our equivalent as a pretext to use emergency powers to do whatever he wants? It seems quite plausible.
8
I guess we need to prepare as if a hurricane was coming our way. Supplies, food. water and all the stuff they will be running out of. At least we'll still have electricity and water. Maybe!
7
We are already in self quarantine because my husband’s white blood cell count is perilously low in his fifth round of chemo. Currently we have get all groceries through shipt shopping service and non perishables through Amazon. I put it all away wiping everything that came in the house with Clorox wipes. We are already at peak cabin fever. I can’t imagine months of this isolation due to corona.
14
Just a reminder that in 2018, Trump fired the entire US pandemic response team, shuttered the office in the NSC, and eliminated the positions at DHS. His 2021 proposed budget further guts the CDC's budget.
23
As I have watched this unfold, I too have wondered what will happen. When I heard about the WH wanting money for the epidemic, somehow, I wondered, once it was appropriated, how long it would take Trump to state that the money would be diverted to "build his wall". He would state that it was an emergency and that "the wall" would stop the spread of the virus. We would hear silence and the Republican senate would get on Faux news and give all glory and gravitas to Trump for being such a brilliant scientist and back his notion that the CDC were simply overeducated mucks who are a bunch of anti Trump dips. They would have no qualms with his thinking and a good portion of Americans also would back up his decision as being "tough on terrorists" I hate to admit it but, I believe this could be dooms day for many Americans. I only wish people would wake up to see the real Great America Trump has carved out and all of us have to now suffer the consequences.
6
I'm so relieved that National Economic Council Director Kudlow knows that the virus has been "contained." His deep economics training must be more valuable for making that judgment than the epidemiological and virology training of the CDC scientific teams, who clearly know nothing.
Seriously, as fun as it is to see officials in this administration just make stuff up, this is a moment in which we should pay attention to people who actually have dedicated themselves to learning facts and methods of inquiry.
6
But I was told just today, by my president, in India, that coronavirus was under control in the U.S. -- and that our victims were "getting better." Seriously. That's what he said.
I have a question. This man's unprecedented ego and defiant ignorance prevent him from protecting me from Russian aggression, climate extremes and dread disease. So how am I, and other Americans who prefer continuing to live, to defend ourselves?
Please be specific.
8
I'd feel a lot better if we had an intelligent president, or one with at least some semblance of intellectual curiosity. Instead, 328 million Americans are subject to the decision making skills of a president who probably never read a book to lead us through potential crisis.
15
Maybe, if it does happen, the public will come to realize that our response to this problem was cut off at the knees by the Chief No Nothing and his even less than no nothings in charge. And he will be swept out of office for endangering the whole population of the USA!
9
Well, we can't construct a hospital in ten days (neither, really could/did the Chinese construct a REAL hospital that quickly), but we could convert all of the trump hotel properties into "hospitals". It's the least that trump could do for his MAGA folk.
10
SARS, Avian Flu etc are a form of zoonotic disease, i.e. they jump from animals to humans, and many of them started in China.
Until such time the CCP can convince the Chinese people to close their open stall, wildlife meat markets, this is likely to happen again and therein is the tragedy. They are not learning and adapting fast enough.
The Chinese people must accept responsibility for the start and the rapid spread of the disease b/c of the way they are.
In the meantime, ignore absurd conspiracy theories from Russia that the US started it and from the Republicans, led by Senator Button, that the Chinese started it deliberately.
9
This administration has proven itself to be both consistently dishonest and utterly incompetent. So yeah, plenty to worry about if it has to respond to any crisis not of its own making.
3
If it is as dire as the CDC says:
We need to implement the Ebola protocols of taking the temperature of everyone entering the U.S. and interviewing them very carefully as to which countries they are traveling from.
People need to wash their hands with soap and water very thoroughly after using the toilet and prior to food preparation in addition to other times during the day such as after using public transportation.
In anticipation of a sneeze or cough people need to fully cover their nose and face with the crook of their elbow.
People need to carry tissues and use them.
The Surgeon General of the United States needs to take a leadership position.
Citizens need to embrace science and scientific facts and not rumors and conspiracy theories.
People need to take the initiative and simply go to the World Health Organization and CDC websites and read for themselves. The information is there for anyone to see.
6
Here is what I do know about how to be safer: hand sanitizer really helps because it kills viruses, it must be more than 60% alcohol. Carry a pocket sized one around with you everywhere you go. Don’t touch your face with your hands until you sanitized them. Washing your hands in public restrooms won’t completely clean them since the faucets are touched with dirty hands as they are turned on. I read before that masks prevent the sick from spreading the virus, but are somewhat ineffective if a healthy person wears one, and hoarding them makes them unavailable for healthcare workers. I have a lot of dried food such as dried mangoes, prunes etc. piled up at home, a huge case of water bottles, packs of pasta, and other not easily perishable food items. You never know, be prepared for the worst, in case you are able to work from home, are able to stay home, have lots of food and water.
8
@Crow
Thank you President Crow.
Seriously, this is very good advice.
Also, be sure to have adequate prescription medication, OTCs and food for pets.
1
We are now on our own. Our government can not protect us from pandemics, cyber-attacks, economic disaster, bank collapse nor help us with recovery from floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, drought, heat, fuel shortage, electrical failure, internet failure, telecommunication failure, food supply and safety, water supply and safety. Trump is now like any other 3rd world dictator and lies about anything which requires action, thought, decisions or any actual analysis. Our government is now paralyzed in denial of any difficulty, lies about anything you previously relied on the government to provide correct information on. EVERY PERSON FOR THEMSELVES - you are on your own now. May God help you.
7
I expect to learn soon that using the requested money to build more of the President's wall will be the most effective thing we can do to keep the coronavirus out of the homeland. And so it goes.
6
I wouldn't put it past this administration to be in support of the virus coming to the states.
It would have a greater impact on the poor and marginalized communities, who Republicans tend to blame for the struggles that America faces.
Additionally, it is an opportunity for them to make money on people's pain and fear.
While I know that not every wealthy Trumplican is ruthless and opportunistic, I am sure that there are some who are right now stockpiling medicine and masks in order to capitalize on the coming crisis.
1
The sycophantic and constant applause for the Chinese government and its leader Xi Jinping by the WHO has created both danger and anger. The WHO's pro-China stance has created a false sense of security regarding the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 1,000 lives around the world.
The CDC has been one of the few opposing voices against the WHO, but even they have not spoken out against the incompetence and pandering of the WHO and China. To those people who still trust the coopted WHO, they should be wary of declarations and adulation. The WHO still continues to block the participation of Taiwan at the insistence of an autocratic regime that only banned the consumption of wild animals this past weekend. We should consider this pandemic, politics as usual.
5
CDC? What happened to government people voted for? Who elected the CDC? Americans, since Reagan, have voted for government so small Real Americans could drown it in a bath tub.
No one wants an unelected bureaucracy to tell us what we need and spend taxpayer money doing it. Tax payer money should be given to the rich for tax cuts, not wasted on CDC nonsense.
7
Some people will not get that this is sarcasm.
4
The virus is certainly not well under control here. It is not under control at all. And for the record, the virus is not singularly responsible for market dive. Bond futures are way down. Mr Trump has teed up a meltdown with his worthless tax cuts, gigantic deficits, pointless trade wars, and general chaos. He just expected the economy he inherited to last through the election.
5
The research and antivirus funds should be taken from Trump's unnecessary wall, which grows more expensive by the day... by the hour.
10
Located via the link below illustrates the global dispersion of COVID-19.
Updated daily from multiple data sources.
https://www.healthmap.org/covid-19/
3
Trump's failure on this issue will cause him to lose the economy and his reelection. Good riddance.
12
Who is Larry Kudlow to say "we have contained it, we have contained it well"? He has absolutely no clue what he is talking about. A virus will not stop to attack, even in a "strong economy". What total nonsense. He can only hope that it will not lead to a serious outbreak in the US. Everybody around the world needs to be vigilant and play its part. To talk the virus away will not work.
6
Trump doesn't do so well when he has to deal with facts or probabilities expressed by experts.
Trump prefers to create the truth to his liking. So the Russian dabbling in our elections, with the facts all hidden under classified wrappings, our intelligence agencies offer what appear to be unsupported beliefs and Trump creates a counter "truth" -- Ukraine -- from his own genius.
The corona virus won't comply with Trump's illusions and snake oil. He is clueless in understanding common illnesses like the cold and flu. He is a germophobe who typically hides in an ivory tower with no need to work with large groups of people, no need to go to the store, no need to go to a gym (he abhors exercise), or children at school, or any other places that are rampant with germs.
Those of us not in the 0.01% have no way of avoiding those places.
So if the virus sneaks in with visitors who have no symptoms, outbreaks cannot possibly be avoided. They cannot be contained unless we are prepared. Yet Trump in his profound personal ignorance and ignoring his advisers says there is no problem. What a fool!
In another month, if the outbreaks have started by then, Trump, in his usual fine form, will deny that they exist. Denial works on the Apprentice but not in a real world defined by facts.
6
Can the Trump administration be trusted to handle this properly? No. Can we trust that the interest of the citizens is the top priority? No. The Trump administration will paint a rosy picture to bolster the stock market, even if that means spreading false hope and putting our health at risk. People will die because this administration’s priorities are not in favor of us, the people. That is shameful and un-American. Will any opponent of Trump ever make the obvious clear that he is a danger to this Democracy and to the people?
3
Cancel your travel plans, work at home, avoid large crowds.
Stock up on canned food, bottled water, and tequila.
8
I notice in the article on this page under the "What do you need to know heading" is the heading, "How worried should I be?" But there is nothing about the death rate. That, and the severity of symptoms, is what people want to know.
My understanding is that the lethality is about 2.5%.
Is this the case?
2
I am in Mumbai and fly later this evening to Bogota via Amsterdam.
I am really getting worried as I am past 70 - though I am in excellent health.
I have done some homework about Colombia where none has been reported.
But I have asked my friends to identify clinics in Bogota where within a week, I plan to go and get checked for the virus.
And I plan to do that every week - for next 3 weeks as there is a confusion on how long it takes to show up in the system.
Of course, if any flu symptoms appear - I plan to immediately check into a hospital.
But this is indeed getting more and more serious.
On a slightly unrelated issue.
UN and the Security Council are the best venues to express the Global will and demand action from China as a voice of the rest of the world.
I think it is time for the Security Council to step up to the plate and discuss this issue and ask China what it is doing to stop this epidemic.
And more importantly, what it plans to do to stop future epidemics from occurring including getting control of food markets.
All research show that these markets are cooking up these and other viruses.
4
@Neil
you'll need to find a facility that has the test kits.
The world is going insane in its (over)reaction to Coronavirus.
I just checked - the CDC reports that between 12,000 and 61,000 Americans die each year from ordinary seasonal flu. Worldwide, the figure is ~650,000 annual deaths from ordinary flu.
So far, as this article states, Coronavirus has caused 2,600 deaths worldwide. Tragic of course for the victims and their families. But the world reaction seems far out of proportion to the severity of the problem.
By comparison, the World Health Organization estimates 1,350,000 people worldwide die in traffic accidents each year, which is about 3,700 per day.
Just get a grip, everyone, and put the risk in perspective.
11
@Andrew Kennelly The scary part is not how many people this coronavirus has killed but the fact that it is more deadly than the flu in terms of percent dead after being infected. MERS only killed I think around 800 people worldwide, but about 30% of those infected died. I would be more scared of MERS than the flu. COVID-19 or this coronavirus is very infectious and more deadly. We also don’t know enough about it and that is scary.
6
@Andrew Kennelly 2,600 deaths from total shutdown of Hubei, a region with hundred of millions of people. What would the death number be had Hubei not shutting down? It's like saying the death rate from smoking is only this much when people quit smoking.
3
A question: So if you got on a plane tomorrow and you noticed 2 or 3 people on line who were apparently sick, coughing, sniffling, sweating, etc... and then they sat next to you ... you’d be okay with that?
6
Please people. Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this is hype and hysteria. I know the virus is coming. But what I don't know, for starters, is why it's so dire. Is the comment about annual flu deaths accurate? (100,000) if so, isn't this strain less lethal, less likely to be serious in children, even if it's more easily transmitted? Are the battle lines being drawn more about not admitting a new flu to our usual suspects, or is it something more serious? I admit I'm not reading everything available, but then again, I'm not willing to be manipulated by the fear mongers, so there's that. Please tell me what I've missed here.
4
@DMS the mortality rate of flu is 0.1%, the mortality rate of covid-19 is 2% which is . Using your 100,000 death from flu will give a death rate of 2,000,000. That does not take into account the resources that these patients need will crumble our health system. Look at Wuhan, nobody can get any kind of treatments for other diseases.
18
@DMS You wrote: ". . . what I don't know, for starters, is why it's so dire. Is teh comment about annual flu deaths accurate? (100,000)."
100,000 is wrong. According to the CDC, annual flu deaths have ranged from 12,000 to 61,000 since 2010.
Let me explain why this is so dire. There are two problems:
1. The mortality rate is somewhere between 0.2 and 2.0%. Ordinary flu is 0.1%. This flu seems to be as contagious as ordinary flu. So it will infect as many people, but it will kill 2 to 20 times more.
2. About 40% of the adult population in the U.S. get a flu vaccine, so these people are immune to ordinary flu. There is no vaccine for the new species, so everyone will be vulnerable to it. So you can expect ~40% more infections.
Put these two facts together and run the numbers, and we can expect to see very roughly 50,000 and 500,000 deaths, depending on whether the mortality rate is 0.2 or 2.0%.
17
@DMS the mortality rate of flu is 0.1%, the mortality rate of covid-19 is 2% which is . Using your 100,000 death from flu will give a death rate of 2,000,000. That does not take into account the resources that these patients need will crumble our health system. Look at Wuhan, nobody can get any kind of treatments for other diseases. One more thing, this covid-19 is way more contagious than the flu so 2 millions no way realistic, 20 millions is more like it.
3
Luckily I am retired, living in an isolated rural environment. I’ve made my own preparations, without waiting for instructions. Basically laying in supplies for myself and my animals to last for months. I expect pandemonium, because of our fragmented health care system, which is so expensive most people can’t afford to even be checked for the virus. The lack of mass preparedness just exacerbates an already fragile system. Can anyone imagine Americans obeying a quarantine, like the one China has successfully implemented? I can’t. Because, well, “freedom”. “Exceptionalism”. If we dodge a serious epidemic, it will be due to luck.
26
It is ironic that we are using emergency funds for a non existent crisis to build a wall between the US and Mexico but can only provide a fraction of that for a real emergency like a potential pandemic.
52
If this were a real crisis, Democrats would have passed a supplemental Coronavirus appropriations bill in the House in early January. They still haven’t passed one. They just rant and complain that Trump isn’t doing enough.
2
@KT
It isn't ironic it is Republican policy...Republicans think irony is a supplement for iron poor blood.
The Republican Party, as an institution, is a danger to the rule of law and the integrity of our democracy.
The problem is not just Donald Trump it Republicans choosing to collaborate with him.
The best hope of defending the country from Trump’s Republican collaborators is to vote against Republicans at every opportunity.
6
@Rock Winchester
Well, has the Republicans suggested anything themselves? Are they as quiet as the Democrats?
2
The US has been lucky to avoid catastrophic events during the last few years. With leadership gutted, funding removed and Trump completely incapable of leadership, truth or transparency, what happens now should come as no surprise.
28
Today the Japanese national government and some local governments have opened hot line numbers and advised people who think they might have the virus to NOT go to the hospital, unless they are in dire condition. Call first. A nurse may be sent to your house to test you, or you will be asked to go to the hospital at a specific time of day when the waiting room is cleared out of other patients. These are sensible steps. This is the kind of thing we would do in the U.S. if we had a healthcare system worthy of the name.
34
@Jed Rothwell They've got universal health care coverage. Go figure.
5
If the coronavirus does indeed spread throughout the US maybe we’ll finally get Universal Healthcare. I’ve always thought it would take a plague for the US to move forward.
19
The 2009 H1N1 outbreak in the US had 265,000 hospitalized as a result, and 12,000 died. It certainly didn’t change anything for our healthcare system. This time will be a no difference
6
Not even if more die? Or, the hospitals are over-capacity? Or, if sporting events, amusement parks and concerts have to be cancelled?
But Democrats didn’t complain that Obama didn’t do enough.
1
Listen to the CDC directly...but from my understanding, most of us will have to ride this out at home, even if we fall ill. Otherwise, we will experience what they have in China—crowded emergency rooms where if you don’t have the virus when you enter, you’ll likely have it by the time you leave.
From the CDC: Wash hands constantly, avoid crowds (stay 6 feet away from others), and buy disinfectant for home in case someone gets ill and you have to care for them (keep wiping everything down). Use regular masks only if you’re ill or caring for someone who is. If you have difficulty breathing, you may need to go to the hospital. Also order meds—many of our common prescriptions are from countries where supply chains are affected.
I’m looking forward to the New York Times distilling the official guidance for us. Great reporting so far, although maybe we should have put in print a long time ago that the China numbers on coronavirus cases simply can’t be trusted.
26
It is suggested that "some doubt" that we are prepared. True!
Meanwhile, the administration fired people who knew now to deal with the virus, money to fight the virus and every other thing to protect americans. Where did the money go? Where did the people go? Where did the expertise go?
NOW we have the issue coming our way--- and all we get are "tweets" and statements that " it will all go away when it gets warm". Really?
We are now in a REAL, ACTUAL, crisis!
12
The virus is coming in through international air travel. It’s ridiculous not to consider suspending international air service for the time being. We are fortunate to be shielded from the rest of the world by oceans on both sides. Let’s take advantage of that and seal the border temporarily.
25
“I don’t think it’s going to be an economic tragedy at all,” Mr. Kudlow said.
Another of trump's geniuses. This is the guy that said buy, buy, buy in 2008. Seem like we should expect the same level of (in) competence from trumps picks to protect us in this health crisis.
21
“I don’t think it’s going to be an economic tragedy at all,” Mr. Kudlow said.
Another of trump's geniuses. This is the guy that said buy, buy, buy in 2008. Seem like we should expect the same level of (in) competence from trumps picks to protect us in this health crisis.
5
Science and medicine thrive on truth, not wishful thinking. At a time when we need truth more than ever, we have the world's most colossal liar in charge, someone whose first instinct is to lie about the severity of the problem lest it affect the stock market and hence his re-election prospects.
Trump's view of research is the less the better. Recall that Trump recently tried to cut the CDC budget by 10%, and he forbade the CDC from using words that offended his base. November 3rd can't come soon enough.
28
Don't worry, stubbornly Americans will reelect Trump Disaster.
The time has come to reveal how woefully misguided our health care system has become. Hospital administrators are looking at COVID-19 and saying "Ka-ching!" They don't care about patients, nurses or staff. Nor do our health insurance companies.
10
@Justin - Much as I distrust hospital administrators, I can assure you they are not looking forward to legions of patients sick with Coronavirus.
7
Trump must think his Wall will keep the virus away.
That said, it is sad that in a world already divided and trending towards isolationism, this disease might drive us further apart.
But it is thru a joint global effort working together (including sharing data, scientific research) that we can overcome it.
4
I’m old enough to remember when the POTUS, his administration, and Congress would put aside differences and come together to make sure our top talent (scientists, health experts, etc.) and tireless resources led the way on international efforts to address health issues impacting Americans and the rest of the world. It was who we were and what made America so great (so to speak). It was who we were and why so many countries looked up to us.
That all ended 3 years ago.
We now have a president that is the laughing stock of the international leaders,
insisting Covid-19 will go away when the weather is warmer, only focused on making sure the stock market recovers, as he is on a personal business-boondoggle in India.
36
Oh, right, like how Reagan handled the AIDS crisis??
Senator Kennedy's question is very difficult to answer. Imagine that you flip a coin, and if you see heads, you flip two more coins. How many heads can you expect to see before you stop flipping? Half the time, of course, you'll see zero. An eighth of the time, you'll get one heads, but then both coins in the second round turn up tails. But sometimes, a string of heads causes the number of heads to explode out of control. The "average" number of heads is actually infinity. (Check out the St. Petersbug Paradox).
Leaving infinity aside, I tried to simulate this game on my computer a thousand times. I got mostly zeroes and ones, many instances tens or hundreds of heads, some sums in the thousands, and one that got up to 14,000. However, on the 410th iteration of the game, the number of heads reached some alarming number, and my poor computer didn't have the memory to keep calling the recursive function (listed below, in R). Here's hoping that the US, and the world, doesn't end up looking like iteration #410!
recursive.flip <- function(x) {
coin <- sample(x, 1)
if (coin == 0) return (x)
else return(x + recursive.flip(x) + recursive.flip(x))
}
results <- rep(NA, 1000)
for (i in 1:1000){
thistime <- recursive.flip(c(0,1))
thistime <- thistime[2]
results[i] <- thistime
}
results
5
Forgot a key detail! For the game above, imagine that "heads" is an infected person, and each infected person comes into contact with two other people, who each have a 50% chance of contracting the virus from them. That's the connection between the virus and the coin-flipping game. Senator Kennedy is asking some something analogous to the expected number of heads. In the case of our game, the answer is: probably zero, but on average... infinity. And it could be any number in between.
5
@Jon : Sen Kennedy, as demonstrated, is not interested at all in any kind of witnesses, evidence, or anything to do with reality. He is a Republican. No investigations needed or desired.
3
A question with an answer demanded regarding the size and scope of the outbreak in the US, deserves a response “ How long is a ball of string?”
Oh boy, this could make him look bad, someone at the CDC is gonna get fired for sharing THAT info.
17
@Tim S :
'No Conservative voter sees any use in the CDC, which is why all GOP Senators cut its funding. Liberals are lucky they did not cut it to zero, like America wants.
8
I think about how reliable and truthful all government agencies are under this administration. Here's hoping this is something we can trust, but I have strong doubts.
6
@Concerned :
America has voted since Reagan for government so small Americans can drown it in a bath tub. Real Americans have use for a King, not a bureaucracy.
My cynical guess is that blue states will be abandoned by federal agencies. Meanwhile, a strength of people in blue states is to share knowledge. Some natural remedies for virus do exist. Ie; elderberry, garlic, oregano oil. Might be a good idea to source some of that from WF or similar.
4
Try prune juice. We’re all good.
This from the CDC is quite informative:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html
8
I feel extra safe knowing that the 45 administration fired CDC pandemic expert's 2 yrs. ago. Don't you love how responsible and responsive our gov't is under all the Republican fool's. Look at he bright side, we saved money from not paying dumb scientist's! This is serious and getting closer. Our gov't is paralyzed in so many way's. We need responsible, on top of it leader's in every dept. of gov't....not this stripped down version, which is largely useless and was done to consolidate power for Trump and McConnell to look like fiscal conservative's while blowing a trillion dollar hole in the budget. They lie all the time about everything. Please people elect new and solid leadership. You won't find that anywhere in Republican circles. I fear we are on our own with the coming pandemic, so i am getting prepared and you might think about before you're helpless.
19
Chatted with the pharmacist to my neighborhood Costco on Saturday who said people are buying up all the thermometers they put out and all the sterile pads...pallets of them! They cannot keep them in stock.
Then, I noticed that the woman in front of me in the checkout line had 50 thermometers in her basket. I asked her what they were for and she said that China had outlawed the sale of thermometers and that she would be sending them to China.
I love in Southern California. I'm expecting an outbreak here.
9
Hey, thanks, China. Thanks to your appalling barbaric cruelty and irresponsibility in your treatment of animals you have, yet again put the entire globe at risk. Swine flu, SARS, and now this coronavirus.
When will the people of China wake up, grow up, wise up? Even if they can't bring themselves to feel compassion for the suffering of fellow sentient beings, can't they at least see that treating them better is in their own self-interest?
22
China should be held financially responsible for this international catastrophe in the World Court. Why did the US let China into the WTO? Zero benefit to the West.
3
@EB
I feel the same. Disgusting.
3
“This is our most desperate hour, help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” And this could be America’s most desperate hour. Where is Ben Kenobi when you need him!
This country is in great need of confident, truthful leadership from ANYONE in the current administration. It appears though the truthful leadership boat sailed in 2016.
Is there anyone that will step up to the plate to guide us through what maybe be the likes of a pandemic not seen since 1918. Crickets......
5
@Ella You realize the Republic has to fall first, well before that part of the story...
The dems need to hammer the utterly inept and self-serving Trump admin on this one tonight.
11
Why would open borders Democrats feel they can blame Trump for this pandemic caused by international travel?
1
And what says Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross now? You know, the Trump appointee who only a few weeks ago said the virus might be good for the US because businesses would relocate here from China. It makes me laugh just to write this.
22
What does ‘lockdown’ look like, when would it happen, how would it happ
4
@Pamela H
Many have referred to this--it's a good place to start:
https://virologydownunder.com/so-you-think-youve-about-to-be-in-a-pandemic/
Stay away from crowds.
Wash your hand frequently.
Don’t touch your face.
Wear a (recommended) mask in public places.
Travel on a packed airplane at your own peril.
Stay home if you’re sick.
Vulnerable populations (sick, young, elderly) at greater risk.
Don’t forget 14,000 people have died from the flu this year.
6
@XLER No, masks are not recommended for use by the general public. This misinformation contributes to PPE shortages that healthcare workers desperately need to do their jobs and keep the public healthy. Please do not go around spreading these incorrect rumors. Masks do not protect against coronavirus anyways, you would need an n95, which has to be fit tested, and that is not available to the general public.
3
If I don’t touch my face, who will?
2
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was just awarded to a man, Limbaugh, who says this is nothing more than the common cold. He says the ‘hype’ is nothing more than an attempt to embarrass his White House admirer.
I feel sick.
24
@liberty apple. Maybe he had Sean Hannity diagnosis his cancer.
2
I wish there were more advice on how to prepare for this outbreak. Should I get a second flu shot? Or just hunker down?
I hope and pray a vaccine is found.
2
There is no vaccination available for this coronavirus and this year’s flu shot is a bad match for the flu types out there this season. A second vaccine won’t do you any good.
2
The lack of perception of scale is astonishing. How many have the bug? 80,000? Mortality rate, 2-3%?
Meanwhile.. back in the germ vault... our old pal influenza doesn't look like it's concerned with the competition. From the World Health Organization, via wiki:"Influenza spreads around the world in yearly outbreaks, resulting in about three to five million cases of severe illness and about 290,000 to 650,000 deaths." That's a 10% plus mortality rate. But I guess the exaggerated peril squad is busy with another matter.
Is anyone reminded of the old 1950's cartoon stereotype of the housewife up on the kitchen chair screaming because there's a mouse.
2
@Illuminati Reptilian Overlord #14
Your math is wrong. The 2% mortality is derived the deaths to all confirmed cases. Not the deaths to severe illness cases as you quote. The mortality rate for a usual flu season is about 0.1% NOT 10%...
In the US alone, "CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9 million – 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 – 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 – 61,000 deaths annually since 2010."
There's hundreds of million of flu cases worldwide. You need to revisit your math problem. If this virus speads like common flu and is 20 times more lethal, there could be 20x more deaths than the common flu. What's 290k-650K times 20? The potential is there apparently, so let's all do everything possible to avoid that scenario.
3
@Illuminati Reptilian Overlord #14
The flu most definitely does not have a 10% mortality rate. Its rate of death is 0.1%. That's 100 times smaller.
2
@Illuminati Reptilian Overlord #14
The flu does not have a 10% mortality rate. You calculated the percentage of serious cases that are fatal.
2
“At the moment, the United States has just 57 cases.”
Actually, at the moment, we have no idea how many cases the United States has because most places in the United States have no way to test for the virus.
Why is that? Why have dozens of other countries figured out how to test quickly and accurately for the virus and why are we lagging behind? Please ask these questions.
539
@Anna Vitale One of the reasons we cannot adequately test for the virus is because the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization which allows the CDC to manufacture test kits also prevents clinical labs from testing for the virus until they themselves have filed an EUA for their assay. This process can take a while. It is unfortunate since the EUA throws out our existing testing regulations that we use for every other virus. Clinical labs will not be able to test for this virus for many weeks.
35
@Anna Vitale
Mr Trump fired his WH public health advisors right off the bat. He would not have listened to them anyway. Now he wants a special appropriation. Too little, too late. But maybe he can funnel something to his cronies as he did with the wall building debacle.
43
@Anna Vitale President Trump states we have only 4 cases. If the federal government at the highest level can't agree with the CDC we are doomed.
22
Trump will keep us all safe. No need to worry. Fire them guys who imply that anti-Trump stuff. He said everything is fine, so it is.
7
Confidence in our government would sure go a long way right now.
Very little of our president says is true, and he has become a dictator that doesn't allow dissent.
So, we have no way in knowing what is going on, sadly.
9
The Trump Administration has squandered months and has done nothing to stockpile infection control supplies and antivirals and ventilators. The result will be much higher death tolls among healthcare workers and patients. If people had any conception about the shortages which will frustrate any infection control or containment effort, they would be not be supporting Trump.
At this point, we the nation lacks sufficient garments for healthcare workers, all of whom will need such garb. Infection from patients to medical workers will collapse the healthcare systems and meanwhile the grifters and incompetent D Team running the White House are in denial or woefully ignorant of the threat and the catastrophe looming which will be equal 9-11 for shock and awe and repercussions economically and politically.
Within weeks of an outbreak in the US, we will run out of masks and garments for healthcare workers. Within a month, we will exhaust supplies of antiviral drugs. What nurse or tech or physician is going to subject themselves to a lethal virus without such tools. Sickouts and absenteeism will soar and healthcare workers will infect patients and vice versa. This is a disaster but the unpreparedness is a man-made multiplier. This pandemic will effectively end the Trump Presidency.
11
"Trump tours the Taj - Mahal; coronavirus - spreads and markets tank"; "we're prepared; thirty - million masks for three hundred - plus million people"; "Wilbur Ross really - said that coronavirus - would boost U.S. jobs"
11
On the upside, climate catastrophy will be slightly delayed by a year or two....
4
Trump rallies are prime targets for this virus. We can expect many of those people to get the virus. But fear not friends, the great republican health plan will take care of all Americans!
11
@Joe - Trump loves big crowds. Think how devastated he'd be if for public health reasons he couldn't hold those rallies!
4
See the advice the CDC gives in this NYTimes article? The GOP cut CDC funding. You get what you pay for. Might as well just fire the rest of the people. No real American believes in science anyway. The voters agree with me.
5
I just read in a related article in the NYT that Dr. Trish Perl, an infectious disease specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, said "alcohol is a good disinfectant for coronaviruses."
Well, I mentioned that to my husband and he ran out to stock up on his favorite liquors. He believes alcohol is a win-win: disinfectant for exterior surfaces and germ killer when sipped at night when sitting by the fireplace, reading or watching the latest episode of "Better Call Saul".
Finally, a shot glass of positive news.
15
@Marge Keller
Don’t tell him to drink it. Alcohol directly suppresses the immune system.
9
@srwdm
GREAT advise! I did not know that. Thanks.
2
According to Rush Limbaugh:
"It looks like the coronavirus is being weaponised as yet another element to bring down Donald Trump. Now, I want to tell you the truth about the coronavirus. I’m dead right on this. The coronavirus is the common cold, folks. The drive-by media hype of this thing as a pandemic, as the Andromeda strain, as, ‘Oh, my God, if you get it, you’re dead’ … I think the survival rate is 98%. Ninety-eight per cent of people get the coronavirus survive. It’s a respiratory system virus.”
According to Tucker Carlson (Fox News):
"For weeks, the media told you it was wrong to worry about the coronavirus, a mysterious, highly communicable lethal disease spreading rapidly around the world. Identity politics trumped public health and not for the first time. Wokeness is a cult. They let you die before they admitted that diversity is not our strength."
According to Curtis Ellis, policy director at America First Policies and an adviser to the 2016 campaign:
“There’s an argument that Trump can make that could help his reelection... reminding voters how Trump shifted American thinking on China, highlighting the threat posed by its communist regime and demanding that U.S. companies return manufacturing facilities from overseas. If there were to be any economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, the blame will be borne entirely by the companies that have resisted President Trump’s America First policies."
This is the type of hatred spewed every day by Republicans!
8
Senator Kennedy is from the anti-science party that strongly supports Trump. He supported the cuts to the CDC budget last year. Echo'ing GKS from San Diego:
"In 2018, the Trump administration fired the government’s entire pandemic response chain of command, including the White House management infrastructure."
"In May 2018, Trump ordered the NSC’s entire global health security unit shut down, calling for reassignment of Rear Adm. Timothy Ziemer and dissolution of his team inside the agency. The month before, then-White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pressured Ziemer’s DHS counterpart, Tom Bossert, to resign along with his team. Neither the NSC nor DHS epidemic teams have been replaced. The global health section of the CDC was so drastically cut in 2018 that much of its staff was laid off and the number of countries it was working in was reduced from 49 to merely 10."
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-trump-united-states-public-health-emergency-response/
13
Larry Kudlow and D Trump better watch out. They both told us that the corona virus was either under control or would not reach us.
8
Maybe they will show us by example. I hear it hits the elderly disproportionately
1
This is perhaps wishful thinking, but now is a desirable time for the CDC, NIH and other medical scientists to guide the nation through the fight against COVID-19. Trump is incapable of providing the leadership needed in the days, weeks and months ahead. His budget cuts to public health services has already done enough damage, including elimination of our global pandemic response infrastructure. Now is not the time for the insane and illogical ranting and raging that normally can be expected out of the oval office.
4
..."preparing for significant disruption of our lives" What does this mean? why speak in code words like this? Why can't the CDC issue guidelines besides "wash your hands" and help people understand what they are supposed to do "to prepare"?
Saying "people should be prepared" and leaving it at that is borderline dereliction of duty at this point.
CDC: Tell people how we are supposed to prepare ourselves.
18
@EB
Look on the CDC website.
2
@HotGumption I did! There is NOTHING there that specifically guides people to "prepare" besides advising washing of hands. Thank you.
No one has addressed the real damage this caused the great makers of Corona beer. I went into the bar, ordered one and the place cleared up. Ignorance is our greatest foe except when it is equally our friend.
4
I’m getting a little tired of the “medical experts” with zero experience causing hysteria. Approximately 35,000 people die from the flu every year in the US. Yes it’s sad when anyone dies but this madness over the corona virus is bizarre. Healthy people stay home after outpatient treatment. The elderly and young are always the most susceptible- last time I looked Wall Street is not run by medical experts. Neither is the administration - just a bunch of lobbyists. Only respirator masks are effective and need small pore diameters - the cheap one keep people from inhaling liquid spray. Facts please - and let’s get on with our lives. There was less anxiety over Ebola!!!!
6
But there were eleven cases of Ebola in the US over the last five years. There is also a vaccine.
2
Prepare means different things to different people. Those in local government will be looking up contingency plans. Those in small retail will be preparing for less customers. Those in large retail, like Walmart or Kroger will be doing both. People in essential services will (hopefully) be briefed on what to expect and what is expected of them. Consumers and workers can just stock up on essentials as best they can. But what is missing is what do the largest amount of our population does when they get sick. Do they go to urgent care? The ER?
4
I am concerned about our health care workers. Doctors, nurses, etc. They are vulnerable as well. A strong possibility that there will not be enough to care for all the infected.
254
health care workers will be ready as usual, it's just going to be tough.
16
@Cate R
When I was a health care worker we were fitted by our employer for special masks. The US health care worker is usually well trained. The average citizen is the problem. Wash your hands. Feed your kids at home and avoid fast food restaurants. Let us spray.
14
@Cate R, the United States has a network called the Medical Reserve Corps which consists of medically licensed persons in local communities who sign up to volunteer in disasters or pandemics.
Now would be a good time for people who need to update their information with that system, and those who have some kind of medical license and could conceivably join, to do so.
Don't know about other states, but in California, the first step is to register and provide information on the DHV of California website.
11
Don’t expect the Trump administration to tell you to change anything about your life that would involve missing work or not spending money. He needs the economy to be strong for his re-election. It’s all about him.
7
we'll see what he's going to do out of fantasies.
3
While pharma companies race to develop treatments and vaccines to treat this virus, pandering politicians demonize them. People should very careful about what they wish for.
1
Funny, have you tried to buy the government recommended masks (4 kinds) but they are out of stock every where. Search as much as you can but not worried since Trump said not to, don't have to, the warm weather will be here soon..
Can wait to see what else we are not prepared for.
Guess the masks left for China a long time ago.
2
The masks are MADE in China.
7
@Marnie
Not all asks are MADE in China. But the bottom line is that this country is ill prepared for any future pandemic.
Well, duhh...
The director of global health security at NSC has been left vacant for over two years.
The WH has proposed cutting CDC and WHO funding, 3 years in a row.
Science is considered an elitist pursuit.
What did we expect would happen?
16
There's something wrong when my kids' first reactions to photos of folks in China queued up outside hospitals isn't 'how awful!' but "how can they afford to go to a hospital?"
Their friends, who work in retail and food service, have no sick time. The lucky few who are <26 might have access to their parents' health insurance, with a 13k deductible (or the lower-deductible of $500 for emergency room visit without hospital admit). Folks skip care regularly, go to work while sick regularly - and on the surface, it's an entirely rational choice for them.
15
Trump’s response to the Coronavirus itself and the economic impact should send shudders down every spine.
“People are getting better, they’re all getting better, I think that whole situation will be working out.” D.Trump
How’s that for informing the American public of the realities of this pandemic and what the government is doing about it?
10
There is so much conflicting information.
The virus is small enough where masks are useless?
You can have the virus for up to 30 days without symptoms?
It’s most dangerous for middle aged to older men?
The only silver lining is the mortality rate (apparently) is only 2%, but still, it's so easy to imagine a scenario where this hits a Chinatown in NYC, a kid gets it, a school gets it, schools are canceled, people can’t work because of childcare, and then what? If it takes 30 days for some people to have symptoms ... when would this end? I totally get why the markets are going down. Pretty scary stuff.
4
@T It will end once everyone has been exposed; 98% of us live and 2% of us die.
"President Trump, traveling overseas, had a sharply different tone than his own health officials, saying at a news briefing in India: 'You may ask about the coronavirus, which is very well under control in our country.'"
Why am I somehow expecting the appearance of a map and a Sharpie in response to the CDC's warning?
13
Time to start asking if our hospitals are ready.
11
@Cornflower Rhys No reason to ask- they’re not.
The regular flu has killed over 20,000 people since October lets relax about this virus with a spooky name okay
4
There’s a vaccine for influenza. There is no vaccine for the novel corona virus. This means that if it spreads like influenza, more people will get sick because no one is vaccinated. Also, the fact that it is novel—new—means NO ONE has immunity.
5
@Emma Mortality rate from Influenza: 0.01%
Mortality rate from Covid-19: 2-3%
8.7 times more contagious than the current influenzas.
Feel better now?
Close the borders.
2
You must be joking. Really? You believe that a deadly virus respects borders? Please read the entire article about today's CDC news conference.
2
As a healthcare worker on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, the most infuriating aspect of the American authorities' response is the inability (or unwillingness) to do even basic comprehensive testing. The apparently small number of coronavirus cases in the US is not because it isn't here, but rather because we're just not testing much for it compared to countries like South Korea and Italy, which (especially Korea) often test more people in a single day than have been tested in the US in all of 2020! We simply have no idea how widespread COVID19 is in the US, but a cluster of recent anecdotes (including a Japanese tourist who contracted the coronavirus during a trip to the US and was diagnosed back in Japan) suggest that it's likely spreading already on US shores.
Most alarming are the cuts that have hampered the CDC and its diligent, dedicated staff, a major contributor to the agency's struggles to provide working test kits. A number of kits were dispatched recently to US states and 30 nations abroad, but then found to be faulty and left unused. Still worse is the outrageous red tape not only blocking independent labs from developing their own kits, but simply using already validated tests from abroad (used successfully in e.g. Japan, China, and Europe) to test Americans at home. By now this is beyond incompetent; it's gross negligence which is tangibly threatening the well-being of millions of Americans. This needs to be taken seriously as the emergency that it is.
76
Thank you so much for making an informed comment, here. It's about time.
9
While stocking up on food and supplies- please consider donating to food shelves and not over hoard food so there is enough to go around and look after those less affluent and elderly. Violence and panic could occur if there are shortages.
13
I've heard a few comments at lunch today regarding this might help Boeing as airlines need for new planes might be slowed down as travelers cancel plans. So delayed delivers might not be such a bad thing. Same coin: different side: Also mentioned was a few comments about the hope that the airlines suffer due to slow down in travel, but I pointed out that management would not be suffering (do they ever?), just the ground and air crews who are blameless for the horrible conditions traveling normally and the excessive fees.
4
"Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, asked the health secretary whether he thought the United States currently had enough health masks in stock.
“Of course not,” he responded, “or else we wouldn’t be asking for more.”
I would think during this 2019-2020 flu season with 16,000 deaths thus far and 280,000 people who have been hospitalized according to preliminary estimates from the CDC, that there would be a constant supply of health masks in stock.
Good grief, we can't seem to get not only the priorities but the very basic of materials we need in order.
This country seems to do a very poor job with the yearly influenza outbreaks. How in the world will the CDC and other assorted medical professionals manage the coronavirus if/when it hits the US?
We always seem to be a day late and a dollar short. I guess proactive and preventative anything is a thing of the past across the board, regardless of the issue.
11
In 14th century Italy, people wore masks to ward off the plague. In 21st century America, will red hats serve the same purpose?
15
Red hat immunity has worked for Trump so far.
6
Maybe this will shut down those incessant Trump NSDAP rallies, you know, because of the contagion...
11
When the outbreak happens here Dear Leader will toss rolls of paper towels to us, so there's really no need for concern.
28
Mean-spirited Presidential Administration and a Meanspirited Virus! Combine that with a medical community that’s only after a profit, means that we are ALL DOOMED!!!
5
@Counter Measures
the virus is not mean-spirited
it was minding its business and some human thought it would be cute to eat exotic animals like bats or pangolin......
2
When it hits the US... please don’t visit Canada... and FYI don’t count on hospitals having a bed for you ... send the sick to a Trump hotel. Canadians should just disperse... snowshoe a bit further than the last guy and stay there!
9
@Dan
Alas, I didn't vote for the one who is so inept that something capable of killing me may get a foothold.
2
@Dan
Check your SARS facts. People in the United States fared much better health wise. The overburdened Canadian public system was blamed for leaving patients in hallways to spread the disease and having a shortage of beds along with long wait times to even see a doctor. Americans will stay away from Canada. They’ll stay away for the sake of their own heath.
1
Looks like the Space Force might be put on the back burner.
11
Please, will someone who has been traveling to Asia recently, stop by and sneeze on our POTUS?
12
Priorities - trump et al is looking at allocating 1.25 billion to fund CDC for the pandemic (not even new money, taking from Peter to pay Paul. Trump is looking for 18.4 billion for his useless wall. https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-planning-to-divert-additional-72-billion-in-pentagon-funds-for-border-wall/2020/01/13/59080a3a-363d-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html
DOTUS (Deplorable Of The United States)
9
“We have very few people with it and the people that have it are, in all cases, I have not heard anything other — the people are getting better, they’re all getting better.”
Words straight out of a dictator’s mouth. Claims like these led to the spread of Coronavirus in China, the nuclear explosions at Chernobyl, and the sales by Boeing of unsafe commercial airplanes.
Can you imagine what St. Peter would say if Donald Trump accidentally showed up at the pearly gates?
10
We have all been very lucky . We are now experiencing a taste of what my parents went through : polio epidemics, the Spanish flu epidemic, a world before measles and mumps vaccines existed . We can point fingers all we want but in our international world there was always the risk that a virus could become a pandemic. We can do our best to take common sense hygienic measures and restrict exposure but beyond that we simply have to wait it out.
6
Who is trump going to blame now, someone leaking the virus to derail his re-election?
9
Just check his twitter account for the answer to that one. It’s in progress.
1
Cough into your elbow to keep your viruses off your hands and others' from reaching your mouth.
5
no, please, use a tissue and throw it away
your elbow is collecting a ton of unwanted nasties
2
Prepare citizens by keeping them informed. Define conditions that warrant medical intervention to keep most people out of the Emergency Department. Highlight home healthcare procedures for the healthy sick. Prioritize the protection our healthcare workers as their efforts will be needed to attend to the most vulnerable. People panic and rumors swirl when left to their own conclusions.
10
Does my insurance cover testing, asking for a friend.....oh yeah I can't afford it anyway have you seen those deductibles
16
So the U.S. public is advised to prepare itself by getting ready to wash hands and wear face masks.
This sounds like almost meaningless advice.
7
@Stephen Rinsler welcome to our New 3rd World!
"Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, grew exasperated when the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad F. Wolf, could not say how many people were expected to become infected.
“I’m all for committees and task forces [NOT!] but you’re the secretary,” Mr. Kennedy responded. “I think you ought to know that answer.” "
Seriously, is it a requirement to be ignorant if one is going to be a Republican, trump-supporting senator?
16
@Bill Kennedy has supported the Trump admin all along, so it is on him as well.
3
Not to worry. Trump has this under control.
6
I thought Trump's border wall was supposed to protect us from these alien invader threats?
Oh well, what me worry? Nah, Trump will threaten and demean the virus so it's no longer a threat, at least to his re-election. Do we feel safe? Aren't we having fun yet?
13
With Sean Hannity and President trump at the helm,
what could possibly go wrong?
16
And then Trump's guy got on the air saying its totally contained. Right.
8
Life is hereby postponed until further notice.
6
"The top White House official responsible for leading the U.S. response in the event of a deadly pandemic has left the administration, and the global health security team he oversaw has been disbanded under a reorganization by national security adviser John Bolton." the Washington Post.
As the Church Lady on SNL would say;"Isn't that special!"
18
I'm beginning to regret not purchasing a hide away - post apocalyptic bunker.
6
We have "such a low rate of Corona virus" because we have tested very few people for it .Thousands of individuals came from China between mid Dec to Mid Jan when the flight restrictions took place.The CDC guidelines:test only febrile patients that have traveled to china, or close contact to
known COVID-19. In a city of 19.5 mil we have tested 7 people? Yet It is known that asymptomatic cases have spread the disease. We should not test more because there is nothing we can respond with. We have decimated our health care system we are ill equipped to handle any ID breakout.If you walk in to any NYC ED today you will find people waiting Hrs to be seen and others waiting days to get an in patient bed. Our health care system has been decimated by the for profit health care system. Influenza or COVID-19 Defense: wash your hands, stay out of the ED unless you have a real emergency get vaccines and for god's sake vote for comprehensive health care as if your life depends on it because it DOES!
40
Whenever Larry Kudlow expresses confidence on a subject, i.e. the virus has near air tight containment, then I know the administration is massively blowing smoke. We don't need no stinking CDC when we have Larry. Sheesh!
25
Imagine what could happen if this virus makes its way into the homeless communities around the US. Goodness knows they're not going to get tested or receive treatment, and the relatively long symptomless incubation period means they could spread it far and wide. LA and SF could become veritable petrie dishes for COVID-19.
15
Even more so now, the individual can help by practicing good hygiene.
1. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
2. When you cough or sneeze, cover with at least a tissue.
3. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
4. Wear a surgical mask if you have a cough or runny nose.
5
There is only one responsible politician and distinguished statesman who might be able to guide the Public in this outbreak, turning into a pandemic, without spooking the horses and scaring the children. Former President Obama, born in the United States of America.
We appear to be navigating on the motto of 'Take your chances', and the stolid and stale refrain 'It can not happen here'.
There are industrious workers trying to make ends meet, unaware of how severe this disease could be. An international public health expert has reminded this friend to keep on washing one's hands, and staying away from people who are coughing, and unable to shake whatever has been ailing them. This is easier said than done, but let us be 'better prepared for the unexpected'.
Thanking Dr. Messonnier for coming forward with this latest cautionary update; The World Health Organization (W.H.O) and its ongoing efforts to protect and staunch this globally transmitted virus; for all scientists world-wide, and the challenges health experts, doctors, nurses and care-givers are addressing on behalf of the public-at-large.
11
Why do Republicans hate Americans to the point of wanting to kill them in order to make a few dollars?
22
@Neil They don’t love themselves, so money is all they have
So much of our approach to public health threats like this depends on identifying and isolating people who are symptomatic, tracing contacts, isolating those contacts, etc.... until the chain of transmission is stopped. And that is a fragile methodology - it can work great as a first line of defense to keep a miniscule number of infected from spreading it.
However, it's not an approach that scales well if too many people in too many places become infected. And I've been concerned the past 2-3 weeks since it was reported and verified by Dr. Anthony Fauci that this virus is being transmitted before people are symptomatic.
We probably need to pivot towards accepting that this will be a pandemic, and to be more prepared for treating mass numbers of infected, developing a vaccine, and similar efforts.
265
Mr Drebin. The CDC has also said the harsh measures imposed in China have likely saved 100,000 infections.
Its way too early to draw too much in the way of conclusions. This is about making the best choices based on being conservative and the limited information we have.
14
@Detective Frank Drebin And it might make sense for people to cancel their vacation plans. Bring back the staycation.
14
@Detective Frank Drebin Shirley you're kidding!
4
And just how do we "prepare" when Trump has disbanded the epidemic units at the National Security Agency and the State Department needed to help us and hollowed out the C.D.C.? Are test kits available? Masks? Quarantine facilities in designated tertiary care hospitals? Laboratories working on a vaccine? Or, are we just supposed to lock are doors and wait for Trump to blame us if we get sick and die?
675
@Paul Wortman
And Trump again proposes yet another round of reductions of CDC budget
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/02/11/trump-proposes-16-cut-to-cdc-as-global-number-of-coronavirus-infections-and-deaths-rise/?fbclid=IwAR2X_Tz_xu6P7RN-L4aVgM5ngqBt9l-MweNn6d2UPHZCkFjcl9yP9IjK50I#72151acf18da
49
@Paul Wortman You presume without offering any support that these particular units were, in fact, or would be now of some substantive defense against this virus. As opposed to the many people and agencies at work nonetheless.
2
A responsible government with leaders who believe in science are critically important to prevent further spread of this epidemic. We have neither at the moment. That worries me more than COVID19.
59
I know we as a family are getting prepared, but for many Americans this will be a most difficult time, as many are casual workers or workers with no rights, paid leave etc. and they will truly struggle.
If most Americans live pay check to pay check, then what will happen when 40 Million Americans don't get paid for a month?
It isn't just the loss of wages - there are ramifications for credit card debt and so on that will have ripple effects far beyond what can be easily envisioned.
And don't expect insurance companies do do anything except bring out the clause "Force Majeure" to deny employers the losses they will suffer. For losses there will be across the boards.
18
Here's what's even scarier: that the cost of health insurance is going to jump next year even more than it usually does because of a sharp increase in hospitalizations for this virus.
How many will become so ill they will require a hospital stay that will send them into bankruptcy and then homelessness? How much faster will the virus spread because people avoid treatment they can't pay for?
Healthcare for all is a national security issue.
881
Everyone should read this comment. And then think very carefully when they vote this November.
79
@The Poet McTeagle. This is something to really think about. As a clinical social worker, I travel daily to various homes across 3 counties in CT. I'm a child and family therapist. We conduct mental health treatment in the homes. There is no way my colleagues and I can work from home. It's pretty scary to think we might be without a job for several weeks, months. And I agree with you. Health insurance rates will probably rise.
37
And teachers, like me and my husband, face hundreds of students a day, including some who are sneezing and sick. I have health insurance but will avoid hospitals because that's a surefire way to be exposed. We also have our own kids in public schools. How to keep everyone safe? When will we close schools? How bad will it need to get? Who will make the decision? How will we even know that the virus is spreading if we're not testing throughout the country?
25
It is still unclear to me what (if anything) regular people should do to prepare for a pandemic. When Dr. Messonnier said she sat down with her family and told them "we as a family need to prepare for a disruption of our lives" what was her advice for how to prepare?
483
@Emily Some of the preparation will need to happen at the community level. For your household, see: https://www.ready.gov/pandemic
45
@Andrew Thank you for this website. Perhaps those who are uninformed will see this.
15
Dr Mesonnier did say there was a guideline but unfortunately I didn’t see it covered by NYT’s reports. When CDC releases its transcript tomorrow I’d recommend that you visit the website and take a look at the guidelines, be it to prepare for Covid-19 or the seasonal flu.
17
The administration had no second thoughts about diverting needed security funds to build a wall for a mythical emergency on the southern border. Before congress considers additional funding for a real corona virus emergency, funding for the wall should be further diverted for needed protection measures.
882
@backfull
Yes, it would be a better source than taking more money from long-standing programs which have also been cut, or running up the deficit further. Because it makes sense it won’t happen.
34
@backfull Maybe a wall would stop the corona virus
18
@Ann Walls don’t usually stop planes.
12
Some challenges specific to the US that need to be addressed in preparing for the coronavirus:
1- workers with limited or no sick days.
2- citizens with limited or no healthcare coverage.
3- crumbling infrastructure.
4- an armed and violence prone populace.
5- a teeming and mismanaged prison system.
6- a nation never more divided since its' civil war.
But thank goodness we have a very stable sharpie armed genius at the helm.
27
I really hope the folks at the CDC are working on their job resumes.
This administration does not do well with information that is contrary to their own thinking.
9
Just checked flights arriving in the US today from china airlines only 14 flights to 9 different US cities, plus delta and other airlines too. No wonder it's going to spread, they should have stopped all travel from china 3 weeks ago. They don't want to stop travel ,because of money,but there already putting a 2,6 billion dollar price on a response. Ludicrous
9
@mike mcnally
Absolutely right.
2
The Trump administration lies about EVERYTHING. The economy has been sailing along on the house that Obama built. The no-nothing political hacks preferred by Trump can only coast on Obama’s coattails for so long. Trump’s lies and deceptions and failed administration and intentional destruction of important agencies are beginning to effect the economy. Whether a pandemic or a war or some other international event Trump can’t control, it was bound to happen. My only hope is it happens in time for the 2020 election. I for one would okay with another recession to get this guy voted out. If coronavirus is the answer, bring it on.
10
I don’t want to sound like a whackado prepper holed up in a cave in Utah with AK15’s, or whatever those guns are called, but I’m buying seeds & getting ready to grow my own food in my yard. I’m retired and don’t have to leave the house. As long as the city water supply holds, I can survive until autumn.
I’d suggest anyone with a yard do the same. Should this turn out to be a false alarm, well, you’ll have fresh food for months & lower your food bills. If you live in NYC, only the wealthy will eat, I suspect.
7
Thinking your government might have helpful advice? Remember being advised to get duct tape and plastic sheeting?
Trust your common sense.
3
This administration with all of its “acting” directors is ill prepared. The Republicans want a weak Federal government and don’t want to spend money. So that’s what we have. More people will die than if we had been better prepared. Bush was warned about Al Qaeda and did nothing. Trump doesn’t even listen to anyone so why should we be surprised if we are unprepared? I’ll just stay inside.
8
I want to read more on the student that returned from China and felt sick so we went to the hospital for testing. Cost him $ 3,000 dollars to get checked out for the virus.
8
No worries, folks. Mr. Trump and the Republicans are in charge of managing the coronavirus--you know, the Republican Party, the party that has been campaigning for decades against our own government, universal health care, the social safety net for the 99%, public health, clean air and water, food, medicine and drug safety...
As St. Reagan said:
“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem, government IS the problem. It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so.”
"The ten most dangerous words in the English language are 'Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.'"
Don't vote for politicians who see no use for a competent federal government, quality health care for all citizens, or even clean water.
11
Fearmongering is speculating about a virus that has killed around three thousand people internationally. 40,000 people in the US alone have died of flu this flu season. We have no "cure" for ordinary flu, only shots that may or may not protect you from it. Quit panicking and carry on with your life.
7
So we have too few N95 masks (about 30 million) available?
The evidence so far is that the masks are not effective against the coronavirus. We have 30 million of something that will do nothing but offer a false sense of security. And Trump wants to buy more. How very Republican of him.
An N95 respirator can protect, but normally requires special training to use it effectively.
I wonder how many of the respirators are available? How about training programs?
2
@Mark Johnson
No one has any idea how the virus is spread. From the responses here it seems most have been duped.
The cure for the coronavirus might be respirators or vaccines, but it also may be nothing even remotely medically related.
From what I can tell, and knowing the current political climate, the cure is paranoia and hate. Trump's favorite remedies for every problem.
1
If the CDC is stating, "preparing for significant disruption of our lives.” then what does that encompass? I wish we had more details what those are! If China, Italy, and other countries are "containing" the situation, then what should we prepare for now?!?
5
Companies and government officials and school superintendents should be coming up with city and state and national policies and procedures NOW. Not much an average Jane can do but go along for the ride.
2
The shortsightedness of our Repuplican politicians may come back to haunt us in unpredictable ways.
The refusal of medicaid expansion in many red states has led to the closing of many rural hospitals. Significant portions of rural (Red) America are essentially healthcare deserts. The brazen and unwise attempts to destablize ACA has led to rising numbers of uninsured people. These actions may create the critical mass that may ignite a viral epidemic in the US.
Uninsured people won't come to the ER until they are extremely ill. And before they finally go to the ER, that they will be working in our restaurants, stores, nursing homes and offices and exposing dozens or hundreds to the virus.
How exactly will we be able to deal with and stem the crises when we have entire communities that don't even have access to hospitals and medical personnel?
Maybe it is time to ask the most important question of Mr. Trump and the GOP: Where is that most "beautiful" healthcare plan that you promised that would be better than Obamacare?
25
@Confused democrat you had me at ‘confused’...
1
With our great health care delivery system and universal health care for everyone we should be in great shape.
16
There is getting ready to do:
Inventory containment gear, ventilators, heart, lung blood machines, sedatives etc throughout our nation.
Develop rapid diagnosis assays and a central site for sequencing etc
Design standard operating procedures at every hospital for containment, sudden increases in acute care and dissemination of knowledge
This just to name a few. But enough to get ready that no time to waste.
8
There is an active management preventive measures that may slow the exposure of the US public to the spread of the virus. For example, S. Korea, Iran, and Japan failed to institute entry barring from China. Compare that to Singapore who had higher initial numbers. Now Singapore has less than the three countries. WHO was wrong. Singapore and US took a better approach.
Now it is time to institute similar measures to what we did to China to include Japan, Korea, and Iran. No. This will not prevent but will buy time to develop vaccine and perhaps an effective treatment.
8
@John
Yes, I see you are on the right track! Italians welcome as usual!
3
You know what is appalling and unacceptable? Mr Azar just having to be so , so sure to flatter and grovel to Donald Trump. This is a crisis. Grow up.
13
Viral epidemics are virtually all seasonal, and it is likely that coronavirus cases will decrease and eventually disappear as the weather gets warmer. That's the way it is with the flu and the common cold. And virtually all contagious diseases, viral or otherwise, are seasonal. Spring is less than a month away. I don't know why the CDC didn't mention that. The end is likely less than three months away.
2
@michjas
They didn't mention it because they were embarrassed to learn that you knew so much more about infectious diseases than them.
5
@michjas
Actually viruses do not disappear when the weather warms up.
Have you studied science ever or are you an epidemiologist?
Because my sister is a doctor and you are flat out wrong.
2
hard to imagine we are well prepared as a country, we just tried to buy n95 masks, everywhere is sold out or charging 10x or more of normal retail. So, as individuals how exactly should we prepare?
4
I have a dozen in my emergency preparedness pack. They were purchased four years ago. Local stores here have plenty in stock.
1
@gary
The USDA approves only two brands of N95 respirator mask with specific product numbers for such health emergencies. (Four selections in all.) There are none available. None. You can view this on the USDA website. Were they purchased by China? Have they been hoarded in big numbers by people who to re-sell at huge prices?
I think every American must think carefully for themselves about how best to prepare for their own safety.
2
@Rock Winchester
No, they don't. Masks that protect against this particulate are not available. They're not in stock.
1
We need to get the real facts from health experts and scientists and not from this administration's talking points- they just make it up as they go along and bluff, bluff bluff.
Perhaps the World Health Organization is the most informed place on the coronavirus and it's spread. Time for people of America to make our own shadow government and find people who are educated in pandemics as ours is useless. Yep, here is the big crisis we were fearing as sane people across our country know D.T and their "acting team" is over their head and out to sea without a periscope. They couldn't care less about us, but are only worried about markets/money and election losing.
19
I’m surprised Trump has not fired the head of the CDC yet, for lettting the public know that Covid-19 is a potential threat. The stock market drops are really hurting his re-election campaign.
24
@JLR
He hasn't connected those dots yet.
He really isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
3
So what are we supposed to do to "get ready" exactly?
With literally no leadership in this country that is willing to be honest with us, that's going to be hard. And many people cannot "work from home". Service jobs, for example. Health care, for example. What is the number of people who cannot work from home, and what will their lost wages do to the economy?
Should we stop accepting packages from China? From South Korea? Should we stop going to routine doctor appointments?
We need a lot more guidance on this than vague warnings.
13
@Shelly Thomas
I heard today on NPR that the single biggest defense against the coronavirus is washing your hands frequently.
5
Any update if this outbreak will prompt a cancellation of the July 2020 Tokyo Olympics? It’s only $12 billion at stake for these Games.
2
Azar knows as much about global health concerns as Trump knows about the Constitution. What a sad, pathetic country we live in.
18
@Stefan Ackerman
I wish that Barack Obama would step up and take charge from his front lawn. I had quarrels with some of his policies but never with his calm, reasoned approach to leading.
Crisis is way over the head of the inhabitant of the White House. This is yet another example of how foolish voter decisions can damage us all.
5
I am concerned that the evolving coronavirus pandemic will create a global shortage of critical pharmaceuticals. The corporate offshoring to China for production of most vital medicines has created a serious national security issue.
China [and India] is the supplier of approximately 80% of the key active ingredients and chemical building blocks for most of the global prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and vitamins. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) charged with oversight of our drug suppliers [i.e., China], has incurred major fiscal cuts in its drug inspection programs. These cuts have hampered the agency’s effectiveness in conducting critical quality control inspections of over 1000 drug production sites throughout China making the indispensable drug ingredients.
Production quality control processes are lacking at many of China’s drug making facilities. The scariest aspect is the FDA is staff-handicapped for the task of conducting the critical periodic inspections of the growing number of China’s drug production facilities. With the evolving coronavirus pandemic in China most of the drug production sites are likely in a shutdown mode. Will the FDA have staff in China to resume their limited inspections of these sites once they restart production? Relocating pharmaceutical production back to the USA must be a top national security priority and a key campaign issue for the Nov 2020 elections.
13
The comments express a lot of hysteria and panic. People should not wonder about what they need in a Coronavirus emergency. They can just add a few things to the emergency preparedness supplies and kits that they put together for forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters. Everyone knows that they need a kit and has a plan so why are they so worried?
9
@Rock Winchester
Sure. What's a death rate multiple times that of flu?
Don't need to worry that all the CDC says is wash your hands, and no advice to determine if you have the virus or not.
And who's concerned about being kept inside for a couple weeks in a quarantine? Just eat the couch. Or the dog.
5
@Rock Winchester
Perhaps you gave a life that allows you to stay home for six weeks, locked down with your provisions.
2
Trump was going to drain the swamp. Remember that when you hear from Alex Azar the Health and Human Services Secretary guiding us through the Coronavirus epidemic. Yes, Alex Azar at the helm at HHS at a time of public health crisis - attorney, pharmaceutical company lobbyist and Trump loyalist. Trump has cut the budget for The Centers for Disease Control - as all Republican administrations have. We don't need to understand public health. We need to understand that a pharmaceutical company lobbyist knows nothing about public health. That is what we should be alarmed about. Drain the swamp -- vote Trump out in November.
28
Corona virus it is.
More importantly, anyone for climate destruction and total species annihilation?
11
Republicans need the money for their wall! CDC funds can't be skimmed for their campaigns.
14
We all knew that there would come a time during his presidency that trump’s lies, ignorance and hollowing out of what he calls the “deep state” would collide with a tragedy of potentially epic proportions.
The approach of the virus onto our shores is such a circumstance. He says one thing, members of his administration say another. The Senate is silent. The ignorance, contrary views emanating from his cohorts, the dramatic fall of financial markets and the fear of serious illness-if not worse-can cause a panic in the country not experienced in generations.
21
We need to consider global governance based on principles of humanity, civilization and tolerance as a priority. With respect to pandemics like SARS and the coronavirus, the World Health Organization must be provided with data and resources that autocrats are loath to expend. The same holds true for intergovernmental cooperation on climate change projected to cause the displacement of hundreds of millions of climate refugees by the end of the century. But perhaps a fundamental effort to curb the nationalist uptick that goes cozy with autocracy is to grant the ICC teeth in the fight against core international crimes, for which we should add ecocide to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Any state leader, including Trump if he continues to prevaricate, ought to be held accountable for deaths from this global pandemics.
If he lies on this count, send him to the Hague!
4
You had me at ‘we need to consider global governance’ .. The issues of our time simply do not respect our historic borders. Throughout the world what happens here impacts what happens there. Globally we are thoroughly entwined and need to start acting like it!
4
@JohnHickman
Exactly, I think we're better off figuring out a way to harnass this instantaneous technology to create public awareness of the benefits of global governance than to submit to the fatalism of reactionary forces that want to convince us that the nation state system can continue promoting a logic out of joint with reality. History matters, but so does acceptance of technological changes that create a new awareness of our shared humanity.
I don't know why everything is bashing Trump. The virus is under control in the US. The probability is high that it will spread to here simply because it is unpredictable but probable that that will happen. Unless the US quarantines every person entering the country from the Middle East and Europe it is impossible to prevent it from coming here, and that is not possible. To stay safe limit your interaction with strangers and distance yourself from anyone you know was in a country with confirmed cases of the virus. Unless you have contact with someone who came from these places you are safe, for now.
4
@Michael -
It would be helpful for you to read the article, in total, before you post.
As for Trump, he made huge cuts in the CDC budget. That budget is designed to help us deal with epidemics.
He's appointed 2 men with no public health experience to run things- One's a pharma lobbyist, the other a TV financial advice guy. THAT's why Trump is being bashed. Let's just hope that none of your friends or family die.
37
@Michael That is not how spreading viruses work. They don't all come from Europe or the Middle East. Please read more actual news.
3
Perhaps this virus will prove what all the human wreckage of famine, floods, and fires has not been able to - we are all citizens alike of one world, government safety nets and scientific facts matter, and we must work together.
We mobilize against an extraordinary bug while making excuses for everyday butchering each other. Illness runs its course. Human conflict perpetuates itself - until people weary of blood running through the streets.
Why are we so motivated to stop one sort of death and not the other?
17
Hey CDC exactly what does it mean to prepare? Here’s an idea! How about someone, oh I don’t know maybe someone in charge of the US government’s response to this health crisis, go on national TV and tell the citizens what steps we are to take now to prepare. That might be a good idea right? Is anyone in charge? Anyone?
29
You may find the free, detailed information on the FEMA website helpful. Maybe you could read “Get Ready Now”. Use your laptop computer while the TV commercials are on tonight.
The CDC is not helping... this virus will be a national emergency and I hope we do as well as the Chinese actually because they have had a national mobilization on an unprecedented scale. We cannot just build mega hospitals in days like the Chinese. Apparently there is NO plan by our Homeland Security Department or the CDC. There are no testing kits available to local authorities, no quarantine centers identified for patients who are not evacuees, and overall no plan at all except possibly to "let states handle it". This is something that the Times should be investigating. In addition there was a briefing that was deemed "classified" Everything that makes Trump look bad is now locked up as classified.... There needs to be a major outcry.
34
“We cannot hermetically seal off the United States to a virus,” Alex M. Azar II, the secretary of health and humans services, told a Senate panel on Tuesday. “And we need to be realistic about that.”
Well said Alex, you're previous experience selling men's shoes is really paying off.
Good thing we're prepared for..wait...
In 2018, the Trump administration fired the government’s entire pandemic response chain of command, including the White House management infrastructure.
Climate change? What climate change?
Pandemic? What pan...oh...
45
We always knew that Trump would not be able to handle any real threat to national security. We prayed that we could somehow get to January 2021 and a new President without a crisis. Well those prayers have gone unanswered and we will now see how a corrupt, mentally-ill, narcissist leads the country in a real crisis. I'm scared to death.
35
@Horace
If we're lucky, he'll somehow hand this off to someone who has a clue and actually wants to help the country get through the upcoming crisis. Alex Azar doesn't seem up to the task, but perhaps he'll lean on others who do. Meanwhile, we all need to prepare outselves and our family and friends to help ourselves and each other! Dr. Messonier told us today to prepare, so let's do that rather than complain about Trump.
1
@Barbara
I can do both.
2
This Administration is not prepared for anything let alone anything serious. donald's overseas bragging about a 3 billion dollar arms sale that, just like the Japanese corn sale, will never come off. 3 billion $ ? What is that, a 747 full of helicopters?
The fact is grifters and reality don't mix. Has anyone noticed that fact already with this crew? It's obvious.
Coronavirus pretty much is sounding like reality. Expect the joke that is this Administration to try to con their way through this disaster.
9
average out China's suggested mortality rate of 2 percent and Iran's suggested mortality rate of 7 percent and do the math.
"[Harvard epidemiologist] Lipsitch predicts that, within the coming year, some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. But, he clarifies emphatically, this does not mean that all will have severe illnesses."
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/02/covid-vaccine/607000/
4
@Mary Elizabeth Lease
The 2% "average" is bad but is most disturbing when broken down according to age. Updated for today by the CDC China (their organization, not our CDC) has a bar graphic by age. Eyeballing the bar graphic from a recent study of Chinese data (as of Feb. 11th with 44,672 confirmed cases) indicates a death rate of around
14% for those over 80
8% for those 70-79
3-4% for those 60-69
a little 2% for thsoe 50-59
a little under 1% for 40-49
and so with decreasing age.
Based on the graphic found here:
https://virologydownunder.com/so-you-think-youve-about-to-be-in-a-pandemic/
Lots of other good information at this site as well.
Again, based soley on what happened in China, and be reminded that these numbers will shift based on information that will certainly be updated going forward.
Still, sobering statistics. The potential threat to the elderly of a novel virus with minimal treatment options is serious. And most don't consider 40 and 50 years olds really elderly but they are at great risk as well. This virus seems quite another order different than seasonal flu, which is bad enough.
12
@Name
Sad that we must go to Australian sources for information like this.
3
The real question is how prepared are hospitals, doctors, and other various health officials?
When I had influenza two months ago, I went into a clinic for help but the nurse practitioner did not believe I had the flu and was dismissing my symptoms as being merely a nasty virus. It was not until I begged for the flu test that one was finally performed which confirmed MY diagnosis.
21
"The coronavirus almost certainly will begin spreading in communities in the United States, and Americans should begin preparations now, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday."
Well, let's see. There's no vaccine currently available.
So, what reasonable preparations could one possibly make? Stock pile food supplies, toilet paper, other necessities? And then what? Stay barricaded in one's home? For how long? And what about one's employment? Stop working? Working from home although many do not have that option.
Thanks for the warning CDC officials but unless they have a sure fire plan of attack and a remedy if one is unlucky to contract this virus, then anything else they have to say is almost meaningless is not hollow.
Perhaps what might be helpful is a list of symptoms to look for and what to do if one suspects he or she has contracted the virus.
This potential crisis will be as difficult to manage as it is to pick up a needle with just one's elbows.
17
@Marge Keller
US employers will insist that employees keep coming to work until most people are sick. It will be "come in or lose your job".
This is how it always goes. I doubt our current government will act to protect people from such narrow minded thinking.
6
@Jerseytime
I tend to agree (sadly) with your assessment.
2
@Jerseytime
Really?
Every employer I’ve had for the past 40 years has said stay home if you’re sick.
Sick employees hurt the rest of the workforce.
1
It is a disgrace that the President is downplaying the coronavirus, as experts express increasing concern. When the President submitted his proposed budget in January, it included a big increase in military spending, along with cuts to the National Institute of Health, the Center for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, cuts to SNAP (food stamp program), cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs. This should tell you all you need to know. This President has been self involved during wildfires out west, severe storms and flooding in many states and in Puerto Rico. He has shown no inclination to lead, and no ability to empathize with Americans who had to endure horrendous conditions, lost their homes, lost their lives or family members. His main concern is that fear/concern over this public health threat might hurt the economy, and thus his re-election chances, and maybe the Trump Organization's bottom line. When it comes to the well being of all Americans (not just the top 1%), Donald Trump is a human wrecking ball.
26
Trump has devoted great effort through his mis-administration's three-plus years weakening the CDC, other federal health agencies and doctors. He has followed right-wing extremists' philosophy and playbook: Who needs federal health doctors and other experts? Turns out we, the American people, do.
16
The situation is getting critical and Warren Buffett said in an interview with CNBC that Bill Gates told him the vaccine the vaccine is still 10 years away.
6
What is lacking here is the detail that seems to be known now about COVID-19 and thus infection vs other outbreaks such as SARS and MERS. NYTimes, please verify and elaborate. I understand from other sources that COVID-19 genetics is more like a flu virus than SARS or MERS, and thus the greatest health risk is for immuno-weakened individuals. COVID-19 is more contagious because more people enter lengthy periods as infected but likely to survive. SARS and MERS were much more lethal and thus the infected people were less likely to be alive long enough to infect others. Appreciate verification and additional insight. This information will help with preparation and expectation for those in communities once the virus enters. It is clear that it's higher risk to travel given how contagious it is, again since it seems most people live for some time thru their infection and illness, and thus can infect others.
6
People keep saying it’s just like an ordinary flu . But we have a vaccine for the flu that so many Americans take and so that prevents the spreading of the regular flu virus . But we don’t have a vaccine for the Coronavirus . Which means more people will catch it , get sick and pass it on to many more people who are defenseless.
I’m worried .... If it starts around my area , I’ll just stay home . But I live with my 23 year old son , who definitely will not stay home unless it’s the law . Again , I’m really worried.
11
It is NOT like “ordinary flu”! It is 20 to 30 times more deadly. Don’t listen to “people”; listen to experts.
12
@Bill Hogwash. The overall mortality rate is less than the current strains of flu going around.
1
How to prepare, in response to another writer:
Read the CDC website, which has valuable information for the public.
People need to adopt good handwashing practices and control of droplets from sneezes and coughs.
Activities that are outside the home and not strictly necessary will need to be restricted, if the virus is demonstrated in your community. For example, my daily trip to the gym for exercise is not going to happen. I can exercise at home.
People who can work from home offices may be asked to do so. There will be more teleconferencing.
People can still go to stores, such as supermarkets, for necessary transactions.
I suspect that many physicians will restrict access to their offices to necessary and urgent matters until the virus levels in the community go down, and patients with symptoms of COVID, especially those with a fever, will need special pathways for care. I also expect that hospitals will restrict surgical procedures and other treatments to those that are urgent.
I suspect that people are going to keep larger distances between themselves and others, in respect to the recommendation to remain apart more than 6 feet. For those exposed to the virus, self-quarantine will be necessary. For anyone who may be ill and who would self-quarantine, friends and neighbors may be enlisted to go to the store for food and other supplies, or delivery services may be useful.
Masks will become commonplace.
We start with common sense here.
20
A poor time for Trump to be traveling outside the USA, yeah?
I would think Mr. Germaphobe would have worn a hermetically sealed plastic tent around himself in India.
Seriously, a lousy time to be globe trotting.
8
I think it’s a good time for him to globe-trot and show us how safe we are.
1
Over 8000 people have died from the flu in the united states this year so far. Just Sayin
4
Over 14,000 from the flu this season have died. Not the Coronavirus but the regular flu
3
Yes, of course it is upsetting that 8000 people have died of seasonal flu in the US this year. Coronavirus is several times as contagious and as much as as 10 times as lethal as the seasonal flu. Once endemic, casualty numbers from Covid-19 could be orders of magnitude greater than those 8000 deaths. Any comment rhat suggests that we are overreacting invites a less vigorous response to this potential pandemic, and serves the country poorly.
The best possible outcome is to one day discover that we overreacted to the threat. The worst possible outcome is to one day discover that we didn't do enough.
16
@Dobbs
Yep. And the Corona virus is 200x deadlier. 8000 x 200 = 1,600,000.
1
When do we get a tweet from you-know-who claiming immigrants carry Coronavirus?
10
Hopefully, the CDC will carefully chose words to avoid offending the White House, leading to replacement by another Trump sycophant.
6
I can't think of more incompetent, ignorant, uncaring people in the administration to address this problem. Trump even says it's not going to be a problem, and the CDC says to prepare for a pandemic. This is going to be a Keystone Cop episode...
24
Watch the babysnatcher fire the CDC doctors as deep-state never-Trumpers. This is worse than briefing the Congress on Putin's latest effort to interfere in the election on Trump' behalf
10
That's it! I'm throwing all my Corona beers out!
10
Criminal Trump and his syndicate (all republicans) have their collective heads in the sand. Not much different from Bush W being "prepared" for Katrina.
"It's only going to affect the peasants so we are good"
8
Senator Kenndy, why the outrage now? You and your fellow Republicans have let Trump get away with everything short of murder. Something Trump claims he could get away with if he did it on Fifth Ave in front of everyone.
As an enabler of Trump, you also have a hand in the creation of this government of temporary, acting heads of our significant Departments. Their sole purpose is to do as little as possible, cut staff, and stonewall Congress, and now the Senate.
The problem with the fake GOP cry for a small government that is now beginning created is this small government cannot handle a BIG problem
I surely hope nothing significant/serious happens on any front.
25
We all knew it was a matter of time before the amateur ethic of this administration showed why know-nothingism is good for populist political movements, not so good for actual governance. I thought it would be a terrorist attack, a war started by accident, or a natural disaster of weather. And to be fair, the administration has done its best to bungle in all of those arenas. I never thought it would be a virus. Did not see that coming. Neither did they. Now we watch as they lie, mismanage, do nothing, etc. All while telling us everything is fine. "Never apologize."--DJT
20
"...there are no signs of sustained transmission in American communities yet." This is ONLY because the CDC tests allegedly shipped out to the states for use have proven to be utterly defective, but the U.S. health authorities have refused to allow states such as Hawaii (that specifically requested) permission to use test kits from other countries. Further, no cases are considered to be confirmed until the CDC does an independent analysis of each and every test that is required to be shipped to IT after having been administered in a locality. Oh yeah. I don't know about you, but I already see what's happening and what's planned for we, the people of the United States. So when you see the code word "PREPARE" that means stock up on a year's supply of food, beg borrow and/or steal any prescription meds you will need for said year, stock up all those plastic bottles filled with your allegedly "clean" mineral and etc. water, and by all means, buy every form of disinfectant known to mankind and I have no idea how many tons of toilet paper and paper towels will be needed but stock up on those too. Hide all of this in your backwoods get-away in Costa Rica or Idaho and oh yeah, don't forget to make sure you have at least a 100 year supply of ammo for your 52 guns. Now, how many of us are going to run out and start doing this - I can guess, can you?
4
As stocks plunge, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow says U.S. has coronavirus ‘contained’
Top health officials back off CDC messaging that coronavirus spread in U.S. is inevitable
Trump needs people to hide vegetables in his mash potatoes to get better nutrition.
Sad.
Pathetic.
Dangerous.
13
If things are so fine that our president could cut funds to CDC, and his State Dept thought it was fine for infected Americans to fly home with healthy Americans on a commercial plane, then how about our president travels to Milan, Italy and Tehran, Iran and China and visit our US bases, housing infected individuals to show us how safe we are. Maybe then I’ll believe him and his best and brightest.
1
Apparently we're all about to get sorted out.
11
Sadly, yes. All of us.
3
Per our President, the brain injuries suffered by our troops in Iraq were only "headaches". In this instance, we're looking at a pandemic of "the sniffles."
24
This Republican Dictatorship is systemically destroying Government. Don't expect it to be "prepared" to manage a coronavirus outbreak here. The Dictator is as mean-spirited and inept as he is opposed to science. He's not capable of setting a table for dinner. Republicans wouldn't know how to address anything but their own selfish greed if their lives depended on it.
God Help Us survive the Republican Dictatorship.
13
Don't miss the point: preparation is moving forward as planned: lax initial response to ensure virus spread (check), warning to soften public reaction (check), school closing, event cancellation, work restrictions (pending), domestic travel restrictions, quarantines (pending), martial law, election cancellation (pending), declaration of "elections will happen soon, until then I'm in charge" (pending). Welcome to Trump.
10
The virus has spread outside China. But, it’s still only in Iran, South Korea, Japan and Northern Italy. Obviously this is bad, but surely it’s still too early to throw up our hands and give up. Isn’t it time to tighten travel bans and help those countries get it under control? A couple of days ago the Australian government was talking about bringing back Chinese students because our China-dependent higher education sector was squealing because of lost fees. (Too bad about the health of the population). If you ask me, the governments are sick of the travel restrictions and economic slowdown and just want to let her rip and hope for the best.
4
President Trump and his administration may have met their match in the war on truth. Viruses, biology, and science do not lie, can not be manipulated, and impact all equally.
20
As expected, the story changes within minutes. This went from "Contained to China" to "Pandemic" in about a week. With the incubation period being 14-20 days and so many people asymptomatic this is going to spread like wildfire with an R Naught that exceeds the Spanish Flu
2
If you go shopping, arrive early before the crowds, wear disposable gloves outside the house, use alcohol to spritz your hands often.
4
I used to manage food safety for a large food company and taught thousands proper hand washing. Washing hands: regular soap and water (doesn't need to be antibacterial), wash fronts and backs and fold the fingers of both hands together (like a prayer folding in to a teepee) and slide back and forth so you get friction in between fingers, all to the tune of the children's song Row, Row Your Boat x 2. In other words, "Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream." You do fronts and backs and in between fingers like your hands are in a dance, singing the song (so you know it's been 20 or more seconds) and it's the friction and total coverage that's key.
20
Millions of Americans without health insurance and those who are under underinsured, combined with those who won’t be paid if they stay home sick, will make all predictions for a quick resolution of this issue totally wrong.
18
Willful ignorance has a much higher mortality rate than the Covad-19 virus and it is a much greater threat to our survival as a species.
4
Does this mean that Donald Trumps rallies will cease?
If so how will he fill his valuable time instead?
13
I am horrified to think that an inevitable, indiscriminate, non-partisan pandemic is being or will be politicized. Yes, the percentage of deaths to infections is small, but those dying are the elderly. In the United States they will be our grampies and nanas and aunties and the sweet little old lady across the street. I don't care how they vote. I don't care if they are against abortion or are proponents of civil rights; legal citizens or undocumented immigrants; gun owners or pot smokers. Just this once, could responsible, compassionate, level-headed, realistic, service-oriented grown up officials with the power to do so step up to the task of protecting Americans, and could ego-driven, narcissistic, pompous, fear-mongering, self-serving, anti-science, anti-equality politicians and pundits from both parties just step aside. If you aren't willing to protect America's elders, at least don't sabotage the efforts of the public servants who will.
12
@Kay It will be sweet little babies, toddlers, the immune compromised and the elderly. The poor will probably suffer more because if they don’t have insurance they’ll hesitate to go for treatment. Our bodies have no immune response to this novel virus and the public doesn’t have good information about how this bug spreads.
1
@Cindy Mackie: I was running an errand at the mall today, and there were mothers with very young children everywhere. A newborn caught my eye. Maybe a week or two old at most. I was a bit startled to see a baby that young in public, even without considering COVID-19. I found myself wondering whether or not people are really aware of the dangers this virus poses to the young and old and if they are prepared to change their behaviors accordingly.
Fearless Leader and Supreme Omnipotent High Commander Trump says it’s the common cold; a hoax to ‘make me look bad.’ That’s what Rush Limbaugh said; and Rush knows more than the scientists - he’s a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, after all!
No doubt any scientists at the CDC who failed to display unconditional loyalty to Fearless Leader have been purged by now.
We’re loaded for bear and ready to take on any challenge! We’re looking into this strongly! USA! USA! USA!
9
where is President Trump in all this? Should he not be in the Oval office dealing with the preparations for the crisis?
6
What impact will this have on our Presidential candidates and election season in general? There's a virus circulating that apparently takes a major toll on old people. Most candidates are in their 70's and some of them with heart conditions. This does not bode well.
5
Hillary Clinton could be President right now surrounded by a cabinet of highly intelligent people, many who actually believe in doing what’s right for the country. Hillary Clinton could be President right now, and the situation would be on the way to being handled . Thanks to the Electoral college we have someone in charge who only knows how to do 2 things: fire people and blame others. Hillary Clinton could be President.
Elections have consequences.
33
Thank God she’s not.
Time to devote everything we have to developing a vaccine. It could be the difference between a million and 100 million deaths. The US cannot control how other countries quarantine or if it will break out but we can mobilize and cut red tape for a vaccine.
4
@PictureBook An untested vaccine could have worse consequences than a virus that so far appears mild in many cases. I’d risk the virus before I’d get an injection of some unknown drug. Remember thalidomide? That was supposed to be safe too.
2
This very much worries me . I live 20 minutes from Newark Airport where flights from overseas are constantly coming in with people living in the New Jersey suburbs . All it takes is a handful of people carrying the virus to spread it exponentially. Having Lyme disease , my immune system is already compromised . And apparently it is highly contagious .
I’m worried .....
6
@Karen E, I don't blame you. I am 68 with a heart condition and would be a prime target for the novel coronavirus. I think so-called healthy people don't realize, either, that COVID-19 is killing otherwise young and healthy people in China although of course we shrug here in the states about the fact that most of the victims appear to be "elderly and/or suffering from some other chronic disease or illness." Like we're disposable. I don't know about you, but I don't have any faith in a government regime that thinks somebody like me is entirely disposable. It may even save money on Social Security payments and Medicare benefits I would otherwise use if I live out my estimated life span of about 83. Golly gee!
12
Politics aside...
Of course if you going to “prepare yourself and your family” based in past experiences, yes Republicans did a poor job, just the true.
Now this is serious and I refuse to even consider count on government to protect myself and family, I am sure in the end of the day government will do what is best for them and the country, we all hope they do that everyday.
In the meantime I will be my own government in my household and prepare myself and my family including get myself more educated about this virus, what avoid and first responders.
People need to focus more on themselves and stop blame government for everything.
1
@Roxx Marino, in the face of an ACTUAL national emergency, one expects the Federal government to be able to marshall all the resources of the 50 states combined to address whatever the emergency is. You're saying you can go it on your own? Well, rutsa ruck when you can't find a hospital that will accept you because there are no field hospitals to accept patients. Want medications? HA! Expect food shipments to continue? HA! Think your job is going to continue? HA! Think schools aren't going to close down and you'll have kids to deal with at home 24/7/365? HA! Better stock up on your toilet paper now, for tomorrow you may be paperless...
Please can the Times’ journalists ask about the CDC and test kits? As far as I understand, no one has been tested in my state because the CDC will only accept tests (which take 1 week to process) if the person has symptoms and China travel history (not Italy Korea Japan, no travel). This seems very short sighted - we would have to have a bad outbreak before anyone would be tested at all. How come Cambodia and Iran can test hundreds of people and we can’t? Are other States doing tests? Is the CDC considering accepting tests from patients with symptoms but without China travel? Do the CDC tests work? How likely is it that States will be able to do their own tests by mid-March when the CDC said it would try to release new test kits?
26
This will be Trump’s Katrina, except that it will be at a national scale.
It’s also likely one long “October surprise.” Bernie and Medicare for All will win. If they let us out to vote.
33
As much as I don't like the guy, I don't see how this will be Trump's Katrina. It will be the opposite.
Yes, a tanking economy should be Trump's Katrina because he's used up almost every means of shoring up the economy resulting in a large deficit - the bill will come due. However, if this hits the U.S. then the economy will tank and he will simply blame the Chinese. The fact that the U.S gov't isn't prepared will result in more people questioning if the government can even administer a national healthcare program. End result: Trump wins 2020. Perception is everything and Trump is great at that.
2
@X Don Trump;Marco Rubio and Rick Scott are actively attacking Bernie; which is turning me into a Bernie Bro. If they hate him; he has a great chance of winning. Will Coronavirus be Trump's Katrina? We can only pray. I am very sorry for all the people who will be sick;but;Trump/GOP defunded:CDC;Science;Education;Climate Change and more
1
I'm finding more info on coronavirus by watching the financial channels. Not much on the cable news networks. Go figure.
20
How come we have to prepare? Why couldn't our government have been prepared?
9
@Emiliano Campos
Your statement, my friend, illustrates why it is so dangerous to had over control to the government and to depend on them completely for everything. Prepare your household with extra food, water, and other supplies. Do not expect anyone else to do it for you.
2
@Emiliano Campos
I guess the "blame game" is a whole lot easier than what used to be common sense. So; the Government had U.S. citizens take a Cruise Ship against their will. Our Citizens get off these Ships in foreign ports and are forced to eat stuff that our FDA would never allow here. Our citizens are then forced to buy trinkets of stuff to bring here that might be contaminated.
Go to your place of prayer and thank your deity that here in the U.S., you will receive the best care in the World. And if you vote for a Dem., get ready for the same year wait to see a Doctor as in Canada & England. Easy to blame the Government, hard to vote for Trump again?
What should the govt have done to prepare?
2
Didn't trump's people say it's the "common cold"? I really wish we had a real president.
31
Do not believe one word coming out of China, at least CCP sources. Beijing is on lockdown. So are other large cities. They need to get people back to work or the economy tanks and the same time control the spread. Can't be done. Tens of thousands fled Wuhan.
4
how to prepare?
that train left the station years ago.
11
Of course the virus could spread. Do we
Americans really think we are that exceptional that we can outwit a virus that is spreading? It's not a time to panic, but a time to be informed and know the risks. I am always intrigued by how things can change oh so quickly in our world. I'm not sure the wall or our military or our illustrious president is going to protect us on this one!
5
@Bella
No virus can get through that wall!!
2
Hard to imagine what it must be like living in a country where half the public believes what the politician who's willing to lie to protect himself tells them, and decide the medical experts are all liars when they tell us whether we're all safe or not.
11
Here is where we as Americans need a strong, intelligent leader but we don't have a president that reads or absorbs knowledge. My God, we are in trouble!
Trump rules by his gut and his temper.
He has surrounded himself with people who are afraid of him and who don't know any more than he does about the serious issues that concern America.
I have read many hours of material on the coronavirus by well respected scientists and infectious disease specialists and I would bet I know more about it than the "yes men and women" who surround Trump today. And that's an awful thought.
Trump is a poor excuse of a man, let alone a president, and I dread living in the age of this pandemic with him in the Oval Office. He lets things slide and takes short cuts on everything.
The CDC and other important federal agencies lost funding in 2018 with GOP senate approval...remember that in Nov 2020.
Trump gutted our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention thinking who needs it! Now a coronavirus pandemic.
Way to go Trump.
16
@American2020 Trust me on this one. His gut tells him the worst case death count is no electoral threat.
1
I've never panicked about a public health issue like this before despite having multiple autoimmune diseases which make me incredibly vulnerable to any virus.
I was frightened when H1N1 struck in 2009 yet understood the US government was competent, well-funded, organized, had excellent leadership, starting with President Obama, and that agencies were prepared.
Trump and his incompetent GOP sycophants don't believe in science and can't handle this. They mocked Congressional Democratic demands for more money and resources to battle the Coronavirus for over a month.
Trump already dismantled much of our national and local defenses against pandemics, then just pushed for more massive cuts, including a 12% cut to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a 10% cut to the Centers for Disease Control.
CDC cuts were nearly a billion dollars for 2019 alone. Trump proposed destroying federal and state public health protections after cuts already crippled capacity to respond to a dire health crisis.
Trump sought to cut $30 million for public health preparedness and response and over $78 million for immunization funding, including the development of immunizations against new deadly strains like Coronavirus. Finally, Trump tried to kill funding for epidemiology research at the state level.
Trump and the GOP constantly pretend government and its institutions using fact based analysis aren't to be trusted; that competence doesn't matter. We will now pay for their lies.
37
@bud
What does that have to do with the virus? I know. When you people are confronted with facts your response is to criticize Obama because you've got nothing else.
6
@bud The ACA gave health insurance to millions and let people with preexisting conditions purchase affordable insurance. It also slowed the rising costs of Medicare. Was it perfect? No, but it was a start and could have been built upon. Right now there is a Trump case before the Supreme Court that could take away coverage for preexisting conditions. We are going backwards on healthcare, not forwards.
8
@bud
I laid out facts. Trump has destroyed our national defenses against viral outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics which President Obama strengthened.
Obama understood that when facing an epidemic only government can do what must be done on a national scale, and further that government had an obligation to help all Americans, even those who hated him for no reason. That Trump and his followers hate facts doesn’t mean that the facts suddenly don’t exist. Coronavirus is totally immune to the lies of your narcissistic and incompetent hero.
Trump supporters think it's better to die of Coronavirus that have a system which saves all Americans, including them, from deadly diseases. If those who voted for Trump were the only ones who were going to die because Trump massively cut money and resources to battle devastating diseases it would be just, but that isn't how a pandemic works.
Finally, as to your griping about my supposedly not receiving $2,500; it's pure disinformation.
Here's a real number for you: 54 million Americans.
54 million Americans – or 27% of all adult Americans under 65 —have pre-existing health conditions which made them uninsurable in the individual markets that existed before the Affordable Care Act. I'm one of those people, so don't dare pretend that Obama didn't help Americans and save millions of American lives.
Obama did this for all Americans, whether they voted for him or against him. That’s what a real American president and leader does.
Are coronavirus articles behind your paywall? If so, please release for the public good in this Public Health Emergency. Thank you.
20
Everyone knows that the CDC is infested by hardened Deep Staters determined to derail our dear leader's mighty plan for the restoration of American Greatness. I can be on my death bed gasping for my last breath and no one will convince me otherwise.
5
Looks like it is time for trump to fire some folks at the CDC. Sheesh.
3
Reality check best defense is good Eminem system
1
Instead of calming the general population and the financial markets, our utterly clueless president is out there fabricating things like we are close to having a corona virus vaccine. Uh hello? This is not a campaign rally where a bunch of dolts can sop up his nonsense. This is a real life and death situation and one which Trump is totally unprepared to deal with.
14
Not a good time to have the most incompetent administration ever.
56
Wash your hands? That's what you've got for us. Elect a clown, expect a circus.
40
@Bonnie Kuykendall
It works. Try it.
Also, cut down on the bat soup.
3
bats are fine, it's the pangolin streaks you should steer clear of
1
Re: stocking up on your prescription medications in preparation for a potential city lockdown. Be prepared to pay full price out of pocket; your health insurance plan probably limits your supply to thirty or ninety days as part of their business model. Sorry situation, for sure.
18
So, what kind of steps are municipalities and hospitals supposed to take? Could you (NYTimes) ask the mayor and health commissioner of New York City which, if any, preparations they have made or are making? Right now, this statement by Trump's DHS secretary appears to be mostly about covering their rears, along the lines of "we told you it might get bad"; what we need are concrete measures, not blah-blah-bla.
12
@Pete in Downtown Supply chains are already disrupted. Think supply of everything but in particular chemicals needed in pharmaceuticals and you have a start point for planning.
@Songsfrown. I am only too aware of the dependence of many of our medications on the supply of key ingredients from China. In more normal times, our Federal Government would take charge, ask all major manufacturers of medications (branded and generics) about their supply situation, and make contingency plans as needed. Unfortunately, the current Executive branch is apparently too distracted, incompetent or both to execute on such tasks.
1
Finally one of the people in the CDC's that the corona virus will hit all Americans will dealing with a epidemic biblical proportion and the Trump administration is downplaying take aspirin water. His predecessor before him George Bush Junior do you remember him and Katrina where thousands of American died due to his handling of the hurricane. Republican Party they want get less money to people in need in a crisis they should not be responsible for their actions they need to be removed from office, you can thank the tea partiers and the 30% errors that voted for Pres. Donald Trump.
I would not accept any people into our country that has a corona virus Pres. Donald Trump has flew in some sick people that has the corona virus to our military bases for isolation well in Japan we have several military facilities why would you take an affected person and put them with us Mr. Pres. are you crazy is time for action is time to dump this president and Republicans all them before November will be responsible for the deaths of the corona virus that would hit all Americans November 3, 2020 cannot come quick enough. Pray for the Americans people that are going to be in the line of fire from this virus God help us all.
3
@Rick Johnson I hate Trump but he did not authorize bringing the sick people back. It probably doesn’t make much of a difference though. With such a long incubation period and transmission before symptoms are present this bug isn’t going to be controlled.
You know the political polarization of the Country has reached new heights when clinically ignorant partisans start making accusations regarding the Trump Administration’s ability to manage a potential virus outbreak that are purely political and have no basis in fact whatsoever.
Through on top of that, comments from people in other Countries suggesting Americans are too poor to go to the doctor, and so the virus will spread undetected throughout our Country, and you have the best example of why the comment section in the NYT is the absolute worst place to get accurate information.
1
Larry Kudlow-Baghdad Bob
No one in this administration can be trusted!
They’ve never told the truth.
Why should they start now?
15
As far as stretching toilet paper supplies, here's what they did in the olden days. In the outhouse, each person had their own little cloth that they hung on their own nail. To adapt to modern cleanliness standards, cut an old washcloth or dishrag into 4 equal squares. When you need to use it, take one cloth and fold it in half and place one or two squares of toilet paper also folded in half and blot. Put toilet paper in toilet to flush and keep the cloth in a small dish under the cabinet or sink, wherever you can reach. Wash the cloth when you think you should. Do not flush the cloth.
You can also buy what is called a "peri bottle" with three holes on Amazon. Or you could use an extra catsup/mustard empty bottle you can buy or perhaps an empty dish soap bottle. It needs to be soft enough to squeeze. Fill it with warm water before you sit down, then when you've done your business, wipe with toilet paper and rinse with the warm water in the squirt bottle. Wipe or blot with toilet paper that has been wetted with the warm water, until you are clean. Do not use the little towel square for "number 2". You don't want to spread e coli germs so take no chances. Urine is sterile if you are healthy so no need to freak out about that. Both men and women should always wash their hands well with soap and water after being in the bathroom.
5
Or...just buy an “economy-sized” package of TP from Costco or Sam’s? ;<}
2
My work place here in Brisbane Australia has since early February had information sheets up in the toilets about how to wash your hands effectively - wet hands, soap them, scrub them for 20 seconds (sing happy birthday to yourself or out loud twice), rinse, dry thoroughly. Wash often, especially before eating, or after touching hand rails etc. They also have advice sheets up around the place on how to sneeze (into your elbow), and stay home if you’re feeling ill.
I just read our government had put in place it’s pandemic plan from late January. I guess they learnt a harsh lesson with the bushfire crisis.
11
@Gregory J It is no longer recommended to sneeze into your elbow. Sneeze into a tissue and throw the tissue away. I am an RN and this is what we are being told now.
4
@maria pappas thanks Maria!
1
@maria pappas Good advice but some sneezes come so quickly you can’t grab a tissue. Elbow is better than your hand.
2
I think that if Trump uses his Sharpie and draws a thick black line around the US, we will have nothing to fear.
49
I expect him to use his Sharpie to delineate areas of viral infestation.
They will just happen to also be sanctuary cities.
6
Dr. Trump will keep us healthy and safe.
10
does anyone think Trump regrets doing any of the following?
"In May 2018, Trump ordered the NSC’s entire global health security unit shut down, calling for reassignment of Rear Adm. Timothy Ziemer and dissolution of his team inside the agency. The month before, then-White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pressured Ziemer’s DHS counterpart, Tom Bossert, to resign along with his team. Neither the NSC nor DHS epidemic teams have been replaced. The global health section of the CDC was so drastically cut in 2018 that much of its staff was laid off and the number of countries it was working in was reduced from 49 to merely 10. Meanwhile, throughout 2018, the U.S. Agency for International Development and its director, Mark Green, came repeatedly under fire from both the White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. And though Congress has so far managed to block Trump administration plans to cut the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps by 40 percent, the disease-fighting cadres have steadily eroded as retiring officers go unreplaced."
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-trump-united-states-public-health-emergency-response/
9
Nah. He has no regrets, zero self awareness.
7
Yesterday Trump tweeted that the coronavirus is completely under control in the U. S.
This is simply his "con of the day". Every day a new lie. His band of fools are incompetent to even understand the issues, let alone knowing how to lead us through a crisis.
Sweep these fools out of office. Do we not even have enough old fashioned gumption left to save ourselves? If we allow Trump to continue on, we are lost.
15
Singapore's National Environment Agency has posted COVID-19 disinfection guidelines for dorms, transport, schools, condos, food establishments, etc. They even have posted interim guidelines for cleaning residences and a list of useful cleaning products.
This must be what a functioning government looks like.
https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/public-cleanliness/environmental-cleaning-guidelines
9
@Carley
Here in the good old USA, we have this thing called the internet...where you can go to look up the EXACT same information.
@Lin Robins. Your comment exactly illustrates how misinformed Americans are about how technically and medically advanced the USA is. Singapore on average has a much more advanced internet infrastructure. Granted, it’s a much smaller area. Also Americans think our healthcare system is the best in the world, it is not. And currently, due to major budget cuts for the CDC by the current administration, we are not as prepared to take on this virus as we should which compounds our vulnerability to a pandemic more than normal.
1
@Lyn Robins Believe it or not but in the richest country in the world many people still don’t have reliable access to the internet. Since internet services are mostly private companies it is worth it to them to provide service in underpopulated areas.
If this thing cranks up I hope our government will use multiple ways to inform people on what to do and how to stay healthy. Unfortunately with the Trump administration we’re going to be told that everything is wonderful even when hospitals are packed to the ceilings.
2
But I thought the Stable Genius said it is "very well under control in our country" and that "they're all getting better". I wonder when we will start hearing about the first deaths.
I am reminded of Vietnam and how we were winning the war based on body counts, until the Tet Offensive revealed that the enemy was not defeated.
7
If you look at the numbers, it's not so scary. Our best infectious disease doctors are working on treatment and an eventual vaccine. Progress is at hand. The greatest risk is panic. People should take precautions, like washing their hands and avoiding sick people if possible. But the scope of the virus is being blown out of proportion. Solutions will emerge. What tells me this? Faith in humanity and science. Tragedies will occur, but the vast majority of people will be OK. The markets are reacting the way they are because of economic concerns, not health concerns.
9
@David I don't know what number you're looking at, but the ones I'm looking at a very scary. Those kinds of numbers would result in significant numbers of dead people in this country, and would quickly swamp our already packed hospital systems. When the leader of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases says that she has sat her kids down to say "we as a family need to be preparing for significant disruption of our lives” I'm not nearly as confident as you seem to be.
3
Trump eliminated the position at the global health security teams at NSC and DHS. Who knew we needed those positions?
11
And prepare for a backup caretaker for your kids/elderly relatives if you get sick.
5
The CDC and doctors and scientists are warning about this spreading in the US. Best from the White House will be, “I’m Donald Trump, and I do not approve of this message!”.
8
Do not believe anything Trump and his administration says about being prepared to handle the virus. Everything he says is usually a lie, so don't be fooled again. Prepare for yourself by getting protective masks and stay out of large groups at the very least. So far it is the best one can do.
8
Yes when he said that the country needed to appropriate at least an added 2.5 billion dollars to be better prepared, I did not believe him.
Where is the Surgeon General? HHS Sec. Is a Lawyer not a doctor.
6
We are dealing with facts and science here. I'm very much looking forward to our president wielding his Sharpie.
6
Republicans are about to learn that the Coronavirus is like the honey badger: "Honey badger don't care!"
The Coronavirus doesn't care about propaganda, made-up stories, Trump's lies, the religious Right's fake "science". It doesn't hear speeches, read tweets, and you do NOT want it to attend your rallies!
The Coronavirus is no respecter of boundaries or persons. It's a virus and it can only be managed by science, real science, not make-believe masquerading as "science".
This is reality.
10
Trump: Nothing to see here folks.
CDC: Get ready. This is not a drill.
Which would you believe?
13
This is a serious global health concern. Not to be overblown into hysteria of course, but certainly one that demands at least a modicum of "adult in the room" when it comes to our president. And what is he retweeting, just 30 minutes ago?
"Thank you Trump For giving up your wonderful life to help us-we the people of the United States-we are grateful."
"True" he responds, "but we are getting it all done."
Thousands of people have died from a rapidly spreading virus and the victim here is Donald Trump?!? Who has given up his wonderful life to help us?!?!
And his Metal of Freedom winner, Rush Limbaugh, claims the coronavirus is "fake news" created only to hurt Trump's re-election?!? It's just a common cold, he says.
Seriously GOP? Is there anything you'll stand up for in this circus administration?? Not even public health?!
11
We need leadership more than ever. Trump and his wacko con friends have purged out all the intelligent and experienced people from government. Trump needs to be relieved from duty. He is derelict in his job and he blackmails and tries to bribe and intimidate anyone who doesn't agree with him. We got a big mess on our hands.
10
how can the US be prepared when trump fired the pandemic experts in 2018?
13
I’m sure the evangelicals on Trump’s team have our backs on this, just as they do with climate change.
So relax.
And pray.
5
Perhaps we can get Donald to wear a mask after his trip to India. Its hard to do a ranting rage through a mask and besides all of his pictures would be better. SNL are you listening we need a little humor in this insanity.
7
Larry Kudlow says we have the virus contained, so don't worry, be happy!
6
Good thing we elected a reality TV star who hires out of loyalty and fires out of spite - I'm sure his cronies will be able to contain a pandemic.
10
"Rush Limbaugh: coronavirus a 'common cold' being 'weaponised' against Trump"
When RL presents things in this contrarian way, you can rest assured that it's NOT what he says it is.
5
Dr. Messonnier and Secretary Azar will be shown the door for contradicting the current president who proclaimed the virus is under control and will end well.
Donald Trump and Lewis Carroll’s Queen of Hearts: have they ever been seen together?
8
Trump thinks the planet revolves around him. Can we expect, or hope, that he will claim ownership of this, too?
7
Some practical tips on how to start preparing, since the CDC isn't really giving much:
- start practicing proper hand washing immediately. It's incredible how many people DON'T wash their hands (especially after using the restroom), or don't wash them for long enough. 20 seconds is a long time. Get into the habit now.
- start practicing NOT touching your face. We touch our face WAY too much. It takes practice to make it a habit and conscious awareness.
-start using other means to touch potentially contaminated places: use your elbow to hit the elevation button. Open doors with your shoulder/elbow.
- *slowly* start building an emergency reserve of food and water to ride out a potential outbreak in your area. You should do this anyway for natural disaster prep.
- practice good hygiene when coughing - into elbow, into tissue. NOT into open air or hands. It's amazing how many people will just cough EVERYWHERE.
Build good habits now BEFORE there is a widespread outbreak. In the best case scenario, you are just prepared without needing to be.
33
@Amy your list of advice is among the best I've seen.
And agree about the poor hand washing that goes on now. In the Ladies Room of the highway rest areas you see them not wet their hands first but instead put a dab of liquid soap on just the tips of their fingers and immediately rinse off without soaping the hands at all.
I would think they would be embarrassed of doing such a shoddy job of it.
great. i'm glad we fired all the scientists.
12
Believe women! In this case the head of the CDC. Not likely she’ll get to keep her job long though...
By the by, the Swedish goverment put out a booklet in 2018 with a checklist of supplies to stock up on ahead of war or crisis. It got a lot of international news coverage at the time. It includes a useful checklist of home preparedness items and tips (for example keep a few bottles of water in the freezer). They put quite a bit of research into it. You all might find it useful, too.:https://rib.msb.se/filer/pdf/28706.pdf
19
@Anna
Thank you so much for this information!
I will share it with everyone I know.
Be well and take care.
4
@Anna
Perfect. Thank you.
1
I fundamentally lost trust in the USA CDC after commercial planes going back and forth without any quarantine whatsoever during the extended West African Ebola epidemic a few years ago. I am somewhat glad that event happened so that I now know the decisions that the CDC makes are at best enigmatic and at worst politically charged. Be prepared for the CDC to say "we weren't ready for this" when the stuff hits the fan in the USA and folks are dying.
2
@K Henderson Of course that protocol with strong leadership from Obama not only saved the USA but also Africa from that particularly virulent epidemic.
Racism and fear. The look of republican terrorism practiced daily.
@K Henderson Why, nobody could see this coming. Who knew someone would fly a plane into a building?
Where is Jonas Salk when we need him the most?
4
@2B or not 2B The next Jonas Salk lost his NIH grant before he could discover a cure thanks to the Trump cuts to NIH.
12
Wait! Is Trump, or his administration acknowledging the voice of science now? If so, when this Corona virus thing abates, there are urgent climate issues to address.
7
Start the countdown to Azar getting the axe. Trump doesn’t tolerate bad news. The brilliant (and compliant) Larry Kudlow just said the U.S is hermetically sealed off from this virus and there’s no need for any feeling other than happy gratitude. Certainly no stock sell offs!
7
Just by reading Trump's statement from India I can only conclude that, yup, we're really gonna be ready...
4
The Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch is exacting in his diction, even for an epidemiologist. Twice in our conversation he started to say something, then paused and said, “Actually, let me start again.” So it’s striking when one of the points he wanted to get exactly right was this: “I think the likely outcome is that it will ultimately not be containable.
"Lipsitch predicts that, within the coming year, some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. But, he clarifies emphatically, this does not mean that all will have severe illnesses."
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/02/covid-vaccine/607000/
combine China's suggested mortality rate of 2 percent and Iran's suggested mortality rate of 7 percent and the math.
3
Plenty of people are asking what they can do personally. The following is listed on the CDC website:
* Stay at home when you are sick (yes I know it can be transmitted when asymptotic but I am sticking to within our control here)
* Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze with a tissue or something like that
(not your hand for plenty obvious reasons)
* Wash your hands often with soap and water
* Implement social distancing at schools, work, and public events
* Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects like door knobs
The below is my added commentary not from the CDC:
If you do get sick… don’t panic. You don’t need your immune system additionally compromised due to excess stress. Knowledge is power. Most (that means you) stand a good chance recovering. Tried and true-- rest, fluids, electrolytes, vitamins. Keep you airway clear, decongest, and fever reduce especially in the littles. Febrile seizures are not to be messed with. No sweating it out (I cringe when I hear people advocate for this)! Manage your symptoms. Care for yourself. Educate yourself.
I’m not particularly religious, but may god be with us. Regardless of what you believe, we’ll need some prayers too, and increased funding for the CDC (which should have never been cut but that’s another comment all together).
14
Those whose work is amenable to telecommuting, (location-independent work), should arrange to work from home to avoid exposing themselves to the risks of the workplace and/or public commuting spaces.
5
Well, if the president's wall is supposed to keep perceived bad stuff out, maybe he ought to divert money money from that project to preventing an invasion of a truly bad stuff.
2
Not to worry — the 'stable genius' has it all under control. "I know more than the epidemiologists, folks. I alone can fix the looming pandemic. Going down to my lab adjacent to the Situation Room to work on it, folks. The crooked CDC and the Deep State have it all wrong. I got this. Working on a great, great cure. Best ever. Terrific cure. Markets will bounce back when I have the serum, folks. You won't see Crazy Bernie come up with a cure, or any of the crooked Democrats. Trust me, folks." Boy are we in trouble!
11
Sounds like this will be like having an influenza epidemic without a vaccine. Observe closely anti-vaxxers, this is what you want-- a viral disease and no protective herd immunity from vaccination. Pity the rest of us have to be present also.
Being prepared for an epidemic is like buying insurance, you feel like you wasted your money if there isn't a claim. After a while, you stop buying insurance, and start spending that money on cruises in Petri dishes, and building useless decorator border walls. Then when disaster strikes, the grasshoppers beg for salvation.
8
Here's the deal... and I think its just going to be the way it is! This virus cannot be contained. It is very contagious and only moderately lethal. It will sweep across all the continents and sicken populations and kill many. But far more dangerous to our well being is the overreaction that follows. Since it cannot be contained, and probably 90% of us will possibly be infected at some point, we should just give up on trying to contain it. Lets just treat it like a severe flu season. Othewise, food and gas deliveries will stop and panic will break out. EVERYTHING should continue commercially and, like the flu, the sick should stay home from work. We should all wash our hands. Inevitably we will all know people who may die. But that is better than living in a Mel Gibson movie. That is a far bigger threat!
1
The current administration can’t even handle the normal day-to-day operations of governing. The supporters of the current administration like it that way because it supports their narrative that the people do not need a federal government to aggregate resources to protect us. So guess what? It won’t protect us. Corona virus is one acute symptom. Cancer rates will be higher in a few years. Global warming deaths will be higher every year. The administration is letting Americans die through fecklessness and greed of Donald J. Trump and his sycophantic enablers.
4
What? You mean having people flooding into your country without any controls, isn't really a great idea?
4
@Peter Zenger
Shh....you're not supposed to say that out loud.
2
In case people are wondering what they should do to prepare "just in case," a good government website - ready.gov - has the following info. I would just add: plenty of toilet paper.
Before a Pandemic
• Store a two week supply of water and food.
• Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
• Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
• Get copies and maintain electronic versions of health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources and store them, for personal reference. Get help accessing electronic health records.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
5
Not a word about detecting symptoms and what is the most effective cure.
2
Thanks for your latest export to the world, China. I'll file that along with 50% of annual plastic pollution in the oceans, and a third of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
7
@LJADZ Right. You forgot to mention the US is responsible for the OTHER 50% of the garbage out there.
4
@SteveZodia
While the U.S. is a contributor, I don't think that's even remotely accurate.
The stock market plummets for a second day in a row because people's lives and thus productivity is under attack by an airborne, person to person spreading of a disease. It hits densely populated areas, namely, cities, and the only solution is to prepare, stay home, rest, and get treatment when you are sick.
This disease, like many others, is going to kick around among those in our communities who can't afford health care and will continue to make workers sick for much longer than necessary. Resulting in further disruption and stock market tumbles.
Hopefully this doesn't get worse, but let just the threat of it be a lesson to everyone who thinks that universal healthcare would be a waste of government resources.
6
It's simply not possible that there could be a coronavirus outbreak in the US. Why? Because the Stable Genius already said "We stopped it cold."
Wait for it: watch closely as DHHS and all Trump-controlled agencies try to disseminate false information, hide cases, and pretend that it's not happening.
Who knows, COVid-19 may even make it to the White House.
6
Maybe it's all because we spent too much on the Centers for Disease Control?
1
N-95 masks are either out of stock on Amazon or are exorbitantly expensive. Good thing we were already prepared. Luckily I am a hermit and pretty much never leave home. I am taking this very seriously.
4
How much will Coronavirus testing cost people and who will be able to afford the testing?
1
I think we are about to see what happens when a pandemic hits a country without universal healthcare and worker protections. Many people will get infected and die needlessly because 1) people can’t afford to be tested 2) people can’t take unpaid sick leave so they will go to work sick and 3) people won’t seek medical help until it is too late, again because of the cost.
11
October 2019 the flu started to hit the US. Since then over 25 million people have exhibited flu like symptoms. There have been approximately 14-16 thousand deaths with about 104 of them being children. Why isn't this being reported like the coronavirus. Every year cruise ships report outbreaks of flu. Remember Ebola? That was supposed to be a pandemic. What happened to that. In July 2019 it remained a global concern but very little press on that. I do find it odd that the Hong Kong riots were raging then suddenly this. Whole towns now being quarantined. Very convenient, no?
No surprises in this article. Of course the virus will get here, viruses are very smart. Time to stock up on coffee and the rest of life’s necessities.
2
My 83-year-old uncle told me my grandma, who lived in New York during the 1918-1920 flu pandemic, said,
"We cut open onions and garlic and hung them around the house."
Maybe they ate them too, my uncle said.
A doctor on Nextdoor suggested we use a nasal gel to prevent a lot of germs from entering our noses. Cut down risk of infection when in public.
I wonder if flights into the US from Iran and Italy will be monitored, curtailed, and passengers screened if indeed these, and emerging other, countries have signs of a pandemic?
I wish our government instilled confidence, by rehiring smart and experienced people to lead a pandemic response team. Not amateurs. The likes of which we have now, who went against the CDC recommendation to keep infected Americans (from the Japan-based cruise ship) from flying home with healthy people on a plane. The CDC said the State department's decision to allow the sick to "mingle" by being on same plane with healthy passengers bound for America will, to paraphrase, likely cost Americans more virus spread, more lives to suffer; and as a result, the economy to plummet.
If Trump's so worried about the economy and stock market, he should hire the best and brightest now! Meanwhile, the rest of us must vote for the best and brightest candidate to lead our country.
Now.
3
Hopefully the Coronavirus will convince more Americans of the need for Medicare for all.
6
It is really important that an official agency such as the CDC tells Americans what to do and what they might expect. My mom lives in the city and I've tried to talk to her about stocking up on some food so she can remain at home if need be for a while. She totally freaked at the idea that perhaps she'd have to avoid taking buses and trains and going places for a period of time. It's unthinkable to her. I'm not sure why as I totally get it. I said "Ma, look, stock up on some food and books to read and just prepare to wait this out". I suspect she won't be alone in her inability to imagine this. China could do it as they are authoritarian but in the US? Good luck with that! This is not going to go well........
1
I get the distinct impression that the Trump administration has not a clue how to deal with this mounting crisis. As usual.
5
There is absolutely nothing you can do to "be prepared." You could seal yourself in your house until the virus wears itself out, avoid any place where people congregate, limit entertainment to TV and books (wash the remote!) stay away from restaurants, stay away from retail establishments, don't travel. Not gonna happen. The question is what is this Administration doing to prepare for an outbreak when it happens? They never answered that question.
5
For those of you who want to believe as Trump does, that this will "die out" when the weather warms up, no need to wait. There are confirmed cases in Singapore- tropical climate there. It's not winter everywhere but the virus is everywhere.
3
Make a plan, people. Be ready for a few weeks of being at home possibly, have enough prescriptions if needed, have a plan for caring for family members who may be affected (or yourself), have a plan when schools are shut down, work absenteeism, etc. BE PREPARED.
This is basic information that’s been available from the CDC & WHO since SARS if not before.
The time to make a plan is not when hospitals are overrun, grocery stores depleted, people in a panic. The time to plan is now.
Don’t expect this administration to help you; trump will only help himself & his re-election. People will be dying around him & he will blame the Democrats for this, not his incompetence. We are on our own unless you believe him that it’ll go away when it gets warms & that it won’t come here & a vaccine is imminent.
3
I find reporting on this virus to be so woefully uninformative. The flu has killed tens of thousands of people in the US in the last few months. It is spread, it would seem, the same way the Corona virus is. But clearly the press and the authorities think we should be more worried about the virus that has killed a few thoudand people than we are by the annual flue that seems much more deadly. I am willing to take at face value that there is something worse about the corona virus, and that we should be especially concerned.
But if that is the case I don't understand why the Times and other news outlets that have these alarming headlines can't explain why. The many more people who die from the flu are just as dead as someone who dies from the corona virus. So what is it about the corona virus that makes it so much more of a concern than viruses that kill more people and that are already here. Is the corona virus more painful or something like that? Or is there something about it that remains unknown and therefore more potentially dangerous than other, less novel but more common and more lethal viruses?
If anyone from the Times sees this, an explanation digging into this a bit more precisely would be helpful.
Thank you.
7
@Anonymous So.... there's this thing called a "flu shot". [p.s. they don't have one for the corona virus]
5
Well, yes. Which is why people should be even more concerned about the flu. Despite the existence of a partially effective vaccine, it still killed 30,000-60,000 people in the US alone in each of the last two years, and hospitalized hundreds of thousands more.
Oh, phew! I am sure that will be a relief to the 30,000- 60,000 people who died from it anyway in each of the last two years, and the hundreds of thousands more who were hospitalized.
DJT's economic advisor says the Corona outbreak is contained in the US, yet CDC says we are just at the beginning of the outbreak. Wow, what a conundrum?! Who should I believe; a expert financial analyst who totally missed the great recession, or a group of scientists who have been studying how disease works their entire working careers? A conundrum indeed. s/
1
It wasn't long ago that the Chinese Government was upset because of the actions taken by the United States as the Covid-19 outbreak gained steam.
Now we have people saying our government is ill-prepared, too little too late, and worse - as if any action by any government would truly be effective for a new/novel virus outbreak that is spreading around the world.
What's disturbing is the growing number of people who think that the Chinese have been completely open and honest about this new outbreak - which would have been less likely to have occurred had they honored treaties signed and their own laws.
What's really disturbing is those who want to compare Covid-19 with the seasonal flu - as if they are some kind of expert on the subject. Why is Covid 19 a threat? Google antigenic shift, then run the latest numbers... guess what?
Personally, I look at this as nature's way of culling the herd and if this doesn't do the job, perhaps the next one or the one after that will.
What I find frustrating is those who think that a vaccine will be available in the next 12 to 24 months. I have my doubts about that. Even if we do have a vaccine, it will be limited supply that's only available to healthcare, military and government officials. It won't be available to the poor living in the slums of (insert name of country/city here).
I would also predict that the antivaxers will be screaming the loudest for the future vaccine if this growing epidemic turns into a nasty pandemic!
1
Much ado about nothing. This seems severely overstated.
2
I'm going to continue my life as usual. What am I supposed to do, hide in an underground vault? Always something to be scared of. How many flu deaths are up to now?
2
Wash you hands frequently. Don't bother with face masks, but if you do, don't hoard them. There! All prepared for the inevitable, inescapable, entirely predictable epidemic! This is from the Federal government that refuses to provide annual flu shots to every American.
DJT throws rose petals on the Taj Mahal even as we write (for real). Why worry?
He's not worried that he's cut the funding for the three major lines of defense against pandemics...the UN, CDC and WHO. He's not worried that he's failed to provide affordable healthcare. No concerns about the shortages of medical supplies. No thoughts for the way he's insulted allies who now need to come together. Nope.
Not a care in the world for the low wage workers who cannot afford an hour, much less a day, off. Nary a thought for the fact that those are the very people handling our food, babies, kids, parents, pets and that that desperation will force them to show up for work sick.
Who cares that his tariffs have jacked the price of importing masks through the roof? Sure you can get 20 for $100 (used to be for $12 or so) but it now costs $130 for shipping. Go figure. Someone sure did (figured out how to exploit others pain and misery, that is).
Welcome to the United States of Unending chaos where we just make it all up as we go. Worried? Why worry when the "very stable genius" tells us everything is going to be covfefe?
3
Finally. Thank you for finally saying this. Up until last night I was wondering why no major news outlet was stating what is an obvious fact: coronavirus is here, but no one knows where because we are not testing for it. The question is: why. Keep asking why. Please.
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CDC should reach out to all American people to teach them about all aspects this epidemic. This new coronavirus is human to human transmissible; the virus can be spread by contact transmission, aerosol transmission and...the infected patient can be asymptomatic and still spread the virus (the so called invisible spreader), patients’ stool can carry the virus, the virus can survive on metal surface for how many days...Knowledge and information is the best tool to fight and protect oneself. Congress, do not leave the common American people in the dark. Health information should not be classified.
Unfortunately, people and governments who only begin preparing for the virus now are seriously behind the curve. Masks and gloves are on back order at the vast majority of suppliers and have been for weeks. They are available to the average person mainly on EBay at incredibly inflated prices set by people who quickly bought up most existing stock weeks ago. And most masks people might be able to find are single use, disposable masks that lose effectiveness if people attempt to reuse them. Figure 1 mask per day per person at minimum, and even them most should disposed of and replaced if you need to remove them during the course of the day. Government will now be buying up the bulk of what is available for health departments, hospital personnel, government officials and employees deemed indispensable. Even orders for hand sanitizer have already skyrocketed. Many, if not most, of these products are primarily made overseas, and supplying the home country will take priority over exports. If you can’t get these supplies, buy lots of bleach and learn how to use it properly to disinfect- at least I think that is still widely available. And ask the government, for what its worth, to make some emergency orders to deal with the price gougers.
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