# Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2020 Breaking News **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758 "2020-02-11T01:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 111
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2207 "2020-04-10T18:10:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Those are both excellent things to hear and very encouraging. With a username like that, I would have expected your first comment to be about Austria’s innovative use of snow cannons to stem the pandemic. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2208 "2020-04-10T18:29:32Z")
Question- almost everyone hospitalized for Covid has had some pre-existing condition. What did Boris Johnson have? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2209 "2020-04-10T18:39:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Question- almost everyone hospitalized for Covid has had some pre-existing condition. > > What did Boris Johnson have? I’d wondered if, even without any other pre-existing conditions, perhaps he was a smoker, but [this recent article](https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/04/03/does-boris-johnson-smoke-prime-minister-coronavirus/) indicates that there’s no strong evidence that he’s currently a smoker. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2210 "2020-04-10T18:39:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What did Boris Johnson have? Fairly recent ex-smoker, slightly overweight, likes a drink, previously a heavy user of [REDACTED], stressed out of his mind? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2211 "2020-04-10T18:40:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Question- almost everyone hospitalized for Covid has had some pre-existing condition. > > What did Boris Johnson have? Source? I know that “pre-existing conditions” makes it more likely the disease will get bad, but my understanding was that anyone could get quite ill. Or maybe anyone over age 25 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2212 "2020-04-10T18:40:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Question- almost everyone hospitalized for Covid has had some pre-existing condition. > > What did Boris Johnson have? I think this is far from true. Unless you count being an overweight, 50 year old male smoker, with probably not the healthiest of diets, a pre-existing condition. OB ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2213 "2020-04-10T18:58:15Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Source? > > I know that “pre-existing conditions” makes it more likely the disease will get bad, but my understanding was that anyone could get quite ill. Or maybe anyone over age 25 or so. I said hospitalization. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/nearly-90percent-of-people-hospitalized-for-covid-19-have-underlying-conditions-says-cdc/ar-BB12pf0p?li=BBnb7Kz](https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/nearly-90percent-of-people-hospitalized-for-covid-19-have-underlying-conditions-says-cdc/ar-BB12pf0p?li=BBnb7Kz) _In a new study published for the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers found that the majority of those hospitalized due to COVID-19 have preexisting conditions—about 90% of patients, or nearly all, had one or more underlying conditions. The most common, per the CDC, include hypertension (49.7%), obesity (48.3%), chronic lung disease (34.6%), diabetes mellitus (28.3%), and cardiovascular disease (27.8%)._ So, I am gonna guess Boris with hypertension & Obesity. He used to be a smoker, not now, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2214 "2020-04-10T19:13:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, I am gonna guess Boris with hypertension & Obesity. He used to be a smoker, not now, apparently. Concurred. Though, if he had previously been a serious smoker (which admittedly, may be difficult to say if he was or not), he might have lung issues, as well. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2215 "2020-04-10T19:23:04Z")
Just as I expected, [Cleveland19.com](http://Cleveland19.com) says odh is reporting Suspected cases as Corona. A way to inflate the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2216 "2020-04-10T19:36:06Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Just as I expected, [Cleveland19.com](http://Cleveland19.com) says odh is reporting Suspected cases as Corona. A way to inflate the numbers. [Because, according to the governor, including suspected cases is in line with guidance from the CDC.](https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/04/10/ohio-department-health-will-now-report-confirmed-covid-cases-well-include-individuals-suspected-having-coronavirus/) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2217 "2020-04-10T19:40:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Question- almost everyone hospitalized for Covid has had some pre-existing condition. Untrue. While a significant percentage of people in the hospital had pre-existing/chronic conditions it is far from “almost everyone”. Quite a few people with no known risk factors who were young and healthy have wound up in the hospital, in intensive care, on a ventilator, or even dead. > [@](#): > > What did Boris Johnson have? He’s 55 - not in a huge risk category but old enough his age alone increases his risk - and overweight. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2218 "2020-04-10T19:41:00Z")
“Hospitalized” is not a uniform standard for severity of the disease. It’s very possible that standards for hospitalization are much lower for VIP patients like Boris Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2219 "2020-04-10T19:42:28Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Just as I expected, [Cleveland19.com](http://Cleveland19.com) says odh is reporting Suspected cases as Corona. A way to inflate the numbers. NOT reporting suspected cases would be a great way to artificially lower the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2220 "2020-04-10T19:45:19Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > NOT reporting suspected cases would be a great way to artificially lower the numbers. Yeah, one would think that the CDC would be trying to keep the numbers down instead. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2221 "2020-04-10T19:47:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Untrue. > … I’d consider 90% = almost everyone. See my cite. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2222 "2020-04-10T20:07:49Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > NOT reporting suspected cases would be a great way to artificially lower the numbers. The dumbest thing about **SuntanLotion** ’s post is that he says “cleveland19” is reporting it, as though this was some bombshell expose from a crack team of reporters. What he meant to say was that [cleveland19 is reporting the governor’s own words](https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/04/10/ohio-department-health-will-now-report-confirmed-covid-cases-well-include-individuals-suspected-having-coronavirus/), as Mike DeWine explained in great detail during the daily coronavirus briefing today that ODH will now report _suspected_ cases and deaths **alongside** confirmed cases and deaths, because WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TESTS. I cannot imagine a more transparent way to present the information as given, and yet he or she is trying to shroud it in mystery. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2223 "2020-04-10T20:13:31Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Yeah, one would think that the CDC would be trying to keep the numbers down instead. I’m not sure I understand your tone here. Why would the CDC have any incentive to bias the number one way or another? Other than the fact that the CDC is part of the executive branch of the US government, and the guy in charge of that branch seems to want low numbers. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2224 "2020-04-10T20:21:37Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I know that “pre-existing conditions” makes it more likely the disease will get bad, but my understanding was that anyone could get quite ill. Or maybe anyone over age 25 or so. > [@DrDeth](#): > > I said hospitalization. > > [. . .]about 90% of patients, or nearly all, had one or more underlying conditions. 10% of hospitalized patients is still a fair number of people. So I’d say it’s still true that anyone could get that ill. – I had a thought about those percentages: to what extent do they reflect the number of people in a given age group who have the condition? That is, if [41% of the people 65 and up who were hospitalized for covid-19 were obese](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e3.htm), but [the prevalence of obesity among the general population of people over 60 is 42.8%](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html), is obesity actually a risk factor? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2225 "2020-04-10T20:23:09Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > …The reason is that there is a shortage of _consumer packaging_ for yeast. Supermarket yeast is normally sold in 42-gram foil-wrapped packages, whereas the yeast sold to bakeries and restaurants comes in 500-gram packages. Yeast producers have run out of the 42-gram packaging, and can’t make more packages fast enough to meet the new demand… Hmm, that explains all of the industrial sizes of food suddenly showing up my local supermarket. There were bags of dried pasta the size of pillows. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/2226 "2020-04-10T20:41:10Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I’m not sure I understand your tone here. Why would the CDC have any incentive to bias the number one way or another? Other than the fact that the CDC is part of the executive branch of the US government, and the guy in charge of that branch seems to want low numbers. You just answered your own question. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=110) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=112)