General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[love_the_life]

It is going to end well before that.
Some business people are already saying that lockdown can't last 6 months and still have a successful Aussie economy.

More importantly Lifeline is getting huge increases to it's suicide prevention line and predict it to increase the longer the lockdown continues.

Lifeline records busiest month - TBW News Group

LIFELINE South East is adapting to support the community’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused unprecedented levels of anxiety and emotional distress in […]

borderwatch.com.au

To put that in perspective the world deaths from suicide around the world until April 1st was >250000
Plus it is the younger age groups that will bear the brunt of this problem.

Still drunk

 

[oz_mark]

Given the attempts to distract from the point.

Take the time to review the New Zealand numbers posted above - they pretty much show a massive overreaction by the NZ government. Best to be informed and form your own views on how your Government is performing.

Probably better to look back and think there was an overreaction, than to look back after an undereaction.

 

[amaroo]

Probably better to look back and think there was an overreaction, than to look back after an undereaction.

Not sure about that - keeping your power dry has been a necessity, virtue, since .... the age of powder.

 

[SydneySwan]

Criminals?

It is a worrying development. Have they not considered other options? I hope these rules have sunset clauses.

I also note that Queensland has in effect introduced visas requirements for entry from NSW starting from midnight tomorrow. Bizarrely they will also apply to Queenslanders so a Queenslander could be denied entry to their own state! What will this lead to - refugee camps for Queenslanders sprouting up at the NSW border? I hope I am exaggerating.

No doubt this will inspire those North Queenslanders who want to separate from the rest of Queensland (to form what I call Katterstan).

The world is going mad.

 

[JessicaTam]

Probably better to look back and think there was an overreaction, than to look back after an undereaction.

Yep. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[amaroo]

Yep. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Really? The need to drive deeper always results with better outcomes for the whole population. NZ went with what they thought was the plan, but it appears that plan was overcooked. How does that work out for the SME's of NZ and the people they employ? It's all good for the ones that don't have to suffer the decisions of others. When you quote hindsight - best you have the whole view in focus!

Maybe you need to edit your signature.

 

[CaptJCool]

This page shows

Italy 292 deaths per million
Sweden 68
USA 45
Norway 19
Australia 2

Coronavirus Update (Live): 135,796,699 Cases and 2,934,646 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer

Live statistics and coronavirus news tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, tests, and death toll due to the COVID-19 coronavirus from Wuhan, China. Coronavirus counter with new cases, deaths, and number of tests per 1 Million population. Historical data and info. Daily...

www.worldometers.info

Sweden apparently “stopped” counting infections outside the hospital.... also more men dying than ladies and similar challenge apparently African Swedes are in a similar position to African Americans..

 

[PineappleSkip]

I suspect we are reaching the limits of testing in many places (particularly third world) and the stats are starting to make my eyes glaze over. Awful admission, I know.

What the heck, its the beginning of a long weekend like no other, a night like every other for us isos, and the corona beat just keeps on pumping in the Pineapple Lounge

 

[juddles]

Pine-skip, I hear you.

The numbers are bullshit.

I have my own isolation lounge

 

[juddles]

It is a worrying development. Have they not considered other options? I hope these rules have sunset clauses.

I also note that Queensland has in effect introduced visas requirements for entry from NSW starting from midnight tomorrow. Bizarrely they will also apply to Queenslanders so a Queenslander could be denied entry to their own state! What will this lead to - refugee camps for Queenslanders sprouting up at the NSW border? I hope I am exaggerating.

No doubt this will inspire those North Queenslanders who want to separate from the rest of Queensland (to form what I call Katterstan).

The world is going mad.

Is the world going mad? No. On the contrary they are actually getting real.

People in power are just trying to do the right thing. Australia has become a nation of self-entitled idiots. We have not been subject to major cirisis such as a pandemic in most people's lifetimes - a concept that most still have no clue as to the importance - because they have been allowed to grow up in such a perfect world where real threats have never existed for them.

Some of us will understand this and support whatever measures, even though they weigh against our usual freedoms. Others will contest this - because of that affluence and safety they have always had.

I think that this whole COVID thing will be severe enough that even the most blase will learn from this.

 

[DC3]

... I received a phone call yesterday from a very well spoken private ...

Was that Private Parts?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Not sure about that - keeping your power dry has been a necessity, virtue, since .... the age of powder.

Now you're mixing your metaphors, and only Shakespeare can get away with that!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just a month ago New York had a single case - today 83,000.

More precise research has now been done specifically on when CV19 began circulating in the NY area, rather than just within the USA more generally and as discussed earlier this confirms that 1st March was not the date of the infection starting in NY.

Of interest too is the conclusion is that CV19 mainly came to the New York area mainly from Europe.



New research indicates that the coronavirus began to circulate in the New York area by mid-February, weeks before the first confirmed case, and that travelers brought in the virus mainly from Europe, not Asia.

“The majority is clearly European,” said Harm van Bakel, a geneticist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who co-wrote a study awaiting peer review.


The research revealed a previously hidden spread of the virus that might have been detected if aggressive testing programs had been put in place.

Most New York Coronavirus Cases Came From Europe, Genomes Show (Published 2020)

Travelers seeded multiple cases starting as early as mid-February, genomes show.

www.nytimes.com

Testing remains a huge problem in the USA as the results of many test tests are not still known for 2 or more days after the test (Fauci stated this today).

 

[p--and--t]

Not sure whether alarmed disappointed or angry to describe mixed feelings after reading reports that the White House was advised in November 2019 that intelligence had determined a pandemic was already on the rise in Wuhan and the world needed to prepare.

Wondering also if any of the information was shared with any of the five eyes alliance (e.g. AU)

 

[Flashback]

Qatar getting proactive on trying to get people booking again, Mrs FB and I both received an e-mail each.

As a way to thank you for your recent booking, we are offering you a travel voucher of USD 100 to be used for your next trip between 1 June and 15 December 2020.

We will email your voucher number within 48 hours of completing the first flight of your original trip.

Join Privilege Club today and enjoy 5,000 bonus Qmiles to be used towards flights, upgrades and more.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/offers/thank-you.html?cid=EMALL639870

T&C
A travel voucher will be offered to customers with confirmed bookings made on qatarairways.com and mobile app from 15 February 2020 until 31 May 2020, for outbound travel before 15 December 2020.
Voucher is valid for use until 15 December 2020 for outbound travel between 1 June 2020 and 15 December 2020.
You will receive the voucher number for use within 48 hours of completing the first flight on your original trip.
Voucher value will be issued to Privilege Club members based on the tier status at time of first flight.
Voucher will be issued for all Qatar Airways flights, including flights with interline and codeshare partners.
Voucher will be issued for all return, one-way and multi-city itineraries.
Vouchers will be issued for each passenger on a booking, excluding infants not occupying a seat.
Voucher has no cash value, and is non-transferrable, non-changeable, non-refundable and can only be used when booking your next trip.
Voucher will be void if the original booking is cancelled.
This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion.
Fare terms and conditions apply. Please review at the time of booking.

Neither of us are Privilege Club members, so not sure if we would actually get it or not per the T&C saying the amount issued is based on your status in PC.

 

[drron]

Someone in Tassie wasn't strictly following guidelines on Sunday night.But they did get a good photo.
/

 

[drron]

It's something with a lot of moving parts

Some data from Scotland showing an excess of deaths but only about half due to Corona. People may not be seeking attention for heart attack and stroke symptoms for instance.

Currently numbers in my hospitals are low. Some of this might be due to fewer people falling over and reduced non-CoViD respiratory contagion but it's difficult to believe that other illnesses have evaporated.

Surgery is an interesting aspect. Some is life-saving but much is life-improving (e.g hip replacement). Inevitably some people will have complications, so if there is less going on, there may be fewer people in hospital.

I suspect Italy and Spain will have a high absolute mortality this year but lower than usual in the next couple as many who succumb are toward the end of their life.

In Tassie A&E presentations have dropped.
No Elective surgery but there is another embarrasing reason for medicos.

When doctors strike, fewer patients die - The Boston Globe

Research shows that the number of patient deaths goes down when doctors walk off the job.

www.bostonglobe.com

I was at the ACC meeting when a study on what happened to cardiac deathe when ACC and AHA conferences were on.Heart deaths actually dropped.

 

[nutwood]

Is the world going mad? No. On the contrary they are actually getting real.

People in power are just trying to do the right thing. Australia has become a nation of self-entitled idiots. We have not been subject to major cirisis such as a pandemic in most people's lifetimes - a concept that most still have no clue as to the importance - because they have been allowed to grow up in such a perfect world where real threats have never existed for them.

Some of us will understand this and support whatever measures, even though they weigh against our usual freedoms. Others will contest this - because of that affluence and safety they have always had.

I think that this whole COVID thing will be severe enough that even the most blase will learn from this.

I find it disturbing that every discussion on the appropriateness of various measures seems to provoke comments basically along the lines that we're a country full of idiots. I don't think this is correct. My far the vast majority of people are doing their best. I am not seeing comments in these pages from people exerting their rights to carry on their life as they see fit. I am seeing comments from people wishing to discuss and debate the various restrictions. Surely this is healthy?

 

[get me outta here]

I think sometimes things are a bit silly. Like police officers driving a number of cars over a fairly small grassy area or this photograph which is something that families would do for cohesion and enjoyment. :

 

[mrsterryn]

I think the govt is trying their best , learning as they go along
With regards to people flouting the rules .....a baby in a studio apartment for example Green Square in Sydney for days on end .....would be horrendous. Fear about income whilst waiting for Centrelink to kick in
I don't agree with going to the beach "just cause you can " but for some those four walls are horrendous .