COVID-19 Virus

[charmedbyekkie]

Re: Wuhan virus

tbh, I'm not concerned about my family in the US getting the coronavirus. Considering the contiguous United States has
- a population of 306 million
- total of 3,119,884 square miles
- average population density of 103.6 inhabitants/sq mi, and
- only 11 cases,
I highly doubt it'll reach the more rural areas where most of the population lives.

In contrast, Singapore has
- a population of 5.6 million (nowhere near 306 million; 1.8% of the contiguous US population)
- total of 278 square miles (0.009% the area of the contiguous US)
- average population density of 20,144 inhabitants/sq mi (19,457% more than the contiguous US)
- 24 cases so far (more than double the amount in the US)

We're basically following WHO and our Ministry of Health advice - practice basic hygiene of washing your hands before touching your face and food. Sure, some MNCs are taking a step further because they have employees who frequently travel to China, but the average person need not be scared. In our locally transmitted cases, the people who caught it were in prolonged contact interacting with the initial individuals.


What I'm more worried about is the racism that is popping up everywhere. It's absolutely ridiculous the Sinophobia that's surfacing across the globe.

 

[Flboy]

Re: Wuhan virus

tbh, I'm not concerned about my family in the US getting the coronavirus. Considering the contiguous United States has
- a population of 306 million
- total of 3,119,884 square miles
- average population density of 103.6 inhabitants/sq mi, and
- only 11 cases,
I highly doubt it'll reach the more rural areas where most of the population lives.

A perfect example of misleading statistics!
Just using the top 6 cities in the US, the population density is 42 thousand per sq mile! 9.3 million! 2010 numbers!
32% of the population in 305 sq miles! .1% of the total land mass!

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Re: Wuhan virus

tbh, I'm not concerned about my family in the US getting the coronavirus. Considering the contiguous United States has
- a population of 306 million
- total of 3,119,884 square miles
- average population density of 103.6 inhabitants/sq mi, and
- only 11 cases,
I highly doubt it'll reach the more rural areas where most of the population lives.

A perfect example of misleading statistics!
Just using the top 6 cities in the US, the population density is 42 thousand per sq mile! 9.3 million! 2010 numbers!
32% of the population in 305 sq miles!

Still don't think it's spreading in the US at a rate to be alarmed. 1 in Washington, 1 in Massachusetts, 1 in Arizona, 2 in Illinois, and 6 in California. While yes, those cities/counties where the patients are located are quite dense, should we start getting people in the Midwest panicked? I don't see the point in running around like it's the apocalypse.

Just look at the cases in which it is transmitted. You have to have prolonged contact with those ill - not like "oh, we sat on the same bus", but "I was their tour guide for a few days" or "I live in the same house".

Again, not any reason to cause people to start shunning anyone who looks vaguely 'Asian' nor any reason to start trash-talking about Chinese culture (which I am so terribly disappointed with Western media about). I can't believe the drivel coming from Western media sources about China. And I'm speaking as someone with a blue passport who doesn't care for Chinese politics.

 

[Flboy]

Re: Wuhan virus

Again, not any reason to cause people to start shunning anyone who looks vaguely 'Asian' nor any reason to start trash-talking about Chinese culture (which I am so terribly disappointed with Western media about). I can't believe the drivel coming from Western media sources about China. And I'm speaking as someone with a blue passport who doesn't care for Chinese politics.

I agree 1,000%!
In fact, to show support, I just decided I am going to go pick up Chinese takeout for supper!

 

[bug_n_flock]

Re: Wuhan virus

Hey, I agree. Racism is horrible. But yeah to include things like dessert, wilderness, mountains, and everglades in your population density average seems like a misrepresentation of the US population distribution. We live in a very rural area and much of our county is uninhabited national forest, and even still we have 6000 people in our small county. The next county over has a city of 7000..



We are not shunning "Asian looking people", we are shunning all people sort of. Our friend who runs the rescue was in our truck with us for about 2 hours the other day.. we had windows open the whole time, and cloroxed the truck after! And we *adore* her! We are just playing it safe until we know more. I am also appaled by the anti chinese rhetoric... they are VICTIMS in this. I don't even KNOW how my sister in law in Shanghai is doing, we have not been able to contact her for a little while.

 

[Laurasea]

Re: Wuhan virus

Charmedbyekkie,
I'm glad to hear you and yours are well. I'm saddened to hear of Sinophobia.

A novel virus can occur on any continent. Bats are found Worldwide, and so is the coronavirus . And viruses don't target any ethnicity.

Pandemics have long been feared by scientists. Viruses are notoriously difficult to treat medically. And as China locks down cities and limits movement of people. It's also understandable for other countries to limit movements from epicenter. The same respond would occur regardless of nation of origin.

I to believe the risk to the United States is very low at this point. But I do caution that this virus is reported to be slightly more contagious than other influenza. Also 20% to 40% of people infected experienced pneumonia and lung complications. A huge difference from seasonal influenza, in which those complications are extremely rare. And with a reported fatality rate of 3% verse 0.01-0.5% fatality rate of seasonal influenza. That's a death in one out of every fifty people with novel coronavirus, verse one out of every ten thousand with seasonal influenza. That makes me pay attention.

As we learn more, it may turn out hundreds of thousands or millions were actually infected with the new coronavirus. Then the statistical numbers of severe infections and fatalities will drop to the same numbers we see with other influenza infections. Until that time I will be paying very close attention.

Once again my thoughts are with all the people under quarantine, who's lives have been disrupted. All the economic hardships that go with that. My sympathies to those sufferings influenza of any type, anywhere, we all know how much that sucks. My prayers that all these drastic measures put an end to this outbreak.

 

[Scott]

Re: Wuhan virus

Again, not any reason to cause people to start shunning anyone who looks vaguely 'Asian' nor any reason to start trash-talking about Chinese culture (which I am so terribly disappointed with Western media about). I can't believe the drivel coming from Western media sources about China. And I'm speaking as someone with a blue passport who doesn't care for Chinese politics.

Ignorance and a feckless media elicits the most guttural reactions. Many platforms have produced unbiased and highly sourced presentations while others spin malignant tropes and inflame. I worry many in the U.S. consume single sourced "pop" news with meager substance and a lot of glitz. The people at greatest risk of contagion reside within the PRC borders.

I have not altered my daily routines and feel absolutely safe at the moment. The last thing I'd do is avoid people of Asian residence or descent!

 

[SailBoat]

Re: Wuhan virus

Again, not any reason to cause people to start shunning anyone who looks vaguely 'Asian' nor any reason to start trash-talking about Chinese culture (which I am so terribly disappointed with Western media about). I can't believe the drivel coming from Western media sources about China. And I'm speaking as someone with a blue passport who doesn't care for Chinese politics.

Ignorance and a feckless media elicits the most guttural reactions. Many platforms have produced unbiased and highly sourced presentations while others spin malignant tropes and inflame. I worry many in the U.S. consume single sourced "pop" news with meager substance and a lot of glitz. The people at greatest risk of contagion reside within the PRC borders.

I have not altered my daily routines and feel absolutely safe at the moment. The last thing I'd do is avoid people of Asian residence or descent!

The US Media is just recently becoming aware of this 'storyline' and it will continue to be a sub-topic as National Media continues to target Iowa, NH primaries, the State of the Union Address (yes, I watch regardless of who) and the far over-rated impeachment even with ratings fall to the floor.

The bits and pieces in the US News at least are sticking with what is coming out of Agencies. Haven't seen much mussing /twisting. If anything, the News Media's fascination with everything Washington has likely keep the Masses from going crazy...

 

[Laurasea]

Re: Wuhan virus

Population density certainly facilitates spreading of diseases. But even places with low population, all come together at the same grocery stores, a small town might have just one, at 40,000 we have just 4 grocery stores.

We've all had seasonal influenza at least once in our lives, or some have it ever few seasons. So we know how miserable it is, and how quickly it spreads through schools, jobs, and communities.
We've just been hit with a seasonal influenza in my town, everywhere you go someone or many someone's are coughing and sneezing. I wish they would practice good hygiene, and cough and sneeze etiquette, but they don't. I wish if they were sick and had to go out in public they would wear masks, but they don't. It's almost as if people think if I'm sick everyone else should suffer to, since someone gave it to me first!! Ugh....

 

[bug_n_flock]

Re: Wuhan virus

I'm one of the lucky ones for whom the seasonal flu is extremely mild. My whole family is like that: a cold hits harder than the seasonal flu. My husband has NEVER had the flu, but his mom had it once and it knocked her FLAT. Between that and his asthma, flu scares him quite a bit.



And yeah, seems folks out here are determined to share it and spread it around. Half-butted mouth covering some of the time(with their balled fist held several inches from their moths. Doesn't stop cough spray, just coats the hand too lol) and the rest of the time just coughing openly. Bringing sick kids around to shops to really spread those germs around. And again, multiple school districts closed due to flu... and it doesn't seem to be "news", so apparently is typical out here. They have plans in place it seems... "non traditional instructional days" and "flu crews" going thru the closed schools disinfecting everything. You would THINK they could also teach some good germ etiquette to the little sickies! They have literal "health clinics" in the schools, not nurse's offices, with literal doctors because otherwise the kiddos wouldn't ever even go to a real doctor.

 

[Flboy]

Re: Wuhan virus

.....A novel virus can occur on any continent. Bats are found Worldwide, and so is the coronavirus . And viruses don't target any ethnicity.

Pandemics have long been feared by scientists. Viruses are notoriously difficult to treat medically. And as China locks down cities and limits movement of people. It's also understandable for other countries to limit movements from epicenter

Something to not ignore, Wuhan is headquarters to a military grade bio lab! Other countries are beginning to also point fingers! I am no longer saying deliberate, but quite easily, a mistake may be behind this!

 

[bug_n_flock]

Re: Wuhan virus

Yes. I don't think released, but could have escaped. It is just too "perfectly bad" I think. I am bsl-2 trained and in that training the higher levels were touched on.... Wuhan's lab is bsl-4.... easily transmissable and deadly stuff gets worked on in bsl-4 labs. Wuhan virus certainly fits that.

 

[Laurasea]

Re: Wuhan virus

Frustrating is lack of transperancy. At the epicenter and here. Disease epidemiologist have stated that the numbers don't match what is reported, as to what would be expected. As I've stated also in our government, as it is up to state officials to release or not. It's been over a week of reported 165 people under investigation in 35 states of the new coronavirus. Testing can be fine in hours, or 2 days to include shipping times. Yet their hasn't been a release that these people were tested and found negative, not what 35 states are testing .... I did see once that out of 165 people of interest 65 were found negative, firs that mean the rest are positive? Yet when reported it still says 165 people under investigation....What about the 195 people at March airforce base, we know they were tested, how come we haven't heard results???? Is the test not accurate ? Can you be negative at first and then test positive at 14 days?

Found this with different info than I heard on national news, but still shows large number of pending, or under investigation
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa-coronavirus/

From CDC but doesn't seem to include the 195 under quarantine... Not does it say the states of interest, just that 36 states have people of interest.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

Edit: we know they are testing the 195 quarantine every 12 hours as heard on ABC nightly news. I did some searching, seems this is a tricky virus to confirm, taking several tests spread out. So we still have more to learn, and testing needs development.

 

[Laurasea]

Re: Wuhan virus

Well just released, a child at the March base has a fever and hospitalized. Not know if coronavirus. But if it is I would expect the quarantine to be extended for the rest.
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/e...arch-air-reserve-base-from-wuhan-hospitalized

 

[bug_n_flock]

Re: Wuhan virus

Oh no. I hope it isn't the virus. I saw a video of a six month old with Wuhan virus in quarantine. It broke my heart completely.

 

[Flboy]

Re: Wuhan virus

Some stupidity! My daughter, a nurse, said, when folks are coming in with flu complaints, they are only doing tests for the flu virus! And if negative, sending them home! She says, there is a single test that covers a full spectrum of viruses! But for some reason, it isn’t being used! Her fiancé works at a different hospital in Tampa. They are doing the same!
Stupidity, or?

 

[Laurasea]

Re: Wuhan virus

Some stupidity! My daughter, a nurse, said, when folks are coming in with flu complaints, they are only doing tests for the flu virus! And if negative, sending them home! She says, there is a single test that covers a full spectrum of viruses! But for some reason, it isn’t being used! Her fiancé works at a different hospital in Tampa. They are doing the same!
Stupidity, or?

I guess all of Florida is having an influenza , or viral outbreak! I'm north of you , and everywhere you go coughs. Tonight on the news our weatherman was very sick! Looked miserable, voice gone, coughing His co anchors were telling him to stay away. Why was he working!

42 years ago all of a sudden I started running 105 fever. Doctors ran some tests said it was virus # ( something) so yeah why aren't they???!

World counter site
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

 

[Jasmine333]

Re: Wuhan virus

Just as there are understandable fears about this coronavirus, I am also afraid of the regular flu. That's why I take the flu vaccine every year. I read today that since October 10,000 Americans have died from the flu. It is also very serious.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Re: Wuhan virus

Singapore is now the second highest total count of cases in the world for a country. Consider that Singapore is only 4x the size of Washington, DC - that's a lot, especially when you compare to Thailand, which is on par for total count but definitely bigger than us. We're an island city-state.

We are even the source for a South Korean man's case - he was at a global conference in Singapore with others who were later diagnosed with the virus.

The government has not closed schools yet (like they did during SARS), but organisations are deciding individually to postpone large gatherings. Life will go on, as it did during SARS - companies did not shut down during SARS, grocery stores remained open, etc etc.

I work in an agency of sorts, and several of our clients (MNCs) are not allowed to visit external vendors. While Singapore has preemptive measures in place, other countries don't, so we're advising our clients to postpone overseas fieldwork as we will need to be in airplanes and airports that are popular in the region (compare to Singapore, which is not allowing China-origin flights to even transit here).

Unlike SARS, this nCoV spreads during the incubation period, but again, you need prolonged exposure - like dining together at a conference.

 

[clark_conure]

Re: Wuhan virus

you all mind if I just hijack the thread for one question? My workplace is getting the normal american flu......I haven't gotten the flu in like ten years and so far symptom free.

If I get the normal american flu does it hit birds....and avian flu not SARS not coronovirus, just out our seasonal flu?I've done searches in the boards up and down and ....really there is no consensus.

If I just get what all my effing coworkers bring to work, do I need to get a sitter or is regular american flu variants ok for parrots?


Yes I've been walking around with sanitation wipes on everything anyone might touch.