COVID-19

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boomer47's picture
"This is a fucken war, ---"

@doG

"This is a fucken war, ---"

Yup.

"--and everyone is walking around talking about when we get back to normal.."

Not in Oz. Full restrictions remain in place, with many stores and businesses still closed as are our borders.

"As of 15 April 2020, 63 people linked to COVID-19 have died in Australia. "

"As at 14 April, at least 21 deaths across the country had been passengers on cruise ships. 1 March: the first death from COVID-19 was a 78-year-old Perth man, one of the passengers from Diamond Princess who was being treated in Western Australia."

"The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have reached Australia on 25 January 2020 in Victoria, when a man returning from Wuhan, China, was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The total number of new cases initially grew exponentially, levelled out at about 350 per day around 22 March, and started falling at the beginning of April.[2] As of 14 April 2020, 6,447 cases had been reported in Australia, with the highest number of cases being in New South Wales, with 2,886."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Australia

OF COURSE, Australia is an island with only 25.5 million. That means our external borders are relatively easy to control . All overseas travel ,incoming and outgoing has been banned .(except for cargo ) All state borders are closed ,except for essential travel.

I'm not surprised at the high numbers of deaths in EU countries. They have or did have open borders. If they closed them, it twas far too late.

Below is link to a clip from former Australian Prime Minister , Kevin Rudd onTrump's handling of the Crisis and about criticism of the WHO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSyvU9oMs5Q

*************************************8***************************************************************

Interestingly , Mr Rudd speaks fluent Mandarin ,which came in very handy when he visited China . He understood what people were actually saying rather than what the interpreter said they were saying.

dogalmighty's picture
Its these people that are

Its these people that are killing others.

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Whitefire13's picture
@doG ... anytime the

@doG ... anytime the
States says they’re “at war” I cringe (they love their wars ... on drugs, illiteracy... )

Whitefire13's picture
Cranky...I was looking at the

Cranky...I was looking at the Aussie stats and good for your country! I’ve been somewhat “relieved” to see we’re (Canada) flattening the curve and reducing our infection...

Trudeau is (for the lowest common denominator) encouraging us to keep doing what we’re doing - self isolation - and we won’t be “open for business” for awhile ... good

Cringe...our neighbor is “peaking fast and hard” and wants to open for business - fuck me (irl if this was my physical neighbor, I’d probably shoot him and bury the body).

David Killens's picture
@ Whitefire13

@ Whitefire13

"Cringe...our neighbor is “peaking fast and hard” and wants to open for business"

Look on the positive selfish side.

We are guaranteed that we will get food and toilet paper, the trucks will continue to roll.

Whitefire13's picture
That type of “business”

That type of “business” continues regardless.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5501289

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/nationalpost.com/news/heres-what-we-know-abo...

Trucks will continue (commercial) ...it’s the cross-border shopping and summer vacations...

Grinseed's picture
A little karma goes a long

A little karma goes a long way...almost as far as 5,000 toilet rolls unrolled end to end.....

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/supermarket-bosss-blunt-...

Whitefire13's picture
@Grinseed

@Grinseed

Damn right! Those fucktards need to “swim” in their hoard. I refuse to buy their “goods” and will use good old soap and water.

I hope the govt track (and keep tracking) these fuckers down and “confiscate” for the good of our frontline workers who also need to wipe their hinnies and hands

David Killens's picture
Here is a valid source of

Here is a valid source of information

https://systems.jhu.edu/

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CyberLN's picture
Pets in Isolation

Pets in Isolation

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Ejup_nfPY

I adore ZeFrank

CyberLN's picture
.

.

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Whitefire13's picture
Link to “telltale” an atheist

Link to “telltale” an atheist ex JW

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iXu1EOpl7hA

I guess the current direction for JW is the experimental plasma with antibodies is NOT to be accepted by JWs - blood issue in treating Corvid

LogicFTW's picture
My predictions at this point:

My predictions at this point:

Mostly centered around USA as that is the only area I know even 1% of what there is to know:

Covid-19 is a novel virus of which there is currently no vaccine/shot for, far less than 1% population "herd immunity" (this is also the global stat.)

It is confirmed that it can spread asymptomatically, and most easily spreads by people talking to each other at less than 6 feet (2 meters) it can spread via surface/contact as well, but not as easily.

Masks help prevent spread, more preventing asymptomatic people spreading it to others, more than wearing a mask protects the wearer.

USA is at over 680,000 cases, with likely at least double that number of total cases including those not detected. USA needs to hit over 3 million just to get to 1% infection rates. 1-3% infection rate is what we are seeing in many areas of NYC right now. To see what it looks like in a dense but wealthy city. Unfortunately at likely over 1 million cases, "containment" like what China achieved for a while (if they are to be believed) is impossible, especially in USA. The virus is here to stay, all we can do at this point is manage it.

It looks like stay at home orders as currently implemented does "flatten" the curve enough to keep the caseload manageable with hospitals, (NYC area + other hot spots excepted.) Which is important to prevent a collapse of all health care, which would greatly increase the death rate of this virus, plus the spike in deaths/illness from everything else from the total loss of almost all medical care.

Unfortunately, even this mostly "mild" stay at home order is not feasible long term. For obvious economic reasons, but also general population participation rates as apathy and needs set in. USA has seen many areas ignore stay at home orders to celebrate Easter in person in mass.

Mass surveillance is mostly a non starter option in USA. (The left does not trust the current president/administration, and the right, does not trust large government/surveillance at all.

So instead it will require mass testing, USA currently capped out at roughly 150k test a day. To even begin about thinking about unlocking even some sectors of the economy will require a million test a day. 10 million a day for some semblance of normalcy, and probably 10 million + test a day to actually have it be widely "safe" in public venues where we can go to concerts, or any other large gatherings.

At the federal level dRumpf (who changes his mind a lot) currently wants the states to handle it (so drumpf/ can hold themselves blameless of what is going to be an ugly mess.) Pitting the states against each other for testing supplies will only make things harder to implement. With it being less effective unless states close borders. (Which they can't for physical reasons mostly.)

So this is going to be a race of public compliance to the economy crushing "stay at home orders" versus mass scale up of "fast" reliable, accurate covid-19 testing.

So far it looks like USA is at least a month away from even reaching 1 million test per day. I imagine some states will start opening back up (some states never did stay at home orders to begin with!) Where the rest of the states/cities watch to see how it goes. (Almost inevitable 1-2 weeks laters these areas will see giant spikes of new cases. Requiring new, stricter stay at home orders.

In other good news there is growing evidence via trials (often times w/o a control group and in small numbers.) that some medication can reduce ICU times, Ventilator times and reduce death rates. Essentially increasing the capacity of medical facilities.

Personal protective equipment remains a huge problem, with no quick/easy solutions, overall supply continues to dwindle in the US. Some medical workers are striking, or walking off the job due to to the risk to themselves and anyone that is in regular contact with them.

As bad as the medical/ covid side of things are. The economic impacts are far worse. LIkely to easily make the 2008-2009 global recession look like child's play. As always it will affect the vulnerable/poor, while leaving the rich and powerful mostly unscathed.

Worse yet, there is signs of a desperate drumpf/republican party (that realizes they are going to face a BRUTAL November 3rd election) is trying to make a power grab. Scarily: it will be up to a republican controlled senate to prevent drumpf from seizing enough power to "fix" the nov 3rd elections.

Good luck everyone out there! Stay safe and healthy!

boomer47's picture
@Thread

@Thread
Today April 21

Out of interest, I had a look at covid19 in India. One of the largest nations on earth and a developing country, they MUST have tens of thousand of deaths I thought.

Was surprised at the lack of information from Huffpost India. Had to do a Google search .

Official stats:

Cases: 18,539.

Deaths: 592

Recovered; 3273.

Call me an old cynic, but those figures seems risible to me. In short, I don't believe them for a second ..

Then I read a seemingly unconnected article and it all made sense:

'Don’t Know What To Say, How To React': Kashmiri Journalist Booked For ‘Anti-National' Posts
Masrat Zahra, a photojournalist in Kashmir, has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act."

This offence carries a prison sentence of up to seven years.

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/masrat-zahra-kashmir-journalist-book...

So far, little Donny Trump can only dream and drool over that kind of social control.

algebe's picture
@cranky47

@cranky47

I think you're right about India's numbers being bullshit. But it gets worse. India is the mother lode of toxic religiosity, with massive religious events going ahead despite the infection risks. Hindus and Muslims have also started to blame each other for the disease. How long before they start slaughtering each other?

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/coronavirus-outbreak-india-bla...

boomer47's picture
@Algebe

@Algebe

"How long before they start slaughtering each other?"

I think you're right . This still in country in which sectarian violence remains endemic. Most notably in rural areas ,where lynchings are common.Usually hindu vs hindu, over caste taboos--EG a dalit (untouchable) man was killed for growing a moustache.Another for having the audacity to ride a horse to his wedding .

Religious extremism is almost always found among the poor and the ignorant (uneducated) .Imo the specific religion used as an excuse for violence is irrelevant. The cause is always a mixture of xenophobia, fear and distrust .

I have never been convinced that any of the major world religions are innately violent or peaceful. .I am convinced human beings are capable of rationalising literally any behaviour. That without exception, religions reflect the culture which practices them. How could it be otherwise ? All religions are invented by members of a culture to meet some very basic human needs. The xenophobia fears and hatred pre exist religion.

So yair, a civil war between Hindu and the muslim minority in India is on the cards, at least.

LogicFTW's picture
As much as I personally am

@Algebe and Cranky47

As much as I personally am focused on USA with its highest "detected" case count in the world, I am sadly aware things are far worse in many other places in the world, chief among them India. Except we won't even know, because it will go mostly unreported. Perhaps we will see the satellite pictures of mass burials and incinerators working over time.

Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can better guess large India population death rituals.

algebe's picture
LogicFTW: I am sadly aware

LogicFTW: I am sadly aware things are far worse in many other places in the world

The impact will be worst of all in Africa. In addition to the challenges of fighting an epidemic in countries with minimal healthcare resources, there's also the problem of religion. Islamic extremists in places like Nigeria murdered medical workers during a campaign to eradicate polio. They are likely to be even more paranoid about COVID-19 and those trying to fight it.

I guess we should be grateful that the Catholics don't have a taboo about face masks as well as condoms.

boomer47's picture
Current images from around

Current images from around the world,

"36 Eerie Photos Of Empty Places Around The World During Social Distancing"

https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/eerie-photos-of-empty-places-aro...

Whitefire13's picture
I just learnt something new

I just learnt something new about China. I assumed, because they’re communist, that health care was provided for their population - however that is not the case.
They (CCP) have made provision to cover the cost for Covid BUT if it’s not the virus, I guess the average cost to a Chinese citizen is around the $7,000 mark...

I’m just skimming the surface, and I’m sure others have a more complete picture or in-depth info.

I just was surprised that a “communist” country wasn’t providing health care (similar to Canada or some European countries)

boomer47's picture
@White

@White

"I just was surprised that a “communist” country wasn’t providing health care (similar to Canada or some European countries"

The PRC is not now and has never been a communist country. It became a dictatorship under Mao and has not change at heart.

Imo allowing a certain economic freedom was a cynical tactic aimed at taking people's mind off political freedoms, of which they still have virtually none. Worked too.

Whitefire13's picture
@Cranky... CCP China

@Cranky... CCP China Communist Party

Maybe a dictatorship...BUT they advertise themselves as something different.

Probably another “part” in the moving apparatus of “number counting”. I mean if they’re going to pay for citizens (slave) medical care that have Covid, it benefits them (the party) if the person “doesn’t”...

algebe's picture
@cranky47: The PRC is not now

@cranky47: The PRC is not now and has never been a communist country.

Communist revolutions inevitably end in totalitarian dictatorships They either collapse under the weight of their own inefficiency and corruption (the Soviet Union, Romania), or they become perennial despotic police states dominated by cult figures (Cuba, China, North Korea). Any improvement in human rights is illusory. Any improvement in living standards is temporary, because of the underlying dogma that everything is provided by the state and can therefore be taken away by the state.

Any system that makes the individual subservient to a god or a state inflicts misery on everyone but the inner elite.

boomer47's picture
@Algebe

@Algebe

"Any system that makes the individual subservient to a god or a state inflicts misery on everyone but the inner elite"

From what I've read of Stalinist Russia, the inner elite lived in paranoid terror,. EG No one of the inner circle was game to send for a doctor when Stalin had his fatal ( heart?) attack

In the PRC purges seem to take place by accusing the doomed of corruption, which I gather is endemic. The person can then be tried and executed with a thin veneer of legality.

All such systems eventually fail. Most interested to know what's happening to cubby chops in North Korea.

algebe's picture
@Cranky47: Most interested to

@Cranky47: Most interested to know what's happening to cubby chops in North Korea.

Indeed. Kim III hasn't produced an heir to continue the dynasty. Gross obesity, chain-smoking, and alcoholism are a deadly combination, even for a living god, and he doesn't seem to have a succession plan. So maybe North Korea will die with him.

boomer47's picture
@Algebe

@Algebe

"Indeed. Kim III hasn't produced an heir to continue the dynasty. Gross obesity, chain-smoking, and alcoholism are a deadly combination, even for a living god, and he doesn't seem to have a succession plan. So maybe North Korea will die with him."

My inordinate interest is due to a persistent rumour that Rocket man has recently had cardiac surgery and is in a critical condition (if he has not already died) I suppose one can hope. The obscene little article doesn't even have the decency to be thin while so many of his people live in permanent near starvation.

The silence from North Korea about his health is deafening.

I'm hoping that after he dies ,things might begin to change as they did with Cuba after Fidel carked it.

boomer47's picture
@thread

@thread

Today huff Post US.

I guess about now I'd be starting to be very afraid of what Trump and his amoral sycophants are going to do.

One thing is rolling back emissions standards. Can they all possibly be that ignorant and or stupid? Or is it a matter of 'apres moi le deluge?

PANDEMIC POWER GRAB: GOP RAMS THROUGH RIGHT-WING WISH LIST

https://www.huffpost.com/

algebe's picture
@cranky47: I guess about now

@cranky47: I guess about now I'd be starting to be very afraid of what Trump and his amoral sycophants are going to do.

With the election just a few months away, surely even Trump supporters will remember all these dishonest moves by the administration.

Oh yeah. These are the people who can't remember from one Sunday to the next what crimes their preachers have committed, who believe the world is 6,000 years old and that people used to live with dinosaurs in the town of Bedrock, who think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows....

Yep. You're right. Americans should be afraid of Trump, and everyone else should be afraid of America.

boomer47's picture
@ Algebe

@ Algebe

"Yep. You're right. Americans should be afraid of Trump, and everyone else should be afraid of America."

Over thirty years ago, on a trip to the US, an American cousin (a real one, not a euphemism) said to me:

"You must always be nice to America ,otherwise we'll bring you democracy"

A favourite documentary on US political system is "The United States Of Amnesia" , which features Gore Vidal.

I think an outsider could be forgiven for thinking that Donald Trump is a logical conclusion in what is arguably the world's most corrupt political system. (within a 'democratic' country) Or at the very least, an example of a country getting the government it deserves.

---that 40% of eligible voters are too complacent or too ignorant or too stupid to vote pretty much says it all.

Oh course ,I'm only an ignorant foreigner, what would I know?

Full documentary of "United States Of Amnesia"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnQh3wrnXtE.

LogicFTW's picture
Problem for the world is: USA

Problem for the world is: USA is a very rich and very VERY powerful country. With military spending that rivals the rest of the world combined. If things go really down hill for USA, all that military might is not going to just sit around and do nothing and disappear overnight.

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