Coronavirus:

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Here's something I deduced early this morning after reading an article in the local newspaper. Correct me if I am wrong.
Associated Press wrote, "Washington - Inmates at all 122 federal correctional facilities across the country will not be allowed visits from family, friends, or attorneys for the next 30 days, in response to the threat of the coronavirus..."

My interpretation: That would mean that this prisoner sub-population will be one of the most protected, if not the most protected - out of the entire USA population, in effect, quarantined. That is an interesting twist-of-fate. They were put into prison to protect us from them, but now that incarceration is protecting them from us. Wow. Interesting, indeed. IMHO.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Here's something I deduced early this morning after reading an article in the local newspaper. Correct me if I am wrong.
Associated Press wrote, "Washington - Inmates at all 122 federal correctional facilities across the country will not be allowed visits from family, friends, or attorneys for the next 30 days, in response to the threat of the coronavirus..."

My interpretation: That would mean that this prisoner sub-population will be one of the most protected, if not the most protected - out of the entire USA population, in effect, quarantined. That is an interesting twist-of-fate. They were put into prison to protect us from them, but now that incarceration is protecting them from us. Wow. Interesting, indeed. IMHO.

It also protects all the people that work there as well as prevents those facilities from becoming transmission hubs

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Here's something I deduced early this morning after reading an article...
My interpretation: That would mean ....

It also protects all the people that work there as well as prevents those facilities from becoming transmission hubs

You added excellent points, as usual. Cool.

[webenda]

As I said, I am an old dude and I have never been through anything quite like this before and I do hope that we all get through it.

Roger, do you mean you did not go through these pandemics:
INFLUENZA PANDEMICS
Spanish flu (1918–1920)
Asian Flu (1957–1958)
Hong Kong Flu (1968–1969)
Russian Flu (1977–1978)
H1N1/09 Flu (2009–2010)

Or do you mean you have never seen the news media and politicians whip up such panic over a virus before?

[rogruth]

As I said, I am an old dude and I have never been through anything quite like this before and I do hope that we all get through it.

Roger, do you mean you did not go through these pandemics:
INFLUENZA PANDEMICS
Spanish flu (1918–1920)
Asian Flu (1957–1958)
Hong Kong Flu (1968–1969)
Russian Flu (1977–1978)
H1N1/09 Flu (2009–2010)

Or do you mean you have never seen the news media and politicians whip up such panic over a virus before?

That's it, Wayne. Never so much noise. Not old enough for the Spanish flu.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

May have overlooked Zika and West Nile, and honestly, Lyme disease might also be considered....

[webenda]

Abdu Sharkawy
March 6 at 2:45 AM ·
Posted to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abdu.sharkawy/ ... 8409125474

I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.

I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.

What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?

I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.

But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.

I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.

Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/abdu- ... ronavirus/

[sleepmac]

Wayne, thank you for posting that. Very sobering. And yet containing some encouragement.

This very morning instead of self quarantines, a number of us model rocket enthusiasts got together for a short time. On the other hand, my church has cancelled service for tomorrow. But I think, and don't quote me, the free meal at church for members of the community on Monday will go as planned with some changes.

Washing my hands a lot!
Dan Weinhold

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Facts not fear.

More facts would useful; been in short supply for too many weeks now.

BTW, mortality rate in Italy is creeping up around 7%.

[robert.]

Bucks county pa nonessential businesses ordered closed

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Bucks county pa nonessential businesses ordered closed

How did they define "non-essential" - curious.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Facts not fear.

More facts would useful; been in short supply for too many weeks now.

BTW, mortality rate in Italy is creeping up around 7%.

That's 7 people dead out of every 100! Picture a neighborhood of 100 homes and 7 of those homes having a death in a short period of time. That would be shocking to any community.

As a reference point for me, a typical Mass at our parish has 200+ parishioners . Just imagining 14 out of those 200 dying at the same contemporary time would be mind-numbing .

[Neil]

The Italian rate is probably atypical. When we have enough testing, we will likely find that many or most of the infections are not even clinically evident. What is potentially contributing to the high mortality rate in Italy is some combination of a high rate of air pollution in the Po valley, the high rate of smoking amongst Italians and the higher average age of the population. It's certainly possible that the Italian virus is a more virulent and lethal strain, but that seems less likely. The rate of mortality in New York City thus far is <0.5% although it's earlier days there. So it's a bit early to figure out what's going to happen in the rest of the country. Schools, museums, theatres, etc. are closed here and we have a total of 2 cases out of a million people. Trying to head this off at the pass, so to speak, and it makes sense if disruptive.

[robert.]

Bucks county pa nonessential businesses ordered closed

How did they define "non-essential" - curious.

I dont know details . Grocery store may remain open. Yesterday 2 malls stayed open . When Montgomery county ordered nonessential stores to close. Their owner (simon property) claimed they are essential.