We have got to realize, by now it has spread everywhere. Just has not been detected yet. With travel the way it is today, it is impossible to totally contain a virus. We so far have no confirmed cases here in Leipzig, but I am sure there are some. We have the largest Train Station in Germany. Same goes for places like NYC, which is a travel hub.
2
As much as I'd like to think that New York state authorities would be better at telling the truth than our federal authorities, Governor Cuomo cited pretty misleading statistics today in an interview I heard on CNN. He said flu mortality was around 0.6% and Covid-19 was 1.2%, so that this disease was only twice as bad as flu when it comes to mortality. Flu mortality averages around 0.1%. It's possible that when all the numbers are known, Covid-19 will have lower mortality numbers, but even if it's 1%, it's still 10 times greater than the average flu. Cuomo should know better. If he wants to be a considered a great prevaricator like Trump, he got a decent start on that today. He said he wanted to listen to medical experts to give him the best information, not politicians. Well, if he's listening, he's not writing down or repeating the facts.
1
I work on Madison Avenue in NYC. A colleague just told me she went to Whole Foods in Columbus Circle and the shelves were empty!! She took photos.
My company can't find Purell to order for our employees.
I'm in Manhattan and people are freaking out..
1
I'm wondering why the US corona virus mortality rate is so high in comparison to those elsewhere. The latest stats I can find report 7 deaths out of 100 identified US cases: a 7% mortality rate. Unless I'm missing something, it appears China and other nations are doing much better at treating this disease.
@Sandra Kunz Undoubtedly many more are likely infected that have not been tested. So the deaths are identified but likely many others (asymptomatic or perhaps mild disease) have not been. The outbreak in the nursing facility with a group of very vulnerable elderly patients also skews the overall picture of mortality. There's really no way to conclude that we are doing worse with treatment based on very small numbers and very little testing.
@Joe Good points. I’m hoping wider testing will not only reduce the spread of the disease but also reveal an actual US mortality rate that is lower than the current one. It does appear to be additionally skewed by the clustering of many of the deaths around a skilled care facility.
'"We believe that a couple of the medical professionals have been quarantined,” George Latimer, a Westchester County executive, said at a news conference, adding that state health officials were examining “what exposure might exist” to the staff at that medical facility, the NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville.'
Are we darned stupid?
Between the 19 firefighters who were called to help in that nursing home, and now these doctors and nurses, and soon other professionals whose job it is to rescue and take care of the sick, the most important people in this country are going to be quarantined and out of commission.
Get them all haz-mat suits.
3
And what does our president say? “It’s a hoax.”
Thai is probably most maddening of all.
8
MIMA,
From Snopes:
"What's False
Despite creating some confusion with his remarks, Trump did not call the coronavirus itself a hoax."
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-coronavirus-rally-remark/
2
For “how NYC gets water” is there a reason you didn’t consult NYCDEP, the agency that manages the City’s water supply and all of the public infrastructure in between? Not arguing with the info presented, but NYCDEP might have provided more factual detail than “a colleague”
4
how about disinfecting trains and busses?
1
Yesterday I couldn’t find any hand sanitizer, surgical gloves, bleach, rubbing alcohol, disinfecting soap anywhere. None at Target, Duane Reade, CVS, Harmon, Kings Pharmacy. Trader Joe’s on Sixth Ave was running low on items such as pasta and canned goods.
We are in panic mode. I wear gloves outside no matter the weather. Since I work at a museum I am conflicted in going to work because a majority of our visitors are visiting from a foreign country and I/we are in close contact with them.
I don’t know if I’m panicking, yet.
5
@Jerry Mander - wondering, what's more cost-effective to manufacture on overtime, masks or gloves?
Tune of “Lotta Love”
It’s gonna take a lotta gloves
To keep us safe from fear
It’s gonna take a lotta gloves
But one thing’s really clear.
Though you may find this surprising
And think this can’t be so:
If you need sanitizing
Supplies are low.
It’s gonna take a lotta gloves
To get us through a plague
It’s gonna take a lotta gloves
So let’s not be too vague.
That if you’ve been out there dawdlin’
And don’t even have Purell
Now I hope this isn’t maudlin
But it’s been swell.
Gotta lotta gloves.
Gotta lotta gloves…
5
In addition to all the things your mother probably taught you, like cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and all the other suggestions from experts that include washing your hands often or use hand sanitizer -- especially after exposure to public places.
I've found another way to increase one's protection is by wearing gloves. Really.
If you look at how many folks on the bus or subway cough and sneeze into their hands then touch subway poles, handrails, or something you might come into contact with, it makes sense.
Besides, they're apparently running out of hand sanitizer.
8
@N. Smith Absolutely. When we visit NY, I keep my gloves on when using any public place - bus, subway, stairs with railing, door handles. Before I did that, I would usually get a cold by the time I got home. Since I started doing that I have seldom gotten ill.
3
It seems for most people the illness is mild, and most kids have no symptoms after infection. The elderly like with most illnesses have the most risk. It also seems people are most contagious when they have symptoms, ie coughing and sneezing.
So why isn't anyone saying that the elderly (grandparents) need to be very careful around grand kids?
14
I have been following this crisis since the first announced outbreak. A month ago, I began asking when we would hear from this administration about how it will handle the two most pivotal points germane to the health of this nation.
1. Who is paying the paychecks of those quarantined? Because the vast majority of American families cannot go without two weeks of pay.
2. Are the uninsured going to be given top care and assured that they will not be billed to ruin? Because if they are not, they will not seek treatment, will go to work sick, and will therefore become vectors for contagion.
Months into this and still no one has addressed these, the most fundamental issues. And yet...China announced weeks ago that any employer firing or withholding pay from those quarantined would face criminal charges.
It's time this nation was given straight answers. These are not incidental. They are and will be the heart of the crisis. How bad this gets depends entirely on whether sick people stay home and those sick get treated.
If only we did not consistently behave as if we lacked both brains and a heart. There is a cure for that. It's found at the ballot box.
38
This is a great comment. Thank you. What we lack in the United States are politicians who are in office for us, not for themselves (and their own very robust health insurance provided them by -- yes -- us).
And while we are on the topic of self-serving corrupt career politicians, this:
"Now it seems that Mr. de Blasio has his eye on a different sort of presidency, the largely powerless presidency of the borough of Brooklyn — for his wife.
"Since late last year, Mr. de Blasio has been making moves that could help smooth the way for a run by Ms. McCray for Brooklyn borough president, should she decide to go forward with it."
Wonder if we're stupid enough to elect yet another grifter.
4