Coronavirus:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

And now the panic buying begins,

Coronavirus fears empty store shelves of toilet paper, bottled water, masks as shoppers stock up
https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-fear ... 37885.html

“Local health officials told us not to panic buy and not to freak out," Ozawa, 45, communications director for tech firm Hawaii Information Service, said, "and that was enough to get us to go out and buy everything.”

2 weeks ago they were advising everyone to prepare as if this were a major hurricane event. Probably not the worse scheme to follow. We don't know what's going to really happen and being prepared seems prudent.
And can you ever really have too much toilet paper; it beats having too little...

[robert.]

Don't fear the virus. Fear the looting and rioting that will come. Swarms of angry mobs will want bleach, iodine and tp. Stores will burn and tvs will be stolen.

[rogruth]

I may not understand but it seems that the death toll from flu in the U.S. is double the world death toll from corona virus.
Why so much ado about the coronavirus and so little about flu?

[Neil]

It's new. It's spreading. The fatality rate may be higher (1-2% versus one-tenth that or less for influenza). There is no vaccine nor as yet any anti-viral drugs known to be effective. There is an element of panic not yet justified by the health impact, but it's early days and people react poorly to new dangers.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It's new. It's spreading. The fatality rate may be higher (1-2% versus one-tenth that or less for influenza). There is no vaccine nor as yet any anti-viral drugs known to be effective. There is an element of panic not yet justified by the health impact, but it's early days and people react poorly to new dangers.

We keep pointing these details out but...............

[HONDO74]

FDA Expands Coronavirus Testing After CDC Glitches Undermine Fight Against Disease
https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-fda-coronavi ... 25774.html

The effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect Americans from the new coronavirus has been hamstrung by a flawed test for the disease and limited access to a reliable analysis, resulting in significant delays to determine which people have the virus, according to officials and experts.

But the Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday that labs and hospitals across the nation will now be able to conduct the test and won’t have to wait for results from the CDC.

“We believe this policy strikes the right balance during this public health emergency,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement. “We will continue to help to ensure sound science prior to clinical testing and follow-up with the critical independent review from the FDA, while quickly expanding testing capabilities in the U.S.”

Glitches in the CDC testing system have thwarted wide-ranging surveillance testing to track the disease and eliminate concerns about healthy people simply battling a common cold.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Steve is a good man; knew him long ago,

[HONDO74]

A CDC lab is said to be under investigation after contamination fears, another sign the US botched its rollout of coronavirus testing kits
https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-lab-atlanta- ... 25285.html

US health authorities are investigating a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lab initially tasked with producing coronavirus test kits in the US, according to multiple outlets.

A Food and Drug Administration official raised alarm last week about possible contamination in the lab, Axios reported.

The agency confirmed a "manufacturing issue" with the tests, which were distributed to numerous state health departments, but the exact nature of the problem is not yet clear. The test-kit production has now been moved to a different lab.

The news comes as a further embarrassment to the CDC, which had rejected coronavirus test kits distributed by the World Health Organization in an attempt to make its own.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

In the meantime, 6 dead in Wash St. and probably a really unknown number exposed. Past containment stage now.....

[robert.]

As a precautionary measure. 5 schools in my area closed today. . A student from each of those schools had attended an event. In a town with know cases. Not wanting any hassles or lawsuits John Kopicki (CB. Superintendent) Closed the schools and ordered a 3 day cleaning and sterilization.
Every person in our area ran out and bought water, TP. bleach, rubbing alcohol, hand wipes sanitizer.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

As a precautionary measure. 5 schools in my area closed today. . A student from each of those schools had attended an event. In a town with know cases. Not wanting any hassles or lawsuits John Kopicki (CB. Superintendent) Closed the schools and ordered a 3 day cleaning and sterilization.

Won't matter if they were actually exposed - reactive measures are always too late. Every student that the 5 interacted with, every teacher, and their families are potentially exposed. Cleaning the school is a waste now.

Every person in our area ran out and bought water, TP. bleach, rubbing alcohol, hand wipes sanitizer.

Yes, every emergency is solved by having extra TP in the house.

[robert.]

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/ ... 5-schools/

[J. S. Bach]

A friend of mine has six vehicles; I guess that he has car-owner virus.

[healey36]

Looking like this could be the week the poop hits the fan in the U.S. Stock futures down nearly five percent this AM, oil collapses, Amtrak suspends non-stop service on the Northeast Corridor, schools closed in Scarsdale, NY, among just a few indicators. Prez says everything is cool...

[rogruth]

A friend of mine has six vehicles; I guess that he has car-owner virus.

Aaaarh