Coronavirus:

[Neil]

I think at least three things are going on, and it's restricted to northern Italy, specifically the Po valley. The first thing is there is horrific air pollution, much like Wuhan China (see air pollution maps that have been published). The second thing is smoking, which is at a much higher rate, particularly amongst men, in Italy (and in Wuhan). Finally, the failure to implement rapid public health measures such as closing down places where people gather in large numbers and for long periods of time may have been key. In one town near Milan, described in the Wall Street Journal, measures were instituted within days of the first case and in another town, 20 km away, nothing was done for a few weeks. The first town has had a rate of infection less than 50% of the second. One more thing, of course. Italy is the oldest population in Europe, with many in their 9th decade of life. All together, a recipe for the worst mortality rate, perhaps even worse than Wuhan.

We instituted social public health measures within days of our first known case, so the next 2-4 weeks should be instructive as to whether these measures are what are working in some Italian towns and in South Korea. Keep people away from each other. Isolate known or suspected infected patients.

[chuck]

Italy has the second oldest population. Only Japan has an older average age. When they drill down into the data the majority of deaths are the elderly, especially elderly with respiratory problems from smoking or pollution or in worse cases, both.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

That all fits with what I was thinking and what I know of that part of Italy, too.

So, our nursing homes, assisted living centers, retirement communities, etc. are all probably at higher risk and should be monitored closely.

Maybe all that effort to get people to stop smoking and the clean air environmental legislation will pay off for this country!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[HONDO74]

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Bizarre......

And, cheese is also being rationed or limited at the stores.

[HONDO74]

[Chris Webster]

An excellent 5 minute video from Science Insider:
What Coronavirus Symptoms Look Like, Day By Day

[Roy]

I haven't read everything on this thread, but I wanted to point out that many grocery stores and pharmacies have set aside special hours just for the elderly and otherwise vulnerable. For instance, my local Walmart opens one hour earlier on Tuesdays. It's another way to keep yourself safe.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Nice to see you.

[robert.]

Those same stores have jacked up their prices.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Those same stores have jacked up their prices.

Profiteering and price gouging during a state of emergency. Well, at least you can rely on something....

[Roy]

Nice to see you.

Thank you. I hope you're doing well.

[Roy]

Those same stores have jacked up their prices.

Profiteering and price gouging during a state of emergency. Well, at least you can rely on something....

He who dies from COVID19 with the most overpriced toilet paper and hand sanitizer, should probably feel pretty silly.

[HONDO74]

NJ coronavirus testing site reaches capacity 35 minutes after opening
https://nypost.com/2020/03/21/nj-corona ... r-opening/

A New Jersey drive-thru coronavirus testing site had to turn people away just 35 minutes after opening — as hundreds of cars full of worried people lined up for examination.

Officials announced the Paramus testing site — the state’s first — was at capacity less than an hour after its door opened at 8 a.m., saying, “There are no more tests, come back tomorrow,” tweeted northjersey.com reporter Svetlana Shkolnikova.

The site had about 350 tests available Saturday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference the day before.

Video taken by Shkolnikova shows hundreds of vehicles lined up on the road leading to Bergen Community College, where the drive-thru testing center first opened Friday.