Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[Pondosinatra]

"It took the country 99 days to reach 1 million cases on April 28.

It then took 43 more days to reach 2 million cases on June 10, and another 28 days to surpass 3 million cases on July 8. Most recently, it took the US only 15 additional days to surpass 4 million cases on July 23. It has taken the US 17 days to go over 5 million cases."

So things are looking up.

[Lee A Stewart]

As of this week, five states account for more than 40% of US infections: California (with the most cases in the country), Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Well I'd say she's essentially right.

With the big caveat that I suppose if you were subsequently exposed to a much higher viral load you could still get incredibly sick.

lol she is essentially right except for a big caveat where she is wrong. that second part sure negates that first one.

[dancerslegs]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

"It took the country 99 days to reach 1 million cases on April 28.

It then took 43 more days to reach 2 million cases on June 10, and another 28 days to surpass 3 million cases on July 8. Most recently, it took the US only 15 additional days to surpass 4 million cases on July 23. It has taken the US 17 days to go over 5 million cases."

So things are looking up.

Just wait till the fallout from returning schoolkids and that massive biker rally in South Dakota appears. We're going to be wishing for a return to "only" 5 million cases.

[Britbuffguy]

Originally Posted by dancerslegs

Just wait till the fallout from returning schoolkids and that massive biker rally in South Dakota appears. We're going to be wishing for a return to "only" 5 million cases.

See that's the problem, every time someone says it's getting better, a ton of people hear that is it's all over, so let's go back to normal.

Opening schools up when technology can avoid it it just stupid at this point.

I'm basically just watching my Facebook wall and any parent claiming they want their kids to go back to school...I now know how they really feel about their kids. Ha.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Well I'd say she's essentially right.

With the big caveat that I suppose if you were subsequently exposed to a much higher viral load you could still get incredibly sick.

Other masks that performed well in the test were three-layer surgical masks and cotton masks — which can be made at home.

Worst performers, researchers say, were folded bandannas and knitted masks.

Shockingly, in some cases, certain types of masks made particle exposure even worse, according to the study.

The authors of the study say that neck fleeces, also known as gaiter masks, were the least effective off all.

“We were extremely surprised to find that the number of particles measured with the fleece actually exceeded the number of particles measured without wearing any mask,” Martin Fischer, one of the study’s authors told CNN. “We want to emphasize that we really encourage people to wear masks, but we want them to wear masks that actually work.”

Neck fleeces were shown to break down larger droplets into smaller particles, which can more easily slip through and out.

Below are the range of masks that the Duke study tested.

Source - KRQE.com

Time to ban neck gaiters lol, another reason to not wear the Buff again during COVID-19.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

As of this week, five states account for more than 40% of US infections: California (with the most cases in the country), Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia.

The scary thing is I have seen stories for a computer error in California lowering its numbers. Texas was not counting results for the rapid response test lowering its numbers and Florida doesn’t count anyone they test who isn’t a resident of florida bring down their numbers.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

As of this week, five states account for more than 40% of US infections: California (with the most cases in the country), Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia.

Well those 5 states do account for 37% of the population, so having 40% of cases would be just slightly above the norm I guess?

[Batman1980]

I've heard that population size excuse, at some point it needs to stop being an excuse and the US needs to be more proactive at combating this pandemic.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

I've heard that population size excuse, at some point it needs to stop being an excuse and the US needs to be more proactive at combating this pandemic.

[bruceames]

What?! You have more people than Idaho? Hell, that's no excuse to have more cases! And don't even start with the excuse that you have larger cities with dense zones of the poor who can't socially distance where they live! Not. An. Excuse.

[Penton-Man]

numbers –

• yesterday the U.S. hit a total of 5 million cases of COVID-19 which is 2 million more than Brasil which is 2nd in the world
• we’re at > 160,000 deaths as of this morning and the prestigious Univ. of
Washington’s model projects the death toll could roughly double to 300,000
by December 1st if there aren’t significant changes in our ability to fight this
virus

the death toll of > 160,000 numbers in perspective -

• that’s ~ 40% more than the total Americans killed in WWI
• it is nearly triple the number of Americans killed in the Viet Nam war
• if the University of Washington prediction comes to fruition, it will mean that
by December we will have surpassed the number of U.S. battle deaths of
WW II…..all in less than one calendar year

finally, over the past 2 weeks we’ve suffered nearly 1 death due to COVID-19 every 77 seconds
all despite the efforts of dedicated and innovative health care providers like for instance at County/USC -

Doctor explains why you don't want to be in his ICU bed - YouTube

[Batman1980]

Yeah there's no good way to spin those numbers, I hope those in power in the United States are using this weekend as a time to consider their next move very carefully.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by bruceames

What?! You have more people than Idaho? Hell, that's no excuse to have more cases! And don't even start with the excuse that you have larger cities with dense zones of the poor who can't socially distance where they live! Not. An. Excuse.

I get your point and it is somewhat valid but excuses needed to stop none the less. Let's put it this way if the US were to be divided into the individual states population wise California would be 36,Texas 48,Florida 58 and NY 61. On the other hand when it comes to cases California would be 4, Texas 7, Florida 6 and NY 9.

at some point the excuses need to stop and something needs to be done about it.

[Gold Ranger]

Has anyone heard anything about a second stimulus check being given out in the USA?
I don't get why all these businesses keep getting help, but citizens get nothing!

[Batman1980]

The second aid check is dead in the water because Congress can't agree on the other stuff to get the aid passed.

[Gold Ranger]

[Batman1980]

With President Donald Trump bypassing the nation’s lawmakers and issuing executive orders to defer payroll taxes and replace an expired unemployment benefit, many are wondering where that leaves a second round of direct payments to Americans.

The answer, for now, is nowhere.

Though Trump had previously said additional stimulus checks would be coming, direct payments were not mentioned in his four executive orders issued Saturday. That leaves that portion of coronavirus aid proposals in limbo.

Trump cast his orders as necessary given that lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement to plunge more money into the stumbling economy. Both sides were on the same page that an additional round of $1,200 checks was a good idea. However, they couldn’t agree on much else. With negotiations at a roadblock, Trump made the decision to bypass Congress. The decision may be met with legal challenges.

In the orders, Trump moved to continue paying a supplemental federal unemployment benefit for millions of Americans out of work during the outbreak. However, his order called for up to $400 payments each week, one-third less than the $600 people had been receiving. How many people would receive the benefit and how long it might take to arrive were open questions.

The previous unemployment benefit, which expired on Aug. 1, was fully funded by Washington, but Trump is asking states to now cover 25%. He is seeking to set aside $44 billion in previously approved disaster aid to help states, but said it would be up to states to determine how much, if any of it, to fund, so the benefits could be smaller still.

Many states already faced budget shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic and would have difficulty assuming the new obligation.

Stimulus check update: Why we’re no closer to a second $1,200 payment
Trump hopes the four executive orders he signed will signal to Americans that he is acting where Congress will not to address economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has upended nearly all aspects of American life. It’s unclear what the economic impact of his actions will be, and his orders do not address several areas that have been part of the congressional negotiations, including funding for schools and state and local governments.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed Trump’s actions as “meager” in the face of economic and health crises facing Americans. Democrats initially sought a $3.4 trillion package, but said they lowered their ask in talks to $2 trillion. Republicans had proposed a $1 trillion plan.

Trump’s orders also call for a deferral of payroll tax and federal student loan payments and efforts to halt evictions. The evictions executive order directs the Treasury and Housing and Urban Development departments to identify funds to provide financial assistance to those struggling to pay their monthly rent.

Second stimulus checks: Where we stand as the week ends
In addition to stimulus checks, other remaining issues for lawmakers include money for schools trying to reopen, a cash infusion for the struggling Postal Service and money to help states hold elections in November.

More money for dependents

Source - KRQE.com

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I get your point and it is somewhat valid but excuses needed to stop none the less. Let's put it this way if the US were to be divided into the individual states population wise California would be 36,Texas 48,Florida 58 and NY 61. On the other hand when it comes to cases California would be 4, Texas 7, Florida 6 and NY 9.

at some point the excuses need to stop and something needs to be done about it.

Like what? Magically create more low-cost housing so that the poorer families don't have to share an apartment?

That’s in part because of overcrowded apartments in the neighborhood, resulting in transmission among large groups of people living together, said Dr. Lisa Santora, the county’s deputy public health officer.

In one recent case, a resident in the Canal neighborhood tested positive for the virus and a public health investigation revealed that the person shared the living room of a three-bedroom apartment with four others, according to Santora. Each of the three bedrooms was occupied by a family, she said.

Such arrangements are “fairly common” in the Canal area, she said, and are driving the coronavirus outbreak there.

Latinos in Marin are only 16% of the population in Marin, yet have 75% of the cases and this is mainly the reason why.

You can't socially distance in your own home if multiple families are living with you. I suppose the city could provide N95 masks for all these people to wear in their homes whenever other family members are present, but that would be just about all the time, so not realistic.

So there's really not any solution for this. That's why cases exploded in these states to begin with.

[shane01]

Originally Posted by bruceames

Latinos in Marin are only 16% of the population in Marin, yet have 75% of the cases and this is mainly the reason why.

You can't socially distance in your own home if multiple families are living with you. I suppose the city could provide N95 masks for all these people to wear in their homes whenever other family members are present, but that would be just about all the time, so not realistic.

So there's really not any solution for this. That's why cases exploded in these states to begin with.

Not sure if this violates the rules on sociopolitical discussion, but it seems to me the working class has been put in a dangerous position in the pandemic. Probably added to the numbers more than the young people partying (though that's totally not helping) or protests.